Wilmington · New Hanover County · Price Services Group, L.L.C.

How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans in Wilmington, NC

Plan choices for 2027 are specific to your ZIP code and can change every year. Use current plan documents and compare the details that affect your care: doctors, prescriptions, pharmacies, costs, and coverage rules.

Kayla Price

Published June 27, 2026 · Reviewed October 20, 2026

Find plans for your ZIP code

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. The options and costs can vary by county and ZIP code. Plan benefits, provider networks, formularies, and premiums can also change from one plan year to the next.

For that reason, older county-wide totals or average premiums are not a reliable guide to your 2027 choices. This page intentionally avoids repeating 2026 county statistics as if they described the current market. Start with the official Medicare.gov 2027 plan comparison tool, then confirm details in each plan's Summary of Benefits, Evidence of Coverage, provider directory, and drug list.

Compare the details that affect your care

A low premium does not necessarily mean lower total spending. Compare the costs and rules that match how you use care:

• Total costs: Look at the premium, deductible, copayments, coinsurance, and the plan's maximum out-of-pocket limit for covered services. Understand which costs count toward that limit.
• Doctors and hospitals: Confirm the exact plan name and network, including specialists and facilities you may use.
• Prescriptions: Check every medication, its formulary tier, pharmacy options, and any prior authorization, quantity limit, or step therapy.
• Coverage rules: Review referrals, prior authorization, service-area rules, and what happens when you need care away from home.
• Extra benefits: Check the written limits, eligibility, participating providers, and costs for dental, vision, hearing, transportation, or other supplemental benefits.

HMO and PPO are different network arrangements, but the details vary by contract. A PPO does not mean every provider or service is covered at the same cost. Read the specific plan documents and confirm with the plan before relying on out-of-network coverage.

Check Wilmington-area doctors and hospitals directly

If you want to continue seeing a clinician or use a particular hospital, verify participation for the exact 2027 plan under consideration. A health system may participate in some plans and not others, and a provider directory can change.

1. Search the plan's current provider directory using the provider's full name and location.
2. Call the plan using the number in its official materials and ask about the exact provider, facility, and service.
3. Call the provider's office as a second check; give them the plan's full name and, when available, its contract and plan identifiers.
4. Keep a note of the date, contact, and answer. Recheck before care if your plan or provider changes.

Do not assume that a provider accepts a plan because they accept Medicare, another product from the same insurer, or a similarly named plan.

Review your prescriptions and pharmacies

Enter your medications and preferred pharmacies in Medicare.gov Plan Compare when available. Compare estimated drug costs across the year, not just the plan premium. Then confirm the formulary and pharmacy terms with the plan, since coverage rules and preferred pharmacy arrangements are plan-specific.

Enrollment timing for 2027

The Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare drug plans runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Changes made during this period generally begin January 1, 2027. Other enrollment periods may be available if you are newly eligible or experience a qualifying life event. Check Medicare's enrollment guidance to see which rules apply to you.

Get help comparing all your options

For independent counseling in North Carolina, contact the NC Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). You can also call Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or use the official plan comparison tool.

• Compare 2027 plans on Medicare.gov
• Compare Medicare Advantage plan types
• Review enrollment rules

Sources: CMS Medicare plan offerings and landscape files · Medicare.gov 2027 Plan Compare · Medicare.gov plan type comparison. Price Services Group, L.L.C. is an independent licensed insurance agency and is not connected 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 those plans we do offer in your area. Contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or NC SHIIP for information on all your options. This article is for general information only. Plan availability, eligibility, benefits, and costs vary by location and plan. Confirm current details in official plan materials before enrolling.