Medicare Advantage

Lincoln's 2027 Medicare Advantage choices: how HMO, HMO-POS and PPO stack up

For 2027, Lincoln is looking at 41 Medicare Advantage plans: 18 new, 18 gone since 2026, and 11 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 4 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Lancaster County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

LINCOLN, Neb. — As the Annual Enrollment Period opens on October 15, 2026, Lincoln residents sorting through Medicare Advantage choices for 2027 will see the same big split they saw last year: most of the local lineup is PPO, with a smaller group of HMO and HMO-POS plans. No PFFS plans are on offer in Lancaster County for 2027.

The plan type you pick shapes a lot of what comes next — which doctors you can see, whether you need a referral, and what happens if you get care away from home. Here is how the 2027 roster breaks down in the county Lincoln sits in, and what each plan type actually means.

How do Lincoln's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans split by type?

In Lancaster County, where Lincoln is located, 41 Medicare Advantage plans from 9 carriers are available for 2027. By plan type, that is 7 HMO, 13 HMO-POS and 21 PPO. No PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plans are offered in the county next year.

Counted another way, HMO and HMO-POS together make up 20 of the 41 plans — close to half. PPOs are the single largest group. The table below lists every plan by carrier so you can see the type on each one.

What does HMO mean on a Medicare Advantage plan?

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan asks you to use doctors and hospitals in the plan's network for routine care, and often asks you to pick a primary care provider who gives referrals to specialists. Care outside the network is generally not covered except for emergencies, urgent care and out-of-area dialysis.

HMOs can be a good fit for people whose doctors are all in one local system and who do not travel for long stretches. For 2027 in Lancaster County, the carriers offering HMO plans are Aetna (CVS Health), Great Plains Medicare Advantage, Humana and Molina Healthcare of Nebraska.

What is an HMO-POS plan and how is it different?

HMO-POS stands for HMO with a "Point of Service" option. It works like an HMO — a network of doctors, often a primary care provider, often referrals — but it adds a limited ability to see certain providers outside the network, usually at a higher cost share. The specifics vary a lot from plan to plan.

For 2027, HMO-POS plans in the county are offered by Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Centene (WellCare), MyAdvocate Medicare Advantage and UnitedHealthcare.

How does a Medicare Advantage PPO work?

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan has a network of preferred providers, but it also covers care from out-of-network providers who accept the plan — typically at a higher cost share than in-network care. Referrals to specialists are usually not required.

PPOs tend to appeal to people who split time between places, see specialists across different systems, or just want more flexibility about where they get care. For 2027 in Lancaster County, the carriers offering PPO plans are Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Devoted Health, Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

What about PFFS plans in Lincoln for 2027?

There are no PFFS plans offered in Lancaster County for 2027. A PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plan sets its own payment terms with providers; you can usually see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to the plan's terms at the time of service. Because none are on the local 2027 lineup, PFFS is not a choice Lincoln shoppers will see in the Medicare Plan Finder results for this county.

What is changing in Lincoln's Medicare Advantage lineup for 2027?

Compared with 2026, 18 plans are not returning in Lancaster County for 2027, 18 are new, and 4 have been renamed. The total — 41 plans from 9 carriers — happens to match the 2026 count, but the mix underneath has shifted. If your plan is one of the ones not returning, your carrier is required to tell you in writing.

Even if your plan is returning, its network, drug list and cost shares can change year to year. The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) your plan sent in September spells out what is different for 2027.

How should I pick between HMO, HMO-POS and PPO?

Start with your doctors. Run each one through the plan's provider directory, or call the plan, before you enroll — a network can change at any point in the year. Then think about how you use care: do you travel, split time between states, or see specialists in multiple systems? That is where a PPO's out-of-network coverage or an HMO-POS's point-of-service option can matter.

No plan type is cheaper, better or worse on its own. The right pick depends on your providers, your prescriptions and how you like to get care. For side-by-side comparisons with real prices and benefits for Lancaster County, use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What 2027 Medicare figures are already set?

A few program-wide numbers for 2027 are already published. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). The Part D maximum deductible is $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33 — that is a formula input Medicare uses, not what any specific plan charges.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet. CMS typically releases them later in the fall.