Medicare Advantage

Before January 1: what Chandler plan losses mean for you

For 2027, Chandler is looking at 92 Medicare Advantage plans: 17 new, 13 gone since 2026, and 33 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 13 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Maricopa County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

CHANDLER, Ariz. — If you open your mailbox this fall and find a letter saying your Medicare Advantage plan will not be offered in 2027, you are not alone. Across Maricopa County, which includes Chandler, 13 Medicare Advantage plans listed for 2026 are not in the 2027 CMS file. That means some neighbors will need to pick a new plan during this year's Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.

The good news: you have time, you have choices, and if your plan is one of the 13, Medicare gives you a Special Enrollment Period that stretches past the usual deadline.

Which Medicare Advantage plans are not returning in Chandler for 2027?

Thirteen Medicare Advantage plans sold in Maricopa County (the county Chandler sits in) for 2026 are not in CMS's 2027 plan file for the county. In alphabetical order by carrier, those plans are:

• Aetna Medicare Elite (PPO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Aetna Medicare Prime Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Aetna Medicare Prime Extra (HMO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (HMO) — Aetna (CVS Health)
• Wellcare Arizona Complete Health Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Giveback (HMO) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellcare Simple Value (HMO) — Centene (WellCare)
• Wellpoint I CareMore Home Care (HMO I-SNP) — Elevance Health (Anthem)
• eternalHealth Grand Give Back (HMO) — eternalHealth
• HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) — Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)
• SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP) — SCAN Health Plan

For context, Maricopa County will have 92 Medicare Advantage plans from 16 carriers available for 2027. If your plan is not on the list above, it is expected to be offered again next year — though the benefits, drug list and costs can still change. Those details come in your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).

How can I tell if my Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

Your plan is required to mail you a non-renewal letter (sometimes called a "plan termination notice") by early October 2026. It will say plainly that your plan will not be offered in 2027 and that your coverage ends December 31, 2026.

A few things to look for when the mail arrives:

• The envelope is from your current plan's carrier, not from Medicare.
• The letter names your plan and your member ID.
• It explains that you will go back to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, unless you choose a new plan.
• It describes a Special Enrollment Period you can use.

If you are not sure whether a notice is real, call the plan using the number on the back of your member card, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

What happens in Chandler if I do nothing after a non-renewal letter?

If your Medicare Advantage plan ends on December 31, 2026 and you do not pick a new plan, Medicare automatically returns you to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) starting January 1, 2027. You will not lose Medicare — but a few things change:

• You will not have a Medicare Advantage plan's extra benefits (such as the dental, vision or over-the-counter items some plans include).
• You will not have Part D drug coverage unless your old plan included drugs and you choose a new drug plan, or you enroll in a standalone Part D plan.
• You will pay the standard Original Medicare cost sharing. CMS publishes the 2027 Part B premium and deductible later in the fall (usually November); the 2027 IRMAA income brackets come out around the same time.

For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (it is $2,100 in 2026) and the Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 (from $615 in 2026). Those caps apply whether your drug coverage comes from a Medicare Advantage plan with drugs or a standalone Part D plan.

What are my choices and when is the Special Enrollment Period?

You have two main paths if your plan is on the non-returning list:

1. Pick a new Medicare Advantage plan (with or without drug coverage) for 2027. Maricopa County will have 92 to choose from across 16 carriers for 2027. 2. Keep Original Medicare and, if you want drug coverage, add a standalone Part D plan. You can also look at a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to help with Original Medicare's out-of-pocket costs.

Two enrollment windows apply to you:

• The Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026). A choice made here starts January 1, 2027.
• A Special Enrollment Period for members of a non-renewing plan. This SEP runs through the end of February 2027 (February 28, 2027), giving you extra time to join another Medicare Advantage plan or a standalone Part D plan without a gap in drug coverage.

Because your plan is ending, you may also have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap policies — meaning an insurer must sell you the policy and cannot charge more based on your health. The federal right exists at the program level; Arizona has additional rules. Confirm the specifics with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions before you apply.

How do I compare 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Maricopa County?

Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov. It lets you enter your ZIP code (Chandler ZIPs include 85224, 85225, 85226, 85244, 85246, 85248, 85249 and 85286), your prescriptions and your preferred pharmacies, and it will show every 2027 plan available in Maricopa County along with its premium, deductible, drug tier information and star rating.

A few tips before you compare:

• Have your Medicare number and your current medication list in front of you.
• Check whether your doctors and preferred hospital are in each plan's network.
• Read the plan's Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage for the full rules.
• If you take specialty drugs, look closely at the Part D tiers and the pharmacy network.

The table on this page lists every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan offered in Maricopa County, by carrier. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for help from a Medicare representative.