Medicare Advantage

Before You Toss That Medicare Mailer, Read This

People in Albuquerque can choose from 27 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 51 this year. 24 of this year's plans are gone, 9 are new to Bernalillo County, and 13 that continue have changed something in their terms, 9 of them under a new name.

ALBUQUERQUE — The 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup in Bernalillo County looks noticeably different from this year's. According to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files, 24 plans available in 2026 will not be offered in 2027, nine plans are new, and nine more are being renamed. Three carriers are leaving the county, and one new carrier is entering. If you live in Albuquerque and get your coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan, this is the year to open your mail and read carefully.

The Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7. That is the main window to switch plans for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.

What is actually changing in Bernalillo County

Albuquerque is in Bernalillo County, where Medicare Advantage plan availability is set. For plan year 2027, CMS data shows:

• 24 plans leaving after 2026
• 9 new plans for 2027
• 9 renamed plans (same coverage in CMS's file, new name)
• 13 continuing plans with a change to premium, deductible, plan type or name — the specifics live in each plan's Annual Notice of Change
• 18 plans continuing with no flagged change in CMS's file

Three carriers currently sold in the county — CHRISTUS Health Advantage, Molina Healthcare of Arizona, and SCAN Health Plan — will not offer Medicare Advantage plans in Bernalillo County in 2027. One new carrier, Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, is entering the county. The table below lists every plan available in the county for the current year.

The plans that are leaving after 2026

If you are enrolled in any of the plans below, your coverage will end December 31, 2026, and you will need to choose new coverage. In alphabetical order by carrier:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC): Blue Cross MA Dual Care Plus Preferred (PPO D-SNP); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Balance (PPO); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Choice Premier (PPO); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Classic (PPO); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dental Premier (PPO); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO D-SNP); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Health Choice (PPO); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Optimum (PPO); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Select (HMO)
• CHRISTUS Health Advantage: CHRISTUS Health Medicare Guardian (HMO); CHRISTUS Health Medicare Plus (HMO)
• Humana: Humana Together in Health (PPO I-SNP); HumanaChoice H5216-196 (PPO); HumanaChoice H5216-437 (PPO)
• Molina Healthcare of Arizona: Molina Medicare Complete Care (HMO D-SNP)
• Presbyterian Health Plan: Presbyterian Senior Care Extra Health Plan with Rx (HMO); Presbyterian Senior Care Plan 1 (HMO); Presbyterian Senior Care Plan 2 with Rx (HMO); Presbyterian Senior Care Plan 3 with Rx (HMO)
• SCAN Health Plan: SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP); SCAN Classic (HMO); SCAN MyChoice (HMO); SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP)
• UnitedHealthcare: UHC Dual Complete NM-Y1 (PPO D-SNP)

If your plan is on this list, watch for a non-renewal letter from your carrier by early October. That letter is important — it triggers your Special Enrollment Period.

The plans that are new for 2027

Nine plans are being added in Bernalillo County. Availability of a plan is not a recommendation — check whether your doctors, pharmacy and medications are covered before you enroll.

• Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC): Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care (HMO-POS D-SNP); Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO-POS D-SNP)
• Devoted Health: DEVOTED C-SNP GIVEBACK EXTRAS 012 NM (HMO C-SNP); DEVOTED GIVEBACK EXTRAS 015 NM (HMO)
• Molina Healthcare of New Mexico: Molina Medicare Complete Care (HMO D-SNP)
• UnitedHealthcare: AARP Medicare Advantage Direct OTC from UHC NM-14 (PPO); AARP Medicare Advantage Direct Plus from UHC NM-15 (PPO); AARP Medicare Advantage Extras from UHC NM-12 (PPO); UHC Dual Complete NM-S2 (PPO D-SNP)

The plans that are being renamed

Nine plans will show up under a different name in 2027. If you like your current plan, do not panic when the name on your mail changes — but still read the Annual Notice of Change to confirm the details for your household.

• Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO-POS) — was Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO)
• DEVOTED C-SNP ENHANCED 003 NM (HMO C-SNP) — was DEVOTED C-SNP 003 NM (HMO C-SNP)
• Humana Essentials Plus Giveback (PPO) — was Humana Essentials Plus Giveback H5216-435 (PPO)
• Humana Full Access (PPO) — was Humana Full Access H7617-069 (PPO)
• Humana Total Complete (HMO) — was Humana Total Complete H4461-064 (HMO)
• Humana Value Choice (PPO) — was Humana Value Choice H5216-078 (PPO)
• AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC NM-4 (PPO) — was AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NM-0004 (PPO)
• UHC Dual Advantage NM-V1 (PPO D-SNP) — was UHC Dual Complete NM-V1 (PPO D-SNP)
• UHC Dual Complete NM-Q1 (PPO D-SNP) — was UHC Dual Complete NM-S1 (PPO D-SNP)

What to do if your plan is going away

You have two enrollment paths, and they overlap:

1. The Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7). This is the standard window everyone with Medicare can use to switch Medicare Advantage or Part D plans. Coverage picked here starts January 1, 2027.

2. A Special Enrollment Period for non-renewal. If your plan is not being renewed for 2027, Medicare gives you an additional window that runs through the end of February 2027. During that window you can join a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D drug plan. If you go back to Original Medicare, you may also have rights to buy a Medigap policy — call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to understand those rights before you decide.

The safer move for most people is to pick your new plan during Annual Enrollment so coverage begins January 1 without any gap. The Special Enrollment Period is a safety net, not a reason to wait.

What to do if your plan is continuing

Even if your plan appears in the "continuing" group, 13 plans in the county have some kind of change on file with CMS — to premium, deductible, plan type or name. The Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that arrives from your carrier in September is where the specifics live. Read it.