Medicare Advantage

Phoenix Medicare Advantage in 2027: the carriers, the plan types, and how to tell them apart

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.

Medicare AdvantagePhoenix, AZ

For Phoenix shoppers who want to understand Medicare Advantage before picking one, the useful first step isn't a price tag — it's the map. Who sells plans here, and what kind of plans are they? Phoenix sits in Maricopa County, where 16 insurance carriers offer Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, and those plans come in a few different shapes that work very differently once you actually use them.

This article walks through the carriers in Maricopa County (in alphabetical order, with no ranking), explains what HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS and Special Needs Plans mean, and points you to the official tools to compare specifics. For plan-level details — premiums, drug lists, provider networks, star ratings — always check medicare.gov or call 1‑800‑MEDICARE. The full list of every plan available in the county is shown in the table below.

Who sells Medicare Advantage in Maricopa County

Sixteen carriers offer Medicare Advantage plans in the county for 2027. In alphabetical order, they are: Aetna (CVS Health), Alignment Health Plan, Banner Medicare Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), eternalHealth, Gold Kidney Health Plan, Humana, Mercy Care Advantage, Molina Healthcare of Arizona, SCAN Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, and Verda Health Plan of Arizona.

The number of plans each carrier offers varies. Humana offers 14 plans, Devoted Health offers 10, and Aetna offers 9. UnitedHealthcare offers 8. Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare) and SCAN Health Plan each offer 6. Alignment Health Plan and Elevance Health (Anthem) each offer 5. eternalHealth offers 4. Banner Medicare Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Gold Kidney Health Plan and Mercy Care Advantage each offer 3. Verda Health Plan of Arizona offers 2, and Molina Healthcare of Arizona offers 1. The complete plan-by-plan list is in the table below.

Having more plans from one carrier does not make that carrier better. It usually means the carrier is selling versions of similar products at different benefit levels, or has separate plans for specific groups (like people with both Medicare and Medicaid). What matters when you shop is whether the individual plan covers your doctors, your prescriptions and the way you want to receive care.

HMO vs. HMO-POS vs. PPO: the everyday differences

In Maricopa County, 55 of the 88 plans are HMOs, 16 are HMO-POS plans, and 17 are PPOs. Here's what those labels mean in plain terms.

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) asks you to use its network of doctors and hospitals for most care, and usually to pick a primary care doctor who coordinates referrals to specialists. Out-of-network care generally isn't covered except in emergencies. HMOs tend to be more structured, which some people find simpler.

An HMO-POS (Point of Service) is an HMO with a limited "out" — for certain services, you can go outside the network, usually at a higher cost. It's still built around a home network.

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) gives you more flexibility. You can see providers outside the network without a referral, though you'll typically pay more when you do. PPOs suit people who travel, split time between homes, or want the option to see a specialist directly.

There is one plan type you might see mentioned in Medicare literature that isn't on the Maricopa County menu for 2027: PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). In a PFFS plan, any Medicare-approved provider can choose whether to accept the plan's payment terms visit by visit. It's an older model that has largely faded from most markets, and none of the 79 Advantage plans offered in Maricopa County for 2027 are PFFS.

Special Needs Plans (SNPs): built for a specific situation

Of the 88 plans in the county, 36 are Special Needs Plans. SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans limited to people who meet a specific eligibility rule, and their benefits and drug lists are shaped around that group. There are three flavors:

• D-SNP (Dual Eligible): for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. These plans coordinate the two programs.
• C-SNP (Chronic Condition): for people with a qualifying long-term condition, such as diabetes, chronic heart failure or end-stage renal disease. The plan tailors care management to that condition.
• I-SNP (Institutional): for people who live in a nursing facility or need a similar level of care at home.

You can't just pick an SNP the way you'd pick a regular plan — you have to qualify. If you think you might, the county's roster includes SNPs from carriers such as Alignment Health Plan, Banner Medicare Advantage, Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), Gold Kidney Health Plan, Mercy Care Advantage, Molina Healthcare of Arizona, SCAN Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare and others. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor can help you confirm eligibility.

How to narrow the list without getting overwhelmed

Eighty-eight plans is a lot to weigh at once. A few filters usually cut the list down fast:

1. Start with your doctors and hospitals. Ask each one which Medicare Advantage plans they accept for 2027. That question alone often removes half the list. 2. Add your prescriptions. Every plan in Maricopa County includes drug coverage, but each one has its own formulary and pharmacy network. The Plan Finder at medicare.gov lets you enter your medications and see how each plan handles them. 3. Pick your plan type based on how you use care. If you're happy inside a network with a coordinating doctor, an HMO or HMO-POS may suit you. If you want to see specialists directly or travel often, look at the PPOs. 4. Check whether you qualify for an SNP. If you have Medicaid, a qualifying chronic condition, or live in a facility, an SNP may be a closer match than a general plan.

A few 2027 rules worth knowing

These apply nationwide, not just in Phoenix, but they affect how you evaluate any plan:

• Part D's annual out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
• The Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• The old coverage gap ("donut hole") is gone as of 2025 — Part D now has three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments if you choose.
• IRMAA income-related surcharges start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.
• Annual Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Jan. 1 – March 31.