Your Annual Notice of Change letter should already be in your hands — federal rules require your plan to get it to you by September 30. Don’t toss it in the junk pile: it’s the preview of what your Medicare coverage will look like in 2027. Then, from October 15 through December 7, you get your yearly window to switch plans, with any change taking effect January 1, 2027.
WHAT’S CHANGING FOR 2027
- Prescription drug premiums: CMS set the 2027 Part D base premium at $41.33 — but that’s the starting point for plan math, not a price tag. What people will actually pay: CMS projects the average stand-alone Part D premium at about $36 a month (up from $35.09). The temporary program that held premiums down in 2025–2026 ends this year.
- Part D deductible and cap: the standard deductible rises to $700 (from $615), and the annual out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (from $2,100). The coverage gap stays eliminated.
- Medicare Advantage: average premium projected at $12 a month (down from $14.37), and about 8 in 10 enrollees are expected to keep their plan at the same or a lower premium.
- Star ratings: CMS made major methodology changes for 2027 — so a higher star rating may reflect the new scoring formula, not better care. Read ratings with that in mind.
- More sales calls: marketing rules loosen October 1 — the 48-hour wait between signing a Scope of Appointment and a sales appointment goes away. Expect more calls. But remember: Medicare itself never cold-calls. An unsolicited caller claiming to be ‘from Medicare’ is a scam, no matter what the new rules allow.
FREE HELP IN SAN ANTONIO: TEXAS HICAP
You don’t have to decode any of this alone. Texas’s Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) — the state’s SHIP program — offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling from trained counselors who don’t sell insurance and can’t hold insurance licenses, so there’s no sales agenda. Call 800-252-9240, or find your local counselor through the office directory at hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicare. You can also use the national locator at shiphelp.org.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE DECEMBER 7
- Read your Annual Notice of Change letter — it tells you exactly what’s changing in YOUR plan.
- Compare your options at medicare.gov.
- Call HICAP at 800-252-9240 for a free, unbiased plan review.
- Guard your information — never give Medicare or bank details to an unsolicited caller.
FAQ
When is Medicare open enrollment?
October 15 through December 7. Changes you make take effect January 1, 2027.
Is there really free Medicare help in San Antonio?
Yes. Texas HICAP counseling is free and unbiased — call 800-252-9240.
Will my drug premium go up in 2027?
It depends on your plan. $41.33 is the base figure CMS uses in its formula, not anyone’s actual premium; the projected average is about $36 a month for stand-alone Part D.
Why am I suddenly getting more Medicare sales calls?
Federal marketing rules loosened on October 1, 2026. Legitimate agents still need your permission — and Medicare itself never cold-calls, so hang up on anyone who claims otherwise.
Don’t skip the letter, get a free review, and don’t miss December 7.
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