The 2027 Medicare & You Handbook Is Here: What Medicare Beneficiaries Need to Know

Every fall brings a lot of Medicare information, and 2026 is no exception. The 2027 Medicare & You handbook has officially been released, giving beneficiaries their first look at Medicare’s updated guide for the coming year.

Medicare & You is the official handbook published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It explains Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), enrollment periods, costs, rights and protections, financial assistance programs, and more.

At Mere Benefits, we compared the 2026 and 2027 editions to identify the changes beneficiaries should actually know about. We’ve also made the official handbook available to download in both English and Spanish on our 2027 Medicare & You resource page.

What’s new in the 2027 handbook?

The new handbook runs well past 100 pages, and you certainly don’t need to memorize it. But there are several updates worth knowing as we head toward the 2027 Medicare year.

1. The Part D out-of-pocket limit increases to $2,400

One of the biggest numbers to know for 2027 involves prescription drug coverage. The annual out-of-pocket limit for covered Part D drugs increases to $2,400, compared with $2,100 in 2026. Once you reach that limit through qualifying out-of-pocket spending, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the calendar year.

The maximum Part D deductible also increases to $700 for 2027.

This is an important reminder that even if your Part D plan looks similar from one year to the next, your potential prescription costs can change.

2. Medicare’s negotiated drug prices continue to expand

Medicare’s prescription drug negotiation program is moving into its next phase. The first 10 negotiated Part D prices took effect in 2026; for 2027, negotiated prices take effect for 15 additional Part D drugs. The handbook names medications including Linzess, Otezla and Otezla XR, and Xtandi, among others.

A negotiated price doesn’t mean every beneficiary automatically pays the same amount at the pharmacy. Your actual cost can still depend on your specific drug plan and circumstances.

3. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program is now in the handbook

This is a big one, because GLP-1 medications continue to generate an enormous amount of interest.

The new handbook discusses the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program, which began July 1, 2026. For eligible people with Part D, it provides access to certain GLP-1 medications for weight loss at a $50 copayment for a monthly supply, provided the beneficiary meets the program requirements.

Not everyone taking — or interested in taking — a GLP-1 will qualify. Coverage through a person’s regular drug plan can also work quite differently from access through the Bridge. We covered how that plays out in practice in our two-months-in look at the Bridge program.

4. Telehealth flexibility continues through 2027

The 2027 handbook contains good news for people who appreciate receiving care from home. Medicare says that through December 31, 2027, people with Original Medicare can receive certain covered telehealth services at any location in the United States, including their home.

This matters because the previous handbook carried an earlier expiration date for some of the broader telehealth flexibilities.

5. Virtual diabetes prevention expands

Medicare is also widening access to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program. The new handbook highlights additional virtual options, including virtual-only providers, live sessions, and self-paced sessions. For eligible beneficiaries who have difficulty traveling to an in-person program, that could make participation far easier.

6. Medicare Advantage still has networks, plan rules, and prior authorization

This one is important, because Medicare information gets distorted quickly.

Prior authorization has not simply disappeared from Medicare Advantage for 2027. The handbook describes Medicare Advantage plans as required to follow Medicare’s rules while having flexibility in how they manage care. Depending on the plan, that can include provider networks, referrals, prior authorization, and other requirements.

The handbook does note that starting January 1, 2027, your plan may be able to process prior authorization requests electronically, with decisions viewable in your patient portal. That is a change in how requests are handled — it should not be confused with eliminating prior authorization altogether.

7. Your Annual Notice of Change may be electronic

Every Medicare Advantage and Part D member should pay close attention to the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall. It tells you what is changing with your current plan for the following year.

An interesting wording change in the new handbook: Medicare now says plans may send the ANOC as a printed or electronic copy by September 30. So if you’re waiting for one to appear in your mailbox, remember you may have elected electronic communications from your plan.

Either way — don’t ignore it. Our walkthrough of how to read your ANOC covers the five sections worth fifteen minutes of your attention.

8. Medicare discusses cash and discount prescription prices

This is a topic worth repeating, because the price billed through insurance isn’t always the lowest price available. The 2027 handbook specifically discusses comparing your plan’s price with other discount or cash-pay options.

But there’s an important tradeoff. If you buy a medication outside your Part D coverage using certain discount programs, that spending generally doesn’t count toward your Part D deductible or the $2,400 annual out-of-pocket limit.

So “which price is cheaper today?” isn’t the only question worth asking. We’ve written more about that confusing relationship in can you ask for the cash-pay price even if you have insurance.

9. Medicare eligibility language has changed

The 2027 handbook is more specific about the citizenship and immigration statuses that meet Medicare’s requirements, listing U.S. citizens or nationals, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), Cuban-Haitian entrants, and certain Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants.

This is an area where individual circumstances matter enormously. Anyone with questions about how their status affects Medicare eligibility should verify their specific situation rather than relying on generalized information online.

One big warning about the dollar amounts in the 2027 handbook

This may be the most important thing to understand about the newly released handbook:

Not every dollar amount printed in the 2027 handbook is a final 2027 Medicare amount.

The handbook has to be prepared before every Medicare figure for the coming year is finalized. That means some 2026 figures appear inside the 2027 handbook as reference amounts.

That does not mean the 2026 numbers are automatically the 2027 amounts. As the remaining official 2027 figures are released, we’ll keep updating our information.

What has not changed?

Sometimes what doesn’t change is just as important as what does. Comparing the two handbooks side by side did not show that:

• Medicare Advantage prior authorization has been eliminated.
• Everyone on Medicare suddenly has a federal guaranteed right to buy any Medicare Supplement without medical underwriting.
• Original Medicare’s standard three-day qualifying inpatient hospital stay requirement for skilled nursing facility coverage has disappeared.

Those distinctions matter, because Medicare rumors spread quickly — especially in the fall. If something sounds too good to be true, ask before making a coverage decision.

Frequently asked questions

When does the 2027 handbook take effect? The handbook describes Medicare as it will work in 2027. Coverage you choose during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, generally takes effect January 1, 2027.

Do I have to read all of it? No. Most people need the “What’s new” pages at the front and the sections covering their own situation. That’s part of why we published this summary.

Can I still get a printed copy? Yes. Medicare allows you to request a paper copy, or to switch to receiving the handbook electronically instead. Visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Is the handbook available in Spanish? Yes — Medicare y Usted 2027. Both editions are on our resource page.

Why does the handbook show 2026 dollar amounts? Because it’s printed before every 2027 figure is finalized. Treat any figure labeled 2026 as a reference point, not a 2027 amount.

Does the $50 GLP-1 copay apply to everyone with Part D? No. The Bridge program has specific eligibility requirements and requires a prior authorization from your prescriber.

Download the 2027 Medicare & You handbook

We’ve built a dedicated resource page where you can download the official handbook in English or Spanish, and read our plain-English summary of what changed from 2026 to 2027.

You can find everything on our 2027 Medicare & You handbook page.

The handbook knows Medicare. It doesn’t know you.

This may be the most important takeaway of all. Medicare & You is an excellent resource for understanding Medicare — but a handbook of well over a hundred pages can’t tell you which coverage is right for you.

It doesn’t know which doctors you see. It doesn’t know which hospitals you want access to. It doesn’t know which prescriptions you take. It doesn’t know how often you travel. It doesn’t know your budget. And it doesn’t know which benefits matter most to you.

That’s where personalized guidance comes in. At Mere Benefits, our job isn’t simply to show you a list of Medicare plans — it’s to help you understand how the pieces fit together and evaluate your options based on your doctors, medications, needs, and priorities.

Already a Mere Benefits Medicare client? Please contact us before making changes to your coverage, especially as Medicare advertising ramps up this fall.

Not working with us yet? We’d be happy to help you understand your options. Reach out for a free, no-obligation review or call 904-654-5450. Kate Spilsbury (RSSA®, CMIP®) is an independent, licensed agent based in Jacksonville, serving Northeast Florida and Camden County, GA.

Clear Guidance. Right Coverage. No Confusion.

This article is educational and not medical, tax, or legal advice. Medicare figures are current as of the 2027 handbook’s publication and some remain subject to final 2027 amounts; confirm current figures before making decisions. Mere Benefits is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We don’t offer every plan available in your area.