Medicare Advantage

Medicare in Tempe: 79 Plans in Maricopa Co. 2027

People in Tempe 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.

TEMPE, Ariz. — If you're shopping for Medicare coverage in Tempe this fall, you have a lot to sort through. Tempe is in Maricopa County, where 79 Medicare Advantage plans are on the shelf for 2027, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plan landscape data. That's a big menu — and a good reason to slow down and compare before the December deadline.

What the numbers look like in Maricopa County

For 2027, seniors in the Tempe area can choose from 79 Medicare Advantage plans across Maricopa County. Sixteen different insurance carriers are offering Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) in the area. Compared with 2026, 62 plans continue, 17 are new, 13 are not returning, and 13 have been renamed; 20 continuing plans change something in their terms (check the ANOC for details).

CMS also lists 0 stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans specifically flagged in this landscape snapshot for the county — most drug coverage locally is bundled into Medicare Advantage. If you stay with Original Medicare and need drug coverage, you can still shop stand-alone Part D plans through Medicare.gov's Plan Finder using your ZIP code.

With more than 742,000 residents age 65 and older in Maricopa County, it's one of the largest Medicare markets in the country — which helps explain why so many plans compete here.

Why the plan count matters (and why it doesn't tell the whole story)

A big number like 88 sounds overwhelming, but not every plan is available at every address, and not every plan fits every person. Plan networks, service areas, and drug formularies vary. The right question isn't "which plan is best?" — it's "which plan works for me, my doctors, and my prescriptions?"

That's why Medicare's official Plan Finder at Medicare.gov lets you enter your ZIP code and your medications to narrow the list.

What's new for 2027

A few program-wide changes are worth knowing before you compare:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: Your total out-of-pocket spending on covered prescription drugs is capped at $2,400 in 2027 (it was $2,100 in 2026). Once you hit that cap, you pay nothing for covered drugs the rest of the year.
• Part D deductible: The maximum allowable deductible is $700 in 2027 (it was $615 in 2026).
• No more "donut hole": The old coverage gap is gone. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• Medicare Prescription Payment Plan: You can opt in to spread your drug costs across the year in monthly payments instead of paying big amounts at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA: Higher-income beneficiaries pay an income-related surcharge on Part B and Part D premiums. For single filers, IRMAA begins above $109,000 in income (2026).

Star Ratings: what they are

CMS rates Medicare Advantage and Part D contracts on a 1-to-5 star scale each year based on quality and member experience measures. Ratings can shift year to year, and a rating applies to a contract — which may cover several plans. Stars are one input among many; they don't replace checking whether your doctors, hospitals, and drugs are covered.

Key dates to circle

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7: Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. This is when most people switch plans. Changes take effect Jan. 1.
• Jan. 1 – Mar. 31: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.

How to compare without getting overwhelmed

1. Start with your must-haves: your doctors, your pharmacy, your prescriptions. 2. Use Medicare.gov's Plan Finder. Enter your ZIP code and drug list. 3. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24/7. 4. Get free local help from Arizona's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which offers unbiased one-on-one counseling for people on Medicare.