Medicare Advantage

Kenosha Medicare 2027: Plan Choices Explained

KENOSHA, Wis. — If you're turning 65 in Kenosha, or you're already on Medicare and rethinking your coverage, here's the big picture: you have a lot of choices. For 2026, Kenosha County has 48 Medicare Advantage plans available, offered by 7 different carriers, according to the CMS Medicare Plan Finder and Landscape data. The 2027 lineup is detailed in each plan's Annual Notice of Change and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

That's a healthy menu — and for many people, it's more choice than they know what to do with. This guide walks through what those numbers mean, what's new in Medicare for 2027, and where to get unbiased help.

What "48 plan options" really means

Medicare plans are set at the county level. Kenosha is in Kenosha County, where 48 Medicare Advantage plans are listed on the 2026 landscape, provided by 7 carriers offering Medicare Advantage with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD). The 2027 counts appear in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. The 2027 counts appear in each plan's ANOC and on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder.

A few things worth knowing:

• Not every plan will fit every person. Networks, drug lists (formularies), and service areas vary.
• Some plans are designed for people with specific needs, like those who also have Medicaid or a chronic condition.
• The number of plans changes every year. Comparing what you have now to what's offered for 2027 is worth doing during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, 2026.

For the roughly 26,664 residents of Kenosha County who are 65 or older, that's a wide field to sort through — which is exactly why Medicare gives you a set window each fall to review it.

Stand-alone Part D in Kenosha County

If you'd rather stick with Original Medicare and add a separate prescription drug plan (a stand-alone Part D plan, or PDP), those are offered at the region level rather than the county level. The Kenosha County landscape file shows 0 stand-alone PDPs listed locally, but PDP availability in Wisconsin is determined by the state's CMS region. You can see the full list of stand-alone drug plans available to Wisconsin residents on medicare.gov by entering your ZIP code.

The takeaway: don't assume you have no Part D options. Check Plan Finder directly.

What's new in Medicare for 2027

A few program-wide updates matter no matter which route you take:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. Once your out-of-pocket spending on covered prescriptions hits that amount, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible maximum: $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027. Individual plans can set a lower deductible, but not higher.
• No more "donut hole." As of 2025, the coverage gap phase is gone. Part D now has three phases instead of four.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. This is an optional program that lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA thresholds. Higher-income beneficiaries pay a surcharge on Part B and Part D. For 2026, IRMAA begins above $109,000 in income for a single filer (higher for joint filers).

About Star Ratings

You'll see Medicare's Star Ratings (1 to 5 stars) attached to plans on medicare.gov. Ratings measure things like customer service, member complaints, and how well plans manage chronic conditions.

In the Kenosha County area, 0 contracts are currently rated 4 stars or higher based on the latest available data. Star Ratings are one tool among several — they're a snapshot, not a verdict, and they can change year to year. Use them as context, not as the whole story.

Key dates to circle

• October 15 – December 7: Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance during this window to switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

Missing these windows usually means waiting a full year, so mark your calendar.

How to actually compare 48 plans without losing your mind

A few tips from people who do this for a living:

1. Start with your prescriptions. Enter your exact drugs and dosages into medicare.gov's Plan Finder. This alone narrows the field fast. 2. Check your doctors and hospitals. If you want to keep your current providers, confirm they're in-network before you enroll. 3. Think about the full year, not just the monthly premium. Deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums matter as much as (or more than) the premium. 4. Get a second set of eyes. Wisconsin's SHIP program offers free, unbiased Medicare counseling.