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Is Anthem Leaving Medicare Advantage In 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) | Last updated October 8, 2026

No. Anthem is not leaving Medicare Advantage overall for 2027, but its parent Elevance Health cuts to 308 plans from 345, pulls standard plans from 56 counties and exits South Carolina.

Elevance is also expanding C-SNPs into Colorado and Maine. Its Medicare brands include Anthem, Wellpoint, Freedom Health, Optimum HealthCare and Simply.

See Anthem Medicare Advantage plans 2027.

✔ Licensed across all 50 states
✔ Built on CMS 2027 data
✔ No-cost plan comparison

Key Highlights

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No. Anthem is not leaving Medicare Advantage overall for 2027, but its parent Elevance Health cuts to 308 plans from 345, pulls standard plans from 56 counties and exits South Carolina.

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Read your Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter.

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If your plan ends, you get a Special Enrollment Period and generally a guaranteed issue right to certain Medigap plans.

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Nationally, the average 2027 Medicare Advantage premium is $12 a month, down from $14.37 (CMS).

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The Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

What We Know About Anthem for 2027

345 to 308

Elevance MA plans.

56 Counties

Losing standard plans.

South Carolina

Full MA exit.

CO and ME

New C-SNPs.

Elevance Brand Where Seen
Anthem States where Anthem is the Blue company
Wellpoint Some states
Freedom Health / Optimum HealthCare Florida
Simply Florida; often SNPs

Benefits Anthem Plans May Offer

Anthem Plans May Include

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Hospital and medical coverage matching Original Medicare Part A and B

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Part D prescription drug coverage on most plans

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Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits

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Fitness programs and over-the-counter allowances

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Telehealth visits and care coordination programs

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum on every plan

Benefits are not offered by every plan. They differ by plan and county and may change for 2027. Review the Evidence of Coverage for each plan before enrolling.

Understanding Anthem's Role in Medicare Advantage

If Your Plan Is Ending

Keep an eye out: a non-renewal letter will arrive if your plan is ending. You stay covered through December 31, 2026. Taking no action sends you back to Original Medicare with no drug coverage.

Guaranteed issue: when your Medicare Advantage plan exits your area, you can generally purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions asked, up until 63 days after that coverage ends.

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

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How to Tell If Your Plan Is Ending

Step by Step

1

Check your mail. Plans that are not renewing send a non-renewal notice by early October.

2

Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists every 2027 change if your plan continues.

3

Search your plan in Medicare Plan Finder. If it does not appear for 2027 in your county, it is not offered.

4

Call the plan. Ask whether your plan and county continue in 2027.

How Medicare Advantage Works

Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, lets you receive your Medicare benefits through a Medicare-approved private insurer. These plans cover everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, with the exception of hospice care, which Original Medicare continues to pay for. Most also bundle Part D drug coverage, and many may tack on extras like routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

In return, Anthem plans generally rely on networks of doctors and hospitals and may require prior authorization or referrals for certain services. Unlike Original Medicare, every Medicare Advantage plan caps what you pay out of pocket each year for covered medical care. You continue to pay your Part B premium, along with the plan’s premium if there is one.

Feature HMO PPO
Out-of-network care Not covered except emergencies and urgent care Covered at a higher cost
Referrals for specialists Usually required Usually not required
Premiums Usually lower Usually higher
Out-of-pocket maximum In-network limit In-network limit plus a higher combined limit
Best for Lower costs, local care Flexibility, travel, keeping specific doctors

Comparing Advantage Plans: What to Consider

Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage

Advantages

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Often a low or $0 premium

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum

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Drug coverage usually included

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Dental, vision and hearing benefits may be included in many plans

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One card and one plan

Tradeoffs

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Networks; except for emergencies, HMOs require in-network care

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Prior authorization and referrals are common

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Copays add up if you use a lot of care

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Plans and networks can change every year

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Moving to Medigap later may involve health questions

Anthem Drug Coverage for 2027

Part D drug coverage comes with most Anthem Medicare Advantage plans. Every plan has its own formulary, drug tiers and pharmacy network, and costs are often lower at preferred pharmacies and by mail order. In 2027, a plan’s Part D deductible may be as high as $700, and out-of-pocket costs for covered drugs are capped at $2,400.

Tier Typical Drugs Typical Cost
Tier 1 Preferred generics Lowest copay
Tier 2 Generics Low copay
Tier 3 Preferred brand-name drugs Moderate copay
Tier 4 Non-preferred drugs Higher copay or coinsurance
Tier 5 Specialty drugs Highest coinsurance

Each plan sets its own tiers. Review every plan’s formulary.

A drug you take may not be on a plan’s 2027 formulary, or it may come with a rule such as prior authorization. Even then, you have options:

If Your Drug Is Not Covered

1

Request a transition fill. During the first 90 days of a new plan or plan year, plans generally have to provide a temporary supply of a drug you already take, giving you time to change drugs or ask for an exception.

2

Talk to your doctor about other options. A covered drug from the same class could work just as well for less money.

3

Ask for a tiering or formulary exception. Your doctor sends a statement explaining why you need the drug or a lower copay. Plans have to decide within set time limits.

4

Challenge a denial. When the plan turns you down, you have the right to appeal through several levels of review.

See steps to appeal a Medicare Part D denial.

How to Compare Anthem Plans for 2027

How to Compare

1

Review your Annual Notice of Change. It spells out every 2027 change to the plan you have now.

2

Verify your doctors and hospitals. Make sure every provider is in the 2027 network, not only the 2026 network.

3

Review your prescriptions. Verify every drug, the tier it falls on and any step therapy or prior authorization rules.

4

Look at the full annual cost. Total up the premium, usual copays and drug costs, and review the out-of-pocket maximum.

5

Look at star ratings. Medicare scores plans on quality and service using a 1 to 5 star scale.

6

Sign up by December 7. Coverage under your new plan begins January 1, 2027.

2027 Enrollment Dates

Enrollment Period Dates What You Can Do
Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7, 2026 Join, change or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan effective January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment January 1 to March 31, 2027 In Medicare Advantage, you can change to another plan or go back to Original Medicare one time
Initial Enrollment Period 7 months around your 65th birthday month Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan
Special Enrollment Periods Varies Switch plans after events such as a move, a loss of other coverage or your plan exiting your area

Annual Enrollment is when most people make changes. If you like your current plan, no action is needed; it renews on its own. Even so, review your Annual Notice of Change, since networks, premiums, copays and drug lists can all change on January 1.

Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for particular groups. Their benefits, networks and drug lists are shaped around the members they serve, and many come with care coordinators. In 2027, SNPs are one of the few places large insurers are adding plans, even while cutting PPOs.

Type Who Qualifies What Is Different
Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) People with both Medicare and Medicaid Coordinates both programs; costs are often very low, with extra benefits
Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) People who have qualifying conditions like diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease Doctors, drugs and programs designed around the condition
Institutional SNP (I-SNP) People who live in a nursing home or need that level of care at home Care delivered where the member lives

Turning 65 in 2027

When you turn 65 in 2027, you get a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: the three months before your birthday month, the birthday month itself and the three months that follow. If you sign up in the first three months, coverage begins on the first day of your birthday month.

Turning 65 Checklist

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Enroll in Part A and Part B, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and decide to postpone Part B

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Choose between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare plus Medigap

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Enroll in a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs, to avoid a late Part D penalty

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If you go with Medigap, purchase during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Star Ratings

Each fall, Medicare gives every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan a rating of 1 to 5 stars, based on factors such as preventive care, how well chronic conditions are managed, member complaints, customer service and accuracy of drug pricing. You can see the ratings in Medicare Plan Finder.

Using Star Ratings

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Ratings of 4 stars or more are generally a good indicator of quality and service

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A special enrollment period lets you move into a five-star plan once during the year

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A new plan may not have a rating yet, and that alone isn’t a bad sign

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Ratings reflect the plan as a whole, not how well it covers your particular doctors and drugs

Medicare Advantage or Medigap?

Medicare Advantage Original Medicare + Medigap
Monthly premium Often low or $0 (2027 average $12, CMS) Higher; varies by plan letter, age and ZIP
Doctors Usually a network Any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare
Costs when you get care Copays and coinsurance up to a yearly maximum Low and predictable; on Plan G, little or nothing once the Part B deductible is met
Drug coverage Usually included Add a separate Part D plan
Dental, vision, hearing Many plans may include some coverage Not included
Changing later Every year during Annual Enrollment Health questions in most states once your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends

Help Paying Medicare Costs

When your income and savings are limited, two programs can greatly lower your Medicare costs:

Medicare Savings Programs

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Run by your state Medicaid office

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May cover your Part B premium, and in some cases deductibles and coinsurance

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Income and asset limits vary by state

Extra Help (Part D)

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Run by Social Security

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Lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays

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Those enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically

If you qualify for both Medicare and full Medicaid, you may also be able to join a Dual Special Needs Plan. See help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

Getting Help

You do not need to compare plans by yourself, and help should not cost you anything. Here are the free options:

Free Help Comparing Plans

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Available any time: Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov

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1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), reachable 24 hours a day on all seven days of the week

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Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased counseling

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A licensed agent or insurance broker, who can compare plans across several insurers for free

Gather your Medicare card, a list of your drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies before you call. That way a long conversation becomes a quick one.

Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Check whether your Anthem plan continues for 2027, compare your options and enroll between October 15 and December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Is Anthem leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

No, Anthem is not leaving Medicare Advantage overall for 2027. Its parent company, Elevance Health, is trimming its lineup to 308 plans from 345, pulling standard plans from 56 counties and exiting South Carolina. Members whose plans end will receive a non-renewal letter.

➤ Is Anthem leaving South Carolina?

Yes, Elevance is exiting the South Carolina Medicare Advantage market for 2027. Affected members will get a non-renewal letter, keep coverage through December 31, 2026, and can choose a new plan or Medigap. Compare other plans in your county, or consider Medigap.

➤ How many Anthem Medicare Advantage plans are there for 2027?

Elevance Health, Anthem’s parent, offers 308 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, down from 345. The plans available to you depend on your county, so search your ZIP code to see your options. Check whether your Anthem plan continues in your county.

➤ Is Anthem adding any plans for 2027?

Yes, Elevance is expanding its Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) into Colorado and Maine for 2027. C-SNPs are for people with certain chronic conditions, so check whether you qualify. Plans in other states are not affected by these expansions.

➤ How do I know if my Anthem plan is ending?

You will receive a non-renewal letter if your Anthem plan is not continuing in your county. If your plan continues, your Annual Notice of Change lists every 2027 change to costs, benefits and networks. Read it before Annual Enrollment starts on October 15.

➤ What other brands does Elevance use for Medicare Advantage?

Elevance sells Medicare Advantage plans under Anthem, Wellpoint, Freedom Health, Optimum HealthCare and Simply. If you have any of these brands, check your notice for 2027 changes. Each brand’s plans are listed separately on Medicare Plan Finder.

➤ What should I do if my Anthem plan ends?

Compare other Medicare Advantage plans in your county or switch to Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D. Enroll by December 7, or use your Special Enrollment Period, to avoid losing drug coverage on January 1.

➤ Can I buy Medigap if my Anthem plan ends?

Yes, generally. If your Anthem Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions, generally until 63 days after your coverage ends. Buy within that window to avoid medical underwriting.

➤ Are Anthem Medigap policies affected by the 2027 cuts?

No, Elevance’s 2027 Medicare Advantage cuts do not affect Anthem Medigap policies, which are guaranteed renewable as long as you pay your premium. Medigap and Medicare Advantage are separate products. Your Medigap premium can still change over time.

Have Questions?

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938

TTY users 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company

( Medicare Expert )

Russell Noga is the CEO of ZRN Health & Financial Services, and head content editor of several Medicare insurance online publications. He has over 15 years of experience as a licensed Medicare insurance broker helping Medicare beneficiaries learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

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