What is Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is a way to get your Part A and Part B benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare instead of directly from Original Medicare. Most plans also include Part D drug coverage, and many may include extras such as dental, vision and hearing.

Do I still pay Part B?

Yes. You keep paying your Part B premium after you join a Medicare Advantage plan, plus any premium the plan itself charges. The standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, and the 2027 amount, projected at about $209.50, is expected to be announced in November.

Is there a yearly cap?

Yes. Every Medicare Advantage plan has a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered Part A and Part B services, a protection Original Medicare alone does not have. Once you reach it, the plan pays for covered services for the rest of the year; limits vary by plan, and PPOs usually have a separate, higher combined limit.

When can I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027?

You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and coverage starts January 1, 2027. If you are already in Medicare Advantage, you can make one more change from January 1 to March 31, 2027, and new enrollees can join when they first become eligible.

What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

Your plan will send a non-renewal notice, and your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. You can choose a new Medicare Advantage plan during Annual Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period, and you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans if you would rather switch to Original Medicare.

What is the difference between an HMO, PPO and SNP?

An HMO usually requires you to use in-network doctors and often needs referrals, while a PPO also covers out-of-network care at a higher cost. A Special Needs Plan, or SNP, is limited to people with certain chronic conditions, Medicaid eligibility or institutional care, and its benefits are tailored to those needs.

How much do Medicare Advantage plans cost in 2027?

CMS projects the average Medicare Advantage premium will be $12 a month in 2027, down from $14.37 in 2026, and you still pay your Part B premium on top of that. Your real costs also include copays, coinsurance and the plan's out-of-pocket maximum, so compare total yearly costs, not just the premium.

BCBS Medicare Advantage Plans 2027

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

BCBS Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 are sold by independent Blue companies, and their 2027 moves differ sharply by state. HCSC cuts its footprint from 948 to 478 counties, Anthem exits South Carolina, and Wellmark, BCBS North Dakota and BCBS Mississippi leave Medicare Advantage.

Each Blue Cross Blue Shield company sets its own plans, networks and prices. A Blue plan in Texas has nothing in common with a Blue plan in North Carolina except the brand, so always compare the plans offered in your county.

See Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans 2027 and is Blue Cross leaving Medicare Advantage.

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

Key Highlights

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Blue plans are run by independent companies.

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HCSC: 948 to 478 counties.

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Wellmark, BCBS ND and BCBS MS exit Medicare Advantage.

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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

Blue Companies for 2027

The table shows the verified 2027 Medicare Advantage changes for the largest Blue companies. If your company is not listed, we found no verified 2027 change; read your Annual Notice of Change.

Blue Company	2027 Medicare Advantage Note
HCSC (BCBS of IL, TX, OK, NM, MT)	948 counties down to 478; exits CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and DC; cuts 48 PPOs
Elevance (Anthem)	308 plans, down from 345; pulling plans from 56 counties; exits South Carolina
Wellmark (IA, SD)	Not offering Medicare Advantage for 2027
BCBS North Dakota	Not offering Medicare Advantage for 2027
BCBS Mississippi	Not offering Medicare Advantage for 2027
Regence BCBS of Oregon	Leaving Medicare Advantage in Jackson, Josephine and Douglas counties
Excellus BCBS	Discontinuing Medicare Advantage PPO plans in its Central New York market
Blue Cross of Idaho	Expanding, reported at 24 to 35 counties
Blue Cross NC, Blue Shield of California, Highmark	No verified 2027 change; read your Annual Notice of Change

Sources: CMS 2027 landscape data and insurer statements as reported by Becker’s, Sept 30 to Oct 1, 2026.

Benefits Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans May Offer

Blue Cross Blue Shield 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 BCBS Medicare Advantage Plans

What Changed for Blue Plans in 2027

Blue Company	2027 Change
HCSC	948 counties down to 478
Elevance (Anthem)	Removing standard plans from 56 counties; leaving South Carolina
Wellmark (IA, SD)	Not offering Medicare Advantage for 2027

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.

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Where Blue Plans Are Growing

Growth Areas

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New Mexico: HCSC’s Blue Medicare Advantage expands to all 33 counties

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Idaho: Blue Cross of Idaho expands its county footprint

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Colorado and Maine: Anthem expands Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans

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Arizona: AZ Blue Medicare Advantage plans earned a 4.5-star rating for 2026

If Your Blue Plan Is Leaving

Step by Step

Read the non-renewal letter. It confirms your plan ends December 31, 2026.

List your doctors and drugs. You will need them to compare replacements.

Compare remaining plans in your county. Look at national insurers and any other Blue plan offered.

Consider Medigap. You generally have a guaranteed issue right to certain Medigap plans.

Sign up by December 7, 2026. Your coverage takes effect January 1, 2027.

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.

2024 medicare advantage plans

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, Blue Cross Blue Shield plans generally rely on networks of doctors and hospitals and may require prior authorization or referrals for some services. Original Medicare has no yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, but every Medicare Advantage plan does. 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

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

Blue Cross Blue Shield Drug Coverage for 2027

Part D drug coverage is included in most Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans. Every plan has its own formulary, drug tiers and pharmacy network, and plans often charge less through mail order and at preferred pharmacies. For 2027, the Part D deductible on any plan can be as high as $700, and covered drug costs are capped at $2,400 out of pocket.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

If Your Plan Is Ending

You should have gotten a non-renewal notice in early October if your Blue Cross Blue Shield plan will not be offered in your county for 2027. Coverage does not end immediately: it runs through December 31, 2026, giving you time to decide.

If Your Plan Is Ending

Review your non-renewal letter. It verifies that your plan is ending and lays out your choices.

Write down your doctors and drugs. Comparing replacement plans requires them.

Compare your 2027 plan choices. Look at networks, drug coverage and the out-of-pocket maximum, not only the premium.

Pick a plan by December 31 to avoid a gap. If you enroll during Annual Enrollment by December 7, your coverage starts January 1, 2027.

Rely on your Special Enrollment Period if necessary. If your plan is ending, you generally have until the end of February 2027 to make a choice.

If you take no action: on January 1, 2027, you go back to Original Medicare, and you will have no drug coverage unless you pick a Part D plan. Being without drug coverage may result in a late enrollment penalty.

Medigap rights: if your Medicare Advantage plan exits your area, you generally get a guaranteed issue right, lasting up to 63 days after your coverage ends, to purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions.

How to Compare Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans for 2027

How to Compare

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

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

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

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

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

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

BCBS Medicare Advantage plans vary by Blue company and state for 2027. Confirm whether your Blue plan continues, and compare plans in your county during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Is BCBS leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

Some Blue companies are, but not all. Wellmark, BCBS North Dakota and BCBS Mississippi are leaving Medicare Advantage, HCSC exits several states, and Anthem leaves South Carolina. Other Blue companies continue, so check the plan offered in your county.

➤ Why do BCBS plans differ so much by state?

Each Blue Cross Blue Shield company is independent. They share a brand but set their own plans, networks, benefits and prices, so a Blue plan in one state can look nothing like a Blue plan in the next state.

➤ How much is HCSC cutting for 2027?

HCSC is cutting its Medicare Advantage footprint from 948 counties to 478. It exits Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington, D.C., cuts 48 PPOs, and drops Blue-branded Medicare Advantage in Texas and Oklahoma.

➤ Is Anthem leaving Medicare Advantage?

No, but Anthem is shrinking. Elevance, Anthem’s parent, offers 308 plans for 2027, down from 345, pulls plans from 56 counties and exits South Carolina Medicare Advantage, while expanding Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans into Colorado and Maine.

➤ Are any Blue plans expanding for 2027?

Yes, a few are. HCSC’s Blue Medicare Advantage expands to all 33 New Mexico counties, Blue Cross of Idaho adds counties, and Anthem expands Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans into Colorado and Maine. Availability is still county by county, so check plans for your ZIP code.

➤ What happens if my Blue plan ends?

Your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. You get a Special Enrollment Period to pick a new plan and generally a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions, usually within 63 days after coverage ends.

➤ Do BCBS Medicare Advantage plans include dental and vision?

Many may, but not all plans offer all benefits. Dental, vision, hearing and other extras vary by Blue company, plan and county, so check each plan’s Evidence of Coverage before you enroll. Compare the dollar limits and networks for these extras, not just whether they are listed.

➤ Does a BCBS PPO cover me in other states?

It depends on the plan. Some Blue PPOs may cover care outside your state, while HMOs generally cover only emergencies and urgent care away from home. Ask the plan how it handles out-of-state routine care before you enroll.

➤ When can I enroll in a BCBS Medicare Advantage plan for 2027?

During Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, with coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you are already in Medicare Advantage, you can make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027. If your Blue plan is ending, a Special Enrollment Period also applies.

➤ Where can I get free help comparing Blue plans?

Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) offers free, unbiased counseling. You can also use Medicare Plan Finder or a licensed broker, who compares plans from several insurers at no cost to you. Have your drug list and doctors ready before any call.

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

Russell Noga( 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.

that cover doctors & Rx drugs

1-833-641-4938 TTY 711

BCBS Medicare Advantage Plans 2027

Key Highlights

Compare plans and enroll online

Blue Companies for 2027

Benefits Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans May Offer

What Changed for Blue Plans in 2027

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Where Blue Plans Are Growing

If Your Blue Plan Is Leaving

How Medicare Advantage Works

Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage

Blue Cross Blue Shield Drug Coverage for 2027

If Your Plan Is Ending

How to Compare Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans for 2027

2027 Enrollment Dates

Special Needs Plans

Turning 65 in 2027

Star Ratings

Medicare Advantage or Medigap?

Help Paying Medicare Costs

Getting Help

Bottom Line

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Is BCBS leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

➤ Why do BCBS plans differ so much by state?

➤ How much is HCSC cutting for 2027?

➤ Is Anthem leaving Medicare Advantage?

➤ Are any Blue plans expanding for 2027?

➤ What happens if my Blue plan ends?

➤ Do BCBS Medicare Advantage plans include dental and vision?

➤ Does a BCBS PPO cover me in other states?

➤ When can I enroll in a BCBS Medicare Advantage plan for 2027?

➤ Where can I get free help comparing Blue plans?

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