What are the four parts of Medicare?

Part A covers hospital care, Part B covers doctor and outpatient care, Part C is Medicare Advantage, and Part D covers prescription drugs. Parts A and B together are called Original Medicare, and most people add drug coverage through Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Who is eligible for Medicare?

People 65 and older are generally eligible, along with some younger people who have received disability benefits for a set period or have certain conditions. Most people get Part A without a premium because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.

What does Part A cost?

Most people pay no Part A premium. In 2026 the Part A deductible is $1,736 per benefit period, which you pay before Part A covers a hospital stay, and coinsurance can apply for longer stays.

What does Original Medicare not cover?

Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care, routine vision care or eyeglasses, hearing aids, or long-term custodial care. Many Medicare Advantage plans may include some dental, vision and hearing benefits, but not all plans offer all benefits.

Should I choose Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage?

Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D costs more each month but lets you see any provider that accepts Medicare with predictable costs. Medicare Advantage usually costs less up front but uses networks and copays up to a yearly maximum.

When should I sign up for Medicare?

Sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period, the 7 months around the month you turn 65, unless you have qualifying employer coverage. Signing up late for Part B or Part D without other coverage can lead to lifelong penalties.

What will Part B cost in 2027?

The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 a month with a $283 deductible. The Medicare Trustees project about $209.50 and $292 for 2027, but the official amounts are announced in November, so treat those numbers as projections until then.

Banner Medicare Advantage - Coverage and Benefits Explained

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) | Last updated October 8, 2026

Banner Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does and may include drug coverage and extras, using Banner Health’s network in Arizona, with no verified exit for 2027.

Arizona grows from 133 to 148 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, with an average premium of about $2.81, so Banner members have plenty to compare.

See Banner Medicare Advantage plans 2027 and is Banner Medicare Advantage a good plan.

✔ Licensed across all 50 states
✔ Built on CMS 2027 data
✔ No-cost plan comparison

Key Highlights

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Covers all Part A and B services.

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May include drugs and extras.

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Banner Health network.

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No verified 2027 exit.

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Nationally, the average 2027 Medicare Advantage premium is $12 a month, down from $14.37 (CMS).

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The Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

What Banner Plans Cover

Coverage Area	What Banner Plans May Include	Check
Hospital and medical	Everything Original Medicare Parts A and B cover	Copays and out-of-pocket maximum
Prescription drugs	Part D coverage on most plans	Formulary, tiers and pharmacies
Dental, vision, hearing	Extras on some plans	Dollar limits; not all plans offer all benefits
Network	Banner Health doctors and hospitals	Your doctors in the 2027 directory
Plan types	HMOs and PPOs	Which types serve your county

Benefits Banner Plans May Offer

Banner Plans May Include

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Hospital and medical coverage matching Original Medicare Part A and B

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Part D prescription drug coverage on most plans

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Routine dental, vision and hearing benefits

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Fitness programs and over-the-counter allowances

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Telehealth visits and care coordination programs

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum on every plan

Benefits are not offered by every plan. They differ by plan and county and may change for 2027. Review the Evidence of Coverage for each plan before enrolling.

Banner Medicare Advantage: Comprehensive Medicare Coverage and Benefits Explained

What to Check for 2027

Key Takeaway

Read your Banner Annual Notice of Change for benefit and network changes.

Keep an eye out: a non-renewal letter will arrive if your plan is ending. You stay covered through December 31, 2026. Taking no action sends you back to Original Medicare with no drug coverage.

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Banner HMO vs PPO

HMO Plans

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Usually lower premiums and copays

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Use in-network doctors except emergencies

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May need referrals for specialists

PPO Plans

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See out-of-network doctors at a higher cost

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Usually no referrals needed

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More flexibility if you travel

Banner offers HMO and PPO plans; confirm which are available in your county for 2027.

Arizona 2027

133 to 148

Arizona MA plans.

$2.81

Average 2027 premium.

4.5 Stars

AZ Blue plans, 2026.

Comparing banner medicare advantage Plans: Tools for Evaluating Health Plan Benefits and Costs

How Medicare Advantage Works

Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, lets you receive your Medicare benefits through a Medicare-approved private insurer. These plans cover everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, with the exception of hospice care, which Original Medicare continues to pay for. Most also bundle Part D drug coverage, and many may tack on extras like routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

In exchange, Banner plans generally use networks of doctors and hospitals, and may require referrals or prior authorization for some services. Every Medicare Advantage plan has a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, which Original Medicare does not have. You keep paying your Part B premium, plus your plan’s premium if it has one.

Feature	HMO	PPO
Out-of-network care	Not covered except emergencies and urgent care	Covered at a higher cost
Referrals for specialists	Usually required	Usually not required
Premiums	Usually lower	Usually higher
Out-of-pocket maximum	In-network limit	In-network limit plus a higher combined limit
Best for	Lower costs, local care	Flexibility, travel, keeping specific doctors

Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage

Advantages

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Often a low or $0 premium

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A yearly out-of-pocket maximum

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Drug coverage usually included

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Dental, vision and hearing benefits may be included in many plans

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One card and one plan

Tradeoffs

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Networks; except for emergencies, HMOs require in-network care

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Prior authorization and referrals are common

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Copays add up if you use a lot of care

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Plans and networks can change every year

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Moving to Medigap later may involve health questions

Banner Drug Coverage for 2027

Most Banner Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage. Each plan has its own formulary, drug tiers and pharmacy network, and plans commonly charge less at preferred pharmacies and through mail order. For 2027, any plan’s Part D deductible can be up to $700, and the out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,400.

Tier	Typical Drugs	Typical Cost
Tier 1	Preferred generics	Lowest copay
Tier 2	Generics	Low copay
Tier 3	Preferred brand-name drugs	Moderate copay
Tier 4	Non-preferred drugs	Higher copay or coinsurance
Tier 5	Specialty drugs	Highest coinsurance

Each plan sets its own tiers. Review every plan’s formulary.

A drug you take may not be on a plan’s 2027 formulary, or it may come with a rule such as prior authorization. Even then, you have options:

If Your Drug Is Not Covered

Request a transition fill. During the first 90 days of a new plan or plan year, plans generally have to provide a temporary supply of a drug you already take, giving you time to change drugs or ask for an exception.

Talk to your doctor about other options. A covered drug from the same class could work just as well for less money.

Ask for a tiering or formulary exception. Your doctor sends a statement explaining why you need the drug or a lower copay. Plans have to decide within set time limits.

Challenge a denial. When the plan turns you down, you have the right to appeal through several levels of review.

See steps to appeal a Medicare Part D denial.

If Your Plan Is Ending

If your Banner plan will not be offered in your county for 2027, you should have received a non-renewal notice in early October. Your coverage does not stop right away: it continues through December 31, 2026, so you have time to choose.

If Your Plan Is Ending

Review your non-renewal letter. It verifies that your plan is ending and lays out your choices.

Write down your doctors and drugs. Comparing replacement plans requires them.

Compare your 2027 plan choices. Look at networks, drug coverage and the out-of-pocket maximum, not only the premium.

Pick a plan by December 31 to avoid a gap. If you enroll during Annual Enrollment by December 7, your coverage starts January 1, 2027.

Rely on your Special Enrollment Period if necessary. If your plan is ending, you generally have until the end of February 2027 to make a choice.

If you take no action: on January 1, 2027, you go back to Original Medicare, and you will have no drug coverage unless you pick a Part D plan. Being without drug coverage may result in a late enrollment penalty.

Medigap rights: if your Medicare Advantage plan exits your area, you generally get a guaranteed issue right, lasting up to 63 days after your coverage ends, to purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions.

How to Compare Banner Plans for 2027

How to Compare

Review your Annual Notice of Change. It spells out every 2027 change to the plan you have now.

Verify your doctors and hospitals. Make sure every provider is in the 2027 network, not only the 2026 network.

Review your prescriptions. Verify every drug, the tier it falls on and any step therapy or prior authorization rules.

Look at the full annual cost. Total up the premium, usual copays and drug costs, and review the out-of-pocket maximum.

Look at star ratings. Medicare scores plans on quality and service using a 1 to 5 star scale.

Sign up by December 7. Coverage under your new plan begins January 1, 2027.

2027 Enrollment Dates

Enrollment Period	Dates	What You Can Do
Annual Enrollment Period	October 15 to December 7, 2026	Join, change or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan effective January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment	January 1 to March 31, 2027	In Medicare Advantage, you can change to another plan or go back to Original Medicare one time
Initial Enrollment Period	7 months around your 65th birthday month	Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan
Special Enrollment Periods	Varies	Switch plans after events such as a move, a loss of other coverage or your plan exiting your area

Annual Enrollment is when most people make changes. If you like your current plan, no action is needed; it renews on its own. Even so, review your Annual Notice of Change, since networks, premiums, copays and drug lists can all change on January 1.

Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for particular groups. Their benefits, networks and drug lists are shaped around the members they serve, and many come with care coordinators. In 2027, SNPs are one of the few places large insurers are adding plans, even while cutting PPOs.

Type	Who Qualifies	What Is Different
Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP)	People with both Medicare and Medicaid	Coordinates both programs; costs are often very low, with extra benefits
Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP)	People who have qualifying conditions like diabetes, heart failure or chronic lung disease	Doctors, drugs and programs designed around the condition
Institutional SNP (I-SNP)	People who live in a nursing home or need that level of care at home	Care delivered where the member lives

Turning 65 in 2027

When you turn 65 in 2027, you get a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: the three months before your birthday month, the birthday month itself and the three months that follow. If you sign up in the first three months, coverage begins on the first day of your birthday month.

Turning 65 Checklist

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Enroll in Part A and Part B, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and decide to postpone Part B

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Choose between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare plus Medigap

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Enroll in a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drugs, to avoid a late Part D penalty

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If you go with Medigap, purchase during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Star Ratings

Each fall, Medicare gives every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan a rating of 1 to 5 stars, based on factors such as preventive care, how well chronic conditions are managed, member complaints, customer service and accuracy of drug pricing. You can see the ratings in Medicare Plan Finder.

Using Star Ratings

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Ratings of 4 stars or more are generally a good indicator of quality and service

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A special enrollment period lets you move into a five-star plan once during the year

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A new plan may not have a rating yet, and that alone isn’t a bad sign

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Ratings reflect the plan as a whole, not how well it covers your particular doctors and drugs

Medicare Advantage or Medigap?

	Medicare Advantage	Original Medicare + Medigap
Monthly premium	Often low or $0 (2027 average $12, CMS)	Higher; varies by plan letter, age and ZIP
Doctors	Usually a network	Any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare
Costs when you get care	Copays and coinsurance up to a yearly maximum	Low and predictable; on Plan G, little or nothing once the Part B deductible is met
Drug coverage	Usually included	Add a separate Part D plan
Dental, vision, hearing	Many plans may include some coverage	Not included
Changing later	Every year during Annual Enrollment	Health questions in most states once your Medigap Open Enrollment Period ends

Guaranteed issue: when your Medicare Advantage plan exits your area, you can generally purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans with no health questions asked, up until 63 days after that coverage ends.

Help Paying Medicare Costs

When your income and savings are limited, two programs can greatly lower your Medicare costs:

Medicare Savings Programs

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Run by your state Medicaid office

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May cover your Part B premium, and in some cases deductibles and coinsurance

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Income and asset limits vary by state

Extra Help (Part D)

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Run by Social Security

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Lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays

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Those enrolled in a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically

If you qualify for both Medicare and full Medicaid, you may also be able to join a Dual Special Needs Plan. See help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

Getting Help

You do not need to compare plans by yourself, and help should not cost you anything. Here are the free options:

Free Help Comparing Plans

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Available any time: Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov

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1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), reachable 24 hours a day on all seven days of the week

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Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free, unbiased counseling

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A licensed agent or insurance broker, who can compare plans across several insurers for free

Gather your Medicare card, a list of your drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies before you call. That way a long conversation becomes a quick one.

Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Banner plans cover all Original Medicare services and may include drugs and extras. Confirm your doctors and drugs and compare during Annual Enrollment.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ What does Banner Medicare Advantage cover?

Banner Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare Parts A and B cover, including hospital and doctor care, and most include Part D drug coverage. Some plans may include dental, vision and hearing extras, but not all plans offer all benefits.

➤ Is Banner Medicare Advantage leaving for 2027?

We found no verified report that Banner is leaving Medicare Advantage for 2027. Members should still read their Annual Notice of Change, because premiums, copays, drug lists and networks can change each year. Compare other Arizona plans too.

➤ Does Banner offer HMO and PPO plans?

Banner offers HMO and PPO plans, depending on the county. HMOs generally require in-network care and may need referrals, while PPOs cover out-of-network care at a higher cost, usually with a higher premium. Check which serve your county.

➤ Do I have to use Banner Health doctors?

With a Banner HMO you generally must use in-network providers except for emergencies and urgent care. A Banner PPO lets you see out-of-network providers at a higher cost, so check the 2027 provider directory for your doctors.

➤ How many Medicare Advantage plans does Arizona have for 2027?

Arizona grows from 133 to 148 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, with an average premium of about $2.81. Compare Banner with AZ Blue, whose plans earned 4.5 stars for 2026, and other insurers in your county.

➤ What are the 2027 Part D drug cost limits?

For 2027 the maximum Part D deductible is $700, up from $615, and the out-of-pocket cap on covered drugs is $2,400, up from $2,100. Once you reach the cap, you pay nothing more for covered Part D drugs for the rest of 2027.

➤ How do star ratings help me compare plans?

Medicare rates Medicare Advantage and Part D plans from 1 to 5 stars on quality and member experience, and higher-rated plans generally score better on care and service. New plans may not have a rating yet, so also compare networks, drug costs and the out-of-pocket maximum.

➤ What if my Banner plan is not renewing for 2027?

Your current Banner coverage continues through December 31, 2026, and you get a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan. You also generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans within 63 days after your coverage ends, so you can return to Original Medicare without health questions.

➤ When can I change Banner plans for 2027?

You can change during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and the new plan starts January 1, 2027. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 to March 31, 2027, also allows one change.

Have Questions?

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938

TTY users 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company

Russell Noga( Medicare Expert )

Russell Noga is the CEO of ZRN Health & Financial Services, and head content editor of several Medicare insurance online publications. He has over 15 years of experience as a licensed Medicare insurance broker helping Medicare beneficiaries learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.

that cover doctors & Rx drugs

1-833-641-4938 TTY 711

Banner Medicare Advantage - Coverage and Benefits Explained

Key Highlights

Compare plans and enroll online

What Banner Plans Cover

Benefits Banner Plans May Offer

What to Check for 2027

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Banner HMO vs PPO

Arizona 2027

How Medicare Advantage Works

Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage

Banner Drug Coverage for 2027

If Your Plan Is Ending

How to Compare Banner Plans for 2027

2027 Enrollment Dates

Special Needs Plans

Turning 65 in 2027

Star Ratings

Medicare Advantage or Medigap?

Help Paying Medicare Costs

Getting Help

Bottom Line

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ What does Banner Medicare Advantage cover?

➤ Is Banner Medicare Advantage leaving for 2027?

➤ Does Banner offer HMO and PPO plans?

➤ Do I have to use Banner Health doctors?

➤ How many Medicare Advantage plans does Arizona have for 2027?

➤ What are the 2027 Part D drug cost limits?

➤ How do star ratings help me compare plans?

➤ What if my Banner plan is not renewing for 2027?

➤ When can I change Banner plans for 2027?

Have Questions?

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938

TTY users 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-833-641-4938TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET