The Medicare & You 2027 handbook is the official government guide to Medicare for the year. It explains the parts of Medicare, what is covered, enrollment periods, costs, drug coverage, help paying costs and your rights. The 2027 edition highlights new sign-in options for Medicare.gov, the GLP-1 Bridge, the ACCESS model, telehealth through December 31, 2027, and negotiated prices for 15 more Part D drugs. Here is a plain-English tour of what is inside and what changed for 2027.
What is the Medicare & You handbook?
It is the yearly guide the government sends to people with Medicare, usually in the fall before Open Enrollment, which runs October 15 to December 7. You can read the full Medicare & You 2027 handbook on Medicare.gov, and it is also available in large print, Spanish, braille and audio. If you would rather not get the printed copy, you can switch to the electronic version in your Medicare.gov account.
The handbook is a reference, not a plan comparison. It tells you how Medicare works and what Original Medicare covers, but it doesn't tell you which Medicare Advantage plans, drug plans or Medicare Supplement policies are sold where you live or what they cost. That part still takes a plan-by-plan review.
The fastest way to use it is the index of topics near the front. Look up the service you care about, such as hearing exams, home health care or cardiac rehabilitation, and it points you to the page that explains what Original Medicare covers and what you pay. Words printed in blue are defined in the last section, which helps when a term like benefit period, assignment or coinsurance comes up. The handbook also flags items marked New, so you can scan for what changed without reading every page.
What sections are in the 2027 handbook?
The 2027 edition opens with what is new and important, an index of topics, the parts of Medicare and a side-by-side look at Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Then it moves through ten sections:
- How Medicare works, including signing up and enrollment periods.
- What Medicare covers, an alphabetical list of covered items, tests and services.
- Original Medicare.
- Medicare Advantage Plans and other options.
- Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap).
- Medicare drug coverage (Part D).
- Help paying your health and drug costs.
- Your Medicare rights and protections, including privacy and fraud.
- Helpful contacts.
- Definitions of common Medicare terms.
What is new in Medicare for 2027?
The handbook and its companion fact sheet, Your Medicare in 2027: What's New & Changing, call out these changes. We have a full page on several of them.
| What changed | What it means for you | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| More ways to log in to Medicare.gov | ID.me, CLEAR and Login.gov verify your identity and help prevent fraud | Logging in to Medicare.gov |
| Telehealth extended | Telehealth from home and other U.S. locations through December 31, 2027 | Medicare telehealth in 2027 |
| ACCESS model | At-home support for chronic conditions for people with Original Medicare | The ACCESS model |
| Diabetes Prevention Program | Attend in person, virtually live or self-paced | The Diabetes Prevention Program |
| Electronic prior authorization | Medicare Advantage plans may process requests electronically starting January 1, 2027 | Prior authorization in 2027 |
| TrumpRx | Discount-card purchases don't count toward your Part D deductible or out-of-pocket limit | TrumpRx and Part D |
| Negotiated drug prices | Prices for 15 more Part D drugs take effect January 1, 2027 | Ask us about your drug list |
The 2027 materials also describe the GLP-1 Bridge, which offers certain GLP-1 drugs to eligible people with Part D for a $50 copayment for a one-month supply, third-party health apps that can connect to Medicare, a redesigned Medicare.gov with more plan comparison details, and stepped-up efforts against fraud, including the use of AI tools.
Did Medicare eligibility rules change for 2027?
Yes, the 2027 fact sheet states the eligibility rule plainly. To get Part A and Part B or join a Medicare plan, you must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a Cuban-Haitian entrant, or a citizen of a Compact of Free Association nation lawfully living in the United States. If you or a family member are not a U.S. citizen, read that section of the handbook carefully and confirm your status with Social Security before you count on coverage. Our page on who is eligible for Medicare covers the age and work history rules.
What drug cost changes does the handbook cover?
For 2027, the maximum Part D deductible is $700 and the yearly out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,400, both set by CMS. The handbook's drug coverage section explains the cap, Extra Help for people with limited income and resources (for 2027, Extra Help copays are up to $5.80 for each generic drug and up to $14.40 for each brand-name drug), and how to avoid the Part D late enrollment penalty. Our page on the Part D out-of-pocket maximum for 2027 shows how the cap works month to month.
What isn't in the handbook?
The handbook is national. It doesn't list the Medicare Advantage plans, drug plans or Medicare Supplement policies offered in your county, their premiums, their networks or whether your doctors and drugs are covered. It also doesn't explain state programs in detail. In North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, that means Medicaid help through NC Medicaid, Healthy Connections Medicaid or TennCare, and each state's Medigap rules, still need a local answer. The same handbook goes to someone in Charlotte, Rock Hill or Nashville, but the plan choices in each place are different.
Keep your copy, but treat it as the rulebook. Your own Annual Notice of Change from your current plan is the document that tells you how your specific coverage changes next year.
How The Jordan Insurance Agency can help
The handbook explains the rules. We help you apply them to your doctors, prescriptions and budget. We'll go through the 2027 changes that affect you, compare the plans available in your county and make sure nothing in your Annual Notice of Change catches you off guard. If you're reading the handbook on behalf of a parent, bring it along and we'll go through it together. Schedule Your Consultation to review your options.
Reviewed by Billy Jordan Jr., licensed insurance agent · Licensing & Credentials · Last reviewed November 12, 2026 · Sources are linked in the answer above.
Licensing: Billy Jordan Jr. is licensed in 23 states, including North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. See Licensing & Credentials.
Office: North Carolina and South Carolina clients are served by the Charlotte office, 3540 Toringdon Way, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28277, (704) 926-7565. Tennessee clients are served by the Nashville office, 159 4th Ave N, Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37219, (615) 558-6082.
Medicare disclaimer: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 91 products in North Carolina, 7 organizations which offer 70 products in South Carolina, and 7 organizations which offer 65 products in Tennessee. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Read the full Medicare disclaimer.
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