Medicare Advantage

Aetna's 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in Lubbock: one new plan, three renamed

LUBBOCK, Texas — As the Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 Medicare coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, Aetna's Medicare Advantage lineup in Lubbock County is shifting a little. The carrier is offering six Medicare Advantage plans in the county for 2027 — one more than this year — with one brand-new plan, three renamed plans, and none leaving.

If you already have an Aetna plan and do nothing, your plan will renew into 2027 if Aetna is still offering it, with any updates spelled out in the Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) Aetna mailed you in late September. This article is a plain-English guide to what Aetna is putting on the shelf in Lubbock County for 2027, and how to check any plan against your own doctors and prescriptions before the December 7 deadline.

MyMedicarePlans.org is an independent consumer site. We are not Aetna, and Aetna is not the only carrier in the county — five other carriers also offer Medicare Advantage plans in Lubbock County for 2027, for 38 plans across all carriers combined.

What Medicare Advantage plans does Aetna offer in Lubbock for 2027?

Aetna (which CMS lists as Aetna (CVS Health)) is offering six Medicare Advantage plans in Lubbock County for 2027. By plan type, that is four HMOs and two PPOs. Five of the six include Part D prescription drug coverage; one PPO is offered without drug coverage.

The full list, in alphabetical order, is in the table below. The named plans are:

• Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO) — PPO, without drug coverage
• Aetna Medicare Full Dual Care (HMO D-SNP) — HMO D-SNP, with drug coverage (renamed; was Aetna Medicare Dual Care)
• Aetna Medicare Full Dual Extra Care (HMO D-SNP) — HMO D-SNP, with drug coverage (renamed; was Aetna Medicare Full Dual Care)
• Aetna Medicare QMB Only Care (HMO D-SNP) — HMO D-SNP, with drug coverage (new for 2027)
• Aetna Medicare QMB Only Extra Care (HMO D-SNP) — HMO D-SNP, with drug coverage (renamed; was Aetna Medicare Partial Dual Care)
• Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) — PPO, with drug coverage

Lubbock is in Lubbock County, and Medicare Advantage plan availability is set at the county level, so the same list applies to anyone enrolled in Medicare whose home address is in the county.

What is new or not returning from Aetna in Lubbock County for 2027?

In Lubbock County for 2027, Aetna has one new plan, three renamed plans, and zero plans not returning. The new plan is Aetna Medicare QMB Only Care (HMO D-SNP). The three renamed plans are shown above with their 2026 names in parentheses — the contract is continuing, but the name on your card and mail may be different.

If one of your plans is renamed, Aetna is required to send you an Annual Notice of Change explaining what is different about the plan for 2027. Read it. Even without a rename, premiums, copays, drug tiers, and provider networks can change from one plan year to the next.

What are Special Needs Plans, and how many does Aetna offer in Lubbock County?

Four of Aetna's six Lubbock County plans for 2027 are Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans, or D-SNPs. D-SNPs are a type of Medicare Advantage plan designed for people who have both Medicare and Medicaid. Aetna is not offering any Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs) or Institutional SNPs (I-SNPs) in the county for 2027.

To enroll in a D-SNP, you generally need to qualify for Medicaid or a Medicare Savings Program (such as QMB) in Texas. If you are not sure whether you qualify, the Texas Health and Human Services office can confirm your Medicaid status, and Medicare.gov can show you which Special Needs Plans you are eligible to join.

How do I check an Aetna plan against my doctors and prescriptions before December 7?

The most reliable way is the Medicare Plan Finder at Medicare.gov. Enter your ZIP code and your prescriptions, and the tool will show every Medicare Advantage plan available to you in Lubbock County, including Aetna's, with each plan's estimated yearly drug cost based on your medications and the pharmacies you use.

Three steps worth taking before December 7, 2026:

1. Pull out the ANOC for any plan you are already in and read the "changes for next year" section. 2. On Medicare.gov, run your drug list through the Plan Finder for each plan you are considering, and check that your doctors and preferred pharmacy are in that plan's network for 2027. 3. If you want to confirm a specific doctor is still contracted, call that doctor's office and the plan directly — provider directories can lag.

You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

What are the Medicare rules and dates I need to know for 2027 coverage?

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026. Any change you make in that window takes effect January 1, 2027. If you do nothing, your current plan renews into 2027 if it is still offered.

Two Part D figures CMS has confirmed for 2027:

• The Part D out-of-pocket cap will be $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
• The Part D maximum deductible will be $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).

The 2027 standard Part B premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, have not been announced yet; CMS typically publishes those later in the fall. The Medicare Prescription Payment Plan — an option that lets you spread drug costs across the calendar year in monthly bills — is still available in 2027 for people who want to use it. And if December 7 passes and you are in a Medicare Advantage plan you want to switch out of, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period runs January 1 through March 31, 2027.