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Medicare Advantage Plans 2027: Costs, Changes & How to Compare

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated October 1, 2026

Medicare Advantage plans 2027 go on sale October 15, and the headline news is better than most people expected. CMS projects the average Medicare Advantage premium will fall about 16.5% next year, from $14.37 to $12 a month, and the drug coverage built into these plans will drop even further.

A national average is not your plan, though. Premiums, networks and extra benefits are set county by county, some plans are closing, and the limits on what a bad year can cost you are rising. Below is what is changing for 2027, how Medicare Advantage works, and how to compare plans before you enroll.

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Medicare Advantage plans 2027 average monthly premiums compared with 2026, including drug coverage and stand-alone Part D

Medicare Advantage Plans 2027 at a Glance

What changed 2026 2027
Average monthly premium (all MA plans) $14.37 $12.00
Average drug premium inside MA plans $11.32 $7.00
Average stand-alone Part D premium $35.09 $36.00
Medicare Advantage plans offered 5,553 5,532
Highest allowed in-network out-of-pocket limit — $9,850
Part D yearly out-of-pocket cap $2,100 $2,400
Highest allowed Part D deductible $615 $700

These are national figures. Your premium, out-of-pocket limit and extra benefits depend on the plan and the county you live in. Plan-level 2027 details are now posting on Medicare’s Plan Finder, so confirm the numbers on the specific plan offered where you live before you enroll. Not all plans offer all benefits.

What Is Changing for 2027

CMS announced its 2027 Medicare Advantage figures in late September 2026. Three numbers matter most for anyone shopping this fall:

  • Premiums are projected to fall. The weighted average Medicare Advantage premium drops to about $12 a month, and the average drug premium inside these plans falls 38% to about $7.
  • Choice stays broad. More than 99% of people with Medicare can choose at least one Medicare Advantage plan, and 97% can choose from ten or more. The total plan count is nearly flat at 5,532.
  • Most members can stay put. CMS says about eight in ten current Medicare Advantage members can keep their plan at the same or a lower premium.

About 34 million people are projected to be enrolled in Medicare Advantage in 2027, roughly 47% of everyone eligible for Medicare. Plans also received a 2.48% average payment increase from CMS for 2027, and CMS expects extra benefits such as dental, vision and hearing to stay broadly stable.

THE CATCH

Stable on average still means change for many people. Some insurers have exited counties for 2027, and some plans are ending altogether. If your plan is not renewing, you will get a notice and you must choose new coverage. Doing nothing does not keep a plan that no longer exists.

Comparing carriers? See Aetna Medicare Advantage plans 2027 for its county exits, commission freeze and star ratings.

How Medicare Advantage Plans Work

Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is an alternative way to get your Medicare benefits. Instead of Original Medicare paying your claims, a private insurance company approved by Medicare covers your hospital (Part A) and medical (Part B) care.

Most Medicare Advantage plans also include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. These are called MAPD plans, short for Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans. Many plans may also include extras that Original Medicare does not cover, such as routine dental, vision and hearing, depending on the plan and area.

You keep paying for Part B. To join a Medicare Advantage plan you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B, and you must keep paying your Part B premium. A $0 premium plan means no extra premium for the plan itself, not free Medicare.

Each plan sets its own copays, deductibles, provider network and drug list, and those can change every year. That is why comparing plans annually matters more with Medicare Advantage than with almost any other type of coverage.

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HMO vs PPO Medicare Advantage plans 2027 comparison of networks, referrals, out-of-network care and spending caps

HMO vs PPO Medicare Advantage Plans in 2027

Most Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs or PPOs. The difference comes down to how much freedom you want with doctors, and what you are willing to pay for it.

HMO PPO
Doctors In-network only, except emergencies In and out of network
Specialist referrals Usually required Usually not required
Out-of-network care Generally not covered Covered at a higher cost share
2027 out-of-pocket limit Up to $9,850 in-network Up to $9,850 in-network and $14,800 combined
Premiums Often the lowest, including $0 plans Often higher than HMOs

An HMO usually suits someone whose doctors are all in one local network and who wants the lowest premium. A PPO usually suits someone who travels, spends part of the year in another state or wants to see a specialist outside the network. You may also see Special Needs Plans for people with certain chronic conditions or with both Medicare and Medicaid, and a small number of PFFS plans.

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What 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans May Include

Beyond hospital and medical coverage, 2027 Medicare Advantage plans may include some of the following, depending on the plan and your area:

  • Prescription drug coverage (MAPD plans)
  • Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits
  • Over-the-counter allowances for health items
  • Fitness memberships
  • A Part B premium giveback that lowers your monthly Part B cost
  • Telehealth visits

Not all plans offer all benefits, and the dollar limits vary widely. Two plans with the same premium can have very different dental allowances or none at all, so compare the extras line by line rather than assuming they match.

Medicare Advantage 2027 spending caps showing the $9,850 medical out-of-pocket limit and the $2,400 Part D drug cap

Your Two Spending Caps in 2027

Every Medicare Advantage plan limits what you can spend in a year, and MAPD plans do it twice.

Medical care. For 2027, no plan may set an in-network out-of-pocket limit higher than $9,850. PPO plans may set a combined in-network and out-of-network limit of up to $14,800. Many plans set lower limits, and the limit a plan chooses is one of the best ways to compare them.

Prescription drugs. Part D costs have their own cap. In 2027, the most you will pay out of pocket for covered drugs is $2,400, up from $2,100. The drug deductible can be no more than $700. Premiums do not count toward either cap.

Do the math for a bad year, not just a good one. A $0 premium plan with a high out-of-pocket limit costs little in a quiet year. A plan with a premium and a low limit can be far cheaper in a year with a surgery or a hospital stay. Add the yearly premium to the out-of-pocket limit to see your worst case on each plan.

Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement in 2027

Medicare Advantage is not your only choice. You can also keep Original Medicare and add a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan plus a stand-alone Part D plan. The two paths work very differently.

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE MAY FIT IF

You want low or $0 premiums, you are comfortable using a network, you like having drug coverage and extras in one plan, and you can absorb copays up to the plan’s yearly limit.

MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT MAY FIT IF

You want to see any doctor in the U.S. who accepts Medicare, you want predictable costs with few copays, you travel or live in more than one state, and you are willing to pay a higher monthly premium. See our guide to Medicare Supplement plans.

Switching back is not always simple. If you leave a Medicare Supplement plan for Medicare Advantage and later want to return, insurance companies in most states can ask health questions and turn you down outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Think about this before you switch.

How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027

YOUR 2027 CHECKLIST

Five steps before you enroll

1

List your doctors and prescriptions. Write down every doctor you see and every drug you take, with the dose and the pharmacy you use.

2

Check networks first. Confirm each doctor is in the plan’s network. A high-rated plan is not a good plan for you if your doctors are not in it.

3

Price your drugs on each plan. Use Medicare’s Plan Finder and enter every drug. Two plans with the same premium can differ by hundreds of dollars a year on drugs.

4

Compare the worst case. Add the yearly premium to the out-of-pocket limit for each plan, and compare the extra benefits you will actually use.

5

Enroll between October 15 and December 7, 2026. Coverage starts January 1, 2027.

Already on a Medicare Advantage plan? Read your Annual Notice of Change. It shows what is changing in your premium, copays, network, drug list and out-of-pocket limit for 2027, and whether your plan continues. Doing nothing renews you into whatever your plan became.

Medicare Advantage is one of several ways to cover what Original Medicare leaves behind. Mediplanora compares Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement plans and stand-alone Medicare Part D coverage side by side, so you can see every option in your area before you decide.

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Medicare Advantage Plans 2027 FAQs

➤  How much will Medicare Advantage plans cost in 2027?

CMS projects the weighted average Medicare Advantage premium will fall to about $12 a month in 2027, down from $14.37 in 2026. Many areas may have $0 premium plans. You still pay your Medicare Part B premium on top of any plan premium, and your own cost depends on the plan, your county and how much care you use.

➤  What is the Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximum for 2027?

No Medicare Advantage plan may set an in-network out-of-pocket limit above $9,850 for 2027. PPO plans may set a combined in-network and out-of-network limit of up to $14,800. Many plans set lower limits, so check the specific plan. Prescription drugs have a separate $2,400 yearly cap.

➤  What is the difference between Medicare Advantage and MAPD?

MAPD stands for Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan. It is a Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D drug coverage. Most Medicare Advantage plans are MAPD plans. A Medicare Advantage plan without drug coverage is usually called an MA-only plan.

➤  When can I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027?

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and coverage starts January 1, 2027. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also make one change between January 1 and March 31, 2027. If you are new to Medicare, you can join during your Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday.

➤  Will my Medicare Advantage plan change in 2027?

It may. Plans can change premiums, copays, networks, drug lists and extra benefits every year, and some plans end. CMS says about eight in ten current members can keep their plan at the same or a lower premium in 2027. Read your Annual Notice of Change to see exactly what changes for your plan.

➤  Do I still pay my Part B premium with a Medicare Advantage plan?

Yes. You must keep Medicare Part A and Part B and continue paying your Part B premium. Some Medicare Advantage plans include a Part B giveback that lowers what you pay each month, but availability and amounts vary by plan and area.

Have Questions?

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