If you plan to compare Medicare Advantage plans in Arkansas for 2027, the next few weeks set the stage. Plans are mailing their annual notices now, new plan details arrive in October, and the Annual Enrollment Period opens soon after. Here is the calendar, what is changing, and how to review your current coverage with a clear head.
The dates to put on your refrigerator
- By September 30, 2026: Medicare Advantage and Part D plans must send members an Annual Notice of Change. It lists every change to your plan for the coming year. Open it the day it arrives.
- Starting October 1, 2026: Plan information for 2027 becomes available, and licensed agents can begin discussing 2027 plans.
- October 15 through December 7, 2026: The Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1, 2027.
- January 1 through March 31, 2027: The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a Part D plan.
What is changing for 2027
The prescription drug cap rises. CMS set the 2027 annual out of pocket limit for covered Part D drugs at $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026. Once your spending on covered drugs reaches that amount, you pay nothing more for covered drugs the rest of the year. The standard Part D deductible also rises to $700, up from $615, and it counts toward the $2,400 cap.
The coverage gap remains gone. The old Part D donut hole was eliminated in 2025 and does not return in 2027. If you learned about Medicare years ago, this is one of the biggest improvements to understand. Our Part D coverage gap explainer covers the history.
Insulin and vaccines stay protected. Covered insulin remains capped at $35 per month under Part D, and recommended adult vaccines continue at no cost.
You can still spread drug costs over the year. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which lets you pay out of pocket drug costs in monthly amounts instead of all at once, continues in 2027.
Standalone drug plan pricing may shift. CMS is ending a temporary premium stabilization program for standalone Part D plans after 2026, so individual plan premiums will reflect standard market conditions in 2027. Federal law continues to limit growth in the base beneficiary premium to 6 percent per year through 2029. The practical takeaway is simple: compare your drug plan this fall rather than letting it renew automatically.
Part B numbers come later. The 2027 Part B premium and deductible are typically announced in the fall. Watch for them before you finalize your budget.
Meeting with an agent is easier. Updated CMS rules removed the former 48 hour waiting period between documenting a Scope of Appointment and meeting with a licensed agent, so you can schedule a review without that delay.
The Arkansas picture
According to CMS figures for the 2026 plan year, 682,876 Arkansans were enrolled in Medicare, and 91 Medicare Advantage plans were offered across the state along with 12 standalone Part D plans. Plan availability varies by county, so a plan your neighbor in Pulaski County uses may not be offered in Benton, Sebastian, or Craighead County. CMS publishes updated counts for 2027 in the fall.
A review checklist that takes 30 minutes
Use your Annual Notice of Change and walk through these items in order.
- Costs. Note any change in the monthly premium, deductibles, copays, and the yearly maximum out of pocket amount.
- Prescriptions. Confirm each of your medications is still on the drug list, check whether any moved to a higher tier, and look for new prior authorization or step therapy requirements.
- Pharmacies. Make sure your pharmacy is still in network and check whether it is a preferred pharmacy.
- Doctors and hospitals. Confirm your primary care doctor, specialists, and preferred hospital are still in network for 2027. Networks change more often than people expect, especially across different regions of Arkansas.
- Travel. If you spend winters out of state or visit family often, review how the plan handles care away from home. Our article on <a href="/blog/does-medicare-advantage-cover-out-of-state-travel">Medicare Advantage and out of state travel</a> explains what to look for.
- Extra benefits. If dental, vision, or hearing coverage matters to you, read the specific limits rather than assuming last year's terms carry over.
If everything still fits, you may not need to do anything. If something important changed, the Annual Enrollment Period is your chance to fix it.
Get a side by side review before December 7
Our licensed agents help Arkansas residents review Medicare Advantage plan options and Part D coverage every fall. Call (501) 459-6953 or book your review.
