Every county has plans for 2027
Medicare Advantage companies choose their service areas county by county, and CMS approves them. In CMS's CY2027 Landscape file, every one of North Carolina's 100 counties has Medicare Advantage plans open to anyone with Medicare, and every county also has special needs plans (SNPs), including dual eligible plans (D-SNPs) for people with Medicare and NC Medicaid.
So in North Carolina the question isn't whether you can get Medicare Advantage, but how many plans and networks you can choose from.
How much choice by county
| County (2027) | Plans open to everyone | Special needs plans | Companies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guilford | 57 | 40 | 13 |
| Mecklenburg | 50 | 39 | 12 |
| Swain | 35 | 25 | 7 |
| Dare | 20 | 10 | 4 |
| Onslow | 14 | 7 | 3 |
| Carteret | 11 | 9 | 4 |
A rural mountain county isn't always the one with the fewest plans: for 2027, Swain County, in the Smokies, has as many plans open to everyone as Wake County (35). What matters most is the network: a plan sold in your county may still have few doctors or hospitals near you. Check yours on our counties page.
What changes in 2027
For 2027, two companies stop selling regular Medicare Advantage plans in 13 counties: Buncombe, Burke, Chatham, Henderson, Johnston, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Transylvania, Wake and Yancey. Other companies end some plans where they stay. Every one of those counties still has other Medicare Advantage plans. See plans ending in 2027.
Before you join
- Confirm the plan serves your county, using the address where you live, not a mailing address.
- Check that your doctors, hospital and pharmacy are in its 2027 network, including any across a state line.
- If you're outside the plan's service area for more than 6 months in a row, the plan must generally end your coverage.
To compare plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent. More in Medicare Advantage in North Carolina and rural and mountain Medicare.
Related questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are in NC for 2027?
Statewide counts and the county range.
Can I be denied Medicare Advantage in North Carolina?
Who a plan must accept.
How do I choose a Medicare plan in North Carolina?
Steps to compare your options.
Sources
- CMS — Medicare Advantage Landscape files, contract years 2026 and 2027
- CMS — Medicare Advantage/Part D contract and enrollment data (2027 plan crosswalk)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.62, election periods (moving)
- eCFR — 42 CFR 422.74, disenrollment (6-month absence rule)
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?
- How many Medicare Advantage plans are in North Carolina for 2027?
- What are Medicare special needs plans in North Carolina?
Part of the guide: Medicare Advantage in North Carolina · All questions
Frequently asked questions
Which North Carolina counties have the fewest Medicare Advantage plans?
For 2027, the central coast: Carteret County has 11 plans open to everyone, Craven County 13 and Onslow County 14, per CMS's Landscape file.
If a company leaves my county, will I lose Medicare Advantage?
No county loses Medicare Advantage for 2027. If your own plan ends, you'll get a non-renewal letter and can choose another plan in your county or go to Original Medicare, with a special enrollment period through February 28, 2027.
What happens if I move to another North Carolina county?
If your plan doesn't serve your new county, you'll need a new plan, and the move gives you a special enrollment period. If it does serve your new county, the move can still let you switch, because you may have new plan options there.
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 →
