Medicare Open Enrollment Brings Plan Changes as Older Adults Weigh Costs

Medicare beneficiaries have until Dec. 7 to compare coverage for 2027 as older adults weigh medical bills, prescription costs and changes to their plans. An Associated Press report published Oct. 31 follows Barbara Weigand, an 83-year-old Ohio resident who withdrew $4,000 from retirement savings after shoulder surgery and a bladder cancer diagnosis. She is reviewing Medicare Advantage options and worries about affording future medical expenses.

National averages offer context, but they do not predict an individual enrollee’s costs. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services projects that the weighted average Medicare Advantage premium will fall from $14.37 a month in 2026 to $12 in 2027. The average standalone Part D premium is projected to rise by less than $1, to $36.

CMS also says more than 99% of beneficiaries will have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan, and 97% will have access to 10 or more. Availability and provider networks vary by county, and insurers may change or withdraw plans. National figures cannot replace a local comparison.

Plan offerings and prescription drug coverage may also change. Beneficiaries should check their plan’s annual notice for updates to premiums, benefits, covered medicines and participating doctors.

Drug affordability is a concern beyond plan premiums. A KFF survey cited in the report found that about four in 10 adults said they had not taken medicine as prescribed in the past year because of cost. Some said they skipped doses or split pills.

Caregiving costs add pressure for many older households. An AARP report cited in the coverage found that family caregivers spent an average of $11,508 out of pocket in 2025, nearly 60% more than in 2021.

Medicare open enrollment runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. CMS directs beneficiaries to Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder to compare premiums, costs, benefits and drug coverage. The agency advises reviewing current plan documents because terms can change from year to year.

Gettysburg-area residents can use the same federal comparison tool, but should check their own doctors, prescriptions and county-specific plans before switching. This story summarizes the news report and CMS projections; it does not assess any individual’s coverage.

Sources: The Associated Press: Older adults weigh health costs and coverage changes | CMS: Medicare Advantage and Part D outlook for 2027 | Medicare Plan Finder