UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plans 2027: Coverage, Costs & How to Enroll

CONFIRMED — THE FEDERAL RULES

CMS finalized the CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D rule on April 2, 2026. Every UnitedHealthcare plan must follow it: the $2,400 prescription out-of-pocket cap, the $700 standard Part D deductible, eleven star-rating measures removed, and new supplemental benefit disclosure requirements.

NOW ALSO CONFIRMED — THE 2027 NUMBERS

The average Medicare Advantage premium falls from $14.37 to $12.00, there are 5,532 plans available nationally, and projected enrollment is 34 million. UnitedHealthcare offers 852 plans for 2027, up from 846, adds 40 Special Needs Plans, and is exiting about 140 counties and Wyoming. It also holds 3 of the 15 contracts rated 5 stars for 2027.

STILL PLAN-SPECIFIC

Which counties each plan is offered in, the exact premium on the plan in your ZIP code, and the dental, vision, hearing and OTC allowances all vary plan by plan. That detail is now public on Medicare Plan Finder, and the 2027 star ratings CMS released on October 8 now show next to every plan. Annual Enrollment opens October 15. Confirm every benefit you are counting on in that plan’s official Summary of Benefits before you enroll.

What UnitedHealthcare changed for 2027. Published plan data shows premiums up about 9%, out-of-pocket maximums up about 11%, and Part D deductibles up about 33% — the steepest combination among the large national carriers. UnitedHealthcare is also exiting about 140 counties and leaving Wyoming.

UNITEDHEALTHCARE WENT THE OTHER WAY ON PRICE

While the national average Medicare Advantage premium fell from $14.37 to $12.00 for 2027, published plan data shows UnitedHealthcare’s premiums rose about 9% — and its cost sharing rose with them.

Out-of-pocket maximums up about 11%, Part D deductibles up about 33% — the steepest combination among the large national carriers. UnitedHealthcare is also exiting about 140 counties and leaving Wyoming. If you are staying, read the Annual Notice of Change carefully.

➤ Does UnitedHealthcare offer $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans for 2027?

UnitedHealthcare offers $0-premium plans in many areas, though availability depends on your specific ZIP code and county. You’ll still need to pay your Medicare Part B premium regardless of which plan you choose.

➤ Does UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage include dental and vision coverage?

Many UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans may include dental, vision, and hearing benefits, but not all plans offer all benefits. Confirm specific coverage for any plan you’re considering before enrolling.

➤ Can I keep my current doctor with a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan?

It depends on the specific plan and whether your doctor participates in that plan’s network. HMO plans generally require in-network care, while PPO plans allow out-of-network visits at a higher cost. Always confirm your doctors are in-network before enrolling.

➤ How does UnitedHealthcare compare to other Medicare Advantage carriers?

UnitedHealthcare is one of the largest Medicare Advantage carriers, but the “best” carrier depends on your specific doctors, prescriptions, and budget rather than carrier size alone. Comparing plans by ZIP code is the most reliable way to see which carrier fits your situation.

➤ When can I enroll in a UnitedHealthcare 2027 Medicare Advantage plan?

You can enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage effective January 1, 2027. If you’re new to Medicare, you may also be able to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period.

➤ How big is UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage market share?

UnitedHealth Group covered roughly 26% of all Medicare Advantage enrollees in 2026, the largest share of any carrier. Together with Humana at roughly 20%, the two companies accounted for about 46% of the entire Medicare Advantage market. Scale means broad county availability, but it doesn’t guarantee a strong network in your specific area.

➤ What are UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage star ratings?

For 2027, UnitedHealthcare holds three of the 15 Medicare Advantage contracts rated 5 stars nationwide, up from two. Its share of members in 4-star-or-better plans fell from 78% in 2026, and industry reporting puts it near two-thirds for 2027. Ratings are assigned at the contract level, so check the 2027 rating on the specific plan offered in your county.

➤ What is the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap for 2027?

The 2027 annual out-of-pocket cap for prescription drugs is $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026, and the standard Part D deductible is $700, up from $615. These federal parameters apply to every Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage, including UnitedHealthcare’s. Once you reach the cap you pay nothing more for covered formulary drugs that calendar year.

➤ What plan types does UnitedHealthcare offer for 2027?

UnitedHealthcare typically offers HMO, PPO and Special Needs Plans, though which types are available depends on your county. HMO plans require in-network providers and usually a referral for specialists, with lower typical costs. PPO plans allow out-of-network care at higher cost without referrals. SNPs serve people with qualifying circumstances such as dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility or certain chronic conditions.

➤ Do I still pay the Part B premium with a UnitedHealthcare plan?

Yes. Medicare Advantage changes how your Part A and Part B benefits are delivered, but you remain enrolled in Medicare and keep paying the Part B premium. Some UnitedHealthcare plans in select counties offer a Part B giveback that reduces this amount, but that’s a specific plan feature and not a general rule.

➤ What is the out-of-pocket maximum on a UnitedHealthcare plan?

Every UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan caps your annual in-network medical spending — a structural advantage over Original Medicare, which has no cap. The specific amount varies substantially between plans, sometimes by several thousand dollars in the same county, which makes it the single most useful number when comparing two plans. It’s separate from the $2,400 prescription drug cap.

➤ What company has the highest rated Medicare Advantage plan?

For 2027, only 15 Medicare Advantage contracts in the country earned 5 stars, down from 22. Longevity Health Plan holds the most with five, and UnitedHealthcare is next with three: H0710, H2292 and H5652 (Sierra Health and Life in Nevada).

Measured across a whole membership, Humana now has about 95% of its members in 4+ star plans for 2027, and every Kaiser Permanente contract is rated 4 stars or higher, led by a 5-star contract in Nevada, though Kaiser sells in only a handful of states. Because CMS rates individual contracts rather than companies, a carrier can hold 4.5 stars in one state and 3.5 in the next. Check the rating attached to the specific plans offered in your own county rather than relying on the national figure. If a 5 star plan is available where you live, you can switch into it once between December 8 and November 30 using a special enrollment period.