Medicare Advantage Plans Massachusetts 2027: What Changed, SCO, One Care and Medigap

Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts residents can buy for 2027 look different from this year’s. There are fewer plans, one Worcester County insurer is closing, and Blue Cross has capped new enrollment. Massachusetts also runs its own programs for people who have both Medicare and MassHealth: Senior Care Options and One Care. This guide uses the newest federal and state data to show what is available, what changed, and how Massachusetts rules make it easier than in most states to switch between Medicare Advantage and Medigap.

Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts residents can choose in 2027

CMS published a Massachusetts fact sheet on September 28, 2026. It says 1,516,549 people in the state are enrolled in Medicare. Here are its 2027 figures next to 2026:

A dash means the fact sheet gives no 2026 figure. Two points stand out for anyone comparing Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts carriers offer. The Massachusetts average premium is rising slightly, while CMS projects the national average to fall from $14.37 to $12.00, according to its 2027 press release. And a $0 premium is not the same as $0 cost. You still pay the Part B premium, plus copays up to each plan’s out-of-pocket maximum.

The fact sheet also says 32.08% of people in a Massachusetts stand-alone drug plan get Extra Help. If your income is limited, ask about Extra Help and MassHealth programs before you compare premiums.

Which companies sell Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts residents can join?

The Division of Insurance lists the Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts residents could join in its 2026 Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Medicare, updated November 2025. A 2027 edition was not yet posted when we wrote this, so the table shows 2026 plans. Use it to see which companies serve your county, then confirm 2027 details in Medicare Plan Finder.

The state guide notes that not every company offers plans in every area and that premiums may vary by county. It also says Medicare Medical Savings Account plans are not currently available in Massachusetts. Listing a company here is not a recommendation, and a plan sold in your county in 2026 may not be sold there in 2027.

The same guide lists Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans separately. In 2026, Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) were offered by Commonwealth Care Alliance, Fallon NaviCare, Mass General Brigham, Senior Whole Health, Tufts and UnitedHealthcare. UnitedHealthcare also listed a chronic-condition plan (C-SNP) in six counties and an institutional plan (I-SNP) in Essex and Plymouth. Several of these are the Senior Care Options plans described below.

Medicare Advantage Worcester County 2027: the Mass Advantage exit

The biggest local change is in central Massachusetts. Mass Advantage, the plan created with UMass Memorial Health providers, says on its own website that it did not submit a bid for the 2027 plan year and that coverage for all members will conclude effective January 1, 2027. Its 2026 plans were sold only in Worcester County, per the state guide.

Modern Healthcare, in a report republished by the J&R Report, put Mass Advantage enrollment at 7,760 people. Those members should have received a non-renewal letter. If you are one of them, you have three main paths:

• Another Medicare Advantage plan. Several companies in the table above sold plans in Worcester County in 2026. Check which ones include your UMass Memorial doctors for 2027.
• Original Medicare plus Medigap and a drug plan. This works with any provider that accepts Medicare, inside or outside Worcester County.
• Do nothing. You would return to Original Medicare on January 1 with no drug coverage. That is rarely the best choice.

You also get a Special Enrollment Period. Medicare.gov says that when a plan’s contract isn’t renewed, you can switch between December 8 and the last day of February. Our step-by-step guide on what to do when a Medicare Advantage plan is not renewing covers the full timeline.

Medicare Advantage Worcester County shoppers should still act before December 31, so that new coverage starts January 1. Waiting for the February deadline means starting the year without drug coverage.

If you move to Original Medicare, add a stand-alone drug plan at the same time. CMS lists 10 stand-alone Part D plans in Massachusetts for 2027, with premiums starting at $13.30 a month. Going 63 or more days in a row without drug coverage can trigger a lifelong late penalty. Our Medicare Part D guide explains how drug plans work.

What else changed in Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts-wide for 2027?

Worcester is not the only county affected. MyMedicarePlans.org, a commercial site, compared the CMS 2026 and 2027 landscape files and counted 28 plans leaving Massachusetts, 47 returning with a change in premium, drug deductible, type or name, 28 unchanged and 22 new. Its statewide totals match the CMS fact sheet (103 plans in 2026, 97 in 2027). The county figures below are that site’s counts; we have not checked them against the CMS files ourselves, so treat them as a rough guide.

A “leaving” plan may still have a sister plan from the same company in your county, so a high number does not always mean fewer companies. Two more changes affect many Massachusetts shoppers:

• Blue Cross enrollment cap. BCBSMA says enrollment in its Medicare Advantage plans is extremely limited for 2027, that the chance of getting a spot is very low, and that it keeps no waiting list. Current members whose plan continues are re-enrolled automatically.
• Mass General Brigham primary care. Mass General Brigham says that as of October 1, 2026, BCBSMA Medicare Advantage plans are no longer in network for its primary care. It describes a 90-day continuity-of-care transition through December 31. Specialty and hospital care stay in network.

The lesson for anyone comparing Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts carriers offer: check the network for 2027, not 2026, and call your primary care office directly.

Senior Care Options Massachusetts: SCO for people with MassHealth

Senior Care Options (SCO) is a Massachusetts program for people 65 and older. MassHealth says SCO combines MassHealth and Medicare benefits into one plan with one card and one care team, including a care coordinator. SCO plans are not among the regular Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts sells to everyone; they are special needs plans for people with MassHealth. MassHealth says people eligible for SCO generally have no or low monthly premiums, no copays, and little to no out-of-pocket costs for most covered services.

The rules changed on January 1, 2026. According to Mass Legal Services, people 65 or older on MassHealth Standard can no longer enroll in SCO unless they also have Medicare. MassHealth’s Managed Care Entity Bulletin 131 limited new SCO enrollment to people with both MassHealth and Medicare as of August 1, 2025. Mass Legal Services reports about 8,000 SCO members without Medicare were affected.

MassHealth’s SCO plan directory, last updated March 24, 2026, lists six plans:

WellSense no longer appears in the directory. The state’s 2026 Medicare guide, written in November 2025, still listed it, so rely on the MassHealth directory. Note that Berkshire County shows only Fallon NaviCare, and Barnstable shows Fallon and Tufts. To join Senior Care Options Massachusetts residents contact the plan directly, as the directory instructs. Our guide to MassHealth life insurance and burial rules explains how MassHealth counts policies you already own.

One Care Massachusetts for adults 21 to 64

One Care is the under-65 counterpart. MassHealth says One Care combines MassHealth and Medicare benefits into a single plan with one card and one care team for people aged 21 to 64 at the time of enrollment. Members get a care coordinator.

Like SCO, MassHealth says One Care members generally have no or low monthly premiums, no copays, and little to no out-of-pocket costs for most covered services. One Care covers medical care, mental health services and prescription drugs, plus support for recovery goals, daily tasks and independent living.

One Care Massachusetts plans are not sold the way the regular Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts residents see in Plan Finder are. If you have Medicare because of a disability and also qualify for MassHealth, start with MassHealth or a SHINE counselor to see which One Care plans serve your county. A licensed agent can explain how One Care compares with a regular plan, but your MassHealth eligibility decides whether it is an option.

Medicare Advantage or Medigap in Massachusetts?

Many people buying Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts carriers sell worry about getting back to Medigap. In most states, leaving Medicare Advantage for Medigap later can mean health questions and higher prices. Massachusetts is different. The state’s 2026 guide says Massachusetts offers continuous open enrollment, so you can enroll, change or drop a Medigap plan in any month, with coverage starting the first of the next month. Medigap here is also community rated, so everyone with the same policy pays the same premium regardless of age or medical history.

The rule behind this is 211 CMR 71.10. It requires a yearly open enrollment from February 1 to March 31 and lets insurers offer year-round enrollment. Massachusetts also uses its own plan names: Core, Supplement 1 (only for people eligible before 2020) and Supplement 1A, as the CMS Medigap guide explains. Our Massachusetts Medicare supplement guide covers those plans and current rates. If you later move to another state, its Medigap rules apply instead, and most states allow health questions outside protected windows. Our Medicare supplement underwriting guide explains those questions.

Hypothetical example (2026 published prices): a Worcester County resident compares two routes. Route A: Part B $202.90 + Fallon Supplement 1A $240.35 + Humana Basic Rx drug plan $8.40 = $451.65 a month, or $451.65 x 12 = $5,419.80 a year in premiums. Route B: a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan, paying only Part B: $202.90 x 12 = $2,434.80. Route B saves $5,419.80 − $2,434.80 = $2,985.00 in premiums, but adds copays up to the plan’s out-of-pocket maximum. Route A has few bills after premiums.

Prices come from the state’s 2026 guide and the CMS 2026 Part B premium. They are samples, not a quote, and 2027 prices will differ. The point is the shape of the choice: Medicare Advantage costs less when you are healthy, while Medigap costs more every month but caps surprises.

How to compare Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts carriers offer

Start early. Open Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and choices start January 1, 2027, per CMS. Then follow these steps:

1. Write down your care. List your doctors, specialists, hospitals, pharmacy and every drug with its dose.
2. Use Medicare Plan Finder. Enter your ZIP code and drugs. Compare total yearly cost, not just the premium.
3. Call every provider. The state guide tells readers to call all providers to confirm they accept the plan. The Mass General Brigham and Blue Cross change shows why.
4. Check the out-of-pocket maximum and referral rules. HMOs usually need referrals. PPOs let you go out of network at a higher cost.
5. Check travel rules. The state guide says Medicare Advantage members cannot live outside the service area for more than 6 consecutive months. Snowbirds should weigh Medigap.
6. Price Medigap too. Because Massachusetts allows Medigap enrollment year-round, compare both routes before you decide.

If you pick a plan and regret it, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31 lets you make one change, but the state guide notes you must already be in a Medicare Advantage plan to use it. Outside these windows you need a Special Enrollment Period, such as after a move; our guide on how to change Medicare plans lists them. Our Medicare Part C guide explains plan types, and our Annual Enrollment Period guide covers the fall window in detail.

Free Medicare help in Massachusetts

You don’t have to compare Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts offers on your own. The state guide lists these free resources:

• SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Everyone): 1-800-243-4636. Trained volunteer counselors can also screen you for programs that lower Medicare costs.
• Medicare: 1-800-633-4227, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• MassHealth: 1-800-841-2900.
• Social Security: 1-800-772-1213, for Part A and Part B enrollment.
• Division of Insurance: 1-877-563-4467, for Medigap questions or complaints.

SHINE counselors are unbiased and don’t sell plans. A licensed agent can enroll you in a specific plan and is paid by the insurance company. You can read how that works on our how we get paid page.

Checklist before you choose for 2027

Use this list with any of the Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts carriers sell for 2027, and with the Medigap route as a comparison:

• Read your Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter from this fall.
• If you were in Mass Advantage, choose new coverage by December 31.
• Confirm each doctor and hospital is in network for 2027, by phone.
• Check that your drugs are on the plan’s 2027 formulary, and at what tier.
• Compare out-of-pocket maximums, not just premiums.
• If you have MassHealth and Medicare, ask whether Senior Care Options or One Care fits better than a regular plan.
• Price at least one Medigap plan and one stand-alone drug plan as a comparison.
• Note whether you spend more than 6 months a year outside the plan’s area.
• Keep your enrollment confirmation and your new ID card.

Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts: frequently asked questions

How many Medicare Advantage plans are there in Massachusetts for 2027?

CMS counts 97 plans for 2027, down from 103 in 2026. The number available in your county is smaller. Medicare Plan Finder shows the exact list for your ZIP code.

Can I get a $0-premium plan in Massachusetts?

CMS says 100% of people with Medicare in Massachusetts have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan in 2027. You still pay the Part B premium and any copays.

What happens to Mass Advantage members on January 1, 2027?

Mass Advantage coverage ends. Members who don’t choose a new plan return to Original Medicare without drug coverage. They have a Special Enrollment Period through the last day of February 2027, but choosing by December 31 avoids a gap. Other Medicare Advantage Worcester County options for 2027 appear in Medicare Plan Finder.

Do Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts carriers sell cover me when I travel?

For emergencies, yes. The state’s 2026 guide says emergency services are covered anywhere in the United States, and tells you to check with your plan about other care outside your area. It also says you cannot live outside the service area for more than 6 consecutive months.

Who can join Senior Care Options?

Senior Care Options Massachusetts eligibility covers people 65 and older with MassHealth Standard. Since January 1, 2026, they must also have Medicare, per Mass Legal Services. Contact an SCO plan or MassHealth to confirm eligibility.

Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap in Massachusetts without health questions?

Generally yes. The state’s 2026 guide says Massachusetts offers continuous open enrollment for Medigap, and every carrier must accept applications from February 1 to March 31 under 211 CMR 71.10. Time the switch so your new Medigap and drug plan start when your Medicare Advantage plan ends.

Compare your options with a licensed agent

Octans Insurance is an independent agency based in Massachusetts. Our licensed agents work with 120+ carriers and can compare the Medicare Advantage plans Massachusetts carriers offer in your county with Medigap options, at no fee to you. Call (617) 935-9220. For unbiased counseling, you can also call SHINE at 1-800-243-4636 or 1-800-MEDICARE.

Keep Reading: Related Guides

• Medicare Advantage plan not renewing
• Medicare supplement plans in Massachusetts
• Medicare Part C
• How to change Medicare plans
• MassHealth life insurance and burial rules

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

This article is for general information and is not tax, legal, or medical advice.

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