Medicare Advantage

Aetna's 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup in Raleigh: 6 plans, 1 going away

Raleigh, N.C. — As the Annual Enrollment Period opens on October 15, 2026, Aetna is bringing six Medicare Advantage plans to Wake County for the 2027 plan year — one fewer than it offered in 2026, with two plans renamed and none added. The window to compare and switch runs through December 7, 2026, with any change taking effect January 1, 2027.

This is an independent look at one carrier's local roster to help you check it against your own doctors and prescriptions before the deadline. MyMedicarePlans.org is not affiliated with Aetna or with Medicare.

What Medicare Advantage plans is Aetna offering in Raleigh for 2027?

In Wake County, which includes Raleigh, Aetna (CVS Health) is offering 6 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. The mix is 4 HMOs and 2 PPOs, and all 6 include Part D prescription drug coverage. Two of the six are Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) for people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.

The table on this page lists every Aetna plan in the county by name and type. In alphabetical order, those plans are: Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO), Aetna Medicare Full Dual (HMO D-SNP), Aetna Medicare Full Dual Care (HMO D-SNP), Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO), Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO), and Aetna Medicare Value Plus (HMO).

Plan availability is set at the county level by CMS, so Raleigh residents see the same Aetna lineup as neighbors elsewhere in Wake County.

What is new or not returning in Aetna's Wake County lineup for 2027?

For 2027, Aetna is not adding any new Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County, is not renewing 1 plan it offered in 2026, and is renaming 2 plans.

The two renames: Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO) was called Aetna Medicare Eagle Giveback (PPO) in 2026, and Aetna Medicare Full Dual (HMO D-SNP) was called Aetna Medicare Dual (HMO D-SNP). A rename doesn't automatically mean the plan works the same way it used to — costs, drug lists and provider networks can shift from one plan year to the next. The specifics for your plan live in the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) that Aetna mails and posts each fall.

If you are enrolled in the plan that is not returning for 2027, Aetna will send you a non-renewal notice explaining your options and the special enrollment rights that come with a plan ending.

What are the Special Needs Plans in Aetna's Raleigh lineup?

Two of Aetna's six 2027 plans in Wake County are D-SNPs: Aetna Medicare Full Dual (HMO D-SNP) and Aetna Medicare Full Dual Care (HMO D-SNP). D-SNPs are limited to people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. Aetna is not offering a Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) or Institutional SNP (I-SNP) in the county for 2027.

If you are not sure whether you qualify for a D-SNP, your state Medicaid office can confirm your eligibility, and Medicare.gov's Plan Finder shows which SNPs you can join based on your situation.

How do I check an Aetna plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?

Before December 7, 2026, do these four things for any plan you are considering:

1. Read your ANOC. If you are already in an Aetna plan, the Annual Notice of Change lists every difference for 2027 — premium, deductible, copays, drug tiers, and whether your plan was renamed or is ending. 2. Check the provider directory. Use Aetna's online directory or call the number on the plan materials to confirm your primary care doctor, specialists and preferred hospitals are in-network for the exact 2027 plan you are considering. HMO and PPO networks differ. 3. Check the drug formulary. Enter each of your prescriptions into the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or into Aetna's own formulary tool, and look at the tier, the pharmacy price, and any step therapy or prior authorization notes for 2027. 4. Price your full year. Plan Finder adds up premiums plus your expected drug costs across the year under the new 2027 Part D rules.

Those 2027 Part D rules are set by CMS: a $2,400 annual out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs (up from $2,100 in 2026) and a maximum deductible of $700 (up from $615 in 2026). The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly bills.

What if I do nothing by December 7?

If you take no action, your current plan simply renews on January 1, 2027, as long as Aetna is still offering it — with the changes described in your ANOC. If your plan is the one that is not returning, you will need to pick a different plan or you may end up back in Original Medicare without drug coverage.

You will still get another chance to change Medicare Advantage plans during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31, 2027, but that window is more limited: you can switch MA plans or drop MA and go back to Original Medicare, not shop freely across every category.

Two 2027 figures are not out yet: the standard Part B premium and deductible, and the IRMAA income brackets. CMS typically publishes these later in the fall; watch medicare.gov for the official numbers.

Who else offers Medicare Advantage in Wake County for 2027?

Aetna is one of 9 carriers selling Medicare Advantage plans in Wake County for 2027, and together those carriers offer 63 plans in the county. This article covers Aetna's slice of that market; other carriers' lineups are covered in separate pieces on this site. The Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov is the one place where you can see every plan from every carrier side by side and filter by your own doctors and drugs.