Yes — Wake County has 42+ Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 from carriers like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, and Blue Cross NC. Rural NC counties may have fewer than 10. Plan availability, provider networks, premiums, and extra benefits all vary by county and zip code. The 2026 MA out-of-pocket maximum is $9,350 in-network regardless of county, but the plans competing for your enrollment — and which local doctors they include — are completely different. For a free comparison filtered to your Wake County zip code, call Rob Simm at (828) 761-3326 — free, no obligation.

What Wake County families ask

What makes Wake County MA plans different from other counties?

These are the four questions I hear most from Wake County residents comparing plans.

Why does Wake County have more plans than my parents’ county?

Carriers follow population. Wake County’s 1.1 million residents attract more carriers competing for enrollment. A rural county with 30,000 people may only have 6–8 options.

Do all Wake County MA plans include UNC REX and WakeMed?

No. Each carrier negotiates separate contracts with each health system. Some plans include UNC REX but not WakeMed cardiology, and vice versa. You must verify per plan, per facility.

If I move from Durham to Wake, can I keep my plan?

Maybe not. Moving counties triggers a Special Enrollment Period (63 days). Your current plan may not be available or may have a different network in Wake County. Plan ahead before you move.

Are $0-premium MA plans actually worse?

Not necessarily — but $0-premium plans often have higher copays for specialists and narrower networks. The real cost is what you pay when you actually use the plan, not the monthly premium.

⚠️ Wake County network contracts shift every year

WakeMed, UNC REX, and Duke Raleigh renegotiate MA contracts annually. A plan that included your cardiologist last year may drop that provider in 2026. Never auto-renew without verifying your doctor list. Call (828) 761-3326 before every AEP to confirm your network.

The difference

What changes when you compare Wake County plans with a broker versus alone?

What do you need to know?	Medicare.gov	Rob Simm — NC #10447418
Plans shown	All plans in your zip — no context on local networks	Every plan, ranked by your doctors, meds, and budget
Wake County network verification	Generic provider directory, often months stale	Direct verification with UNC REX, WakeMed, and Duke Raleigh per plan
County-to-county differences	Search one zip at a time — no side-by-side	I compare your options across Wake, Durham, Orange, and wherever you need
Drug formulary check	Manual entry per drug, per plan	Every prescription checked on every eligible plan before you choose
Moving between counties	No guidance on SEP timing or network changes	Full SEP walkthrough — I confirm what transfers and what doesn’t
Cost to you	$0 (plus your time and risk)	$0 — carriers pay the same commission regardless of plan

2026 Medicare numbers

What are the key 2026 Medicare figures for Wake County residents?

$202.90

Part B premium per month

2026 standard rate. Higher with IRMAA surcharge based on income above $106,000.

$283

Part B annual deductible

You pay this before Medicare covers 80% of outpatient care.

$9,350

MA in-network out-of-pocket max

2026 cap on in-network Medicare Advantage spending.

$2,100

Part D out-of-pocket cap

No catastrophic Rx costs in 2026. Insulin capped at $35/month.

💡 Broker Tip — Wake County

Wake County’s high plan count is a double-edged sword — more options means more chances to pick the wrong one. I see Wake County residents choose plans based on $0 premiums, then discover their WakeMed specialist isn’t in-network at the first appointment. Before you enroll, bring me your full doctor list and I’ll verify every provider on every eligible plan. That 15-minute call saves you from a year of out-of-network bills.

— Rob Simm, Licensed Medicare Broker, NC #10447418

10 minutes. You'll know where you stand.

Rob Simm · Licensed NC Medicare Broker · NPN #10447418

Now pick how you want to move forward — your pace.

PLAN MATCH · 3 MINUTES

Let's start with you.

15-MIN CALL · SAME-WEEK SLOTS

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Prefer to just talk? (828) 761-3326

Licensed in North Carolina · Serving NC residents only

No pressure · No sales pitch · Your data never sold

Real scenario · Wake County

What happens when you pick a plan without checking the Wake County network?

Picked the $0 premium plan

$4,200+

Chose a $0-premium MA plan at a hotel seminar. Discovered WakeMed cardiology was out-of-network at first appointment. Paid out-of-network specialist rates for 8 months before AEP opened.

Verified network first

$0 extra

Called Rob before enrolling. He verified WakeMed cardiology, UNC REX primary care, and all three prescriptions on every eligible plan. Enrolled in the right plan from day one — no surprises.

It pays to talk to the right broker

How much does it cost to compare Wake County MA plans with a broker?

It doesn’t — because I get paid by the insurance carrier to manage your plan. Most call centers get paid more to steer your business toward certain carriers based on volume and contracts. The only thing I’m optimizing for is making sure you’re covered correctly when you actually need it. That’s what keeps people coming back. And referring their neighbors.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Wake County in 2026?

Wake County has 42+ Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 from carriers including UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, Blue Cross NC, Cigna, and Wellcare. The exact count depends on your zip code within Wake County. Call (828) 761-3326 for a free comparison filtered to your specific address.

Why does Wake County have more MA plans than rural NC counties?

Carriers follow population density. Wake County’s 1.1 million residents attract more carriers competing for enrollment. Rural counties with smaller populations may have fewer than 10 plans because carriers can’t build profitable provider networks there.

Do Medicare Advantage plan networks differ between Wake County and Durham County?

Yes. Even though Wake and Durham are neighboring counties, each carrier negotiates separate contracts with local health systems. A plan that includes UNC REX in Wake County may not include Duke Primary Care in Durham, and vice versa. Always verify your specific doctors on each plan.

Is there a fee to compare Medicare Advantage plans with a broker?

No. Brokers are paid by the insurance carrier when you enroll, and the commission is identical regardless of which plan you choose. There is no cost difference between enrolling directly, through Medicare.gov, or through a broker like Rob Simm.

Can I switch Medicare Advantage plans if I move from one NC county to another?

Yes. Moving to a new county triggers a Special Enrollment Period that gives you 63 days to choose a new plan available in your new county. This is important because your current plan may not have the same network or even be available in your new county. Call (828) 761-3326 before you move to plan ahead.

Related Medicare guides

Medicare Enrollment in NC – 2026 Guide Extra Help/LIS Eligibility NC 2026 Compare Medicare Advantage Plans in NC Extra Help / LIS in NC – 2026 Eligibility Guide Working Past 65 – Medicare Enrollment Special Enrollment Periods in NC Cheap Health Insurance Without Employer Coverage Free Medicare Quotes Online

Get help in nearby NC counties

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Robert Simm

Licensed Independent Medicare Broker

Helping NC families navigate Medicare since 2014. Independent — I work with all carriers and get paid the same regardless of which plan you choose. I verify provider networks with Duke Health directly and answer my own phone the next year when something changes.

📞 (828) 761-3326 📋 NC #10447418 🏥 AHIP Certified ⭐ 5.0 · 20+ reviews 📍 2731 Meridian Pkwy, Durham NC 27713 🕐 Mon–Fri 9am–7pm ET

Last Updated: 2026-05-04 | Reviewed By: Robert Simm, Licensed Medicare Broker, NC #10447418 | Next Review: October 2026

We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) for information on all of your options. GenerationHealth.me and Robert Simm are independent agents not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation of insurance. A licensed agent may contact you. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Plan availability, premiums, and benefits vary by location and carrier. © 2026 GenerationHealth.me