Medicare Advantage

HMO or PPO? Tennessee Medicare Advantage for 2027: 89 HMO Plans, 66 PPO

NASHVILLE — Tennessee's 2027 Medicare Advantage lineup leans slightly toward HMO-style coverage, with 89 HMO plans (including HMO-POS) and 66 PPO plans across the state, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Landscape Source Files. Twelve carriers are offering 155 Medicare Advantage plans statewide for the plan year that begins January 1, 2027, and the choice between an HMO and a PPO is one of the first forks in the road for anyone comparing coverage during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 through December 7, 2026.

How many Medicare Advantage plans in Tennessee are HMO vs. PPO for 2027?

Tennessee has 155 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027: 60 HMO, 29 HMO-POS, and 66 PPO. Grouping HMO and HMO-POS together, that is 89 HMO-style plans and 66 PPO plans statewide, drawn from CMS's 2027 Landscape Source File.

Those are statewide totals. A plan counted once in the state file is actually offered in a specific list of counties, which means a Knox County resident and a Shelby County resident may see very different menus when they open the Plan Finder. The split also does not include any Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans in Tennessee for 2027.

What is the difference between HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS in Medicare Advantage?

In plain terms: HMOs generally require you to use the plan's network and often ask you to pick a primary care doctor and get referrals to see specialists; HMO-POS plans are HMOs with a "point-of-service" option that allows limited out-of-network care under rules the plan sets; PPOs let you see providers inside or outside the network, usually at a different cost share, and typically do not require referrals; PFFS plans pay providers on terms the plan sets and let you see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to those terms. No PFFS plans appear in Tennessee's 2027 Landscape file.

The practical upshot is that network rules — not logos or brand names — often decide whether a plan fits your life. If your cardiologist, your oncologist and the hospital you trust are all in one system, an HMO may feel seamless. If you split time between Memphis and the Gulf Coast, or you want the option to see a specialist out of state without a referral, a PPO's rules may matter more.

Costs, benefits and star ratings vary plan by plan and are not addressed here; those details live in each plan's Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage, and on the Medicare Plan Finder.

Which carriers offer HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans in Tennessee for 2027?

For 2027, ten carriers offer HMO plans in Tennessee: Abilis Health (HMO SNP), Aetna (CVS Health), American Health Advantage of Tennessee, BlueCare Plus Tennessee, Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), HealthSpring, Humana, NHC Advantage, and Zing Health. Four carriers offer HMO-POS plans: Aetna (CVS Health), Elevance Health (Anthem), HealthSpring, and UnitedHealthcare. Seven carriers offer PPO plans: Aetna (CVS Health), BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Devoted Health, HealthSpring, Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Zing Health.

Several carriers appear in more than one column — Aetna (CVS Health), HealthSpring, Humana, Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), UnitedHealthcare and Zing Health each show up in at least two plan types — so the same company name on the mailer does not tell you which plan type you are being pitched. The full plan-by-plan tables on this page show the exact plan names associated with each carrier and each type.

How do I decide between an HMO and a PPO for my doctors and travel in Tennessee?

Start with your doctors and hospitals, then layer in how you travel. The most reliable way to decide between an HMO and a PPO in Tennessee for 2027 is to list the providers you actually use and check each plan's current network directory before you enroll.

A few questions help:

• Do your primary care doctor, specialists and preferred hospital all participate in the plan's network for 2027? Networks can change year to year, so verify for the new plan year.
• Are you comfortable with referrals and in-network-only rules (typical of HMOs), or do you want the flexibility to go out of network at a different cost share (typical of PPOs)?
• Do you spend significant time outside Tennessee — snowbird months, extended family visits, grandchildren out of state? Out-of-area rules differ sharply by plan type.
• If you have a chronic condition or a specific SNP need, does a Special Needs Plan fit your situation better than a general HMO or PPO?

Network participation, referral rules and out-of-area coverage are plan-specific and spelled out in each plan's Evidence of Coverage.

What should Tennessee Medicare beneficiaries do before December 7, 2026?

Before December 7, 2026, Tennessee beneficiaries should confirm which 2027 plans are offered in their county, check that their doctors and prescriptions are covered under those plans, and read any Annual Notice of Change letter from a current plan. A choice made during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 – December 7, 2026) takes effect January 1, 2027.

A simple checklist:

1. Enter your ZIP code and county on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to see the 2027 plans available where you live. 2. Note whether each plan is HMO, HMO-POS, PPO or a SNP, and read the network rules. 3. Check each plan's provider directory and drug list against your own doctors and medications. 4. If you want to stay in your current plan and received an Annual Notice of Change, read it to understand what is changing for 2027.

Where can Tennessee residents get free Medicare help for 2027?

Free, unbiased help is available directly from Medicare. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to compare 2027 plans by ZIP code and county.

Medicare.gov is also where you can confirm enrollment period rules, review a plan's Summary of Benefits, and start or change enrollment. For questions about Part A and Part B eligibility or enrollment, the Social Security Administration handles those steps.