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.

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.

Medicare Advantage plans bundle your coverage into one private plan, often with low premiums and extra benefits, but you usually use a network. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans work with Original Medicare, cost more each month, and let you see any doctor who takes Medicare. The right choice depends on your health, budget, and how much flexibility you want.

In New York, the choice is less risky than in most states, because you can switch to a Medigap plan later without health questions.

How Medicare Advantage works

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, replaces Original Medicare with a plan from a private insurance company approved by Medicare. It covers everything Parts A and B cover. Most plans also include Part D drug coverage.

Many plans add dental, vision, hearing, fitness, and over-the-counter benefits. In exchange, you usually need to use the plan’s network of doctors and hospitals, and some plans require referrals.

How Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works

A Medigap plan works alongside Original Medicare. Medicare pays its share first, then your Medigap plan pays some or all of what’s left, like deductibles and the 20% coinsurance.

You can see any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare. Medigap doesn’t include drug coverage, so most people add a separate Part D plan.

Side-by-side comparison

	Medicare Advantage	Medicare Supplement (Medigap)
Monthly premium	Often low or $0, plus your Part B premium	Higher, plus your Part B premium
Costs when you get care	Co-pays and coinsurance, up to a yearly cap	Little or nothing, depending on the plan
Doctors	Usually a network	Any provider that accepts Medicare
Referrals	Some plans require them	Not required
Drug coverage	Usually included	Add a separate Part D plan
Extra benefits	Often dental, vision, hearing, fitness	Not included
Travel	Limited outside the service area, except emergencies	Coverage anywhere in the U.S.
Switching in New York	During enrollment periods	Apply any time of year

Who often prefers Medicare Advantage?

• People who want a low monthly premium
• People who value dental, vision, and hearing benefits
• People who are comfortable using a local network
• People who want one card for medical and drug coverage

Who often prefers Medigap?

• People who want predictable costs when they get care
• People who see specialists often or have ongoing health needs
• People who travel or spend part of the year out of state
• People who want to choose any doctor without referrals

Why New York is different

In most states, you only get one chance to buy Medigap without health questions. After that, insurers can deny you or charge more. New York requires Medigap insurers to accept you any time of year, and premiums can’t vary by your age or health.

That means trying Medicare Advantage first doesn’t lock you out of Medigap later. Medigap premiums in New York tend to be higher than in other states at age 65, because everyone in an area pays the same rate.

Get a personalized comparison

The best plan depends on your doctors, prescriptions, health, and budget. Erie Medicare Associates compares Medicare Advantage and Medigap options from multiple carriers in Erie County, at no cost to you. Compare your options with us or call (716) 319-4613.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the main difference between Medicare Advantage and Medigap? Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a private plan that usually has a network. Medigap supplements Original Medicare and lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in New York? Yes. New York lets you apply for a Medigap plan any time of year, and insurers can’t turn you down for health reasons. You’d also return to Original Medicare and add Part D.

Does Medigap include prescription drug coverage? No. Medigap plans don’t cover prescriptions, so most people pair Medigap with a standalone Part D plan.