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Medicare Advantage PPO Plans 2027

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

Medicare Advantage PPO plans let you see out-of-network doctors at a higher cost, usually without referrals, but many insurers are cutting PPOs for 2027, including HCSC (48), Humana (37), UnitedHealthcare (34) and Aetna (20).

Kaiser Permanente is dropping its last 3 PPOs. If your PPO is ending, you will get a non-renewal letter and can choose another PPO, an HMO or Original Medicare with Medigap.

See Medicare Advantage plans 2027.

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

Key Highlights

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PPOs cover out-of-network care.

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Many insurers cutting PPOs for 2027.

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PPOs have two out-of-pocket limits.

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Referrals usually not needed.

Compare plans and enroll online

How a PPO Works

Feature In Network Out of Network
Covered? Yes Yes, from providers who accept Medicare
Your cost Lowest copays Higher copays and coinsurance
Referrals Usually not required Not required
Out-of-pocket maximum In-network limit Higher combined limit

A PPO carries two out-of-pocket limits: one covering in-network care and a higher combined one covering all covered care. If you expect to use out-of-network providers, look at the combined limit.

PPO Cuts for 2027

Insurer PPO Plans Cut for 2027
HCSC 48
Humana 37
UnitedHealthcare 34
Aetna 20
Kaiser Permanente Its last 3

Source: CMS 2027 landscape data, as reported by Becker’s on October 1, 2026.

Medicare Advantage PPO Plans Overview 2026

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PPO vs HMO

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

If Your PPO Is Ending

Option Pros Watch For
Another PPO Keeps out-of-network flexibility Higher combined out-of-pocket limit
An HMO Usually lower costs In-network care and referrals
Medigap + Part D Any provider that accepts Medicare Health questions outside guaranteed issue

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.

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.

The trade-off is that Medicare Advantage plans generally rely on doctor and hospital networks and may call for referrals or prior authorization for certain services. Each Medicare Advantage plan sets a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, something Original Medicare lacks. You still pay your Part B premium, along with the plan’s premium if there is one.

Coverage Details of Kentucky Medicare Advantage Plans

If Your Plan Is Ending

A non-renewal notice should have reached you in early October if your plan won’t be available in your county for 2027. Coverage doesn’t end immediately; it runs through December 31, 2026, which gives you time to decide.

If Your Plan Is Ending

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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.

5

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

How to Compare

1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

Enrollment Periods

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.

Reading Your Annual Notice of Change

Check Every Line

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Your 2027 premium and deductible

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Doctor, specialist and hospital stay copays

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The out-of-pocket maximum

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Updates to your formulary, drug tiers and coverage rules

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Whether your doctors, hospitals and pharmacy stay in network

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Updates to dental, vision, hearing and other extras

The Annual Notice of Change must reach members by September 30. It is the most useful single document you receive each fall, since it spells out exactly how your plan will change on January 1.

Special Enrollment Periods

Outside of the fall and early-year windows, changing plans generally requires a Special Enrollment Period. Typical reasons include:

You May Qualify If

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Your plan is leaving your area or ending

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You move outside your plan’s service area

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You lose employer or union coverage

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Your Medicaid status changes, or you qualify for a Medicare Savings Program or Extra Help

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You want to join a 5-star plan, once a year

Every Special Enrollment Period has a separate time limit, so move as soon as the event occurs.

Prior Authorization and Referrals

Prior authorization is required by most Medicare Advantage plans for certain services, including some surgeries, advanced imaging, skilled nursing stays and some drugs. While your doctor usually submits the request, ask whether a scheduled service needs approval so you are not caught off guard by a denial.

You or your doctor can appeal a denied request. Medicare rules give plans deadlines for decisions, and those deadlines are shorter when a wait could seriously harm your health.

Emergency, Urgent and Out-of-Area Care

Emergency and urgent care are covered by every Medicare Advantage plan anywhere in the U.S., whether in or out of network, and an emergency does not require prior approval. Routine care while traveling is different: HMOs generally do not cover it, and PPOs cover out-of-network care at a higher cost.

If you’re away from home for months each year, ask every plan how it covers care where you stay. This is among the most frequent reasons people change plans partway through the year.

Appeals and Complaints

You have the right to appeal if your plan denies a service, a drug or payment for care. The denial notice from the plan explains the process. Appeals have several levels, beginning with the plan and moving on to independent reviewers.

If your issue isn’t about coverage, such as wait times or customer service, you can file a grievance with your plan. For help, you can also reach out to 1-800-MEDICARE or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program.

The 2027 Part B Premium

Of the major figures, only the Part B premium is not published alongside the plans. CMS typically announces it in November. Projections in the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report put the 2027 standard premium at about $209.50 a month and the deductible at about $292, up from $202.90 and $283 in 2026. You continue paying it even with Medicare Advantage.

If You Miss December 7

Miss the Annual Enrollment deadline and your current plan automatically renews for 2027, including the changes listed in your Annual Notice of Change. Medicare Advantage members get one more opportunity, from January 1 to March 31, 2027, to change Medicare Advantage plans or go back to Original Medicare and join a Part D plan.

Telehealth

Many Medicare Advantage plans may cover telehealth for some services, at times with a lower copay than an in-person office visit. It is handy for follow-ups and minor problems, but you still need to confirm that your regular doctors are in network.

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

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

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

PPOs give network flexibility, but fewer are available for 2027. If yours is ending, compare PPOs, HMOs and Medigap.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ What is a Medicare Advantage PPO plan?

A Medicare Advantage PPO is a plan that covers in-network care at the lowest cost and also covers out-of-network care from providers who accept Medicare, at a higher cost. Referrals to specialists are usually not required.

➤ Are Medicare Advantage PPO plans being cut for 2027?

Yes, many insurers are cutting PPOs for 2027: HCSC is cutting 48, Humana 37, UnitedHealthcare 34 and Aetna 20, according to CMS data reported by Becker’s. Kaiser Permanente is dropping its last 3 PPOs. If your PPO is ending, you will get a non-renewal letter.

➤ How do PPO out-of-pocket limits work?

PPOs have two limits: one for in-network care and a higher combined limit for all covered care, in and out of network. If you plan to use out-of-network providers, compare the combined limit across plans.

➤ Is a PPO better than an HMO?

A PPO is better if you want out-of-network coverage, travel often or see specialists without referrals. An HMO is usually cheaper if all your doctors are in network, so the right choice depends on how you use care.

➤ What happens if my PPO is ending?

You will receive a non-renewal letter, and your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. You can pick another PPO, an HMO or Original Medicare with Medigap, and you generally have a guaranteed issue right to certain Medigap plans.

➤ Do PPOs cost more than HMOs?

Often yes, PPO premiums and copays tend to be higher than HMO costs because of the out-of-network flexibility. Compare total yearly cost, including the out-of-pocket maximum, rather than the premium alone. Check the combined out-of-pocket limit too.

➤ Do PPO plans include drug coverage?

Most Medicare Advantage PPOs include Part D drug coverage. 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, so check each formulary. Preferred pharmacies and mail order may cost less.

➤ Can I use a PPO when I travel?

Yes, PPOs usually cover out-of-network care at a higher cost, and all Medicare Advantage plans cover emergencies anywhere in the U.S. Check whether a provider accepts Medicare and your plan before routine out-of-area visits. Confirm the out-of-network cost sharing in your plan’s Evidence of Coverage.

➤ Is Medigap an alternative to a PPO?

Yes, Original Medicare with Medigap lets you see any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, with no network. Medigap premiums are usually higher, and you need a separate Part D plan for prescription drugs.

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

( 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.