2027 Medicare Changes in California
A plain-English summary of what CMS has published so far for 2027, with links to every source.
Chris Frasca Insurance Services · California Insurance License No. 0L86243
Last updated October 28, 2026. Figures come from CMS and Medicare.gov, dated September 28, 2026 or earlier, and are linked in the sources below.
The short version: Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and changes take effect January 1, 2027. If you like your plan, CMS says you don't need to re-enroll. But plans change their costs, benefits, and networks every year, so read the notice your plan sends and review your options before December 7.
Key dates
- Oct 12027 plan details posted
- Oct 15Annual Enrollment opens
- Dec 7Last day to make a change
- Jan 1New coverage starts
Annual Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7.
- September: the 2027 Medicare & You handbook is mailed, and plans begin notifying members about changes for 2027.
- October 1: you can start shopping and reviewing plans on Medicare.gov.
- Around October 8: 2027 Star Ratings are expected on Medicare.gov.
- October 15 to December 7: Annual Enrollment.
- January 1, 2027: new coverage begins.
Source: CMS, 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, California fact sheet.
Want to know what this means for your plan? I will look at your doctors, medications, and budget with you, at no cost.
California by the numbers
These are the figures CMS published for California on September 28, 2026.
| California | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly Medicare Advantage premium | $13.77 | $14.12 |
| Medicare Advantage plans available | 402 | 394 |
| Stand-alone Part D plans available | – | 10 |
| Lowest monthly stand-alone Part D premium | – | $5.30 |
- 7,243,867 people in California are enrolled in Medicare.
- 99.64% of people with Medicare in California have access to a Medicare Advantage plan, and the same share can get one with a $0 monthly premium.
- CMS reports that 100% of people with a stand-alone Part D plan have access to a plan with a lower premium than they paid in 2026.
- 32.27% of people with a stand-alone Part D plan get Extra Help.
These are statewide averages and counts. They don't predict what your own plan will cost, which depends on your plan, your county, and the doctors and drugs you use. Source: CMS, California fact sheet.
Nationally
| United States (CMS projections) | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Average monthly Medicare Advantage premium | $14.37 | $12.00 |
| Average monthly stand-alone Part D premium | $35.09 | $36.00 |
| Medicare Advantage plans available | 5,553 | 5,532 |
CMS also reports that 97% of people with Medicare have access to 10 or more Medicare Advantage plans, and that supplemental benefits such as dental, vision, and hearing are expected to remain stable. Source: CMS press release, September 28, 2026.
Part D in 2027
- Maximum deductible: $700 in 2027, up from $615 in 2026.
- Out-of-pocket threshold: $2,400 in 2027, up from $2,100 in 2026.
- CMS's rules for 2027 also remove cost sharing for enrollees in the catastrophic phase.
- Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: this option spreads your drug costs across the year. Medicare.gov notes that it doesn't save you money or lower your drug costs.
Sources: CMS 2027 Rate Announcement (Table V-2), Medicare.gov, and the CMS 2027 final rule fact sheet.
Medicare Advantage in 2027
Plans can change their premiums, benefits, provider networks, and costs each year. The averages above hide a lot of variation from plan to plan, so the notice your plan sends is the best guide to what changes for you. Look for any change in your doctors, your hospital, your drugs, and your out-of-pocket costs.
What stays the same
- The Annual Enrollment dates, October 15 through December 7.
- You don't need to re-enroll to keep your current Medicare coverage, according to CMS.
- 1-800-MEDICARE is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
What this page doesn't cover
This page doesn't list 2027 Medicare Part B premiums or deductibles. Check Medicare.gov for those figures when they are published.
What this means in Orange County and Ventura County
The numbers above are statewide. Plans are offered county by county, so the plans, premiums, and doctor networks available to you depend on your address. I review the plans available where you live and check your doctors, hospital, and medications against each one.
Hoag patients: Hoag has told patients that its contract with one Medicare Advantage HMO ends December 31, 2026. See what its letter says and your options before December 7 →
Local pages: Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Mission Viejo, Huntington Beach, Ventura, Oxnard, or all areas I serve.
Your Annual Enrollment checklist
- Read the Annual Notice of Change from your plan. It should be in your mail.
- Write down your doctors, hospital, medications, and pharmacy.
- Check whether your plan's 2027 costs and network still fit.
- Review other options, using the Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov or by talking with a licensed agent.
- Make any change before December 7. If your income is limited, ask about Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help.
Common questions
When is Medicare Annual Enrollment in 2026?
It runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. Anything you change starts on January 1, 2027.
Do I need to do anything if I like my plan?
No. If you like your plan, you don't need to re-enroll to keep it. Plans do change their costs, benefits, and networks every year though, so read the Annual Notice of Change your plan sends you.
What is the Part D out-of-pocket limit for 2027?
For 2027 the Part D out-of-pocket threshold goes up to $2,400, from $2,100 this year. The most a Part D plan can charge for a deductible goes up to $700, from $615.
Does it cost anything to work with an agent?
No. The insurance company pays the agent a commission, not you, so your premium is the same whether you enroll through an agent or go straight to Medicare.
Want help reviewing your 2027 options?
I'll look at your doctors, medications, and budget with you, at no cost. I work with clients in Orange County and Ventura County by phone, video, or in person.
Sources
- CMS, 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape, California fact sheet, September 28, 2026.
- CMS, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Programs Expected to Remain Stable in 2027, September 28, 2026.
- CMS, Announcement of Calendar Year 2027 Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies, April 2026.
- Medicare.gov, How much does Medicare drug coverage cost?
- CMS, Contract Year 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Final Rule.
This page is for education and is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. I am a licensed insurance agent and do not offer every plan available in your area; see the disclaimer below.