Medicare Advantage

New Medicare Advantage plans in Phoenix for 2027: the full list and how to vet one

For 2027, Phoenix 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.

PHOENIX — When the 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup opens for enrollment this fall, Maricopa County residents will see 17 plans that were not sold here in 2026. They come from nine carriers, and most are built for people with specific health conditions. Because Phoenix is in Maricopa County, Medicare sets plan availability at the county level, so every Phoenix neighborhood sees the same list.

A brand-new plan is not better or worse than one that has been around for years — it is simply newer. That means a shorter paper trail to check before you choose. Here is who is offering what, and how to vet a new plan against your doctors and prescriptions before the December 7, 2026 deadline.

What "new for 2027" actually means

CMS treats a plan as new when its contract and plan ID did not exist in the county the year before. In Maricopa County, 17 plans fit that definition for 2027. Some are from carriers already selling here; others expand a carrier's local menu into a new plan type or a new Special Needs Plan category.

A renewing plan comes with history: a Star Rating, member reviews, and prior Annual Notice of Change letters that show how benefits have shifted year to year. A new plan does not have that record yet. Its Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage are the primary places to look, since there is no multi-year track record to lean on.

The 17 new plans, carrier by carrier

The table on this page lists every new plan, its type, and whether it includes drug coverage (all 17 do). Here is the carrier breakdown, in alphabetical order:

• Aetna (CVS Health): 2 new plans — Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP) and Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO).
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona: 1 new plan — Blue Best Life Select (HMO).
• Centene (WellCare): 1 new plan — Wellcare Arizona Complete Health Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP).
• Devoted Health: 6 new plans — DEVOTED C-SNP ENHANCED 092 AZ (HMO C-SNP), DEVOTED C-SNP GIVEBACK EXTRAS 104 AZ (HMO C-SNP), DEVOTED C-SNP PLUS 093 AZ (HMO C-SNP), DEVOTED CORE 090 AZ (HMO), DEVOTED GIVEBACK 091 AZ (HMO), and DEVOTED GIVEBACK EXTRAS 105 AZ (HMO).
• Elevance Health (Anthem): 1 new plan — Wellpoint I CareMore Home Care (HMO I-SNP).
• Gold Kidney Health Plan: 1 new plan — Gold Dialysis Premier (HMO-POS C-SNP).
• Humana: 1 new plan — Humana Value Choice (PPO).
• SCAN Health Plan: 3 new plans — SCAN DaVita Dialysis Care Complete (HMO-POS C-SNP), SCAN Walmart Medicare Advantage (HMO), and SCAN Walmart Medicare Complete (HMO C-SNP).
• UnitedHealthcare: 1 new plan — AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx AZ-MA2 (HMO-POS).

Special Needs Plans make up most of the new lineup

Of the 17 new plans, the majority are Special Needs Plans (SNPs). SNPs are limited to people who meet specific eligibility rules:

• C-SNP (Chronic Condition SNP): for people with a qualifying chronic illness such as diabetes, heart disease, or chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis.
• D-SNP (Dual Eligible SNP): for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid (in Arizona, AHCCCS).
• I-SNP (Institutional SNP): for people living in a long-term care facility or needing that level of care at home.

If you are not eligible for a particular SNP, you cannot enroll in it — the plan is simply not for you. Every new plan on the Maricopa County list for 2027 includes Part D prescription drug coverage.

How to vet a new plan before December 7

Because a new plan has no local history, the burden of checking shifts to you. A short, specific checklist helps:

1. Confirm your doctors are in-network. Call the plan directly, ask about the specific providers you see, and ask them to put it in writing. HMO plans generally require you to use network providers; PPO plans allow out-of-network care at a higher cost. 2. Run your prescriptions through the plan's formulary. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your drug list and see how each plan covers it, including any tier, prior authorization, or step therapy rules. 3. Check the pharmacies you use. Some plans have preferred pharmacy networks that affect cost-sharing. 4. Read the Summary of Benefits and the Evidence of Coverage. These are the official documents that spell out what the plan covers in 2027. 5. Confirm the plan fits your situation. For a SNP, verify you meet the eligibility rule before you apply.

If a new plan does not pass these checks for your doctors and medicines, a renewing plan with a track record may be a better fit — or vice versa. The goal is a match, not novelty.

What is confirmed for 2027, and what is not

A few 2027 program numbers are already set by CMS:

• 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).
• Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027 (a formula input, not what any plan charges).

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced. CMS typically releases those figures later in the fall. We will update our coverage when they post.

If you do nothing

Nothing happens automatically to a person who does nothing. If your 2026 plan is offered again in 2027, it renews on January 1, 2027 — with whatever changes are listed in its Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which plans mail by late September. If your current plan is one of the 13 not returning to Maricopa County next year, your carrier should notify you and explain your options. The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, and a change made in that window takes effect January 1, 2027.