Two Open Enrollment Deadlines This Fall
Enrollment season is here, and coverage questions tend to land in the exam room. Medicare open enrollment runs through December 7, and Maryland Health Connection opens for 2027 coverage on November 1. Scammers keep the same calendar, which is why the Maryland Insurance Administration is warning consumers about fake insurance websites and plans that look far better on paper than they are.
What Changes for Medicare Patients in 2027
Between now and December 7, people with Medicare can move between traditional Medicare and Medicare Advantage or switch drug plans, with new choices taking effect January 1. Several costs shift next year. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400, up from $2,100, and the standard deductible goes from $615 to $700. A temporary Part D premium subsidy that began in 2024 also ends early, at the close of this year.
There is good news on drug prices. Medicare-negotiated prices for 15 drugs take effect January 1, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus, along with Trelegy Ellipta, Xtandi, Ibrance, Linzess and Otezla. The Part B premium is still pending. The Medicare Trustees projected $209.50 a month, up from $202.90, and CMS usually confirms the final number in October or November.
Patients who miss December 7 aren't entirely out of options. Anyone already in a Medicare Advantage plan gets a second window from January 1 to March 31 to switch plans or return to traditional Medicare.
Patients on one of the newly negotiated drugs, or anyone whose medication list changed this year, may want to recheck their plan's formulary before the deadline. Free, unbiased help is close by. The Montgomery County SHIP program offers Medicare counseling at 301-255-4250, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and having that number on hand at checkout makes the referral easy.
Maryland Health Connection Opens November 1
For patients under 65 without employer coverage, open enrollment for 2027 plans runs November 1 through January 15. Financial help goes further than many people expect. In the state's own Baltimore City examples, a 40-year-old earning $25,000 pays $1 a month for the lowest-cost silver plan, and the Maryland Premium Assistance Program lowers premiums further based on household income.
Patients who have been uninsured, or who are aging off a parent's plan, can get free enrollment help through the Maryland Health Connection Consumer Support Center at 1-855-642-8572.
Scams Follow the Enrollment Calendar
The Maryland Insurance Administration's consumer advisory describes what patients are running into. Lookalike websites imitate Maryland Health Connection. Lead generators collect personal information and sell it to brokers, who then call and text. Unauthorized insurers offer low premiums for coverage that may never pay a claim.
The hardest to spot are limited-benefit plans, such as fixed indemnity and accident-only policies, marketed with no deductible or no copays. They often leave out mental health care, maternity care, prescription drugs and pre-existing conditions. Health care sharing ministries aren't insurance either, and nobody legitimate charges a fee to help someone enroll. Patients can confirm that a seller is licensed by calling the MIA at 1-800-492-6116.
Medicare patients see their own version of this. The FTC reminds consumers that Medicare will never unexpectedly call, email or text to ask for a Medicare, Social Security or bank account number, and it never charges for a Medicare card. Caller ID can be faked. A patient who isn't sure should hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), and suspected fraud can go to the Senior Medicare Patrol.
Front desk staff often hear about these calls first. Keeping the MIA and 1-800-MEDICARE numbers posted at check-in gives patients somewhere trustworthy to turn.
MCMS Will Keep You Updated
MCMS will share the final 2027 Part B figures once CMS releases them. Questions or suggestions for future coverage can be sent to Marissa Valeri at mvaleri@montgomerymedicine.org.
