Medicare Advantage

Highmark's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Pittsburgh: 14 options, one renamed

Pittsburgh, Pa. — As the Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 to December 7, 2026, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is bringing 14 Medicare Advantage plans back to Allegheny County for the 2027 plan year. One plan has a new name, and none are leaving the local lineup. Everything a Highmark member or shopper picks in this window takes effect January 1, 2027.

MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent consumer news site and is not affiliated with Highmark or with Medicare. Highmark is one of 16 carriers offering Medicare Advantage in Allegheny County next year, out of 95 plans in total.

How many Medicare Advantage plans is Highmark offering in Pittsburgh for 2027?

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is offering 14 Medicare Advantage plans in Allegheny County — the county Pittsburgh sits in — for the 2027 plan year, according to the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File.

By plan type, that breaks down as 3 HMO plans, 4 HMO-POS plans and 7 PPO plans. Twelve of the 14 plans include Part D prescription drug coverage; the other two do not, which means members in those plans would need to think about drug coverage separately. Highmark is not offering a Dual-Eligible, Chronic Condition or Institutional Special Needs Plan in the county next year.

The table below lists every Highmark plan available in the county for 2027, with its plan type and whether it includes drug coverage.

What is new, renamed or not returning from Highmark in Allegheny County for 2027?

For 2027, Highmark has 0 new Medicare Advantage plans in Allegheny County, 0 plans not returning, and 1 renamed plan. The renamed plan is Together Blue Medicare HMO with AHN Signature (HMO), which was called Together Blue Medicare HMO Signature (HMO) for 2026.

A rename does not automatically change what a plan covers, but it can come alongside benefit, cost or network updates. Current members will receive an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) by late September 2026 that spells out what, if anything, is different for 2027. Reading that document carefully is the single best way to see whether your plan still fits.

What plan types does Highmark offer in Pittsburgh, and how do they differ?

Highmark's 2027 lineup in Allegheny County includes three different Medicare Advantage plan structures: HMO, HMO-POS and PPO.

• An HMO generally asks you to use a specific network of doctors and hospitals and often requires referrals for specialists.
• An HMO-POS (point of service) works like an HMO but gives you a limited option to go outside the network for certain services, usually at a higher cost.
• A PPO gives more flexibility to see out-of-network providers, though in-network care typically costs less.

Which structure makes sense depends on your doctors, the hospitals you prefer, and how much flexibility you want. Costs, networks and rules vary plan by plan — those details come from each plan's Evidence of Coverage, not from this article.

How do I check a Highmark plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?

The most reliable way to check any 2027 plan against your own doctors, hospitals and prescriptions is the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048), available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A simple checklist for Pittsburgh-area shoppers:

1. List your doctors and hospitals. Include primary care, specialists and any planned procedures. Then check each plan's provider directory to see if they are in network for 2027 (networks can change year to year). 2. List your prescriptions, doses and pharmacies. Enter them into the Plan Finder to see how each plan's 2027 formulary covers them. 3. Read your ANOC if you are already in a Highmark plan. It explains what is changing on January 1, 2027. 4. Confirm with the plan. Call Highmark directly to verify a doctor, a drug or a benefit before enrolling.

What should Pittsburgh residents know about Part D costs for 2027?

For 2027, CMS has confirmed that the Part D out-of-pocket cap will rise to $2,400 (up from $2,100 in 2026) and the Part D maximum deductible will be $700 (up from $615 in 2026). The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33, which is a formula input Medicare uses — not what any particular plan charges.

The coverage gap (the old "donut hole") has been eliminated since 2025, so Part D now has three phases instead of four. The optional Medicare Prescription Payment Plan is still available, letting enrollees spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly bills.

CMS has not yet announced the 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible or the 2027 IRMAA income brackets; those are typically published in the fall, usually November. We will update our coverage when they are released.

What happens if I do nothing by December 7, 2026?

If you take no action by December 7, 2026, and your current Medicare Advantage plan is being offered again in 2027, you stay enrolled. Your plan renews automatically with whatever changes are listed in its Annual Notice of Change.

If you later decide the renewed plan is not the right fit, Medicare Advantage members have a second window — the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31, 2027 — to switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.