Medicare Advantage

HMO or PPO? Connecticut Medicare Advantage for 2027: 20 HMO Plans, 28 PPO

HARTFORD — Connecticut Medicare households weighing a 2027 Medicare Advantage plan will see a lineup that leans toward PPOs, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File for the 2027 plan year. Statewide, six carriers are offering 48 Medicare Advantage plans, split 20 HMO (including HMO-POS) and 28 PPO. That mix shapes a key question many shoppers face in Annual Enrollment 2027: do you want the tighter network of an HMO, or the out-of-network flexibility of a PPO?

Availability is county by county, so a plan listed statewide may or may not appear on your door-to-door Medicare Plan Finder results. The counts below describe what Connecticut as a whole will see for 2027; your own choices depend on your ZIP code.

How many HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Connecticut for 2027?

Connecticut has 48 Medicare Advantage plans available statewide for the 2027 plan year, offered by six carriers. By type, that breaks down to 5 HMO plans, 15 HMO-POS plans and 28 PPO plans, meaning 20 plans in the HMO family (HMO plus HMO-POS) and 28 PPOs.

PPOs make up a slight majority of the Connecticut lineup for 2027, but HMO-style plans are well represented. These are statewide totals from the CMS Landscape file; the actual menu on your Medicare Plan Finder depends on the county you live in. The full plan-by-plan breakdown is rendered as tables elsewhere on this page.

What do HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS mean for Connecticut Medicare members in 2027?

For 2027, Connecticut's Medicare Advantage lineup includes HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans only — no PFFS plans appear in the statewide count. Here is how the types generally work:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): You pick a primary care doctor and use in-network providers. Referrals are often required to see specialists. Out-of-network care is generally not covered except for emergencies and urgent care.
• HMO-POS (Point of Service): An HMO with a limited "point of service" option that lets you go outside the network for certain services, usually at a higher cost share.
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): You can see any provider that accepts Medicare and your plan, but you pay less in-network. Referrals typically are not required.
• PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service): Not part of Connecticut's 2027 statewide lineup.

Specific referral rules, out-of-network cost shares and provider directories vary by plan. Check the plan's Evidence of Coverage and provider directory before you decide.

Which Connecticut carriers offer HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans for 2027?

Six carriers are offering Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut for 2027, and they do not all offer every type.

• HMO plans for 2027: Centene (WellCare) and Elevance Health (Anthem).
• HMO-POS plans for 2027: Aetna (CVS Health), Centene (WellCare), Elevance Health (Anthem) and UnitedHealthcare.
• PPO plans for 2027: Aetna (CVS Health), Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

Devoted Health and Humana appear only on the PPO side of the Connecticut lineup for 2027. Centene and Elevance Health show up across all three types; Aetna and UnitedHealthcare offer both HMO-POS and PPO. Carrier presence varies county by county.

How should Connecticut shoppers decide between HMO and PPO for 2027?

The decision usually comes down to two things: the doctors and hospitals you want to keep, and how often you travel outside Connecticut. HMO and HMO-POS plans in the 2027 Connecticut lineup are built around defined networks and often require a primary care doctor and referrals. PPOs let you go out-of-network, typically at a higher share of cost.

A practical approach:

1. List your doctors and preferred hospitals. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to check which 2027 plans include them, or call each plan directly. 2. Think about where you spend time. If you winter in another state or travel often, out-of-network coverage under a PPO may matter more. 3. Look at prescriptions. Plans vary in which drugs they cover and at what tier. Confirm your medications on each plan's formulary. 4. Read the Evidence of Coverage. Referral rules, prior authorization and point-of-service cost shares live in that document.

No plan or carrier is "best" in the abstract — the right fit depends on your care, your prescriptions and your budget.

What should Connecticut residents do before December 7, 2026?

The Annual Enrollment Period for the 2027 plan year runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. A choice you make during that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

Between now and December 7, 2026:

• Review the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your current plan mails in September 2026 if you already have Medicare Advantage or a Part D drug plan.
• Compare 2027 plans on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov using your ZIP code, doctors and medication list.
• Confirm each plan you are considering is offered in your county.
• Keep a written record of any enrollment confirmation numbers.

If you miss December 7, 2026, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 through March 31, 2027 gives current Medicare Advantage members one chance to switch plans or return to Original Medicare.

Where can Connecticut residents get free Medicare help for 2027?

Free, unbiased help is available directly from Medicare. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare 2027 plans available in your county.

For questions about Medicare eligibility and enrollment windows tied to turning 65 or retiring, the Social Security Administration handles sign-ups at ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213.