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# Medicare & You - 2027 Edition from Medicare.gov
- URL: https://medicaretips.org/medicare-and-you-2027-edition-pub-10050/
- Published: 2026-09-01T13:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-07T13:59:33.000Z
- Description: The official 2027 Medicare handbook explains how Medicare works, your coverage choices, and the key dates for Open Enrollment, October 15-December 7, 2026. This summary covers what's new for 2027, the $2,400 Part D out-of-pocket cap, enrollment periods, and help paying your costs.
- Author: Medicare Tips Team
- Tags: Official Medicare Publications & Guides

## Who Should Read This

This handbook is for anyone who has Medicare or will be eligible soon. That includes people turning 65, adults under 65 who get disability benefits, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or ALS. It is especially useful in the fall, when people with Medicare can review their health and drug coverage for the coming year.

Caregivers and adult children who help a parent or other family member with Medicare decisions will also find it helpful. It explains coverage choices, costs, and deadlines in one place, and it lists where to get free, personalized help.

## When This Applies

This edition of "Medicare & You" covers Medicare in 2027\. It was printed in September 2026, ahead of Open Enrollment, which runs October 15-December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.

Medicare costs, plan choices, and some rules change every year, so use the current edition for amounts and deadlines. The 2027 Part A and Part B premium and deductible amounts weren't available when the handbook was printed, so it shows the 2026 amounts and points readers to Medicare.gov for the latest figures. For 2026 coverage, see the summary of the previous edition under Related Resources.

## Quick Overview

"Medicare & You" is the official U.S. government Medicare handbook from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The 128-page 2027 edition explains how Medicare works, the two main ways to get coverage, what Medicare covers, what you may pay, and when you can sign up or make changes. It also covers drug coverage, help paying costs, your rights, and where to get help, and it is available in standard print, large print, and eBook formats.

## Key Takeaways

- There are two main ways to get Medicare: Original Medicare (Part A and Part B, with the option to add a drug plan and supplemental coverage) or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), which bundles Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.
- Open Enrollment runs October 15-December 7, 2026\. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027, and the handbook suggests you start comparing your options on October 1, 2026.
- In 2027, out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs are capped at $2,400, and a drug plan's deductible can't be more than $700.
- The 2027 Part A and Part B premiums and deductibles weren't available when the handbook was printed. Check Medicare.gov for the latest amounts.
- To get Part A and Part B or join a Medicare plan, you must now meet certain citizenship, nationality, or immigration status requirements.
- Signing up late can cost more for as long as you have coverage. The Part B premium can go up 10% for each full 12 months you could have had Part B but didn't, and a Part D penalty can apply after 63 or more days in a row without creditable drug coverage.
- If you have limited income and resources, Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help may pay some of your premiums and other costs.

## What's New for 2027

- You must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a Cuban-Haitian entrant, or lawfully living in the U.S. as a Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrant to get Part A and Part B or join a Medicare plan.
- Telehealth flexibilities are extended through December 31, 2027, so you can get covered telehealth services anywhere in the U.S., including at home.
- Since July 1, 2026, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program has offered access to certain GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, with a $50 copayment for a monthly supply, for people with Part D who meet certain requirements.
- ACCESS, a new voluntary model for people in Original Medicare, connects your doctor with participating providers to help manage chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, and depression.
- You can now log into your Medicare.gov account using ID.me, CLEARme.com, or Login.gov, which verify your identity to help prevent fraud.
- Negotiated prices for the next 15 Part D drugs take effect January 1, 2027.

## Publication Summary

The handbook opens with what's new, a list of the parts of Medicare, and a side-by-side comparison of Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Part A (Hospital Insurance) helps cover inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and home health care. Part B (Medical Insurance) helps cover doctor services, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, and many preventive services. Part D helps cover prescription drugs through private plans that follow Medicare rules. A calendar of key dates shows when to compare plans, when Open Enrollment runs, and when new coverage starts.

Section 1 explains how to sign up. If you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you get Part A and Part B automatically starting the first day of the month you turn 65, and your Medicare card arrives in the mail 3 months before your 65th birthday. If you don't get those benefits yet, you sign up through Social Security, or through the Railroad Retirement Board if you worked for a railroad. The handbook describes the 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, the Special Enrollment Period for people with coverage from current employment, and the General Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31\. It also explains how Medicare works with employer coverage, COBRA, TRICARE, Medicaid, Marketplace plans, and Health Savings Accounts, including a chart of which insurance pays first.

Section 2 lists the services Part A and Part B cover, in alphabetical order, with what you usually pay. Hospital and skilled nursing facility costs are measured in benefit periods, and the handbook explains why it matters whether you are an inpatient or an outpatient under observation. The section ends with what Original Medicare doesn't cover, including non-medical long-term care, routine physical exams, eye exams for glasses, hearing aids, and most dental care.

Section 3 covers Original Medicare. You can use any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, you usually don't need a referral to see a specialist, and you generally pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount for Part B services after you meet the deductible. There is no yearly limit on what you pay out of pocket unless you have other coverage. This section also explains assignment and the Medicare Summary Notice that shows what Medicare paid.

Section 4 covers Medicare Advantage Plans, which are offered by private companies. These plans may require you to use network providers, get referrals, or get prior authorization, but they have a yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs, and most offer extra benefits like vision, hearing, and dental. The handbook describes HMO, PPO, Private Fee-for-Service, Special Needs, and Medical Savings Account plans, when you can join or switch, and other options like Medicare Cost Plans and PACE.

Section 5 explains Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), which helps pay costs like coinsurance and deductibles in Original Medicare. In most states, plans are standardized by letter, and a chart compares what each plan pays. The best time to buy is your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which starts the first month you have Part B and are 65 or older.

Section 6 covers Medicare drug coverage (Part D), including when to join or switch plans, what you pay, and how plan drug lists and tiers work. It explains the $2,400 out-of-pocket cap for 2027, the $35 limit on a one-month supply of covered insulin, and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which spreads your drug costs across the year but doesn't lower them.

Section 7 describes help paying costs, including the four Medicare Savings Programs run by states, Extra Help with drug costs, Medicaid, and State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs. Section 8 covers your rights, how to file an appeal, how Medicare protects your personal information, and how to spot and report fraud. Section 9 lists helpful contacts, including each state's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and Section 10 defines common Medicare terms.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**When can I change my Medicare coverage for 2027?**  
During Open Enrollment, October 15-December 7, 2026, you can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan or drug plan, or switch to Original Medicare. Changes take effect January 1, 2027\. If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can also make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.

**How much will I pay for prescription drugs in 2027?**  
Costs depend on your plan, but your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs are capped at $2,400 in 2027\. A plan's deductible can't be more than $700, and covered insulin costs no more than $35 for a one-month supply. People who qualify for Extra Help generally pay no more than $5.80 for each generic drug and $14.40 for each brand-name drug in 2027.

**What are the 2027 Part B premium and deductible?**  
Those amounts weren't available when the 2027 handbook was printed, so it shows 2026 figures instead. Visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for the latest amounts.

**Will I be signed up for Medicare automatically?**  
If you already get Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you get Part A and Part B automatically starting the first day of the month you turn 65\. If not, you need to sign up through Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board if you worked for a railroad), usually during your 7-month Initial Enrollment Period, which starts 3 months before the month you turn 65.

**Can I have both Medigap and a Medicare Advantage Plan?**  
No. You can't use Medigap to pay Medicare Advantage Plan costs, and it's illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy while you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan unless you're switching back to Original Medicare.

## Related Resources

- [Medicare & You - 2026 Edition (Publication 10050)](https://medicaretips.org/medicare-and-you-2026-edition-pub-10050/) \- The previous edition, for 2026 coverage
- [Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans (Publication 12026)](https://medicaretips.org/understanding-medicare-advantage-plans-pub-12026/) \- A closer look at Part C plans and how they work
- [Choosing a Medigap Policy (Publication 02110)](https://medicaretips.org/choosing-a-medigap-policy-pub-02110/) \- How supplemental coverage works with Original Medicare
- [Extra Help with Medicare Drug Costs (SSA Publication 05-10508)](https://medicaretips.org/extra-help-with-medicare-drug-costs-ssa-publication-05-10508/) \- Help paying Part D costs for people with limited income and resources

## Access the Full Publication

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Publication Number: 10050  
Publication Date: September 2026  
Length: 128 pages