Medicare & Individual Open Enrollment: What Georgia Needs to Know for 2027

Around here, fall means the peanut and cotton harvest stretching across South Georgia’s fields well into the season, and it also means open enrollment. This year brings real changes worth paying attention to. Whether you’re on Medicare or you buy your own individual health insurance, the plans available for 2027 are shifting. Premiums, benefits, and costs are all changing, and some plans are going away entirely. The single most important thing you can do is review your coverage before the deadline rather than letting it renew on autopilot.

At H&H Insurance Solutions, we help Georgia individuals and families sort through exactly these decisions every year. Here’s a clear rundown of the two enrollment windows, the key changes for 2027, and why a review matters more this year than most.

Two Enrollment Windows, Two Different Deadlines

It’s easy to mix these up, so let’s keep them separate and simple:

Medicare Open Enrollment runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. If you have Medicare, whether that’s a Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare with a Part D drug plan, this is your window to make changes for 2027.

Individual Open Enrollment starts November 1, 2026, through Georgia Access, our state’s health insurance marketplace. This is for Georgians who buy their own coverage rather than getting it through an employer or Medicare. To have your coverage start on January 1, 2027, you’ll generally want to enroll by December 15. The exact closing date for Georgia Access can differ from the federal marketplace, so it’s worth confirming the final deadline, and we’re glad to help you pin it down.

Miss your window without a qualifying life event, and your options narrow considerably until the next enrollment period. That’s why now is the time to act.

Medicare: What’s Changing for 2027

If you’re on Medicare, the biggest changes for 2027 are in Part D prescription drug coverage. Two numbers are going up:

The Part D deductible is increasing from $615 to $700. That’s the amount you pay for covered prescriptions before your drug plan begins to share the cost.

The Part D out-of-pocket maximum is increasing from $2,100 to $2,400. This is the annual cap on what you’ll pay out of pocket for covered Part D medications. Once you reach it, you pay nothing more for covered drugs for the rest of the year, a valuable protection if you take high-cost medications.

These figures are the maximums a plan can set, and specifics vary from plan to plan. Some plans charge a lower deductible, or none at all. That variation is exactly why comparing plans matters. (You can review the official Part D cost details anytime at Medicare.gov.)

Why Reviewing Your Plan Every Year Is So Important

Here’s the thing many people don’t realize: your plan can change even if you do nothing. Medicare Advantage, Part D, and individual plans are all renewed year to year, and from one year to the next:

Premiums change. The amount you pay each month can go up, sometimes noticeably.

Benefits change. What’s covered, which drugs are on the formulary, the size of the network, and your copays can all shift from one year to the next.

Plans get discontinued. Sometimes the plan you’re on simply won’t exist next year, and if you don’t choose a new one, you could be moved automatically into a plan that isn’t the best fit for you.

The plan that was perfect for you this year may not be the best value next year, or even available. Reviewing your coverage during open enrollment is the only way to catch these changes before they catch you. A quick review can mean the difference between keeping the right coverage and overpaying for the wrong one.

Why Work With a Local, Independent Agency

Open enrollment can feel overwhelming, with dozens of plans and a lot of fine print. That’s where having someone local in your corner makes all the difference.

At H&H, we’re a local, independent South Georgia agency, and because we’re independent, we’re not tied to any single carrier. Our job is to compare your options and help you find the plan that actually fits your health needs, your medications, and your budget, not to push one company’s product. We’ve been serving South Georgia families and their neighbors since 2002, we know these plans, and we’ll walk you through the choices in plain language, with no pressure. We’re your neighbors here in South Georgia, the same folks you see around town, not a faraway call center.

Let’s Review Your Coverage Together

Whether you’re on Medicare or buying your own individual coverage, this is the time to make sure your plan still works for you in 2027. Just as the harvest wraps up across South Georgia and folks turn toward the new year, it’s the perfect season to get your coverage settled. It costs nothing to review your options, and it’s the best way to head into the new year confident you’re covered the way you should be.

Reach out to H&H Insurance Solutions for a free, no-obligation review of your coverage before the deadline. Local, independent, and here to help, right here in Georgia.

Have questions or ready to get started managing your group costs?

Give us a call, or use our contact us page to reach out.