CMS released the 2027 plan outlook on September 28
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services says the weighted average monthly premium across Medicare Advantage plans is projected to decrease from $14.37 in 2026 to $12.00 in 2027, a 16.5% decline. CMS also projects that more than 99% of Medicare beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan and 97% will have access to 10 or more choices.
For Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage, CMS projects the average monthly Part D portion of the premium—after Medicare Advantage rebates—to decrease from $11.32 in 2026 to $7 in 2027.
Stand-alone Part D averages look relatively stable
CMS projects the total average monthly premium for stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans to rise by less than $1, from $35.09 in 2026 to $36 in 2027. CMS also reports that 88% of non-low-income beneficiaries are expected to have access to a basic Part D plan costing $10.30 or less per month, and 93% are expected to have access to an enhanced Part D plan costing less than $6 per month.
Those are national availability and average-premium figures. They do not tell you what a specific plan in your ZIP code will charge or how that plan will cover your prescriptions.
A lower national average does not mean every plan is getting cheaper
This is the most important distinction in the announcement. A national average combines many plans and many beneficiaries. Your own 2027 premium can move differently, and premium is only one part of what you may spend.
When 2027 plan details are available, review the full picture: your monthly premium, medical deductible, copayments and coinsurance, maximum out-of-pocket limit, prescription deductible and drug costs, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, prior authorization requirements, and any supplemental benefits you actually use.
Do not assume “same plan name” means “same coverage”
CMS says approximately eight in 10 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries are expected to be able to remain in their current plan with the same or a lower premium in 2027. That is useful context, but staying in the same plan is not the same as keeping every 2026 cost or benefit unchanged.
Your Annual Notice of Change is designed to show what your current plan is changing for January 1. Compare that notice with your actual healthcare needs—especially your doctors, specialists, prescriptions and preferred pharmacies—before deciding to stay or switch.
October is when the numbers become personal
Medicare Open Enrollment runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. During that period, people with Medicare can compare 2027 coverage options and make changes for January 1, 2027. CMS directs beneficiaries to Medicare.gov for plan comparisons.
Before you compare, have a current medication list with dosages, your preferred pharmacies, your doctors and specialists, and a list of benefits that matter to you. That makes it much easier to evaluate the actual cost and fit of each option rather than choosing based on an advertisement or premium alone.