Are You in the Right Plan for 2027?

Medicare coverage is not “set it and forget it.” Plans and personal health needs can change each year, so coverage that worked well this year may not be the right fit for 2027.

Read the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) carefully when it arrives from your current plan each fall. It explains changes to premiums, deductibles, copays, coinsurance, covered services, drug coverage, provider networks, and the maximum out-of-pocket limit. Note anything that may make the plan less affordable or leave important health-care needs uncovered. Keep the ANOC with other Medicare information – or request a copy if it has not arrived – and share it with a Medicare Specialist for a detailed assessment.

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7. During this period, beneficiaries can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or drug plan, or change how they receive Medicare coverage. You can enroll multiple times if you think you made a mistake, and the last enrollment Medicare receives by December 7 takes effect January 1, 2027. A Medicare Specialist can determine whether a change is appropriate; otherwise, current coverage generally continues into 2027.

Prescription drugs are a major factor in choosing Medicare coverage. Prepare a list with each medication’s exact name, dosage, and frequency, plus the preferred pharmacy and whether mail order is acceptable. A Medicare Specialist can use it to research formularies, drug tiers, restrictions, pharmacy pricing, and estimated annual costs. If a drug has a high drug tier (3,4 or 5), you might have a higher annual cost due to it triggering a deductible and a higher copay.

Check your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. Prepare a list of current providers and facilities for a Medicare Specialist to verify if they are in-network for 2027 and use when evaluating Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare (A&B).

Consider a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) if you are new to Medicare. Medicare Supplement Insurance charges a monthly premium and allows beneficiaries to use any doctor or hospital nationwide that accepts Medicare, without a network, a referral, a prior authorization or a copay in most cases. Medigap may cover some deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance that Original Medicare does not, but it is not Medicare Advantage and generally requires separate Part D drug coverage. Because enrollment rights, plans, premiums, and medical underwriting vary by state and circumstance, do not change existing coverage without professional review.

Compare the whole picture. Estimate annual copayments, coinsurance, prescription costs, and potential expenses if health needs change. Then consider benefits likely to be used, such as dental, vision, hearing, fitness, and over-the-counter allowances. Extra benefits should not take priority over strong medical coverage and a drug formulary that meets your needs.

Do not wait until December 7^th to seek help. Starting early allows time to gather complete information and gives a Medicare Specialist time to research options, verify details, and answer questions. Avoid unsolicited calls and high-pressure tactics and never give a Medicare number to an unknown caller. Because Medicare choices have significant medical and financial consequences, decisions should rest on individualized professional analysis – not premiums or extra benefits alone.

You do not have to navigate Medicare choices alone. As a Medicare Specialist and former Medicare SHIP counselor with HIICAP, affiliated with the New York City Department for the Aging, I have the training, knowledge, expertise, and research resources to provide an individualized review and help you evaluate your options. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation so you can enter the holidays with confidence that your 2027 coverage fits your medical and financial needs.