If you have Medicare coverage in Minnesota, 2027 is shaping up to be a year when it’s especially important to review your options.
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, more than 320,000 Minnesotans will need to shop for new Medicare coverage this fall as roughly a dozen existing Medicare Advantage plans are eliminated. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is making some of the largest changes, ending all but one of its existing Medicare Advantage options and withdrawing from 31 counties altogether. Medica, HealthPartners, UnitedHealthcare, and Humana are also eliminating plans or reducing their service areas for 2027.
Medicare Advantage isn’t the only area seeing changes, either. Prescription drug plan costs are shifting, and Minnesota’s Medicare Supplement market continues to evolve.
Here’s what you need to know before choosing your Medicare coverage for 2027.
Know Your Medicare Open Enrollment Dates
By September 30th — Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) letters arrive. You’ll want to pay attention to Medicare letters this year. They’ll let you know if your plan is continuing, what’s changing, or if your plan isn’t renewing and you’ll need to choose a new one.
October 15 to December 7 — the big one. This is Medicare Open Enrollment, and it’s when anyone on Medicare can change almost anything: switch from Original Medicare to an Advantage plan or back, change Advantage plans, or change drug plans. Whatever you pick starts January 1, 2027.
January 1 to March 31 — the second chance. If you’re in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, you get one switch during these three months. You can move to a different Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare and add a drug plan. You can’t use this window to switch drug plans if you’re on Original Medicare.
Special windows, when something happens to you. Moving, losing other coverage, or having your plan discontinued all open a special enrollment period outside the normal dates. If your plan is ending, you get extra time, and you likely get the right to buy a supplement without health questions. Those rights have deadlines.
If you take one thing from this section: October 15 to December 7 is the window that matters for most people. Put it on the calendar now.
Minnesota Medicare Advantage Plans Are Changing
Medicare Advantage is sold county by county, and insurers decide each year where they’ll offer coverage.
Some of the biggest changes are coming from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, which is ending all but one of its existing Medicare Advantage options and replacing them with a smaller selection of new plans. Blue Cross will also stop offering Medicare Advantage altogether in 31 Minnesota counties. Medica is exiting 22 counties, HealthPartners is leaving seven, and UnitedHealthcare is reducing its service area by 12 counties. Humana is discontinuing its individual Medicare Advantage plans statewide.
Even in counties where Medicare Advantage plans remain available, costs could look much different. Think higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs.
If your plan is ending altogether, you’ll receive information from your insurer about the change and your options. Don’t assume your coverage will simply roll over. Take time during open enrollment to compare what’s available in your county.
And remember: Medicare Advantage options can be very different from one county to the next.
Prescription Drug Plan Options Are Changing
If you have a standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, you’ll want to pay close attention to your 2027 premium.
Minnesotans will have nine standalone Part D plans available in 2027, down from 11 in 2026. While there will be fewer plans to choose from, CMS currently projects that the average standalone Part D premium nationwide will remain relatively stable, increasing by less than $1 per month — from $35.09 in 2026 to about $36 in 2027.
CMS has announced a 2027 national base Part D premium of $41.33. This isn’t necessarily what you’ll pay each month; it’s a figure used as part of the formula for calculating individual Part D plan premiums.
In that same announcement, CMS also announced they are ending the temporary Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration after 2026. That means standalone prescription drug plans will return to more traditional pricing for 2027, which could lead to greater variation in premiums from one plan to another.
In other words, don’t assume your prescription plan will cost the same next year. Check your 2027 premium, deductible, drug list and pharmacy network before you renew.
Medicare Supplements Are Changing, Too
With more people shopping for new coverage as Medicare Advantage plans are eliminated, Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) coverage may be an option for people returning to Original Medicare.
Minnesota also has its own supplement system. Unlike most states, it doesn’t use lettered plans like Plan G or Plan N. Instead, you’ll choose between Basic and Extended Basic, with optional riders.
And if your Medicare Advantage plan is ending, you may have a guaranteed-issue right to buy a supplement without answering health questions. That right is time-limited, so don’t wait to explore your options.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Let Your Medicare Coverage Renew on Autopilot
There are a lot of moving pieces going into 2027, particularly for Minnesota Medicare beneficiaries. Your Medicare Advantage plan could change or disappear. Your prescription drug premium could increase. Your drug list or pharmacy network could change. And if you’re considering Medicare Supplement coverage, Minnesota’s new rules could affect both your choices and your premiums.
The good news? You have time to review your options.
“This year, it’s especially important to take a fresh look at your Medicare coverage. Plan availability, premiums and benefits are changing, and what worked for you this year may not be the best fit for 2027.”
— Gina LaBounty, Director of Medicare & ICHRA, Benafica
For our existing Medicare clients, Benafica is hosting virtual ZOOM and in-person events to help you understand your coverage options.
To learn more and register for an event, visit benafica.com/medicare.