Medicare Advantage

Tucson Medicare Advantage for 2027: what HMO, HMO-POS and PPO actually mean for you

People in Tucson can choose from 88 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 82 this year. 14 of this year’s plans are gone, 20 are new to Pima County, and 32 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 12 of them under a new name.

TUCSON, Ariz. — As the Oct. 15, 2026 start of Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period approaches, Tucson shoppers looking at Medicare Advantage for 2027 will see the same three letters over and over: HMO, PPO and HMO-POS. Those labels decide a lot — which doctors you can see, whether you need a referral, and what happens if you get care outside the plan's network.

Tucson is in Pima County, where the 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup is 88 plans from 15 carriers. By type, that breaks down to 47 HMO plans, 21 HMO-POS plans and 20 PPO plans. No private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans are offered in the county for 2027.

Here is what each type means, and which carriers are offering which type next year.

What HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS actually mean

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). You pick a primary care doctor and generally use the plan's network. Out-of-network care usually is not covered except for emergencies, urgent care, and out-of-area dialysis. Many HMOs require a referral to see a specialist.

HMO-POS (HMO with a Point-of-Service option). Same core idea as an HMO, but the plan allows some care from out-of-network providers for certain services, usually at a higher cost share. The "POS" door is limited — it is not the same as a PPO.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). You can see any provider who accepts Medicare and the plan's terms, in or out of network. Out-of-network care is covered but typically costs more. Referrals are generally not required.

PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). You can see any Medicare provider who agrees to the plan's payment terms at the time of service. No PFFS plans are offered in Pima County for 2027, so this one is not on the table locally.

Which type fits you depends on your doctors, where you spend the year, and how often you travel outside Pima County. There is no "better" type — only the better fit for your situation.

Who offers HMO plans in Pima County for 2027

Thirteen carriers offer HMO plans in the county next year: Aetna (CVS Health), Alignment Health Plan, Banner Medicare Advantage, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), eternalHealth, HealthSpring, Humana, Mercy Care Advantage, SCAN Health Plan and Verda Health Plan of Arizona.

HMOs make up more than half of the Pima County menu (47 of 88 plans). Many Special Needs Plans — for people with certain chronic conditions, who live in a nursing facility, or who have both Medicare and Medicaid — are also built on the HMO chassis.

Who offers HMO-POS plans

Five carriers offer HMO-POS plans in the county for 2027: Elevance Health (Anthem), eternalHealth, Gold Kidney Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan and UnitedHealthcare.

If you like the structure of an HMO but want a small amount of flexibility — for instance, to see a specific out-of-network provider — HMO-POS is worth a look. Read the plan's Evidence of Coverage carefully: the "POS" door is often open only for specific services and at a higher cost share.

Who offers PPO plans

Five carriers offer PPO plans in Pima County for 2027: Aetna (CVS Health), Devoted Health, HealthSpring, Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

A PPO is often the right conversation if you split time between Tucson and another state, see providers who are not part of a single network, or simply prefer not to deal with referrals. Expect to pay more when you go out of network.

How to compare plans the right way

The table below lists every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan offered in Pima County, grouped by carrier and type. Use it as a starting point, not a verdict. The real work is matching a plan to your doctors, your prescriptions and your pharmacies.

A few steps worth taking before Dec. 7, 2026:

• Read your current plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which arrives by late September. For 2027, 14 plans are not returning in the county, 20 are new, and 12 have been renamed.
• Make a short list of your doctors, your regular prescriptions and your preferred pharmacies.
• Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to check networks and drug coverage for any plan you are considering.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE if you want help from the program directly.

A few 2027 program-level numbers that apply across all Part D drug coverage, including the drug coverage built into Medicare Advantage plans: the Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 (up from $615 in 2026). CMS has not yet announced the 2027 Part B standard premium, Part B deductible or IRMAA brackets; those usually publish in the fall.