Full Breakdown
2027 Medicare Open Enrollment: Major Shifts in Plan Availability and Costs
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Core Changes During the Enrollment Window
Open enrollment for 2027 Medicare runs Oct 15–Dec 7, 2026; changes take effect Jan 1, 2027.
Key developments:
- Plan cancellations – Insurers are scaling back Medicare Advantage (MA) offerings, dropping the national average from 39 plans in 2026 to 35 in 2027. In Iowa, >87,000 beneficiaries received notices that their MA or Part D plans will end.
- End of the Part D premium subsidy – The temporary Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration expires at the end of 2026, removing the subsidy that lowered many drug-plan premiums.
- Premium adjustments – Projected MA premiums rise in some states (e.g., Michigan $14.88 -> $16.21) while the national average is expected to fall to $12. Stand-alone Part D premiums climb to $36; the Part D deductible rises to $700 and the out-of-pocket drug cap to $2,400.
- New benefits – Access to GLP-1 drugs, expanded telehealth, and the “ACCESS” model for chronic-condition beneficiaries.
Background & Context
Medicare provides hospital (A), medical (B), Advantage (C) and prescription-drug (D) coverage. A 2024 subsidy capped Part D premiums; the current administration ended it, citing concerns that it “benefitted corporate insurance companies.” The change is expected to raise premiums for roughly half of Part D enrollees.
Data & Statistics
| Metric | 2026 | 2027 | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. MA plans per beneficiary (national) | 39 | 35 | KFF |
| Counties without an MA plan (national) | — | 193 (up from 123) | KFF |
| Michigan avg. MA premium | $14.88/mo | $16.21/mo | Freep |
| National avg. MA premium (proj.) | $14.37/mo | $12/mo | KFF |
| Stand-alone Part D avg. premium | $35.09/mo | $36/mo | Komonews |
| Part D deductible | $615 | $700 | Komonews |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 | Komonews |
| Part B premium (proj.) | $202.90 | $209.50 (3.25 % rise) | Komonews |
| One-time $90 payment to Part B beneficiaries | — | >20 M recipients | Komonews |
Official Statements & Responses
- Kristin Griffith, director of Iowa’s Senior Health Insurance Information Program, urged beneficiaries to read plan mail and explore options.
- Maureen Schneider, chair of the Minnesota Board on Aging, called 2027 “a very critical year” for Medicare decisions.
- Juliette Cubanski, KFF vice-president, warned that without subsidies some Part D enrollees could face larger premium increases.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- MA premium projections differ: Michigan shows an increase to $16.21, while KFF forecasts a national decline to $12.
- Part B premium estimates vary between Medicare trustees ($209.50) and the CMS, which has not released an official figure.
- Out-of-pocket impacts for newly covered GLP-1 drugs remain unclear as the GLP-1 Bridge program ends Dec 31, 2027 with no successor announced.
What’s Next
- Dec 31, 2026 – Deadline for beneficiaries whose plans are cancelled to select new coverage.
- Feb 28, 2027 – End of a Special Enrollment Period for those affected by cancellations.
- CMS is expected to release the official Part B premium and income-related adjustment thresholds in Nov 2026.
Beneficiaries should use the Medicare Plan Finder, consult state assistance programs, and verify that preferred doctors, hospitals and drugs remain covered before finalizing changes.