Medicare Advantage

Tempe AZ Medicare Advantage Changes for 2027

People in Tempe can choose from 79 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 88 in 2026. 13 of this year's plans are gone, 17 are new to Maricopa County, and 20 that continue have changed something in their terms, with 13 of them under a new name.

The Medicare Advantage lineup that Tempe residents will shop this fall looks different from the one they had a year ago. According to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape files comparing 2026 and 2027, 13 plans offered in Maricopa County will not return next year, 17 new plans are joining the market, and 13 more are keeping the same design but changing names. If you're on a Medicare Advantage plan today, some of this may affect you — and some of it won't. Here's how to tell.

What "leaving," "new" and "renamed" really mean

A plan leaving means the insurer is not offering that plan in Maricopa County in 2027. If you're enrolled in one of these, you'll get a non-renewal letter and you'll need to pick a different plan or return to Original Medicare.

A new plan means the insurer is offering it here for the first time in 2027. You can enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period.

A renamed plan is the same plan with a different label on it. Your coverage is generally continuing, but the name on your card and paperwork will change.

There are also 20 plans in the county that are changing on premium, deductible, plan type or name. CMS flags that a change exists — the exact details are in your Annual Notice of Change, which arrives by late September.

Plans not returning to Maricopa County after 2026

Thirteen plans available to Tempe residents in 2026 will not be offered in 2027. In alphabetical order by carrier, they are:

• Aetna Medicare Elite (PPO), Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO), Aetna Medicare Prime Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP), Aetna Medicare Prime Extra (HMO) and Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (HMO) from Aetna (CVS Health)
• HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) from Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC)
• Wellcare Arizona Complete Health Dual Align (HMO D-SNP), Wellcare Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP), Wellcare Giveback (HMO) and Wellcare Simple Value (HMO) from Centene (WellCare)
• Wellpoint I CareMore Home Care (HMO I-SNP) from Elevance Health (Anthem)
• eternalHealth Grand Give Back (HMO) from eternalHealth
• SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP) from SCAN Health Plan

If you're in one of these, you don't have to scramble in December. Federal rules give you a Special Enrollment Period that runs through February 28, 2027, to join another Medicare Advantage plan or switch to Original Medicare with a stand-alone Part D drug plan.

New Medicare Advantage plans for 2027

Seventeen plans are new to the Maricopa County market for 2027, including Aetna Medicare Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP) and a new Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO) from Aetna (CVS Health); Blue Best Life Select (HMO) from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona; Wellcare Arizona Complete Health Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP) from Centene (WellCare); six new Devoted Health plans; a new Wellpoint I CareMore Home Care (HMO I-SNP) from Elevance Health; Gold Dialysis Premier (HMO-POS C-SNP); Humana Value Choice (PPO); three new SCAN plans, including two with Walmart in the name; and AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx AZ-MA2 (HMO-POS) from UnitedHealthcare. The full table below shows every plan available in the county.

Renamed plans — same coverage, new label

Thirteen plans have simply been renamed. If your plan is on this list, you don't need to do anything different — your Annual Notice of Change will point out the new name. Notable renames include several Alignment Health plans (with new numbers appended), HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) — the version previously called HealthSpring Alliance — DEVOTED C-SNP ENHANCED 014 AZ, eternalHealth Harmony (formerly the eternalHealth + Fry's plan), Humana Total Complete, two Humana Essentials Plus Giveback plans, and UHC Dual Complete AZ-YL.

Sixty-two plans are continuing in Maricopa County with no leaving, new or rename flag from CMS — although some of these are among the 20 with a premium, deductible, type or name change. Again, your ANOC is where the specifics live.

What to do this fall, step by step

1. Watch the mail in late September. Your insurer must send an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) telling you what's different on your plan for 2027. 2. Check whether your plan is on the "leaving" list. If it is, mark February 28, 2027 on your calendar as your outside deadline to make a new choice. 3. Compare during Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026). Use the plan finder at medicare.gov to compare on your own drugs, doctors and pharmacies. 4. Remember the MA Open Enrollment Period. From January 1 to March 31, 2027, people already in a Medicare Advantage plan can make one change (to a different MA plan or back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan).

Two 2026 program facts worth knowing while you compare: Part D has an out-of-pocket cap of $2,100, and the Part D deductible cannot exceed $615. The old "donut hole" no longer exists — Part D now has three phases. And if your drug costs are lumpy, you can ask any Part D plan about the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, which spreads your yearly drug bill into monthly payments.

Where to get help you can trust

For personalized help — free and unbiased — call Arizona's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) through the Arizona Department of Economic Security at 1-800-432-4040. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24/7, or use the plan compare tool at medicare.gov.