Medicare Advantage

Before you pick a Medicare Advantage plan in Jacksonville, see how HMOs and PPOs differ for 2027

Duval County has 87 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 18 plans are not coming back, 15 are new, and 48 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 17 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Jacksonville, not which plan to pick.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — If you're sorting through Medicare Advantage choices this fall, the first fork in the road isn't a plan name — it's a plan type. In Duval County, where Jacksonville sits, carriers will offer 87 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, and they split pretty evenly between HMO, HMO-POS and PPO designs. Each type works differently when it comes to networks, referrals and care you get outside the plan.

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. A change you make in that window starts January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, your current plan simply renews for 2027 — assuming it's still offered — with any changes spelled out in your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC).

How Jacksonville's 2027 plans split by type

For plan year 2027, Duval County residents can choose from 87 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 13 carriers. By type, that's:

• HMO: 46 plans
• HMO-POS: 15 plans
• PPO: 26 plans

Counting HMO-POS with HMO, the "HMO family" totals 61 plans — a majority of what's sold locally. PPOs are the next-largest group. There are no PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plans in the Duval County lineup for 2027.

The table on this page lists every plan by carrier and type so you can scan the field at a glance.

What each plan type actually means

The letters next to a plan name tell you how the network works and how much freedom you have to go outside it.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). You use the plan's network of doctors, hospitals and other providers. Many HMOs ask you to pick a primary care doctor and get a referral before seeing a specialist. Care from out-of-network providers generally isn't covered except in an emergency or urgent-care situation. HMOs tend to work well for people who already use providers in the plan's network and don't travel for long stretches.

HMO-POS (HMO with a Point-of-Service option). This is an HMO with a limited door to out-of-network care. The plan decides which services you can get out-of-network and at what cost-sharing. It's not the same as a PPO's broader out-of-network coverage — read the Evidence of Coverage so you know which services qualify.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). PPOs have a network, but they also cover care from out-of-network providers who accept Medicare, usually at a higher cost-share. Referrals typically aren't required to see a specialist. "Regional PPO" plans cover a larger multi-county or multi-state service area; "local PPO" plans cover a smaller footprint. Both work the same way on networks and referrals.

PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). PFFS plans set their own payment terms, and any provider who accepts those terms can treat you. There are no PFFS plans in Duval County for 2027, so this type isn't on the menu locally.

Which carriers offer which type in Duval County for 2027

Here is how the 2027 lineup breaks down by carrier and type (alphabetical, from the CMS Landscape Source File):

Carriers offering HMO plans: Aetna (CVS Health), Align Senior Care, American Health Advantage of Florida, Centene (WellCare), Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), Florida Blue HMO, Florida Complete Care, Humana, Longevity Health Plan.

Carriers offering HMO-POS plans: Aetna (CVS Health), Centene (WellCare), Florida Complete Care, Gold Kidney Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare.

Carriers offering PPO plans: Aetna (CVS Health), Florida Blue, Humana, UnitedHealthcare.

A few carriers — Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare among them — appear in more than one category, which means you can compare an HMO, HMO-POS or PPO version within the same brand. Others focus on just one type.

What's different about the 2027 lineup

CMS data for 2027 shows some turnover in the Duval County market: 18 plans are not returning, 15 are new, and 17 have been renamed. A renamed plan is still a change — benefits, networks and drug lists can shift along with the name. That's why your Annual Notice of Change matters: it spells out what's different about your plan next year compared to this year.

If your current plan isn't being offered in 2027, your carrier will send a non-renewal notice and you have a Special Enrollment Period to choose something else.

How to pick the right type for you

Plan type isn't a value judgment — none is "better" in general. The right pick depends on how you actually use care:

• Your doctors and hospital. Confirm each one is in-network for the specific plan you're considering. Networks differ even between two plans from the same carrier.
• Referrals. If you see specialists often and want to self-refer, a PPO's rules may fit better. If you prefer one primary doctor coordinating everything, an HMO can work well.
• Travel. If you spend months out of state, a PPO's out-of-network coverage may matter. An HMO generally only covers emergency and urgent care away from home.
• Prescriptions. Every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan in Duval County includes drug coverage. Check that your drugs are on the plan's formulary and that your pharmacy is in the pharmacy network.
• 2027 Part D rules. Across all Medicare drug coverage, the out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026), and the maximum Part D deductible is $700 (up from $615 in 2026). The 2027 Part B premium and IRMAA brackets have not yet been announced; CMS typically publishes them later in the fall.

Where to get personalized answers

Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare Duval County plans with your own doctors and drugs plugged in. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24/7, including TTY at 1-877-486-2048. For plan-specific questions, each carrier's Evidence of Coverage and provider directory is the official source.