Medicare Advantage

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Medicare Advantage in Tennessee for 2027: 20 Plans

NASHVILLE — For the 2027 plan year, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is offering 20 Medicare Advantage plans across Tennessee, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Landscape Source Files. All 20 are PPO plans, and 19 of them include prescription drug coverage. Three are Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs); the carrier lists no Dual-Eligible or Institutional Special Needs Plans in Tennessee for 2027.

This article is published by an independent Medicare education site. We are privately owned, not part of the federal government, and not affiliated with any insurance carrier, including BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Our aim is to help Tennesseans understand what the CMS data shows for the coming year so they can look up the specifics for their own county.

How many BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Tennessee for 2027?

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is offering 20 Medicare Advantage plans in Tennessee for 2027, all structured as PPOs. Of those, 19 include Part D prescription drug coverage and 1 does not. Three of the 20 are Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans designed for people with specific qualifying conditions; the carrier lists no D-SNPs and no I-SNPs in Tennessee this year.

For context, the CMS Landscape file shows 11 other Medicare Advantage carriers operating somewhere in Tennessee for 2027, and 155 Medicare Advantage plans across all carriers statewide. Those statewide totals are counted once per plan, not once per county. Because plans are sold county by county, the number actually available to any individual Tennessean will be smaller than the statewide figure.

The full plan-by-plan breakdown appears in the tables on this page.

Which BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee plans have the widest county reach in Tennessee for 2027?

Two BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee plans reach the broadest footprint in Tennessee for 2027: BlueAdvantage Extra (PPO), offered in 95 counties, and BlueAdvantage Freedom (PPO), also offered in 95 counties. BlueAdvantage Total Heart and Diabetes Plus (PPO C-SNP) is also listed in 95 counties, within its eligibility rules for qualifying chronic conditions.

Beyond those, BlueAdvantage Total Heart and Diabetes (PPO C-SNP) appears as two separate offerings reaching 49 and 46 counties. The BlueAdvantage Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire, Garnet and new Emerald lines are listed in varying county counts, ranging from 8 counties up to 46. The complete county counts for every plan are shown in the tables above; we are listing names here only to orient readers, not to rank or recommend any plan.

What is new or not returning from BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee in Tennessee for 2027?

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is introducing 3 new Medicare Advantage plans in Tennessee for 2027, and none of its 2026 plans are being discontinued, according to the CMS year-over-year comparison. The new entries all carry the BlueAdvantage Emerald (PPO) name and appear in the Landscape file as three separate offerings reaching 21, 16 and 8 counties respectively.

Because no BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee plans are leaving the market for 2027, current members of its plans should not receive a non-renewal notice from this carrier. Members should still watch for the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) mailed by the plan in the fall, which spells out any changes to costs, covered drugs or provider networks for the coming year.

How do I check whether a BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee plan is offered in my Tennessee county and covers my doctors and prescriptions?

The most reliable way to check 2027 availability for a specific Tennessee county is the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Enter your ZIP code and you will see every Medicare Advantage plan sold in your county for 2027, including which BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee plans are available where you live.

To confirm that your doctors, hospitals and pharmacies are in a plan's network, and that your prescriptions are on its formulary, use the plan's own provider directory, pharmacy directory and drug list, or the Evidence of Coverage document the carrier provides. Those plan-level documents — not any third-party summary — are the authoritative source for benefits, copays, networks and star ratings.

What should Tennesseans do before December 7, 2026?

Before December 7, 2026, Tennesseans who want to join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027 should make that decision during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 – December 7, 2026. Any change made in that window takes effect January 1, 2027.

A simple checklist:

• Read the Annual Notice of Change from your current plan, if you have one.
• List your doctors, hospitals, regular prescriptions and preferred pharmacies.
• Look up 2027 plans for your ZIP code on Medicare.gov and compare side by side.
• Confirm network and formulary details directly with the plan before enrolling.
• If a plan is a Special Needs Plan, confirm you meet the eligibility rules.

There is no advantage to rushing. The deadline is a date on the calendar, not a countdown.

Where can Tennesseans get free help choosing a 2027 Medicare plan?

Tennesseans can get free, unbiased help from Medicare itself. Medicare.gov hosts the official Plan Finder, plan documents and enrollment tools, and 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) has representatives available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer questions and help with enrollment.

The Social Security Administration (ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213) handles questions about Medicare eligibility, enrollment in Parts A and B, and Extra Help with prescription drug costs.