North Carolina's 2027 plan counts
| Type of plan (2027) | Number in North Carolina |
|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans open to anyone with Medicare | 106 |
| Special needs plans (D-SNP, C-SNP and I-SNP) | 57 |
| Companies offering Medicare Advantage or special needs plans | 16 |
| Standalone Part D drug plans | 11, from 6 companies |
Source: CMS CY2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files, which list every plan sold to individuals in each county. A company counts once even if it sells under several brand names.
It depends on your county
Medicare Advantage plans are approved county by county, so the statewide total isn't what you can choose from. For 2027:
| County | Plans open to everyone | Companies |
|---|---|---|
| Guilford | 57 | 13 |
| Davidson | 57 | 12 |
| Mecklenburg | 50 | 12 |
| Buncombe | 44 | 11 |
| Wake | 35 | 9 |
| Onslow | 14 | 3 |
| Carteret | 11 | 4 |
The Piedmont Triad has the most choices and the central coast the fewest. Your own county's numbers are on our counties page.
Fewer plans for some people in 2027
For 2027, two companies stop selling regular Medicare Advantage plans in some North Carolina counties, and other companies end some plans where they stay. At least 30,654 North Carolinians must choose new coverage. If you got a non-renewal letter, see plans ending in 2027 for your deadlines and Medigap rights.
What to do with the number
A count can't tell you which plan fits you, and this site doesn't rank plans. Start with your doctors, hospital and drugs, then compare the plans in your county during Open Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. To compare plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent, or see plans for your ZIP code. More in our guide to Medicare Advantage in North Carolina.
Related questions
Is Medicare Advantage available in every NC county?
Where the fewest plans are, and what changes in 2027.
How do I choose a Medicare plan in North Carolina?
A step-by-step way to compare.
What are special needs plans in North Carolina?
D-SNPs, C-SNPs and I-SNPs explained.
Sources
- CMS — Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape files, contract year 2027
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Plan Finder
- Medicare.gov — Your health plan options
More questions in this guide
- Can I be turned down for a Medicare Advantage plan in North Carolina?
- How do I choose a Medicare plan in North Carolina?
- Is Medicare Advantage available in every North Carolina county?
- What are Medicare special needs plans in North Carolina?
Part of the guide: Medicare Advantage in North Carolina · All questions
Frequently asked questions
How many standalone Part D plans are in North Carolina for 2027?
CMS lists 11 standalone Part D prescription drug plans from 6 companies. North Carolina is its own Part D region, so the same standalone plans are sold in every county.
Does a county with more plans mean better coverage?
No. The count only tells you how many choices there are. What matters is whether a plan's network includes your doctors and hospital, whether it covers your drugs, and what you'd pay in a typical year and a bad year.
Are State Health Plan retiree plans in these counts?
No. CMS's Landscape counts are plans sold to individuals. Employer and retiree group plans, such as the State Health Plan's group Medicare Advantage plans, aren't included.
Medicare in your North Carolina county
Plans, local agents and help, county by county: Wake · Mecklenburg · Guilford · Forsyth · Durham · Cumberland · Buncombe · Union · Johnston · Cabarrus · New Hanover · Gaston · Onslow · Iredell · Alamance · Pitt · Davidson · Brunswick · Catawba · Rowan · All 100 counties →
