Medicare Advantage
6 new Medicare Advantage plans arrive in Minneapolis for 2027: how to vet one before Dec. 7
People in Minneapolis can choose from 25 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 32 this year. 13 of this year’s plans are gone, 6 are new to Hennepin County, and 9 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 3 of them under a new name.
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Key takeaways
- Six Medicare Advantage plans are new in Hennepin County for 2027, offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners and Medica.
- Every one of the six new plans is a PPO and includes prescription drug coverage; none of the new entries this year is a Special Needs Plan.
- A brand-new plan has no Star Rating history yet, because CMS only rates plans after they have a year of data — that is a fact, not a reason to pick or skip one.
- Before December 7, 2026, check any plan against your doctors, pharmacies and medications on Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
MINNEAPOLIS — Shoppers in Minneapolis will see six Medicare Advantage plans on the 2027 lineup that were not sold here a year ago, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files for 2026 and 2027. Minneapolis sits in Hennepin County, where Medicare plan availability is set, and three carriers — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners and Medica — are the ones adding plans for the plan year that starts January 1, 2027.
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any change you make in that window takes effect January 1. If you do nothing, your current plan simply renews for 2027 (with whatever changes are described in its Annual Notice of Change, or ANOC).
The six new plans in Minneapolis for 2027
All six new entries are PPO plans that include Part D drug coverage. In alphabetical order by carrier:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota — Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Essential (PPO)
- HealthPartners — HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO); HealthPartners Journey Smart (PPO)
- Medica — Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO); Medica Advantage Select (PPO); Medica Advantage Value (PPO)
The table on this page lists every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan offered in Hennepin County, including the renewing ones.
How a new plan is different from a renewing one
A renewing plan comes with a track record: the same contract number has been rated by CMS, members have filed appeals and complaints, and the Annual Notice of Change spells out what is moving between this year and next.
A brand-new plan is a clean slate. CMS Star Ratings are built on at least a year of plan data, so a plan that did not exist in 2026 will not carry a Star Rating of its own for 2027. That is simply how the rating system works — it is not a quality signal in either direction. What you can review for a new plan is the same as for any plan: its Summary of Benefits, its provider directory, its drug formulary and its Evidence of Coverage.
The wider 2027 picture in Hennepin County
The six new plans arrive in a year with other movement, too. For 2027, 13 plans are not returning and 3 are being renamed. Renaming does not change the underlying contract — the ANOC will say what, if anything, is different — but it can confuse mail from your carrier, so read anything that arrives in September or October carefully.
None of the six new plans is a Special Needs Plan (C-SNP or D-SNP). SNPs for people with certain chronic conditions, or those who have both Medicare and Medicaid, continue through other carriers in the county.
How to vet a new plan before December 7
Because a new plan has no public history with members in Minneapolis, you have to do the legwork directly. A short checklist:
1. Doctors and hospitals. On medicare.gov's Plan Finder, open the plan's details and use the "Find providers" link, or call the plan with your doctors' names. Confirm each provider is in-network for that specific plan — carriers often run several networks. 2. Prescriptions. Enter every medication you take, with dose and pharmacy, into Plan Finder. The tool shows the plan's formulary tier, any prior-authorization or step-therapy requirement, and what you would pay at your pharmacy. 3. Pharmacy. Confirm your pharmacy is a preferred (not just standard) pharmacy under the plan if that matters to you. 4. Out-of-pocket cap and deductible for Part D. For 2027, the Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026) and the Part D maximum deductible is $700 (up from $615 in 2026). The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs over the calendar year. 5. Read the Annual Notice of Change if you are weighing a new plan against your current one — it tells you what is changing in the plan you already have.
CMS has not yet announced the 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, or the 2027 IRMAA income brackets; those are usually published in the fall.
By the numbers
Medicare Part B premium, 2006–2026
The standard monthly Part B premium has climbed from $88.50 in 2006 to $202.90 in 2026. Hover any point for that year’s premium.
Source: CMS. Standard premium shown; in some hold-harmless years many existing enrollees paid less. Confirm at Medicare.gov.
By the numbers
How people get Medicare in Hennepin County
(MA penetration in Hennepin County)
MA penetration from CMS enrollment data; Medigap share is an estimate. U.S. average is about 54% Medicare Advantage. These are area-level figures, not plan-specific.
New for 2027
Medicare Advantage plans new in Hennepin County for 2027
CMS lists 6 Medicare Advantage plans in Hennepin County for 2027 that were not offered for 2026, alphabetically by carrier.
| Plan | Type | Drug coverage | For 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota 1 plan | |||
| Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Essential (PPO) | PPO | Yes | New |
| HealthPartners 2 plans | |||
| HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO) | PPO | Yes | New |
| HealthPartners Journey Smart (PPO) | PPO | Yes | New |
| Medica 3 plans | |||
| Medica Advantage Preferred (PPO) | PPO | Yes | New |
| Medica Advantage Select (PPO) | PPO | Yes | New |
| Medica Advantage Value (PPO) | PPO | Yes | New |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
The 2027 choices, by type
HMO, PPO and Special Needs Plans in Hennepin County for 2027
- Aetna (CVS Health) 8 plans: PPO
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota 2 plans: PPO
- Blue Plus 1 plan: HMO
- HealthPartners 3 plans: HMO, PPO
- Medica 5 plans: HMO, PPO
- UnitedHealthcare 6 plans: PPO
HMO plans use a network and usually a primary-care doctor and referrals; HMO-POS plans add some out-of-network coverage; PPO plans also cover out-of-network care, at a higher share; PFFS plans pay any provider that accepts the plan’s terms. Special Needs Plans serve people with Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNP), certain chronic conditions (C-SNP) or living in an institution (I-SNP).
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, plan years 2026 and 2027. Plan availability is set at the county level. No plan is ranked or recommended; premiums, benefits, networks and star ratings are not shown. Plan details come from the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or the plan itself.
Key dates
Medicare enrollment periods at a glance
- Around your 65thInitial Enrollment PeriodA 7-month window around the month you turn 65 — your first chance to sign up.
- October 15 – December 7Annual Enrollment PeriodAnyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan.
- January 1 – March 31Medicare Advantage Open EnrollmentIf you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change.
- January 1 – March 31General Enrollment PeriodFor people who missed their first chance to sign up for Part B.
- VariesSpecial Enrollment PeriodTriggered by life events like moving or losing other coverage.
Dates are set by Medicare and apply nationwide. Confirm your personal windows at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
When can you enroll? An interactive year
Enrollment windows are federal and the same nationwide. Confirm your personal dates at Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Explore
The parts of Medicare
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to switch to one of the new plans?
Why doesn't a new plan have a Star Rating?
Where can I compare the new plans against my doctors and drugs?
What is the deadline?
- CMS — MA Landscape Source File (plan-level availability by county)
- CMS — MA Landscape Source Files, current and coming plan year (year-over-year comparison)
- CMS — Medicare enrollment periods (medicare.gov)
For personalized answers, contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE.
Also for Minneapolis
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This page was last updated: October 2026.