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Elderly couple comparing medicare plans online

Should You Switch Medicare Plans This Year? 5 Signs It’s Time

Written by command on . Posted in Medicare News.

You should consider switching Medicare plans if your doctors left the network, your drugs aren’t covered well, or your costs went up. Big changes in your health or where you live are also good reasons to compare. Most people can switch during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7.

Many people keep the same plan for years without checking it. Plans change every year, so the plan that fit you last year may not fit now.

1. Your doctor is no longer in the network

Medicare Advantage plans use provider networks, and those networks change. If a doctor or hospital you rely on leaves your plan, you could pay much more to keep seeing them. Check your plan’s 2027 provider directory, or call your doctor’s office and ask.

2. Your prescriptions cost more or aren’t covered

Plans update their drug lists every year. A drug can move to a higher-cost tier or come off the list entirely. If you take several medications, even a small change per drug adds up over 12 months.

3. Your premium or co-pays went up

Compare more than the monthly premium. Look at deductibles, specialist co-pays, and the out-of-pocket maximum. A $0 premium plan isn’t always the cheapest once you add up the care you actually use.

4. Your health has changed

A new diagnosis, a planned surgery, or new medications can change which plan works best. Someone who sees specialists often may want a different plan than someone who rarely goes to the doctor.

5. Your extra benefits shrank

Dental, vision, hearing, and over-the-counter allowances vary from plan to plan and year to year. If those benefits matter to you, check whether yours were cut for 2027.

When can you switch Medicare plans?

  • Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7. Anyone with Medicare can change Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. Changes start January 1.
  • Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, January 1 to March 31. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one switch.
  • Special Enrollment Periods. Moving, losing other coverage, or having Medicaid or Extra Help can open more chances to change.
  • Medigap in New York. You can apply for a Medicare Supplement plan any time of year, with no health questions.

When staying put makes sense

If your doctors, drugs, and costs all still work, your current plan may be the right choice. A review isn’t about switching for the sake of it. It’s about making sure you aren’t overpaying.

Not sure? Let us compare for you

Erie Medicare Associates compares plans from multiple carriers based on your doctors and prescriptions. There’s no cost and no pressure to switch. To see how your plan stacks up, schedule a free plan review or call (716) 319-4613.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my Medicare plan is still right for me? Read your Annual Notice of Change. Then check that your doctors, drugs, and pharmacy are still covered and that your total costs fit your budget.

Can I switch Medicare plans any time? Most people can switch once a year during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7. Some people qualify for other enrollment periods.

Will I lose coverage if I switch plans? No. When you switch during Annual Enrollment, your new plan starts January 1 and your old plan ends automatically.

Stethoscope with medicare form with parts list

What’s Changing in Medicare for 2027

Written by command on . Posted in Medicare News.

Several Medicare changes take effect January 1, 2027. The yearly cap on Part D drug costs rises to $2,400, and the maximum Part D deductible rises to $700. At the same time, negotiated prices for 15 more prescription drugs begin, which should lower costs for many people.

Here’s what’s changing and what it may mean for your coverage.

Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400

Since 2025, Medicare has capped what you pay each year for covered prescription drugs. The cap was $2,100 in 2026. In 2027, it rises to $2,400.

Once you reach the cap, your plan pays 100% of your covered drugs for the rest of the year. The cap applies to standalone Part D plans and to Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage.

Part D deductible rises to $700

The most a Part D plan can charge for its deductible goes up from $615 to $700. Many plans charge less, and some charge no deductible at all. Check your plan’s Annual Notice of Change to see what yours will be.

Lower prices for 15 more drugs

Medicare-negotiated prices take effect for 15 more drugs on January 1, 2027. They include:

  • Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy (diabetes and weight management)
  • Trelegy Ellipta and Breo Ellipta (asthma and COPD)
  • Xtandi, Ibrance, Pomalyst, and Calquence (cancer)
  • Janumet and Tradjenta (diabetes)
  • Linzess, Xifaxan, Otezla, Ofev, Austedo, and Vraylar

CMS estimates these prices will save people with Part D about $685 million in out-of-pocket costs in 2027. How much you save depends on your plan and how you reach your cap.

Part D premiums may rise for some plans

A temporary federal program that helped hold down standalone Part D premiums ends this year. Some plans may raise premiums in 2027 as a result. If you have a standalone Part D plan, compare your 2027 premium with other plans in Erie County.

Some Medicare Advantage plans are changing benefits

Some Medicare Advantage plans are leaving certain areas or cutting extra benefits like dental coverage for 2027. Others are raising co-pays. If your plan is leaving Erie County, you’ll get a letter and a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan.

What about the Part B premium?

Medicare usually announces next year’s Part B premium and deductible in the fall. For 2026, the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month and the deductible is $283. We’ll update this post when the 2027 figures are released.

What stays the same

  • Insulin costs under Part D stay capped at $35 a month.
  • The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan still lets you spread drug costs into monthly payments. If you’re already enrolled, it renews automatically.
  • In New York, you can still apply for a Medigap plan any time of year without health questions.

What should you do now?

Review your plan during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7. Check that your drugs, doctors, and pharmacy still fit your plan for 2027. [Link to Post 1: Annual Enrollment checklist]

Erie Medicare Associates will compare your options at no cost. Schedule your free plan review or call (716) 319-4613 before December 7.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket maximum for 2027? The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026. After you reach it, covered drugs cost nothing for the rest of the year.

Which drugs have lower Medicare prices in 2027? Fifteen drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Trelegy Ellipta, Xtandi, and Janumet, have Medicare-negotiated prices starting January 1, 2027.

Will my Medicare premium go up in 2027? It depends on your plan. Part D premiums may rise for some plans, and the 2027 Part B premium is announced each fall. Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change shows its new costs.

Older couple reviewing their Medicare plan documents at the kitchen table

Medicare Annual Enrollment: What to Review Before December 7

Written by command on . Posted in Enrollment Deadlines. 1 Comment on Medicare Annual Enrollment: What to Review Before December 7

Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7. It’s your yearly chance to change your Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Any changes you make start January 1, 2027.

Plans change every year, even if you don’t. Premiums, drug lists, and doctor networks can all shift. A quick review now can save you money and surprises next year.

What can you change during Annual Enrollment?

Between October 15 and December 7, you can:

  • Switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
  • Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan
  • Switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare
  • Join, switch, or drop a Part D prescription drug plan

If you’re happy with your plan and it still fits, you don’t need to do anything. Your coverage renews automatically.

Start with your Annual Notice of Change

Your plan mails an Annual Notice of Change each fall. It lists what’s different for next year, including costs, benefits, and covered drugs. Read it first. It’s the fastest way to spot problems.

Your Annual Enrollment checklist

  1. Doctors and hospitals. Are your doctors still in the plan’s network for 2027? Check every specialist, not just your primary care doctor.
  2. Prescriptions. Are all your medications still on the plan’s drug list? Check the tier and the co-pay for each one.
  3. Pharmacy. Is your pharmacy still in network? Some plans have preferred pharmacies with lower co-pays.
  4. Monthly premium. Did it go up? Remember you still pay your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026) on top of any plan premium.
  5. Deductibles and co-pays. Look at what you’d pay for the care you actually use, like specialist visits or lab work.
  6. Out-of-pocket maximum. Medicare Advantage plans cap your yearly medical costs. Check whether that cap changed.
  7. Extra benefits. Dental, vision, hearing, and over-the-counter allowances can shrink or disappear. Some plans are scaling back these benefits for 2027.
  8. Your health this year. A new diagnosis, a new medication, or an upcoming surgery can make a different plan the better fit.

What’s different for 2027?

The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100. The maximum Part D deductible rises to $700. Negotiated prices for 15 more drugs, including Ozempic, also take effect January 1.

What if you miss December 7?

If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one more chance. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 to March 31. You can switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or go back to Original Medicare once during that window.

In New York, you can apply for a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan at any time of year. Insurers can’t turn you down for health reasons.

Get a free plan review

Comparing plans takes time. We do it for you at no cost. Erie Medicare Associates reviews your doctors, prescriptions, and budget, then shows your options side by side. Schedule your free plan review or call (716) 319-4613 to get started.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Medicare Annual Enrollment for 2027 coverage? Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.

Do I have to do anything during Annual Enrollment? No. If your plan still fits your needs, it renews automatically. A review is still a good idea, since plans change every year.

Can I change my Medicare plan after December 7? Medicare Advantage members can make one change from January 1 to March 31. Some people also qualify for Special Enrollment Periods, such as after a move or when they have Medicaid or Extra Help.