The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the 2027 Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Part D Landscape files, giving insurance agents an important new resource as they prepare for the 2027 plan year and the upcoming Annual Enrollment Period (AEP).
The files contain finalized information about Medicare Advantage and Part D plan offerings and premiums across the country. For agents, they can be particularly useful for researching local markets, identifying changes in plan availability, and deciding where additional preparation may be needed before AEP.
Access the official 2027 CMS Landscape files:
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage
Each year, CMS publishes Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape data after plan offerings have been finalized.
The data provides a detailed look at the plans that will be available for the upcoming coverage year and can help agents examine Medicare markets at the state and county level.
CMS has also released 2027 state-by-state Medicare Advantage and Part D fact sheets, which provide an easier way to get a high-level view of individual markets.
2027 CMS State-by-State Fact Sheets:
https://www.cms.gov/files/document/2027-medicare-advantage-part-d-landscape-state-state-fact-sheets.pdf
Here are several ways agents can put this information to work.
Start with the counties where you currently have clients or actively market Medicare products.
The CMS Landscape data can help you identify which Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans will be offered in those markets for 2027.
Rather than looking only at national Medicare trends, this gives you an opportunity to focus on what's happening in the markets that actually matter to your business.
Agents looking to expand their Medicare portfolio can also review the Medicare products and carrier options available through PSM Brokerage:
https://www.psmbrokerage.com/product-portfolio/medicare-solutions
One of the most useful exercises is comparing the 2027 landscape with the previous year.
Look for:
A significant change doesn't automatically mean there's an opportunity or problem. It means the market deserves a closer look.
Agents can then dig deeper into carrier-specific product information, certifications, networks and approved sales materials before making decisions about their 2027 portfolio.
CMS projects the weighted average monthly premium across all Medicare Advantage plans to decrease from $14.37 in 2026 to $12.00 in 2027.
For stand-alone Medicare Part D plans, CMS projects the average monthly premium to increase from $35.09 in 2026 to approximately $36 in 2027.
You can review CMS's complete 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D announcement here:
National averages, however, don't tell the entire story.
Premiums, benefits and plan availability vary considerably by location. That's why agents should use national figures for context while examining the actual plans available within the counties they serve.
If you work across multiple counties or states, the Landscape files can function as a basic market-intelligence tool.
Consider comparing:
You don't necessarily need a sophisticated data-analysis platform to make the files useful.
Start with your largest markets. Compare 2026 against 2027 and flag anything that looks substantially different.
Those are the areas where additional carrier and product research may be worthwhile.
The Landscape files can also provide useful background as you prepare for annual client conversations.
Plan availability, premiums, benefits, formularies, pharmacy networks, provider networks and other plan details can change from year to year.
The Landscape data helps you understand what's happening in the broader market before you begin evaluating the specific options available to an individual Medicare beneficiary.
For beneficiary-specific comparisons, agents should rely on current approved plan information and appropriate enrollment and comparison resources.
Medicare beneficiaries can also compare available plans using the official Medicare Plan Finder:
https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/
According to CMS, more than 99% of Medicare beneficiaries are expected to have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan in 2027, and 97% are expected to have access to 10 or more MA plan choices.
CMS expects approximately 5,532 Medicare Advantage plans to be available nationwide in 2027, compared with 5,553 in 2026.
CMS also projects that approximately eight in 10 current Medicare Advantage beneficiaries will have the ability to remain in their existing plan with the same or a lower premium in 2027.
These numbers provide useful national context, but Medicare remains a highly local market.
What's happening nationally may be very different from what's happening in the counties where you conduct business.
The value of the CMS data isn't simply knowing that thousands of plans are available.
It's identifying what changed in your market and what you need to do about it.
Choose your most important states and counties and ask:
What's new? What's gone? What changed? Which carriers should I research further? Where do I need additional product knowledge before October 15?
Then turn those findings into an AEP preparation checklist.
PSM has put together a 2027 AEP Preparation Guide for Insurance Agents covering ready-to-sell status, certifications, contracting, client organization, marketing and other important preparation steps:
https://www.psmbrokerage.com/aep-preparation-guide
Finding an attractive carrier or plan in the Landscape data is only useful if you're properly contracted, appointed and ready to sell where required.
Agents should verify their licensing, carrier appointments and 2027 certification status before AEP.
PSM maintains certification information and resources to help agents prepare:
https://www.psmbrokerage.com/education/certifications
The 2027 CMS Landscape files provide agents with an opportunity to get a broader view of the Medicare market before AEP begins.
Instead of treating the files as another large government spreadsheet, use them strategically.
Start with your markets. Identify the changes. Research the carriers. Complete your certifications. Prepare your book of business.
CMS 2027 MA & Part D Landscape Files
https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/prescription-drug-coverage
CMS 2027 Medicare Advantage & Part D Announcement
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-expected-remain-stable-2027
Medicare Plan Finder
https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/
PSM Medicare Solutions
https://www.psmbrokerage.com/product-portfolio/medicare-solutions
PSM 2027 AEP Preparation Guide
https://www.psmbrokerage.com/aep-preparation-guide
PSM Certification Resources
https://www.psmbrokerage.com/education/certifications
With AEP running October 15 through December 7, now is the time to understand your 2027 markets and make sure you're ready for the season ahead.