Medicare Advantage

Laredo's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans: the full carrier-by-carrier lineup

For 2027, Laredo is looking at 53 Medicare Advantage plans: 9 new, 20 gone since 2026, and 24 still here but changed on premium, deductible, plan type or name, 8 of them under a new name. Below, how the lineup shifted in Webb County and what to compare, with no plan ranked or recommended.

Medicare AdvantageLaredo, TX

Laredo's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans: the full carrier-by-carrier lineup for Webb County residents.

If you live in Laredo and you're sorting through Medicare Advantage choices for 2027, here's a plain-English map of what's on the shelf. Laredo is in Webb County, where the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) shows 45 Medicare Advantage plans offered by 8 carriers for the 2027 plan year. Every one of those plans includes prescription drug coverage. The table below lists each plan, grouped by carrier, with its plan type.

Who's offering plans in Webb County

Eight carriers are selling Medicare Advantage plans in the county for 2027. In alphabetical order, they are:

• Aetna (CVS Health): 7 plans (HMO and PPO; 3 are Special Needs Plans)
• Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC): 13 plans (HMO and PPO; 3 are Special Needs Plans)
• Centene (WellCare): 7 plans (HMO and PPO; 3 are Special Needs Plans)
• Humana: 12 plans (PFFS and PPO; 1 is a Special Needs Plan)
• Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.: 1 plan (HMO; a Special Needs Plan)
• Prominence Health Plan: 7 plans (HMO; 3 are Special Needs Plans)
• Texas Independence Health Plan: 2 plans (HMO; both are Special Needs Plans)
• UnitedHealthcare: 15 plans (HMO-POS and PPO; 7 are Special Needs Plans)

The full plan-by-plan list is in the table below.

Understanding the plan types you'll see

You'll see four plan type labels on the Laredo roster. Here's what each means in everyday terms:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): You generally use a set network of doctors and hospitals and often need a referral to see a specialist.
• HMO-POS (Point of Service): An HMO that lets you go outside the network for certain services, usually at a higher cost.
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): You can use out-of-network providers, though in-network care usually costs less. Some PPOs in the roster are "Regional PPOs," which are approved to serve a wider geographic area.
• PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service): A plan that sets its own payment terms with providers; any doctor who accepts those terms can see you.

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans built for a specific group. In the Laredo roster you'll see three types:

• D-SNPs for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid
• C-SNPs for people with certain chronic conditions (for example, diabetes or heart conditions)
• I-SNPs for people who live in an institution such as a nursing home or need that level of care

Drug coverage and the 2027 rules to know

Every 2027 Medicare Advantage plan on the Webb County list includes Part D prescription drug coverage. (CMS shows no stand-alone Part D plans listed for the area, because MA-PD plans already bundle drugs in.)

A few Part D rules apply across the board in 2027:

• The out-of-pocket cap for covered Part D drugs is $2,100 in 2026 ($2,400 in 2027).
• The maximum Part D deductible allowed is $615 in 2026 ($700 in 2027).
• The coverage gap, or "donut hole," was eliminated in 2025. Part D now has three phases: deductible, initial coverage, and catastrophic.
• The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan lets you spread your drug costs across the calendar year in monthly payments instead of paying at the pharmacy counter. It's optional.
• Income-based Part B and Part D surcharges (IRMAA) start above $109,000 for a single filer in 2026.

How to narrow the list

With 64 plans on offer, the goal isn't to compare every plan side by side. It's to filter down to the handful that fit your life. A few questions can shrink the list quickly:

1. Do your doctors take the plan? Networks vary by plan, even inside the same carrier. Confirm each doctor and hospital directly with the plan. 2. Are your prescriptions on the formulary? Every plan has its own drug list and tier structure. 3. Do you qualify for a Special Needs Plan? If you have both Medicare and Medicaid, or a qualifying chronic condition, a D-SNP or C-SNP may be worth a closer look. 4. HMO or PPO? If you travel or want flexibility to see out-of-network doctors, a PPO or HMO-POS is different from a standard HMO. 5. What matters beyond medical care? Dental, vision, hearing, transportation, and over-the-counter benefits vary from plan to plan.

You can compare specifics — premiums, copays, drug lists, and provider networks — plan by plan on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or in each plan's Summary of Benefits and Evidence of Coverage.

Enrollment dates to keep on your calendar

• October 15 – December 7: The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period. You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan. Changes take effect January 1.
• January 1 – March 31: The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you get one chance to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare (with a stand-alone Part D plan, where available).

Special Enrollment Periods can also open if you move, lose other coverage, or qualify for Extra Help — call 1-800-MEDICARE to check.

Where to get personal help in Laredo

Free, unbiased counseling is available through the Texas State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), known locally as the Health Information, Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). Counselors don't sell plans; they help you read your own.

• Medicare: medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048
• Texas HICAP/SHIP: 1-800-252-9240