Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage in Dallas for 2027: how the 84 plans split between HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS

People in Dallas can choose from 84 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 93 this year. 29 of this year’s plans are gone, 20 are new to Dallas County, and 31 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 9 of them under a new name.

DALLAS — Fall 2026. If you live in Dallas and are weighing a Medicare Advantage plan for 2027, the biggest decision isn't the carrier logo on the card — it's the two or three letters after the plan name. HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS each come with different rules about which doctors you can see, whether you need a referral, and what happens if you get care outside the plan's network. Those rules shape your experience far more than most people expect.

Dallas is in Dallas County, where CMS lists 84 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers for 2027. They split by type like this: 37 HMO, 21 HMO-POS, 25 PPO and 1 PFFS. (Counting HMO and HMO-POS together, 58 of the 84 plans use some version of the HMO structure.) The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, and any change you make takes effect January 1, 2027.

What each plan type actually means

All four types are Medicare Advantage (Part C). They cover everything Original Medicare covers, and most include Part D drug coverage. The difference is in how they handle networks and referrals.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). You pick a primary care doctor and generally stay inside the plan's network. For most specialists, you'll need a referral from your primary care doctor. Out-of-network care usually isn't covered except for emergencies, urgent care and dialysis.

HMO-POS (Point of Service). An HMO with a side door. You still have a network and often a primary care doctor, but the "point of service" option lets you see certain out-of-network providers for certain services — usually at a higher cost-share. The specifics vary by plan, so the Evidence of Coverage is where you confirm what the POS benefit actually covers.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). More flexibility. You can see any provider that accepts the plan, in or out of network, usually without a referral. Out-of-network care is covered but typically costs more than in-network. Some PPOs are local; others are "Regional PPOs" that cover a wider geographic area.

PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). The provider has to agree to the plan's terms at each visit. Any Medicare-approved doctor or hospital can accept a PFFS plan, but they aren't required to. Networks and referral rules depend on the specific plan.

None of these types is universally cheaper or better. The right fit depends on who your doctors are, whether they're in a given plan's network, how often you travel, and how much choice you want.

Which carriers offer which type in Dallas County for 2027

Based on the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape for plan year 2027, here is how the carriers break down by type in Dallas County. The full plan-by-plan table on this page lists every plan with its type.

HMO plans — offered by Aetna (CVS Health), Centene (WellCare), Elevance Health (Anthem), HealthSpring, Humana, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc., Provider Partners Health Plans, Texas Independence Health Plan, and Verda Health Plan of Texas.

HMO-POS plans — offered by Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Elevance Health (Anthem), ProCare Advantage, and UnitedHealthcare.

PPO plans — offered by Aetna (CVS Health), Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, HealthSpring, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare.

PFFS plans — offered by Humana.

A carrier's name appearing under more than one type simply means they sell plans of each kind in Dallas County; it isn't a comment on which is right for you.

How to think about networks and referrals

Start with your doctors, not the plan brochure. Make a short list of the providers you want to keep seeing — primary care, any specialists, the hospital system you prefer, your pharmacy. Then check whether each plan you're considering includes them. Networks change every year, so a doctor who was in-network in 2026 might not be in 2027, even with the same insurer.

If you split time between Dallas and another state, or you spend part of the year with family elsewhere, the PPO's broader out-of-network coverage can matter more than the sticker price of any one benefit. If all your care is in one local system and you don't mind getting a referral for a specialist, an HMO or HMO-POS may fit comfortably.

What's changing in Dallas County for 2027

Year to year, carriers add plans, drop plans and rename plans. For 2027 in Dallas County, 29 plans aren't returning, 20 are new, and 9 are renamed versions of existing plans. If your current plan is on the "not returning" list, you'll get a notice from your insurer and have the AEP window to pick something else. If you do nothing and your plan is renewing, it will roll into 2027 with whatever changes are described in its Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — that's the document to read closely this fall.

Program numbers for 2027 that apply to everyone

A few 2027 figures are already confirmed by CMS, regardless of which plan type you choose:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
• Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027 (this is a formula input used across the program, not a figure any one plan charges).

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, haven't been announced yet. CMS typically publishes those in the fall, usually in November.

A simple way to narrow it down

1. Write down your doctors, hospital, and regular prescriptions. 2. Decide how much you travel or how often you leave the Dallas area for care. 3. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov to filter Dallas County plans by type and check whether your doctors and drugs are covered. 4. Read the ANOC your current plan mailed you — even if you plan to stay put. 5. Call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY 1-877-486-2048) if you want to talk a specific scenario through.