Compare Medicare Advantage Plans 2027

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

HMO plans usually involve getting your services from a primary care physician and hospital within the plan’s network.

This applies unless you need emergency care or urgent care outside of the plan’s network. Many HMOs may include prescription drug coverage built into the plan. If you enroll in an HMO without prescription drug coverage in it, you cannot enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

PPO plans also use a network; however, you have the ability to see providers outside the network, but it may be at a higher cost.

Prescription drugs are covered in most PPO plans, and it’s important to see the cost of your own personal medications in the plans you’re considering, as well as to check if your doctors do, in fact, accept the plan. You do not need to choose a primary care doctor with a PPO plan.

Medical costs are typically lower with a PPO plan if you use providers within the network.

Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)

PFFS plans are different than HMOs or PPOs, in which the plan decides how much it will pay doctors and providers. The doctors must agree to the terms and services of the plans.

If you visit a doctor, hospital, or provider that does not belong to the plan’s network, you may end up paying much higher costs. Prescription drugs may be included in the PFFS plan, but if they’re not, you can enroll in a separate Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for coverage.

With a PFFS plan, you may visit any Medicare-approved doctor or health care provider, or hospital that approves the plan’s payment terms and agrees to see you, that has not opted out of Medicare. You may see a provider outside of the network, but you may have to pay more.

Special Needs Plans (SNPs)

Special Needs Plans are tailored to people with specific diseases or situations.

You must qualify to enroll in one of these plans.