Medicare Advantage

Before you pick a Medicare Advantage plan in El Paso: how the carriers and plan types compare for 2026

El Paso County has 70 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 18 plans are not coming back, 16 are new, and 29 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 19 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for El Paso, not which plan to pick.

Medicare AdvantageEl Paso, TX

For 2027, people with Medicare who live in El Paso have a mix of Medicare Advantage plans to sort through — from big national insurers to local names — and the plans come in several different shapes. Before you compare premiums or drug lists, it helps to know who is selling plans in your area and what the plan-type letters (HMO, PPO, PFFS, SNP) actually mean. That is what this guide walks through.

El Paso is in El Paso County, where CMS lists 70 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 from 12 different carriers, according to the Medicare Advantage Landscape data. All 70 include prescription drug coverage. The county is home to about 114,000 residents age 65 and older.

The carriers offering Medicare Advantage in El Paso County

Twelve insurers offer Medicare Advantage plans in El Paso County for 2027. In alphabetical order, they are:

• Aetna (CVS Health): 7 plans
• Alignment Health Plan: 7 plans
• Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC): 12 plans
• Centene (WellCare): 8 plans
• Devoted Health: 7 plans
• El Paso Health Medicare Advantage: 3 plans
• Elevance Health (Anthem): 5 plans
• Humana: 24 plans
• Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.: 1 plan
• ProCare Advantage: 1 plan
• Provider Partners Health Plans: 1 plan
• UnitedHealthcare: 15 plans

The counts above only tell you how many plans each carrier sells here — not which is “bigger,” “better” or a better fit for you. A carrier with one plan may fit your situation perfectly; a carrier with two dozen may not offer the network you need. The table on this page lists every plan by carrier so you can see the full lineup side by side.

What the plan-type letters mean

Every Medicare Advantage plan is one of a few types. In El Paso County, the 91 plans break down like this: 43 HMO, 16 HMO-POS, 30 PPO and 2 PFFS.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). You pick a primary care doctor and generally stay inside the plan's network. Care outside the network usually is not covered except for emergencies. Referrals may be required to see a specialist. HMOs often have tighter networks but can be simpler to use if your doctors are already in the plan.

HMO-POS (Point of Service). A version of an HMO that lets you go outside the network for certain services, usually at a higher cost. It is a middle ground between an HMO and a PPO.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). You can see any provider who accepts the plan. Staying in-network costs less, but out-of-network care is still covered at a higher share. No referrals are usually needed. PPOs offer more flexibility, which some people value if they travel or want a wider choice of doctors.

PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). The plan sets what it pays providers and what you pay. You can see any Medicare provider who agrees to the plan's terms, visit by visit.

Special Needs Plans: a separate track

Of the 91 plans in El Paso County, 39 are Special Needs Plans (SNPs). SNPs are Medicare Advantage plans built for people who meet specific requirements. There are three kinds:

• D-SNP (Dual Eligible): for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid.
• C-SNP (Chronic Condition): for people with certain long-term conditions, such as diabetes or chronic heart failure.
• I-SNP (Institutional): for people who live in a nursing facility or need that level of care at home.

You can only enroll in an SNP if you meet its rules. If you do qualify, an SNP may tailor its drug list, provider network and extra benefits to your situation. In El Paso County, multiple carriers offer D-SNPs, C-SNPs and I-SNPs; the table on this page shows which is which.

How to narrow the list

With 91 plans on the table, comparing every one is not realistic. A few practical filters can shrink the list quickly:

1. Start with your doctors and hospitals. Check whether each plan you're considering includes them. Networks vary a lot between HMO and PPO plans, and between carriers. 2. Check your prescriptions. Every El Paso County MA plan includes drug coverage, but each plan has its own drug list (formulary) and pharmacy network. The Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026 and $2,400 in 2027. The maximum Part D deductible is $615 for 2026 and $700 for 2027. The old “donut hole” is gone as of 2025, so drug coverage now has three phases. 3. Decide how much flexibility you want. If you travel often or want to keep out-of-network options open, a PPO may feel less restrictive than an HMO. 4. See if you qualify for an SNP. If you have Medicaid, a qualifying chronic condition, or live in a nursing facility, an SNP may be an option worth reviewing.

If your income is above $109,000 as a single filer for 2026, be aware that IRMAA surcharges may apply to your Part B and Part D premiums; that is a Medicare-wide rule, not something a specific plan controls.

Enrollment periods to keep in mind

• Annual Enrollment Period: Oct. 15 – Dec. 7. This is when most people join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for the coming year.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: Jan. 1 – March 31. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a different one or return to Original Medicare during this window.

If you need help with drug costs during the year, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your Part D out-of-pocket costs across the calendar year in monthly amounts, at no extra charge. You can ask your Part D plan about signing up.