If you’re comparing Medicare Advantage plans Florida carriers are offering for the 2027 plan year, you’ve probably noticed the stack of mailers is already growing. South Florida — and Broward County in particular — is one of the most competitive Medicare markets in the country, which means plenty of choices but also plenty of homework. The good news: you don’t need to read every brochure cover to cover. You need to know which six things to check, and this guide walks through each one.
A quick note before we start: this article is educational only. Medicare.gov and 1-800-MEDICARE are the official sources for Medicare information.
A Quick Refresher: Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare
Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits through a private plan approved by Medicare. Instead of using Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) directly, you get your hospital and medical coverage through the plan, and most plans bundle in prescription drug coverage as well. Neither route is automatically better — they’re simply different structures. Original Medicare lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare nationwide, while Medicare Advantage plans typically use networks and often add benefits Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like routine dental, vision, or hearing. Which structure fits you depends on your doctors, your prescriptions, your budget, and how you like to use your coverage.
Six Things to Check in Medicare Advantage Plans Florida Counties Offer
Every plan publishes the details below for the coming year. Here’s what each one means and why it deserves a close look before you enroll for 2027.
1. The Provider Network
This is the single most common source of surprises. Most Medicare Advantage plans are HMOs or PPOs, and each one contracts with its own list of doctors, hospitals, and specialists. Networks are not static — a physician group that participates in 2026 may not participate in 2027. Before you commit, confirm that your primary care doctor, your specialists, and your preferred hospital are in the network for the plan year you’re buying, not the current one. If you split time between Florida and another state, ask how the plan handles out-of-area care.
2. The Drug Formulary
Most plans include Part D prescription coverage, but each plan maintains its own formulary — the list of covered drugs, organized into cost tiers. The same medication can sit on tier two in one plan and tier four in another, which changes what you pay at the pharmacy every month. Make a list of every prescription you take, including dosages, and check each one against the plan’s 2027 formulary. Look for restrictions too, such as prior authorization or step therapy requirements.
3. Extra Benefits
Dental, vision, hearing, fitness memberships, transportation, over-the-counter allowances — extra benefits are where plans compete hardest in South Florida. They can add real value, but read the details: an advertised dental benefit might cover cleanings only, or cap coverage at a modest annual amount. Weigh extras after you’ve verified the network and formulary, not before. A generous allowance doesn’t help much if your cardiologist is out of network.
4. Star Ratings
Medicare scores every plan from one to five stars each year based on member satisfaction, customer service, preventive care, and how well the plan manages chronic conditions. Ratings are updated each fall, right before the enrollment window opens. A rating isn’t the whole story, but a consistently low-rated plan deserves extra scrutiny, and ratings are one of the few apples-to-apples comparisons available.
5. The Maximum Out-of-Pocket Limit
Every Medicare Advantage plan sets an annual maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit for covered medical services — a financial backstop Original Medicare alone doesn’t include. But the limit varies widely from plan to plan, sometimes by thousands of dollars. If you had a serious health event, this number is what stands between you and open-ended costs, so treat it as a headline figure rather than fine print. Note that the MOOP applies to medical services, not prescription drug costs, which are handled separately.
6. Availability in Your County
Medicare Advantage plans are approved and priced county by county. The menu of plans available in Broward County is different from the menu in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, or Lee — and a plan’s premium and benefits can change at the county line even when the name looks the same. Always compare plans using your own ZIP code, and if you’re planning a move within Florida, know that your plan options may change when your county does.
When You Can Make Changes for 2027
For people who already have Medicare, the main window to switch is the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 through December 7, 2026. During AEP you can move from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or return to Original Medicare, with new coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and want a second look, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31 and allows one change. These are simply the scheduled windows — reviewing your options each fall is a routine habit, not an emergency. If you’d like a head start, our Medicare guidance page explains how a local, licensed agent can line up your county’s plans side by side.
One more reason an annual review matters: the Medicare Advantage plans Florida residents renewed last year don’t stay frozen. Networks, formularies, premiums, and extras are all re-set for each plan year, so the plan that fit you in 2026 deserves a fresh look before you keep it for 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I switch Medicare Advantage plans in Florida?
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7 each year, and changes made then take effect January 1. If you are already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also get one additional change during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 through March 31.
Do I still pay my Part B premium with a Medicare Advantage plan?
Yes. You must stay enrolled in Part A and Part B and continue paying your Part B premium, even if the Medicare Advantage plan itself has a low or zero-dollar monthly premium.
What is a Medicare star rating?
Medicare rates plans each year on a scale of one to five stars based on measures like member experience, customer service, and management of chronic conditions. Updated ratings are published each fall so you can review them before the Annual Enrollment Period ends.
Can I keep my current doctor if I switch plans?
Only if your doctor is in the new plan’s network for the coming year. Provider networks change annually, so confirm directly with both the plan and your doctor’s office before you enroll — even if you are keeping the same plan.
Why are the plans my friend has in another county different from mine?
Medicare Advantage plans are approved county by county. The lineup available in Broward County can differ from what is offered in Palm Beach or Miami-Dade, and premiums and benefits for a similar plan can vary from one county to the next.
Local Help Is Free — and Worth Using
Comparing Medicare Advantage plans Florida offers doesn’t have to be a solo project. Maher Insurance Group is an independent brokerage based in Fort Lauderdale, which means our licensed agents work with multiple A-rated carriers and are paid by the carriers — never by you. There’s no cost and no obligation to have someone check your doctors, run your prescriptions, and lay out your Broward County options in plain English. Call us at (866) 220-2834, or if you’d rather start online, fill out our short questionnaire and an agent will follow up at a time that works for you.
Maher Insurance Group is a licensed independent insurance brokerage and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE for information on all of your options.
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