KFF estimates that the average Medicare beneficiary will have 28 general-enrollment Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD plans) to choose from in 2027, down from 32 in 2026. That is an average across beneficiaries—not a promise that 28 plans will be available where you live. Your actual choices depend on your location, and the national average cannot tell you which plan fits your doctors, prescriptions, or budget.
What does an average of 28 plan options mean?
KFF’s 2026 analysis of CMS plan and enrollment files counts the MA-PD plans available to the average beneficiary enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B, using enrollment data from June of the prior year. The calculation excludes employer group plans and special-needs plans unavailable for general enrollment, as well as several other plan types, including PACE, cost plans, and Medicare-Medicaid plans. It is not a count of every plan nationwide or an estimate of the choices available to a particular person. KFF explains its 2027 plan-availability analysis.
The average fell by four options from 2026 and is eight below the 2024 high of 36. At 28, it remains slightly above the 2021 average of 27. Those changes describe the average number of qualifying plans, not whether any particular beneficiary gained or lost a suitable option.
Why your local number may be different
Medicare Advantage plans serve specific areas, so availability varies. KFF reports that 26 states and Puerto Rico average at least 20 general-enrollment MA-PD choices for 2027. Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio average at least 40; nine states and the District of Columbia average fewer than 10. Alaska has no general-enrollment Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, as it did in 2026. KFF omits Connecticut from its 2024–2027 state calculations because of a mismatch between county reporting in CMS files and the Medicare Enrollment Dashboard.
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These state figures are also averages, not a count for every county or ZIP code. To see which plans are actually offered where you live, use Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder rather than relying on a national or state average.
How the 28 MA-PD figure differs from other plan counts
The type of plan being counted matters. Medicare Advantage plans must cover Medicare Part A and Part B benefits, but a plan’s package may or may not include Part D prescription drug coverage. KFF reports an average of 35 general-enrollment Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 when plans with and without drug coverage are included, down from 39 in 2026. That is a broader average than the 28-plan MA-PD figure.
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CMS separately projects about 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans nationwide for 2027, compared with 5,553 for 2026. This is a national total across MA plans, not the average number of MA-PD options available to a beneficiary. CMS projects that more than 99% of beneficiaries will have access to at least one MA plan and 97% to at least 10; those access figures likewise do not establish how many MA-PD choices a specific person has. CMS’s 2027 announcement provides its national projections.
How to compare plans available to you
Once you have your location-specific list, compare plans against your own care and spending needs. CMS’s Medicare Plan Finder offers personalized comparisons of premiums, costs, benefits, and other coverage information. Check the details that can materially affect your care and annual budget:
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems- Doctors and hospitals: Confirm whether the providers and facilities you use are in the plan’s network.
- Prescription coverage: Check whether your medications are covered and whether your pharmacy is convenient and included in the plan’s pharmacy arrangements.
- Total expected spending: Compare premiums with the out-of-pocket costs you may face for the care and prescriptions you expect to use. A premium alone does not show what a plan will cost you overall.
- Benefits and cost sharing: Review covered services and what you would pay when you use them.
- Eligibility and timing: Make sure you meet the plan’s enrollment requirements and have a valid election period.
When to compare and enroll for 2027
CMS says beneficiaries can begin comparing 2027 plans through Medicare.gov on October 1, 2026. The annual Medicare Open Enrollment period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026, and coverage under a 2027 plan starts January 1, 2027. CMS notes that costs and covered benefits can change each year, so review the upcoming plan details rather than assuming your current coverage will remain the same. For assistance, CMS lists 1-800-MEDICARE as a resource. Open the Medicare Plan Finder.
Who can join a Part D plan?
CMS says a person joining a Part D plan must have Medicare Part A or Part B, live in the plan’s service area, be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present, and submit an enrollment request during a valid election period. CMS identifies several types of election periods, including the Annual Coordinated Election Period, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, and Special Election Periods. Whether a particular period applies depends on your circumstances. CMS outlines Part D enrollment requirements and election periods.
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