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PlainMedicare

Plan year 2026 · coverage ends Dec. 31, 2026CMS crosswalk of Oct. 1, 2026

UHC Dual Complete NC-S3 is not offered under this ID in 2027

H5253Contract184Plan

HMO-POS D-SNP · served 100 counties in North Carolina in 2026

Run by UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, Inc. (contract H5253), sold as UnitedHealthcare, owned by UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

CMS crosswalk: renews as H5253-216

Renews as H5253-216

UHC Dual Complete NC-S3 (H5253-184) is not offered under this ID in 2027: the CMS plan crosswalk of October 1, 2026 moves its members into UHC Dual Complete NC-S3 (H5253-216) (the plan renews under a new ID), which is sold in every county it served. 85,444 people were enrolled in it in September 2026; they can also choose another plan during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.

What changes for its members in UHC Dual Complete NC-S3?

For its members: this plan's 2026 amounts beside UHC Dual Complete NC-S3 (H5253-216) in 2027. The changed lines are marked and come first.
What you pay or get20262027Change
Monthly premium$36.20$3.80down $32.40
In-network out-of-pocket limit$9,250$9,850up $600
Drug deductible$615$700up $85
Part B premium reduction, monthly (best in its area)$0.60nonedropped
Hospital stay, in network (best in its area)$1,765 a stay$2,005 a stayup $240for a 5-day stay
Eyewear, yearly limit (best in its area)$300 a year$250 a yeardown $50
15 lines do not change
Primary care visit (best in its area)0% of the cost0% of the costno change
Specialist visit (best in its area)0% of the cost0% of the costno change
Emergency room (best in its area)$115 copay$115 copayno change
Medical deductible, in network (best in its area)nonenoneno change
Skilled nursing facility, in network (best in its area)not filednot filedno change
Ground ambulance, in network (best in its area)20% of the cost20% of the costno change
Comprehensive dental, yearly limit (best in its area)not offerednot offeredno change
Hearing aids, yearly limit for both ears (best in its area)$1,100 a year$1,100 a yearno change
Over-the-counter items, yearly (best in its area)not offerednot offeredno change
Counties served100100no change
Drug tier 1, preferred generic$0$0no change
Drug tier 2, generic25% of the cost25% of the costno change
Drug tier 3, preferred brand25% of the cost25% of the costno change
Drug tier 4, non-preferred drug25% of the cost25% of the costno change
Drug tier 5, specialty tier25% of the cost25% of the costno change

Source: CMS plan crosswalk from 2026 to 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026); CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision); CMS plan benefit package files, 2027 and 2026. Your plan's Annual Notice of Change is the letter that confirms your 2027 plan; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder.

What can members do, and by when?

If you do nothing
You are moved into UHC Dual Complete NC-S3 on January 1, 2027.
October 15 to December 7, 2026
Open enrollment: choose another Medicare Advantage plan, or Original Medicare with a drug plan, instead.
January 1 to March 31, 2027
Medicare Advantage open enrollment: switch once to another Medicare Advantage plan or to Original Medicare.
If you have Medicaid or Extra Help
You can switch to a different drug plan, or leave a Medicare Advantage plan for Original Medicare with a drug plan, once a calendar month; the change starts the first day of the next month.

Source: Medicare.gov, “Special enrollment periods” and “Joining a plan” (read Oct. 7, 2026).

Where did its members live?

Where its members lived in September 2026; each county and state page lists the 2027 plans sold there.

100 counties in 1 state; counties under 11 members are not counted
StateCountiesMembers, Sept. 2026
North Carolina10085,327

Source: CMS monthly enrollment by plan and by county, September 2026 (CMS hides counts under 11).

What else should you check?