One of the easiest mistakes to make during Medicare Open Enrollment is also one of the most understandable.
You look at your Medicare card.
You look at the name of your Medicare Advantage plan.
The name looks familiar.
The monthly premium may even look familiar.
So you think:
“I already have this plan. Why do I need to look at it again?”
Because the name on the card may be the same while the plan underneath it has changed.
And that could make a very big difference in 2027.
Medicare plans are annual contracts.
That means insurance companies can make changes from one year to the next.
Your premium can change.
Your copays can change.
Your deductible can change.
Your prescription drug coverage can change.
Your dental allowance can change.
Your doctor network can change.
And perhaps most importantly, your hospital network can change.
That is why automatically renewing a Medicare Advantage plan without reviewing it can be risky.
CMS itself is encouraging people with Medicare to review their coverage for 2027 and compare their options because plan costs and benefits can change from year to year.
The Medicare Market Is Still Large
There is plenty of Medicare Advantage choice nationally.
CMS projects that more than 99% of Medicare beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan in 2027, and 97% will have access to 10 or more choices.
CMS also projects the weighted average monthly Medicare Advantage premium to decline from $14.37 in 2026 to about $12 in 2027.
That sounds encouraging.
But there is an important distinction.
National averages do not tell you whether your particular plan is right for you.
Medicare is local.
The plan available to someone in Florida may be completely different from a plan available to someone in New York.
Even within the same state, Medicare Advantage plans can vary dramatically from one county to another.
That is why we believe Medicare shopping should begin with your ZIP code, your doctors, your hospitals, your prescriptions and your priorities.
Not with an advertisement.
Start With Your Doctors
A Medicare Advantage plan can have wonderful benefits on paper.
But if the physicians you actually use are not in the network, those benefits may not matter very much.
Before choosing or keeping a plan for 2027, check your:
Primary care physician
Cardiologist
Orthopedist
Oncologist
Neurologist
Endocrinologist
Dermatologist
Other specialists you regularly see
Do not simply ask:
“Does my doctor accept Medicare?”
That is not enough.
A doctor can accept Medicare while not participating in your particular Medicare Advantage plan.
Ask whether the doctor participates with the exact plan you are considering for 2027.
Then Check the Hospital
This may be even more important.
People often spend considerable time checking doctors and prescriptions but barely think about hospitals.
Ask yourself a simple question:
If something serious happened tomorrow, where would I want to be treated?
That hospital should be part of your Medicare decision.
Check the hospitals near your home.
Check the major medical center you would prefer for serious care.
Check the hospitals connected to your physicians.
And if you travel frequently or spend part of the year in another state, understand how your plan handles care away from home.
A PPO may provide out-of-network coverage, but that does not necessarily mean the cost will be the same as receiving care in network.
Look at the actual copays and coinsurance.
The Drug List Matters
Prescription drug coverage is another area that deserves a fresh look every year.
Do not assume that because your prescription was covered in 2026, it will be covered exactly the same way in 2027.
Check:
Is the drug still covered?
What tier is it on?
Is there a deductible?
Does prior authorization apply?
Is step therapy required?
What pharmacy gives you the best price?
Would mail order cost less?
The Medicare Plan Finder allows beneficiaries to compare plan premiums, drug coverage and other costs based on their individual information.
CMS reports that the average stand-alone Part D premium is projected to be about $36 per month in 2027, compared with $35.09 in 2026.
But once again, the national average is not your personal cost.
Your medications and pharmacy can make one Part D plan much more economical than another.
Don’t Stop at the Premium
This may be one of the most important Medicare lessons for 2027.
Premium does not equal cost.
A $0 premium plan does not mean $0 healthcare.
A Medicare Advantage plan may still have:
Primary care copays
Specialist copays
Hospital copays
Diagnostic imaging costs
Outpatient surgery costs
Prescription drug costs
Out-of-network costs
And a maximum out-of-pocket amount
That maximum out-of-pocket number deserves special attention.
Suppose two plans both have a $0 premium.
One may expose you to considerably more medical expense during a difficult health year than the other.
Suddenly the two plans do not look so similar.
Look at the Benefits You Actually Use
Dental.
Vision.
Hearing.
Over-the-counter allowances.
Transportation.
Fitness programs.
Meal benefits.
These extras can be valuable.
But they should not distract you from the medical foundation of the plan.
A large dental allowance does not compensate for losing access to the cardiologist you have trusted for 10 years.
An attractive over-the-counter benefit does not make up for a hospital you want being out of network.
Think of the extra benefits as icing.
First make sure the cake is good.
Your Annual Notice of Change Matters
If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends you an Annual Notice of Change.
Do not throw it into the pile of Medicare mail.
Open it.
Read it.
That document is specifically designed to tell you what is changing for the coming year.
Look for changes involving:
Premiums
Deductibles
Copays
Coinsurance
Drug coverage
Provider networks
Maximum out-of-pocket costs
Dental
Vision
Hearing
Other supplemental benefits
A few minutes reviewing those changes could prevent an unpleasant surprise in January.
You Have Until December 7
Medicare Open Enrollment for 2027 coverage runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026.
Coverage selected during this period generally begins January 1, 2027.
This is your opportunity to compare.
You do not have to change plans simply because Open Enrollment is happening.
Sometimes keeping your present plan is exactly the right decision.
But keeping it should be a decision.
Not an accident.
Ask Five Questions
Before keeping or changing your Medicare plan for 2027, ask:
Are my doctors still covered?
Are my hospitals still covered?
Are my prescriptions still covered at an acceptable cost?
What could I pay if I become seriously ill?
Are the benefits I care about still there?
If you can answer those five questions confidently, you are already making a much more informed Medicare decision.
Medicare Is Becoming a Shopping Decision
There was a time when many people approached Medicare by asking one question:
“What is the premium?”
That is no longer enough.
Today Medicare Advantage plans combine insurance coverage, healthcare networks, prescription drug formularies and supplemental benefits.
That makes comparing plans more complicated.
But technology is also making comparison easier.
CMS says Medicare.gov now allows users to save providers and compare them while reviewing plans, and the Medicare Plan Finder provides access to premiums, costs, benefits, formularies and other plan information.
That is also the philosophy behind MedicareSelfEnroll.com.
Medicare is changing.
The way you shop for Medicare should change also.
Education First. Enrollment Second.
Our goal is not to tell you which Medicare plan to buy.
Our goal is to help you understand what you are looking at.
If you live in New York, Florida, North Carolina or Texas, you can visit MedicareSelfEnroll.com to explore your Medicare choices.
Start with your location.
Check your doctors.
Check your hospitals.
Check your prescriptions.
Compare your costs.
Then make your decision.
You can do it at your own pace.
No pressure.
No one will call you simply because you visited the website.
Because when it comes to Medicare, the best plan is not necessarily the one with the biggest advertisement, the largest dental benefit or the lowest premium.
It is the plan that works for you when you actually need healthcare.
Medicare is a financial decision as well as a healthcare decision.
Look beyond the premium.
Look beyond the name.
And before you keep your Medicare plan for 2027, look under the hood.
Visit MedicareSelfEnroll.com
We represent most major Medicare plans in the areas we serve. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent multiple organizations which offer products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program to get information on all of your options.
William Vargas brings over 50 years of financial and insurance expertise to every Medicare conversation. He operates MedicareSelfEnroll.com, helping seniors in Florida, New York, and North Carolina — with no pressure, no phone calls required.