Medicare Advantage

Before You Renew: Austin Medicare Advantage Shifts

People in Austin can choose from 48 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 60 in 2026. 15 of this year's plans are gone, 11 are new to Travis County, and 21 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 8 of them under a new name.

Medicare AdvantageAustin, TX

AUSTIN, Texas — If you have a Medicare Advantage plan in the Austin area, this fall's mail is worth a careful read. For the 2027 plan year, 15 Medicare Advantage plans are leaving Travis County, 11 new plans are joining, and 8 are keeping their coverage but changing names. One carrier, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), will no longer offer Medicare Advantage plans in the county, and a new carrier, Provider Partners Health Plans, is coming in.

That means some Austin members will need to make a decision this fall, and a few will get extra time to do it.

What's changing in Travis County

Austin is in Travis County, where Medicare Advantage availability is set. Here is the shape of the 2027 change, straight from CMS's Landscape files:

• Leaving after 2026: 15 plans
• New for 2027: 11 plans
• Renamed (same plan, new name): 8 plans
• Continuing with a change to premium, deductible, plan type or name: 13 plans
• Continuing with no such change: 37 plans

The table on this page lists every plan in the county for the coming year. Below, we walk through what each group means for you.

Plans leaving Austin after 2026

If your plan is on this list, it will not renew for 2027. You will get a non-renewal letter from your carrier by early October. The 15 plans not returning to Travis County are:

• Aetna Medicare Full Dual Care (HMO D-SNP)
• Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Choice Premier (PPO)
• Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Dual Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
• Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Optimum (PPO)
• Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Preferred (PPO)
• Wellcare Dual Access (HMO D-SNP)
• Wellcare Dual Liberty (HMO D-SNP)
• Wellcare Dual Reserve (HMO D-SNP)
• Wellcare Giveback (HMO)
• Wellpoint Dual Advantage 2 (HMO D-SNP)
• Humana USAA Honor Giveback (PPO)
• UHC Complete Care Support TX-1A (Regional PPO C-SNP)
• UHC Dual Complete TX-D002 (HMO-POS D-SNP)
• UHC Dual Complete TX-S003 (HMO-POS D-SNP)
• UHC Dual Complete TX-V002 (HMO-POS D-SNP)

All four Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plans in the county are on this list, which is why HCSC leaves the Travis County market next year.

If you are in one of these plans, you have two ways to switch:

1. During the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), pick any 2027 Medicare Advantage or Part D plan available in the county. 2. If you miss that window, a Special Enrollment Period for members of a non-renewing plan runs through the end of February. You can use it to join a new Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare with a Part D drug plan.

Do not ignore the letter. If you take no action and no new plan is chosen for you, you will fall back to Original Medicare on Jan. 1, 2027 without drug coverage.

Plans that are new for 2027

Eleven plans are joining the Travis County lineup, including the county's first offerings from Provider Partners Health Plans:

• DEVOTED C-SNP GIVEBACK EXTRAS 082 TX (HMO C-SNP)
• DEVOTED GIVEBACK EXTRAS 109 TX (HMO)
• Wellpoint Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
• Wellpoint Dual Advantage Plus (HMO D-SNP)
• Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
• Humana Together in Health (PPO I-SNP)
• Provider Partners Texas Advantage Plan (HMO I-SNP)
• UHC Dual Advantage TX-V11 (HMO-POS D-SNP)
• UHC Dual Complete TX-Q6 (HMO-POS D-SNP)
• UHC Dual Complete TX-S6 (HMO-POS D-SNP)
• UHC Dual Complete TX-YL2 (HMO-POS D-SNP)

Many of these are Special Needs Plans — designed for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid (D-SNP), a qualifying chronic condition (C-SNP) or who live in a nursing facility (I-SNP). If a new plan looks like a fit, check the plan's provider directory and drug list before enrolling.

Plans that are being renamed

Eight plans are continuing into 2027 with a new name. Same plan number in CMS's system, new name on the mailer and card:

• Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (PPO) — was Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)
• Wellcare Superior HealthPlan Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP) — was Wellcare Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP)
• DEVOTED C-SNP ENHANCED 023 TX (HMO C-SNP) — was DEVOTED C-SNP PREMIUM 023 TX (HMO C-SNP)
• Humana Essentials Plus Giveback (PPO) — was Humana Essentials Plus Giveback H7617-035 (PPO)
• HumanaChoice Giveback H5216-358 (PPO) — was Humana Essentials Plus Giveback H5216-358 (PPO)
• HumanaChoice H5216-432 (PPO) — was Humana Full Access H5216-432 (PPO)
• HumanaChoice H7617-029 (PPO) — was Humana Full Access H7617-029 (PPO)
• AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC TX-61 (Regional PPO) — was UHC Medicare Advantage TX-0030 (Regional PPO)

A rename by itself does not change your coverage. But the ANOC that arrives in September will tell you if any premium, cost share or benefit is changing for 2027, so read it before you decide "no action needed."

Plans that are continuing with a change

Thirteen more plans are staying in the county but changing on premium, deductible, plan type or name in CMS's file. We won't say what changed or by how much — the exact 2027 numbers live in your Annual Notice of Change. If you have one of these plans, that ANOC is the document to open first.

The remaining 37 plans continue into 2027 without one of those changes flagged.

What Austin members should do this fall

• Read the ANOC and any non-renewal notice from your carrier. These arrive by the end of September.
• Confirm your doctors, hospitals and pharmacies are in the 2027 network of any plan you consider.
• Check that your prescriptions are on the plan's 2027 formulary. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027; the Part D maximum deductible is $615 in 2026 and $700 in 2027.
• Compare plans on Medicare.gov's Plan Finder or call 1-800-MEDICARE (24/7).
• For free, unbiased help, contact the Texas SHIP — called HICAP in Texas — at 1-800-252-9240.

Two windows to remember: the Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs Jan. 1 – March 31 for people already in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1.