Medicare Beneficiaries Have Fewer Average Plan Choices for 2027

The average Medicare beneficiary will have fewer Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage to choose from in 2027 than in 2026, according to KFF’s analysis of CMS plan data. The national average remains substantial, but the direction matters because plan exits can change premiums, networks and drug coverage at the local level.

CMS says more than 99% of beneficiaries will still have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan and 97% will have access to 10 or more options. The broad availability therefore remains strong even as the average number of choices declines.

A Smaller Average Does Not Mean Medicare Advantage Is Disappearing

The 2027 market still offers many plans in most areas. The change is better understood as consolidation or pullback in some markets rather than a nationwide collapse in access.

Local Availability Matters More Than the National Average

A beneficiary can only enroll in plans offered in the county where they live. Someone in a market that loses several plans may face a more meaningful change than someone in a county where the number of options stays stable or increases.

Plan Count Is Only One Part of the 2027 Decision

Fewer choices can simplify comparison, but members still need to look at provider networks, drug formularies, premiums and maximum out-of-pocket limits. A plan remaining in the market can also change its benefits from one year to the next.

Oct. 15 Starts the Window to Compare the Actual 2027 Menu

Open Enrollment begins Oct. 15. That is when beneficiaries can move from national averages to the specific plans, doctors and prescriptions that determine what their coverage will look like next year.

References: The Average Medicare Beneficiary has 28 Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan Options for 2027 | Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027