Medicare Advantage

Do San Antonio doctors take HMO, HMO-POS, PPO or PFFS?

Bexar County has 98 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027. Compared with 2026, 28 plans are not coming back, 26 are new, and 36 continuing plans changed in some way you should check before December 7, 11 of them under a new name. This guide covers what those numbers mean for San Antonio, not which plan to pick.

San Antonio — fall 2026. When the Annual Enrollment Period opens Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7, 2026, San Antonio shoppers choosing 2027 Medicare Advantage coverage will see the lineup lean more toward HMOs than it did this year. In Bexar County, the county San Antonio sits in, 98 Medicare Advantage plans from 15 carriers are offered for 2027: 53 HMO, 21 HMO-POS, 23 PPO and 1 PFFS. That mix — not just the plan names — shapes which doctors you can see, whether you need a referral, and how out-of-network care is handled.

What each plan type actually means

Medicare Advantage plans in Bexar County come in four flavors. The letters matter because they describe how the network works.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). You pick a primary care doctor and generally stay in the plan's network. Many HMOs require a referral to see a specialist. Out-of-network care usually is not covered except in an emergency or for urgent care.

HMO-POS (Point of Service). This is an HMO with a limited exception: the plan allows some out-of-network services, often for specific benefits like dental, under set rules. It is not a free pass to see anyone — the plan documents spell out what POS covers.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization). You can see any provider who accepts the plan's terms, in or out of network. In-network care typically costs less, but out-of-network care is covered too. Referrals are usually not required.

PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service). The plan sets the terms, and providers decide, visit by visit, whether to accept them. There may or may not be a formal network. If you choose a PFFS plan, confirm with each provider that they will accept it before you get care.

How the 2027 San Antonio lineup splits by type

Across Bexar County's 98 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027:

• HMO: 53 plans
• HMO-POS: 21 plans
• PPO: 23 plans
• PFFS: 1 plan

Combined, HMO-style plans (HMO plus HMO-POS) make up 74 of the 98. The table below lists every 2027 plan by carrier.

Which carriers offer each type in Bexar County for 2027

HMO carriers: Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Centene (WellCare), Community First, Devoted Health, Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc., Provider Partners Health Plans, SCAN Health Plan, and Texas Independence Health Plan.

HMO-POS carriers: Alignment Health Plan, Elevance Health (Anthem), ProCare Advantage, and UnitedHealthcare.

PPO carriers: Aetna (CVS Health), Blue Cross Blue Shield (HCSC), Clover Health, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare.

PFFS carriers: Humana.

Some carriers appear under more than one type — that just means they offer plans in different structures. The specific plans, their networks and their rules are in each plan's materials and on Medicare's Plan Finder.

How to decide which type fits you

There is no "better" plan type in general. The right fit depends on a few personal questions:

• Who are your doctors? Call the offices and ask which 2027 plans they will be contracted with. If your doctors are all in one system, an HMO built around that system may be a natural fit. If they are scattered, a PPO's broader rules may matter more.
• Do you travel or split time outside Texas? PPOs tend to be more forgiving of care outside the local service area. HMOs usually only cover emergencies when you are away.
• Are you comfortable with referrals? Many HMOs require them; most PPOs do not. If you want to go straight to a specialist, that is worth weighing.
• Do you qualify for a Special Needs Plan (SNP)? Of Bexar County's 2027 plans, some are built for people with specific chronic conditions, dual Medicare-Medicaid eligibility, or institutional needs. Most SNPs in this market are HMO-based.

What is changing for 2027

A few things are already set for the 2027 plan year:

• Part D out-of-pocket cap: $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026).
• Part D maximum deductible: $700 in 2027 (up from $615 in 2026).
• Part D national base beneficiary premium: $41.33 for 2027 (a formula input, not what any plan charges).

CMS announces the 2027 Part B standard premium, Part B deductible, and the IRMAA income brackets later in the fall — typically November. We will update this page when those numbers post.

In Bexar County specifically, 28 plans are not returning for 2027, 26 are new, and 11 have been renamed. If you are already enrolled, your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) — mailed in September — lists exactly what is changing for your plan next year. If you do nothing and your plan is still offered, it renews on Jan. 1, 2027, with those changes.

Dates to keep in mind

• Oct. 15 – Dec. 7, 2026: Annual Enrollment Period. Changes made in this window take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
• Jan. 1 – March 31, 2027: Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan on Jan. 1, you have one chance here to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare.