Medicare Advantage

Chandler Medicare Advantage in 2027: how the 92-plan lineup leans toward HMOs

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. — As the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage opens Oct. 15, 2026, Chandler shoppers scrolling the Medicare Plan Finder will notice something about the lineup: most Medicare Advantage plans sold in this part of the Valley are HMOs. Chandler is in Maricopa County, where CMS lists 92 Medicare Advantage plans from 16 carriers for 2027, and the split by plan type leans heavily one way — 56 HMOs, 19 HMO-POS plans and 17 PPOs. No PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plans are offered in the county for 2027.

That mix matters because the plan type — not just the carrier or the extras — sets the rules on networks, referrals and what happens when you need care outside your plan's doctors.

How do Maricopa County's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans split by type?

For 2027, Maricopa County has 92 Medicare Advantage plans from 16 carriers, and 75 of them — about four in five — are some form of HMO (56 HMO plus 19 HMO-POS). PPOs account for 17 plans. There are no PFFS plans in the county next year.

That tilt toward HMOs is typical of large metro counties in Arizona, but it has a practical consequence: if a Chandler resident wants a PPO specifically, the shortlist is smaller than it looks at first glance.

What does an HMO Medicare Advantage plan actually mean for care?

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan generally requires you to use doctors, hospitals and other providers in the plan's network, and to pick a primary care doctor who coordinates your care. Many HMOs also require a referral before you see a specialist. Out-of-network care usually isn't covered except for emergencies, urgent care and dialysis.

For a Chandler resident who sees local doctors and doesn't travel for long stretches, that can be a straightforward fit. For a snowbird who spends months out of state, the network rules deserve a careful look.

Carriers offering HMO plans in Maricopa County for 2027 include Aetna (CVS Health), Alignment Health Plan, Banner Medicare Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), eternalHealth, HealthSpring, Humana, Mercy Care Advantage, Molina Healthcare of Arizona, SCAN Health Plan and Verda Health Plan of Arizona.

How is HMO-POS different from a regular HMO?

HMO-POS stands for HMO with a Point-of-Service option. It works like an HMO — network, usually a primary care doctor, often referrals — but adds a limited ability to get certain services from out-of-network providers, typically at a higher cost share. The specific out-of-network benefits vary plan by plan, so the Evidence of Coverage is where the real rules live.

Maricopa County has 19 HMO-POS plans for 2027. The carriers offering them are Elevance Health (Anthem), eternalHealth, Gold Kidney Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare.

What does a PPO Medicare Advantage plan cover out of network?

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan has a network, but it also covers care from out-of-network providers who accept Medicare — usually at a higher copay or coinsurance than in-network care. Referrals to specialists generally aren't required.

For Chandler residents who split time between Arizona and another state, or who want flexibility to see a specialist outside the plan's network, PPOs are the type built for that. There are 17 PPO plans in Maricopa County for 2027, offered by Aetna (CVS Health), Devoted Health, HealthSpring, Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

Are any PFFS plans sold in Chandler for 2027?

No. CMS lists zero Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Medicare Advantage plans in Maricopa County for 2027. PFFS plans let the insurer — rather than a network contract — set the terms providers accept, and any Medicare provider willing to accept those terms can treat you. They've become uncommon nationally, and they're not part of the Chandler-area menu this year.

What's changing in the 2027 Maricopa County lineup?

Compared with 2026, 13 plans aren't returning, 17 are new, and 13 have been renamed for 2027. If your current plan is one of them, you'll see that in your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which plans mail in September. The ANOC is the document that tells you exactly what's different about your plan next year — including whether the plan type, network or drug list has shifted.

If you take no action during the Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026 window, your plan renews automatically for 2027 as long as it's still offered.

The table below lists every plan available in the county, with its type, so you can see which carriers offer HMO, HMO-POS or PPO coverage and compare the plan types side by side.

How should I choose between an HMO, HMO-POS and PPO in Chandler?

Start with two questions: which doctors and hospitals do you want to keep seeing, and how much do you travel? An HMO or HMO-POS can work well if your providers are all in one network and you mostly stay local. A PPO is designed around flexibility — seeing out-of-network providers and skipping referrals — but the rules and costs vary by plan.

A few other 2027 program-level facts worth knowing as you compare: the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 for 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible is $700 for 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). The 2027 Part B standard premium and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets haven't been announced yet; CMS typically publishes those in the fall.

For plan-specific details — premiums, copays, drug lists, provider networks and star ratings — the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the official tool, and 1-800-MEDICARE can walk you through it.