Each fall, CMS publishes Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape data for the coming year. For 2027, the national story often highlights a decline in average plan premiums and continued availability of $0-premium options. That is useful context, but it is not a forecast for your mailbox.
State-level fact sheets can show average premiums rising in Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington even when the national average moves the other way. Idaho and Washington shoppers may also see fewer plans on the shelf than in 2026—not because Medicare ended, but because carriers trimmed counties or contracts.
National average vs. your plan
An “average premium” blends every contract in a state or nation. Your plan might still raise its premium, tighten its drug list, or increase copays while another plan across town gets cheaper. The number that matters is on your ANOC and in Plan Finder for your ZIP code—not in a press release.
- Monthly premium — including any plan premium on top of Part B.
- Out-of-pocket maximum — the cap on in-network cost-sharing for covered services (Advantage plans must have one).
- Drug costs — tiers, deductibles, and whether your medications stay covered on the 2027 formulary.
- Network — doctors and hospitals you rely on; fewer plans can mean fewer network options.
$0 premiums are still common—but read the rest
Many 2027 Advantage plans advertise $0 plan premiums. That does not mean free care: you still pay Part B, copays, coinsurance, and drug cost-sharing. A $0 premium plan with a higher specialist copay or a tighter formulary can cost more over a year than a plan with a small premium and lower sharing.
Before Annual Enrollment opens October 15, line up your ANOC, medication list, and provider names. Use Medicare.gov Plan Finder once 2027 data is complete (see our note on Star Ratings and directory updates around early October).
What CDA clients in four states are seeing
We work in Idaho, Oregon, Texas, and Washington. In practice, 2027 shopping means comparing remaining carriers in your county—not assuming last year’s winner still exists. Some markets have carrier exits or narrower networks; others still have robust $0-premium menus. The only way to know is to run your ZIP, doctors, and drugs side by side.
If your plan is non-renewing, treat that separately from a routine premium bump—see ANOC vs. non-renewal and plan exit steps for Oregon and Washington members affected by carrier wind-downs.
Compare 2027 side by side
We can walk through Plan Finder results with you—premium, max out-of-pocket, and drug totals—for your county.
This article is for general education. It is not a plan recommendation, quote, or guarantee of coverage. Benefits, premiums, networks, and eligibility vary by plan and county and can change. CDA Insurance LLC is an independent insurance agency and is not connected with the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Official program information is available at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.