2027 Medicare & You Handbook
Medicare's official guide to your 2027 coverage — free to download in English or Spanish, with a plain-English look at what actually changed for the new year.
Official CMS publications, provided here for your convenience.
Every year, Medicare publishes the Medicare & You handbook. It is the official guide from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for people with Medicare. The 2027 handbook explains how Medicare works, what Medicare covers, your rights and choices, and important changes for the new year.
The electronic 2027 handbook is available now. You can download a copy below in English or Spanish.
Download the 2027 Medicare & You Handbook
Medicare & You 2027
Download the 2027 Medicare & You Handbook — English
3.8 MB PDFMedicare y Usted 2027
Descargar Medicare y Usted 2027 — Español
5.4 MB PDFThese are official Medicare publications provided for your convenience.
Want a paper copy?
If you prefer a printed book, Medicare allows you to request a paper copy of Medicare & You. You can also choose to receive the handbook electronically instead of through the mail. Visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for information about receiving your handbook.
Availability and mailing dates for the printed 2027 handbook may vary.
What's new for Medicare in 2027?
The handbook runs well over 100 pages. You don't have to read every one to understand the biggest changes — here are the ones most people should know about.
You could pay more for prescriptions before reaching your yearly limit
In 2027, your out-of-pocket costs for covered Part D drugs are capped at $2,400 for the year. Once you reach that amount, you pay $0 for covered Part D drugs for the rest of the year. The maximum Part D deductible also increases to $700.
What this means: your prescription drug plan is still important — even if you don't take many medications today.
More prescription drugs have Medicare-negotiated prices
Medicare's drug price negotiation program continues to expand. Prices for the first 10 negotiated Part D drugs took effect January 1, 2026, and negotiated prices for the next 15 Part D drugs take effect January 1, 2027.
Your actual cost still depends on your medication and your drug plan, so review both every year.
Some people can get certain GLP-1 weight-loss medications for $50
The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program provides access to certain GLP-1 drugs for weight loss if you have Medicare drug coverage (Part D), aren't already getting these drugs covered by Part D, and meet other requirements. Those who qualify pay a $50 copayment for a monthly supply.
Not everyone qualifies, and this program works differently from normal Part D coverage.
Medicare telehealth from home continues
Medicare extended telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027. That means people with Original Medicare can keep receiving certain covered telehealth services from anywhere in the United States, including at home.
That can make it easier to get care without traveling to a doctor's office.
Medicare Advantage plans can still have networks and prior authorization
Medicare Advantage plans must follow Medicare rules, but they have flexibility in how they manage your care. Depending on your plan, you may need to use certain doctors or hospitals, get referrals, get prior authorization before some services, and follow your plan's rules to receive the lowest costs.
This is why benefits alone should never be the only reason you choose a Medicare Advantage plan.
Watch for your Annual Notice of Change
If you already have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) each fall — as a printed or electronic copy, by September 30. It tells you what is changing with your current plan for the next year.
Don't ignore it. A plan that worked well in 2026 may have different costs, benefits, drugs, pharmacies, providers, or rules in 2027.
Paying cash for a prescription can sometimes be cheaper — but know the tradeoff
The handbook discusses using discount programs or paying outside your Medicare drug coverage when that price is lower. The catch: money spent using a discount card or other pricing outside your Part D coverage generally does not count toward your Part D deductible or the $2,400 yearly out-of-pocket limit.
A cheaper price today isn't always the whole story.
Some important Medicare rules have not gone away
There is a lot of Medicare information online, and not all of it is correct. The new handbook does not mean that:
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Medicare Advantage prior authorization is gone.
It isn't. Plans may still require approval before covering certain services or supplies.
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Every Medicare beneficiary can buy a Medicare Supplement without medical underwriting.
That isn't the rule. Guaranteed issue rights apply in specific situations, not universally.
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The three-day inpatient hospital requirement for skilled nursing facility coverage under Original Medicare has disappeared.
It hasn't. Original Medicare still generally requires a qualifying inpatient hospital stay of three days in a row or more.
Your individual situation matters.
The most important thing to know about the 2027 handbook
Medicare & You explains Medicare. It doesn't tell you which plan is best for you.
That's an important difference. The handbook can teach you about Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medicare Supplement insurance, Extra Help, enrollment periods, and your Medicare rights. But it doesn't know:
- Which doctors you see
- Which hospitals you want to use
- Which prescriptions you take
- Which pharmacies you prefer
- How often you need medical care
- Whether you travel
- Your budget
- Which benefits actually matter to you
That's where working with an experienced Medicare agent like those at Mere Benefits can help.
Have questions about your Medicare for 2027?
At Mere Benefits, we don't believe Medicare should be about chasing the plan with the longest list of benefits. We help you look at the whole picture — what is changing, what matters to you, and whether your current Medicare coverage still makes sense for 2027.
Already a Mere Benefits client?
Watch for our 2027 review information, and please contact us before making changes to your Medicare coverage.
Not currently working with us?
We'd be happy to help you understand your options — at no cost and with no pressure.
Request Medicare help Schedule a time
Simply For Your Benefit.
Important Medicare disclaimer
Mere Benefits is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare & You is an official publication of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Plan availability, benefits, costs, provider networks, formularies, and eligibility can vary. This page is provided for educational purposes and is not a complete description of Medicare benefits.
Let's make sure your 2027 coverage still fits
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