Your Medicare choices change every year — and by state
Each fall, CMS publishes how many Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans are available in every state for the coming year, and what they cost on average. Those numbers move a lot: for 2026, 50states have a Medicare Advantage market (Alaska essentially doesn’t), the national average MA premium is about $14/month, and most states offer $0-premium plans — but the specifics differ sharply by state and county. This tool gives you the CMS state-level picture; always compare the actual plans for your ZIP and prescriptions at medicare.gov during Open Enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7).
Look up your state
Open a state for its 2026 Medicare Advantage plan count, average premium, $0-premium availability, and Part D options.
How this data is sourced
Every figure comes from CMS’s 2026 Medicare Advantage & Part D State-by-State Fact Sheet (retrieved August 2026), cross-checked against KFF’s 2026 Medicare Advantage analysis. Plan counts are statewide totals (the number available in your county is smaller); premiums are statewide averages, not quotes. Plans and prices change every year — compare and enroll at medicare.gov. This is general information, not a plan recommendation.
Medicare Plan Landscape — FAQ
What is the Medicare 'plan landscape'?
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It's the set of Medicare Advantage (Part C) and stand-alone Part D drug plans available where you live, and what they cost, for a given plan year. CMS publishes this every fall. The number and price of plans vary a lot by state and even county, which is why it pays to compare each Annual Enrollment Period (Oct 15 – Dec 7). This tool shows CMS's 2026 state-level figures; compare specific plans for your ZIP and drugs at medicare.gov.
What is a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan?
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It's a Medicare Advantage plan with no monthly plan premium beyond your Part B premium. They're widely available — in most states 100% of beneficiaries have access to at least one — because plans are funded partly by Medicare. '$0 premium' does not mean $0 cost: you still pay the Part B premium, plus copays, coinsurance, and deductibles up to the plan's out-of-pocket maximum. Compare the total expected cost, network, and drug coverage, not just the premium.
How many Medicare Advantage plans can I actually choose from?
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Fewer than the statewide total shown here. Our per-state counts are the number of plans offered across the whole state (CMS state fact sheet); the number an individual can enroll in depends on their county — nationally the average beneficiary can choose from around 32 Medicare Advantage drug plans in 2026 (KFF). Use medicare.gov's Plan Finder with your ZIP code to see the plans actually available to you.
Are these numbers a plan recommendation?
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No. These are CMS's published state-level counts and averages for context — they are not a recommendation of any plan or carrier, and the right plan depends on your doctors, drugs, budget, and county. Always compare specific plans at medicare.gov or with a licensed, unbiased Medicare counselor (your free State Health Insurance Assistance Program, SHIP, can help).
Related guides and tools
Jennifer Walsh
Editorial Lead, Health & Medicare
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed July 2026
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