Medicare Advantage

Before you pick a 2027 Medicare Advantage plan in Chesapeake, see how HMO, PPO and PFFS differ

People in Chesapeake can choose from 70 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, against 67 this year. Three of this year’s plans are gone, 6 are new to Chesapeake city, and 45 that continue have changed their premium, deductible, plan type or name, 16 of them under a new name.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — As Annual Enrollment 2027 opens on October 15, 2026, shoppers in Chesapeake will see Medicare Advantage plans sorted into four types on the Medicare Plan Finder: HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS. The split matters, because the letters next to a plan's name decide a lot of practical things — whether you need a referral to see a specialist, whether your plan will pay anything if you go out of network, and how travel-friendly the coverage is.

For 2027, Chesapeake city, the county Chesapeake sits in, has 70 Medicare Advantage plans from 6 carriers. By type, that is 18 HMOs, 20 HMO-POS plans, 30 PPOs and 2 PFFS plans. Here is what each type actually means before you pick.

How do the 70 Medicare Advantage plans in Chesapeake split by type for 2027?

Chesapeake city has 70 Medicare Advantage plans from 6 carriers for 2027, divided into 18 HMOs, 20 HMO-POS plans, 30 PPOs and 2 PFFS plans. Counting HMO and HMO-POS together, 38 of the 70 plans are built on an HMO chassis.

Plan availability is set at the county level, and Chesapeake, Va., is its own independent city for Medicare purposes. The full table below lists every plan offered in the city for 2027, with its carrier and type. The counts come from the CMS Medicare Advantage Landscape Source File for plan year 2027.

What does HMO mean for networks and referrals in a Chesapeake Medicare Advantage plan?

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan asks you to use doctors and hospitals in its network, and in most cases to pick a primary care provider who gives you referrals to specialists. If you go out of network for non-emergency care, the plan generally does not pay — you do.

HMOs are the strictest of the four types on network rules, but they are built around coordinated care through your primary doctor. In Chesapeake city for 2027, HMO plans are offered by Aetna (CVS Health), Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Lifeworks Advantage and Sentara Medicare. Whether any specific HMO fits you depends on which Chesapeake-area doctors and hospitals it contracts with — something only the plan's current provider directory can tell you.

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

HMO-POS stands for "HMO with a Point-of-Service option." It works like an HMO — a network, usually a primary care doctor, referrals in most cases — but adds a limited ability to see certain out-of-network providers for specific services, typically at a higher cost share.

Think of it as an HMO with a side door. The size of that door varies a lot from plan to plan, so the Evidence of Coverage is the only reliable place to see what the point-of-service option covers. In Chesapeake city for 2027, HMO-POS plans are offered by Aetna (CVS Health), Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, Lifeworks Advantage and UnitedHealthcare.

How does a PPO plan handle out-of-network care in Chesapeake for 2027?

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan has a network, but it also pays for covered services from out-of-network providers who accept Medicare — usually at a higher cost share than in-network care. You generally do not need a referral to see a specialist.

That flexibility is why PPOs are often the choice for people who travel, split time between states, or want wider latitude on specialists. It does not mean a PPO costs more or less than an HMO — that depends entirely on the individual plan. PPO plans in Chesapeake city for 2027 are offered by Aetna (CVS Health), Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana and UnitedHealthcare. PPOs are the largest category locally, at 30 of the 70 plans.

What is a PFFS plan, and who offers one in Chesapeake?

A PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plan sets its own terms for how much it will pay providers and how much you pay. Any provider who accepts Medicare can choose to accept the plan's terms visit by visit — or decline. So before each appointment, you need to confirm the provider will take the plan.

PFFS plans may or may not have a network, depending on the plan. In Chesapeake city for 2027, PFFS plans are offered only by Humana, with 2 plans. If you are considering one, call ahead and verify acceptance with the specific doctors and facilities you use.

How should I decide between HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS for 2027?

Start with your doctors and your travel pattern, not the plan type. Make a short list of the providers you want to keep seeing, and check each plan's current directory to see which type covers them in network. If you spend part of the year outside Virginia or want to see specialists without a referral, a PPO's out-of-network rules may matter more to you; if your care is already centered on one health system in Chesapeake, an HMO or HMO-POS may fit cleanly.

Then look at the drug list, the pharmacy network and the full cost picture — premium, deductible, copays and the Part D out-of-pocket cap, which rises to $2,400 in 2027 (up from $2,100 in 2026). The Part D maximum deductible is $700 for 2027 (up from $615 in 2026). The 2027 Part B standard premium and deductible, and the 2027 IRMAA income brackets, are set by CMS and will be published later in the fall. Compare specific plans side by side on the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov, or call 1-800-MEDICARE.

What is changing in the Chesapeake Medicare Advantage lineup for 2027?

Compared with 2026, Chesapeake city has 3 plans not returning for 2027, 6 new plans and 16 renamed plans. The total went from 67 plans in 2026 to 70 plans in 2027, from the same 6 carriers.

If you are already enrolled, your plan's Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), mailed in September 2026, spells out exactly what is different for your plan next year — including any change in type, network, drug list or costs. Nothing happens to anyone who does nothing: your plan renews January 1, 2027 if it is being offered, with the ANOC's changes applied.

When can I make a change for 2027?

Annual Enrollment runs October 15 – December 7, 2026, and any choice you make takes effect January 1, 2027. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan on January 1, 2027, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period gives you one more window — January 1 through March 31, 2027 — to switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare.

Outside those windows, you generally need a Special Enrollment Period, which is triggered by life events such as moving, losing other coverage or qualifying for Extra Help.