Medicare Advantage

What HMO, PPO, PFFS and SNP mean in Dallas

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.

Medicare AdvantageDallas, TX

Dallas has a crowded Medicare Advantage shelf for 2027, and the names on it may look familiar even if the plan types don't. Twelve carriers are selling Medicare Advantage in Dallas County next year, offering a mix of HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS and Special Needs Plans. Knowing what those letters mean is the first step toward a choice that actually fits your doctors, your prescriptions and your travel habits.

Who is selling Medicare Advantage in Dallas County for 2027

In alphabetical order, the 12 carriers offering Medicare Advantage plans in Dallas County next year are Aetna (CVS Health), Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Molina Healthcare of Texas, ProCare Advantage, Provider Partners Health Plans, Texas Independence Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare and Verda Health Plan of Texas.

The number of plans each carrier offers varies quite a bit. Some carriers offer a single plan built around a specific need, while others offer more than a dozen options across different plan types. The table below lists every plan, so you can see each carrier's full lineup at a glance without us picking favorites here.

HMO vs. HMO-POS: the network-first plans

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) asks you to use doctors, hospitals and other providers inside its network, except for emergencies. You usually pick a primary care doctor, and you may need a referral to see a specialist. In Dallas County, 36 of the 93 plans are HMOs.

An HMO-POS (HMO with a Point-of-Service option) works like an HMO but adds some flexibility to go outside the network for certain services, typically at a higher cost. Compared with the 2026 shelf, the Dallas County lineup for 2027 has 20 new plans, 29 not returning and 9 renamed, and 22 continuing plans change something in their terms — the ANOC has the details.

Carriers offering HMO or HMO-POS plans in the county include Aetna, American Health Advantage of Texas, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Molina Healthcare of Texas, ProCare Advantage, Provider Partners Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare and Verda Health Plan of Texas.

PPO: more freedom to go out-of-network

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) still has a network, and using in-network providers usually costs less, but you can generally see out-of-network providers who accept the plan without a referral. That flexibility can matter if you split time between Dallas and another state, or if a specialist you trust isn't in a given network.

Dallas County has 35 PPO plans for 2026. Carriers with PPO offerings include Aetna, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Humana and UnitedHealthcare. Some of the PPOs on the list are regional PPOs, which cover a defined multi-county region.

PFFS: the smallest slice next year

A PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plan lets you see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to the plan's terms and payment rates each time you get care. There's no network in the traditional sense, but the provider has to agree to treat you under the plan.

Dallas County has PFFS plans on the 2027 shelf, offered by Humana.

Special Needs Plans: built around a specific situation

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans limited to people who fit a specific profile. There are three kinds:

• D-SNP (Dual Eligible) — for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
• C-SNP (Chronic Condition) — for people with certain qualifying chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart conditions or end-stage renal disease.
• I-SNP (Institutional) — for people who live in a nursing home or a similar setting, or who need that level of care at home.

Of the 93 Medicare Advantage plans in Dallas County, 35 are Special Needs Plans. Carriers with at least one SNP on the list include Aetna, American Health Advantage of Texas, Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Molina Healthcare of Texas, ProCare Advantage, Provider Partners Health Plans, UnitedHealthcare and Verda Health Plan of Texas. If you're not sure whether you'd qualify for one, that's a great question for 1-800-MEDICARE or your local SHIP counselor.

Drug coverage and the 2027 Part D rules

All 75 Medicare Advantage plans in Dallas County for 2027 include Part D prescription drug coverage. That's worth knowing, because for 2027 there is no stand-alone Part D plan listed for the area, so most people getting drug coverage through Medicare in Dallas will get it as part of an MA plan.

A few program-level Part D facts to keep in mind for 2027:

• The maximum Part D deductible is $615.
• Out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,100 for the year.
• The old "donut hole" coverage gap is gone; Part D now works in three phases.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the year in monthly installments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter.
• IRMAA surcharges (higher Part B and Part D premiums for higher incomes) start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

How to actually compare your options

With 93 plans on the shelf, no one should try to memorize them. A few practical steps:

1. Make a list of your doctors and any hospital you want to keep using. 2. Make a list of your prescriptions with doses. 3. Note whether you travel or spend part of the year outside Texas. 4. Use the Plan Finder at medicare.gov to filter Dallas County plans against that list. 5. If you'd like a human, free help is available through the Texas SHIP program (called HICAP in some places), or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.

Annual Enrollment runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you also get Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment from Jan. 1 through March 31 to switch to a different MA plan or return to Original Medicare.