Looking Ahead to Plan Year 2027
Each year, CMS finalizes updated rules and figures for the upcoming plan year, and Plan Year 2027 will bring the usual set of changes: updated premiums and deductibles, adjusted plan offerings, and any policy changes finalized by CMS during the year. Reviewing these changes before AEP opens gives you a head start on your annual review.
What Typically Changes Year to Year
Standard premiums and deductibles for Part A, Part B, and Part D are updated annually based on federal formulas tied to program costs. Plan availability, formularies, and provider networks for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans can also shift from year to year, sometimes significantly, even within the same insurance company’s plan lineup.
Why “Set It and Forget It” Doesn’t Work Well With Medicare
Because so much can change annually, a plan that was the right fit for Plan Year 2026 isn’t guaranteed to still be the best option for Plan Year 2027. This is exactly why the Annual Enrollment Period exists — to give every beneficiary a yearly window to reassess.
How to Stay Informed
Watch for your plan’s Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letter, which arrives before AEP and outlines what’s changing specifically for your plan heading into the new year. This is the most direct, plan-specific source of information — more useful for your personal situation than general year-over-year trend news.
Reviewing Your Own Situation, Not Just the Numbers
Beyond the official figures, it’s worth reassessing your own situation each year: have your medications changed, have you started seeing a new specialist, has your health status shifted in a way that changes what coverage matters most to you? Plan Year 2027 planning isn’t just about what CMS changed — it’s about whether your current coverage still matches your current needs.
Mark Your Calendar
AEP 2026 (for Plan Year 2027 coverage) runs October 15 through December 7. Starting your review process in the weeks before AEP opens — once ANOC letters and updated figures are available — gives you the most time to make a well-informed decision.
Have questions? Schedule a free review with Kayla Price, a licensed insurance agent at Price Services Group. Call 866-648-1578 or visit priceservicesgroup.com/schedule.
Price Services Group, LLC is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. NPN: 18530055 | Agency NPN: 20387435