Medicare Advantage

Got a non-renewal letter in Mesa? Start here

People in Mesa can choose from 92 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 88 this year. 13 of this year’s plans are gone, 17 are new to Maricopa County, and 33 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 13 of them under a new name.

MESA, Ariz. — As the Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, some Mesa residents will open a letter from their Medicare Advantage plan with news they weren't expecting: the plan they have today will not be offered in 2027. In Maricopa County, where Mesa is located, 13 Medicare Advantage plans are not returning for the 2027 plan year, according to CMS's Medicare Advantage Landscape files.

If your plan is on the list, you have time, you have choices, and you have a special enrollment window that lasts past December 7. Here is what to know.

The plans not returning to Mesa for 2027

These 13 Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Maricopa County in 2026 but are not in CMS's 2027 Landscape file for the county. They are listed alphabetically by carrier:

• 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

A plan leaving the county isn't a sign of a problem — insurers reshape their lineups every year. For 2027, Maricopa County will have 92 Medicare Advantage plans offered from 16 carriers, with 17 new plans and 13 renamed plans. The table below lists every plan.

How to tell if your plan is one of them

Insurers are required to tell members in writing when a plan will not be offered the next year. If your plan is on the list above, you should receive a non-renewal letter (sometimes called a "plan termination notice") in the mail, usually in early October 2026. It will say something like: "Your plan will not be offered in 2027."

That letter is different from the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which goes to members whose plan is renewing but changing its costs or benefits for next year. If you only received an ANOC, your plan is coming back — just read the ANOC carefully for what's different.

If you aren't sure what you received, call the member services number on the back of your plan ID card, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048).

What happens if you do nothing

If your 2026 Medicare Advantage plan is not returning and you don't choose a new plan, here is what Medicare will do automatically on January 1, 2027:

• You will be returned to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).
• You will not automatically have Part D prescription drug coverage. Most of the plans on the list above include drug coverage today, so this is the biggest gap to watch.
• You will not have a Medicare Advantage plan's extra benefits (such as dental, vision, hearing or over-the-counter allowances) unless you join a new one.

Going without Part D drug coverage can also trigger a late enrollment penalty later, so if your current plan includes it, this is worth acting on.

Your choices if your plan is leaving

You generally have two paths:

1. Pick a new Medicare Advantage plan for 2027. In Maricopa County, 92 Medicare Advantage plans will be offered for 2027 across 16 carriers. You can compare them at medicare.gov using the Plan Finder. 2. Stay with Original Medicare and, if you want drug coverage, add a stand-alone Part D plan. You may also consider a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy to help with Original Medicare's out-of-pocket costs.

A quick note on Medigap: when your Medicare Advantage plan is non-renewed, federal law gives you a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medigap policies without medical underwriting, for a limited window. Specific plan letters and timing rules in Arizona are set by state law, so check with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions for details that apply to you.

Your Special Enrollment Period

Members whose plan is non-renewed get a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) that runs from December 8, 2026 through the end of February 2027. That is on top of the regular Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026).

In practical terms:

• If you choose a new plan by December 7, 2026, your new coverage starts January 1, 2027 with no gap.
• If you use the SEP after that, your new plan starts the first of the month after you enroll — but you'll be on Original Medicare in the meantime.

Most people find it less stressful to pick before December 7, but you are not out of options if you miss it.

A few 2027 figures to know while you shop

Whether you stay with Medicare Advantage or move to Original Medicare with a Part D plan, these program-level numbers apply in 2027:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
• The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible and the IRMAA income brackets have not been released yet. CMS typically announces them in the fall, usually November.