Medicare Advantage

Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan in Wichita for 2027? Start with the four plan types

People in Wichita can choose from 31 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 37 this year. Eleven of this year’s plans are gone, 5 are new to Sedgwick County, and 16 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 7 of them under a new name.

Wichita, Kan. — If you are sorting through Medicare Advantage options for 2027, the first fork in the road is not the carrier or the extras. It is the plan type. Wichita sits in Sedgwick County, where the 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup splits across four plan types — HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS — and each one plays by different rules for networks, referrals and out-of-network care. The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, with any change taking effect Jan. 1, 2027.

How the Sedgwick County lineup splits by type for 2027

According to CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape data for the 2027 plan year, Sedgwick County residents can choose from 31 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 6 carriers. By plan type, that works out to 6 HMO plans, 14 HMO-POS plans, 10 PPO plans and 1 PFFS plan. If you group HMO and HMO-POS together, 20 of the 31 plans use some form of HMO structure.

The table below lists every plan available in the county. The point of this article is not to pick one — it is to help you narrow down which plan type fits how you actually use care.

HMO: a network and usually a primary care doctor

A Medicare Advantage HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) asks you to use doctors, hospitals and other providers in the plan's network. You generally pick a primary care doctor who coordinates your care, and you may need a referral to see a specialist. Out-of-network care usually is not covered except for emergencies and urgent care.

HMOs tend to work well for people whose doctors are already in one local system and who do not travel for months at a time. For 2027, three carriers in Sedgwick County offer HMO plans: Aetna (CVS Health), Elevance Health (Anthem) and Kansas Health Advantage.

HMO-POS: an HMO with a side door

An HMO-POS (Point of Service) plan is an HMO with a limited ability to go outside the network for certain services. The "point of service" option is defined by the plan, so what it covers and at what cost share varies — the plan's Evidence of Coverage spells out the details.

HMO-POS is the largest group in Sedgwick County for 2027, with 14 plans. The carriers offering HMO-POS plans next year are Aetna (CVS Health), Centene (WellCare), Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

PPO: more flexibility, with a tradeoff

A Medicare Advantage PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) does not usually require a primary care doctor or referrals, and it covers care from out-of-network providers who accept Medicare — typically at a higher cost share than in-network care. That flexibility is why PPOs often appeal to people who split time between cities, who see specialists in different systems, or who simply want fewer gatekeeping steps.

For 2027, Sedgwick County has 10 PPO plans from three carriers: Aetna (CVS Health), Humana and UnitedHealthcare. (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas offered PPO plans in the county in 2026; whether a specific plan is returning next year is detailed in its ANOC.)

PFFS: the rarest type here

A Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan sets the terms it pays providers, and you can see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to accept the plan's payment terms for that visit. There is no network in the traditional HMO/PPO sense, but access depends on providers choosing to accept the plan each time.

PFFS is the smallest category in Sedgwick County for 2027: a single plan, offered by Humana. If a PFFS plan interests you, confirm up front that the doctors and facilities you use are willing to accept it.

What's changing in the lineup for 2027

Compared with 2026, the Sedgwick County Medicare Advantage lineup looks a little different: some plans are not returning, a few are new, and some have been renamed. If your current plan is renamed or changed, the specifics are in the Annual Notice of Change your plan mailed in September. If a plan is not being offered in 2027, you have a window to pick a new one.

A few program-level numbers to keep in mind as you compare drug coverage: for 2027, 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 announces the 2027 Part B premium, deductible and IRMAA brackets later in the fall.

How to decide which type fits you

Three questions do most of the work:

1. Where are your doctors? If everyone you see is in one local network, an HMO or HMO-POS may fit. If your specialists are spread across systems or states, a PPO's out-of-network coverage may matter more. 2. Do you travel or live part of the year elsewhere? HMO rules can be strict about out-of-area care. PPOs typically cover out-of-network care at a higher cost share, and PFFS access depends on each provider's acceptance. 3. How do you feel about referrals? HMO plans often require them. PPO plans typically do not.

Once you have narrowed the type, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare specific plans against your doctors, your pharmacy and your prescriptions.