CMS data, 2022 to 2027 · Updated November 4, 2026
How Medicare Advantage has changed in North Carolina
Six years of CMS data for every county. The short version: more $0-premium plans, fewer stand-alone drug plans, and out-of-pocket limits up $2,050 since 2024.
Or send a questionFree consultation. No obligation to enroll.
- Licensed agent · NC Life & Health
- One local person, not a call center
- Meet at home, nearby, or by phone
- Free consultation. No obligation.
What six years of data show
- Worst-case costs are climbing. The typical out-of-pocket maximum went from $4,900 in 2024 to $6,950 for 2027, about 42% higher.
- More $0-premium plans. Plans with drug coverage and no monthly plan premium went from 58 statewide in 2022 to 83. You still pay your Part B premium.
- Stand-alone drug plans are shrinking. 23 in 2022, 11 for 2027.
Look up your county
Medicare Advantage plans open to anyone with Medicare in your county, each year from 2022 to 2027.
Guilford County has 57 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, up from 45 in 2022. The typical in-network out-of-pocket max went up from $4,700 to $6,750.
| Year | Plans | $0 premium with drugs | 4 stars or higher | Typical out-of-pocket max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 45 | 20 | 28 | $4,700 |
| 2023 | 51 | 27 | 29 | $5,500 |
| 2024 | 51 | 30 | 41 | $4,900 |
| 2025 | 59 | 34 | 38 | $5,500 |
| 2026 | 60 | 34 | 39 | $5,900 |
| 2027 | 57 | 34 | 37 | $6,750 |
North Carolina, year by year
Statewide counts of different plans. A plan offered in 40 counties counts once.
| Year | Medicare Advantage plans | $0 premium with drugs | Typical out-of-pocket max | Stand-alone drug plans | Lowest drug plan premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 115 | 58 | $5,500 | 23 | $7.00 |
| 2023 | 117 | 66 | $4,925 | 24 | $4.20 |
| 2024 | 116 | 71 | $4,900 | 20 | $0.00 |
| 2025 | 131 | 79 | $5,700 | 14 | $0.00 |
| 2026 | 122 | 74 | $6,250 | 12 | $3.60 |
| 2027 | 120 | 83 | $6,950 | 11 | $5.30 |
What this means if you're choosing a plan
A $0 premium is easier to find than it was in 2022. But the most you could owe in a bad health year has gone up, so the out-of-pocket maximum deserves as much attention as the premium. Check it on every plan you compare, along with your doctors and your prescriptions.
For what changed between 2026 and 2027 in more detail, see 2027 Medicare Advantage plans by NC county. If your plan is ending, start with what to do when your plan is leaving.
Questions
How much have Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket limits gone up in North Carolina?
The typical (median) in-network out-of-pocket maximum for North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans open to anyone was $4,900 in 2024 and $6,950 for 2027, an increase of $2,050, or about 42%. That limit is the most you'd pay in a year for covered in-network care, not counting premiums or drugs.
Are there more Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina than five years ago?
Yes, a little. North Carolina had 115 different Medicare Advantage plans open to anyone in 2022 and has 120 for 2027. In Guilford County the count went from 45 to 57. The number of plans peaked in 2025 at 131 statewide.
What happened to stand-alone Part D drug plans in North Carolina?
The number fell from 23 in 2022 to 11 for 2027, about 52% fewer. There was a $0-premium stand-alone drug plan in 2024 and 2025, but none for 2026 or 2027. The lowest listed premium for 2027 is $5.30 a month.
Does more plans mean a better deal?
Not by itself. More plans means more to compare, but what matters for you is whether your doctors are in the network, what your prescriptions cost, and the out-of-pocket limit. A $0-premium plan can still cost more in a bad health year.
Where does this data come from?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Landscape Source Files for each year from 2022 to 2027. Counts include Medicare Advantage plans open to anyone with Medicare and leave out Special Needs Plans and employer plans. No plan or insurer names are shown.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape Source Files for CY2022 through CY2027. Counts include Medicare Advantage plans open to anyone with Medicare and exclude Special Needs Plans and employer plans. “Typical” is the median. Stand-alone drug plan premiums are the full monthly premium before any Extra Help.
Christian BrinkleyNC Life & Health · Greensboro, NC
Want to know how these changes hit your plan?
Tell me your doctors and prescriptions, and I'll check them against next year's plans in your county before December 7. Call or text (919) 408-6671.
Free consultation in person or by phone. It’s me who answers. Calls and appointments 9am to 5pm, Monday through Saturday, Eastern time.