Medicare Advantage

HMO, HMO-POS, PPO or PFFS in Irving: how 2027 Medicare Advantage plans sort out

Dallas County has 84 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 29 plans are not coming back, 20 are new, and 31 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 9 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for Irving, not which plan to pick.

Fall 2026 — Open enrollment for 2027 Medicare coverage runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, 2026, and in Irving the biggest choice many shoppers will make is not which insurer, but which type of Medicare Advantage plan. The lineup for Dallas County, where Irving sits, leans more toward HMO-style plans next year than PPOs, and one carrier still offers a Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) option. Each type comes with its own rules about doctors, referrals and out-of-network care.

How do Dallas County's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans split by type?

For 2027, Dallas County — the county Irving is in — has 84 Medicare Advantage plans from 12 carriers. By type, that is 37 HMO plans, 21 HMO-POS plans, 25 PPO plans and 1 PFFS plan. Counting HMO and HMO-POS together, 58 of the 84 plans use some form of HMO network structure.

That is a modest shift from 2026, when the county had 93 plans. Across all carriers, 29 plans are not returning for 2027, 20 are new, and 9 are renamed. The table on this page lists every plan available for 2027 by carrier and type.

What does HMO mean for networks and referrals?

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan uses a defined network of doctors, hospitals and other providers. You generally pick a primary care physician, and many HMOs require a referral from that doctor before you see a specialist. Care outside the network is usually not covered except for emergencies, urgent care and dialysis when you are traveling.

For 2027, carriers offering HMO plans in Dallas County include 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.

What is an HMO-POS plan, and how is it different?

HMO-POS stands for HMO with a Point-of-Service option. It works like an HMO — a network, usually a primary care doctor, often referrals — but it adds a limited ability to see certain providers outside the network, typically at a higher share of the cost. Rules vary by plan, so read the Evidence of Coverage to see which services the point-of-service option covers.

For 2027, carriers offering HMO-POS plans in Dallas County include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Elevance Health (Anthem), ProCare Advantage and UnitedHealthcare.

How does a PPO handle out-of-network care?

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan also has a network, but it covers care from out-of-network providers who accept Medicare, usually at a higher cost-share than in-network care. PPOs generally do not require referrals to see specialists. That flexibility is often what draws people who split time between cities or who want to keep seeing a doctor who is not in a given HMO network.

For 2027, carriers offering PPO plans in Dallas County include Aetna (CVS Health), Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, HealthSpring, Humana and UnitedHealthcare. Some PPOs in the roster are local PPOs and some are Regional PPOs, which can affect which providers are considered in-network outside Texas.

What is a PFFS plan, and who still offers one in Dallas County?

A Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plan sets its own payment terms, and you can see any Medicare-approved provider who agrees to accept those terms and treat you — the provider can decide on each visit. PFFS plans do not require referrals, and they are the least common Medicare Advantage type nationally.

For 2027, Humana is the only carrier offering a PFFS plan in Dallas County. The specific PFFS plan is listed in the roster on this page.

How do I pick between HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS?

Start with your doctors and hospitals: ask whether they contract with the plan you are considering, and whether they will accept its terms. Then think about travel — if you spend part of the year outside Texas, out-of-network rules matter more. Finally, if you take prescriptions, check that your drugs are on that plan's formulary and that your pharmacy is in its network.

No plan type is automatically cheaper or better; costs, benefits and star ratings vary plan by plan. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to compare the specifics for any plan you are considering, and read your current plan's Annual Notice of Change to see what is different in 2027.

What's confirmed for 2027 at the program level?

A few 2027 Medicare numbers are already set. The Part D out-of-pocket cap rises to $2,400 in 2027 (from $2,100 in 2026). The Part D maximum deductible rises to $700 in 2027 (from $615 in 2026). The Part D national base beneficiary premium for 2027 is $41.33 — that is a formula input, not what any specific plan charges.

The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not yet been announced; CMS typically publishes them later in the fall.