How to Choose a Medicare Plan in Florida for 2027

What are the Open Enrollment dates?

Medicare's Open Enrollment, also called the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), runs October 15 to December 7, 2026. Changes you make generally take effect January 1, 2027.

You may also have other chances to change plans if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. That is a window outside the usual dates that opens when certain events happen.

For the full picture of dates, what you can change, and what you cannot, see our guide to the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for 2027.

When can I start comparing 2027 plans?

2027 plan details are typically available around October 1. That gives you about two weeks to look before Open Enrollment opens. You can compare your plans here with us. Book a no-cost 30-minute review or call (813) 544-7066.

What is my Annual Notice of Change for?

If you already have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends you an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall. It lists what is changing for 2027: premiums, copays, drug coverage, and network.

Read it before you compare. It shows what your current plan will look like next year, so it is a good place to start. Medicare's Your Yearly Medicare Review guide can help.

Here is the short version. Our full Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage article goes deeper.

Medicare Advantage

• One private plan that covers your Part A and Part B benefits, and often drug coverage.
• Networks are set at the county level.
• You pay copays or coinsurance as you use care, up to a yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
• You can change plans during Open Enrollment each fall.

Learn more on our Medicare Advantage page. If you are weighing HMO and PPO plan types, see HMO vs. PPO Medicare Advantage.

Original Medicare with Medigap (and a Part D plan)

• Medigap works alongside Original Medicare. You add a stand-alone Part D plan for drugs.
• Medigap has its own open enrollment period. It lasts 6 months and starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B.

An important Florida detail: Florida does not have a Medigap "birthday rule." Some states give people a yearly window to switch Medigap policies. Florida does not. Outside guaranteed-issue windows, insurers may use medical underwriting. That means they can look at your health history before they agree to sell you a policy or set its price.

Florida also has specific Medigap rules, including for people under 65 who have Medicare because of a disability. The Florida Department of Financial Services explains them on its Medicare Supplement overview.

This matters because moving from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare later does not guarantee you can buy a Medigap policy. See our Medicare Supplement page for more.

Are Medicare Advantage plans a good fit for snowbirds?

It depends on the plan and on how you travel. Because Medicare Advantage networks are set by county, it is worth checking how a plan handles care when you are away from home.

If you split the year between Florida and another state, ask these questions about any plan:

• Where are the in-network doctors and hospitals?
• What does the plan cover when I am in another state?
• What would I pay for routine care, not just emergencies, while I am away?

Answers vary by plan, so check the plan's 2027 documents or ask a licensed advisor.

A few federal rules for 2027 are worth knowing. They are not the same as any one plan's costs.

Part D (drug coverage)

• Out-of-pocket threshold: $2,400. Once your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs reach $2,400 in 2027, you generally pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs that year.
• Deductible: up to $700. The 2027 Part D deductible can be up to $700. Plans may set a lower amount.
• Premium changes. A federal program that helped steady stand-alone Part D plan premiums (the Premium Stabilization Demonstration) ends after 2026. Stand-alone drug plan premiums may move for 2027. Check each plan's actual premium.
• Negotiated drug prices. Medicare negotiated prices for 15 drugs, effective January 1, 2027. You should still check each plan's drug list, the tier, and your pharmacy.

See our prescription drugs page for more.

Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket limits

Federal rules set a ceiling on how high a plan's yearly out-of-pocket maximum can be. For 2027, the ceiling is up to $9,850 for in-network services and up to $14,800 for combined in-network and out-of-network services. These are upper limits, not typical amounts. Plans may set lower limits.

Source: CMS, April 2026

Part B and other 2027 Medicare costs

CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.

• 2027 Part B standard premium: CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.
• 2027 Part B deductible: CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.
• 2027 income-related amounts (IRMAA): CMS usually announces this in November. We'll share the official 2027 amount as soon as CMS releases it.

For local 2027 changes and costs, see 2027 Medicare Open Enrollment in Tampa Bay.

Sometimes a plan will not be offered in your area next year. If so, the insurance company sends a notice, often by early October.

If you get one of these notices:

• Read it carefully. It explains when your coverage ends.
• You can choose a new plan during Open Enrollment.
• You may also qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We can confirm the exact dates that apply to you.

Our Stay-or-Switch Review is a no-cost look at whether your plan still fits for 2027. Here is how it works:

1. We start with your doctors and your drugs, not with a list of plans.
2. We check your doctors, hospitals, and prescriptions against plans we offer in your county. Our Check Coverage tool and Plan Finder are a good place to begin.
3. We read your ANOC with you so you know what is changing.
4. We give you an honest verdict. Sometimes that verdict is to stay put.

You can read how we compare plans on our methodology page.

Open Book. Our guidance is no-cost to you. If you enroll in a plan through AdviseCare, the insurance company may pay the agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area.

Medicare OS. Clients use Medicare OS to keep their Medicare details in one place.

Aftercare. Our help does not end when you enroll. We are here for your review again next fall.

Where we help. We're licensed agents based in Tampa, FL, and we help clients across Florida by phone and video. See our Florida Medicare plan help, Tampa Bay Medicare agent, Lutz Medicare help, and service areas pages.

Caregivers are welcome. If you are helping a parent compare plans, you can join the review with their permission.

Ready to start?

Book a no-cost 30-minute Stay-or-Switch Review by phone or video, anywhere in Florida, or call (813) 544-7066.

Prefer to look first? Check your doctors and drugs, then try Plan Finder, then talk with us when you are ready.