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Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans Part C 2027

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

Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare Part C plans that replace Original Medicare with one Aetna plan covering hospital, medical and usually drug costs; for 2027 Aetna offers 654 plans but leaves 123 counties, Maryland and New Hampshire.

Aetna adds 29 Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans and cuts 20 PPOs for 2027. Some Aetna Part C plans may include dental, vision and hearing benefits; not all plans offer all benefits.

✔ Licensed in all 50 states

✔ Based on CMS 2027 data

✔ Free plan comparison

Key Highlights

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Aetna: 654 Part C plans.

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Leaving 123 counties.

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Exiting MD and NH.

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Adding 29 C-SNPs.

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

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Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

Medicare Piece Who Pays With an Aetna Part C Plan
Part A hospital care Aetna plan
Part B medical care Aetna plan
Part D drugs Aetna plan, on MAPD plans
Hospice Original Medicare
Part B premium You still pay it to Medicare

Benefits Aetna Plans May Offer

Aetna Plans May Include

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Hospital and medical coverage, the same as 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

Not all plans offer all benefits. Benefits vary by plan and county and can change for 2027. Check each plan’s Evidence of Coverage before you enroll.

Aetna medicare advantage and its benefits

What Changed at Aetna for 2027

654 Plans

Aetna Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, up from 642.

123 Counties

Losing standard Aetna plans.

MD and NH

States Aetna is leaving.

29 C-SNPs

Chronic condition plans added.

Watch for: if your plan is ending, you will get a non-renewal letter. Your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. If you do nothing, you return to Original Medicare without drug coverage.

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Aetna Plan Types

Aetna Plan Type Network Rules Fits
HMO In-network care, referrals often required Lower costs, local care
PPO Out-of-network care at higher cost Flexibility; 20 PPOs cut for 2027
D-SNP Coordinates Medicare and Medicaid People with both
C-SNP Built around a chronic condition Qualifying diagnoses; 29 added

Aetna vs Other Large Insurers

2027 Change UnitedHealthcare Aetna
Total plans 852 (up from 846) 654 (up from 642)
PPO plans cut 34 20
Special Needs Plans added 40 29 C-SNPs
Counties losing standard plans About 140 123
State exits Wyoming Maryland, New Hampshire

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

Advantages of choosing a medicare advantage plan

How Medicare Advantage Works

Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a way to get your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. The plan covers everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, except hospice care, which Original Medicare still pays. Most plans also include Part D drug coverage, and many may add extras such as routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

In exchange, Aetna 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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Many plans may include dental, vision and hearing benefits

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One card and one plan

Tradeoffs

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Networks; HMOs require in-network care except emergencies

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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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Switching to Medigap later may require health questions

Aetna Drug Coverage for 2027

Most Aetna 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

Tier structures vary by plan. Check each plan’s formulary.

Sometimes a drug you take is not on a plan’s 2027 formulary, or it carries a rule like prior authorization. You still have options:

If Your Drug Is Not Covered

1

Ask for a transition fill. In the first 90 days of a new plan year or a new plan, plans generally must give you a temporary supply of a drug you were already taking, so you have time to switch or request an exception.

2

Ask your doctor about alternatives. A covered drug in the same class may work as well and cost less.

3

Request a formulary or tiering exception. Your doctor submits a statement explaining why you need the drug or a lower copay. Plans must decide within set time limits.

4

Appeal a denial. If the plan says no, you can appeal, and there are several levels of review.

See steps to appeal a Medicare Part D denial.

If Your Plan Is Ending

If your Aetna 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

1

Read the non-renewal letter. It confirms your plan is ending and explains your options.

2

List your doctors and drugs. You will need them to compare replacement plans.

3

Compare plans for 2027. Check networks, drug coverage and the out-of-pocket maximum, not just the premium.

4

Choose by December 31 for no gap. Enrolling during Annual Enrollment by December 7 gives you coverage on January 1, 2027.

5

Use your Special Enrollment Period if needed. People whose plans end generally can still make a choice through the end of February 2027.

If you do nothing: you return to Original Medicare on January 1, 2027, without drug coverage unless you choose a Part D plan. Going without drug coverage can lead to a late enrollment penalty.

Medigap rights: when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medicare Supplement plans without health questions, up to 63 days after your coverage ends.

How to Compare Aetna Plans for 2027

How to Compare

1

Read your Annual Notice of Change. It lists every change to your current plan for 2027.

2

Check your doctors and hospitals. Confirm each provider is in the 2027 network, not just the 2026 one.

3

Check your prescriptions. Confirm each drug, its tier and any prior authorization or step therapy rules.

4

Compare total yearly cost. Add the premium, typical copays and drug costs, and look at the out-of-pocket maximum.

5

Check star ratings. Medicare rates plans from 1 to 5 stars on quality and service.

6

Enroll by December 7. Your new coverage starts January 1, 2027.

2027 Enrollment Dates

Enrollment Period Dates What You Can Do
Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7, 2026 Join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan for January 1, 2027
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment January 1 to March 31, 2027 If you are in Medicare Advantage, switch to another plan or return to Original Medicare once
Initial Enrollment Period 7 months around your 65th birthday month Sign up for Medicare and choose your first plan
Special Enrollment Periods Varies Change plans after events like moving, losing other coverage or your plan leaving your area

Most people make changes during Annual Enrollment. If you are happy with your current plan, you do not have to do anything; it renews automatically. Still, read your Annual Notice of Change, because premiums, copays, networks and drug lists can all change on January 1.

Special Needs Plans

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans built for specific groups. Benefits, networks and drug lists are designed around the members they serve, and many include care coordinators. For 2027, Special Needs Plans are one of the few areas where large insurers are adding plans, even as they cut PPOs.

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

Turning 65 in 2027

If you turn 65 in 2027, your Initial Enrollment Period lasts seven months: the three months before your birthday month, your birthday month and the three months after. Signing up during the first three months means your coverage starts on the first day of your birthday month.

Turning 65 Checklist

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Sign up for Part A and Part B, unless you have qualifying employer coverage and choose to delay Part B

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Decide between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with Medigap

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Join a drug plan, or a Medicare Advantage plan with drugs, to avoid a Part D late penalty

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If you choose Medigap, buy during your six-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Star Ratings

Medicare rates every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan from 1 to 5 stars each fall, based on things like preventive care, how well the plan manages chronic conditions, member complaints, customer service and drug pricing accuracy. The ratings are shown in Medicare Plan Finder.

Using Star Ratings

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A rating of 4 stars or higher is generally a good sign of quality and service

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Five-star plans have a special enrollment period, so you can switch into one once during the year

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New plans may not have a rating yet, which is not a bad sign by itself

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Ratings measure the plan overall, not how well it covers your specific 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; little or nothing on Plan G after the Part B deductible
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 after your Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Guaranteed issue: if your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally can buy certain Medicare Supplement plans without health questions, until 63 days after your coverage ends.

Help Paying Medicare Costs

If your income and savings are limited, two programs can cut your Medicare costs sharply:

Medicare Savings Programs

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Run by your state Medicaid office

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Can pay your Part B premium, and sometimes 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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People in a Medicare Savings Program qualify automatically

Those who are eligible for Medicare along with full Medicaid might also have the option of enrolling in a Dual Special Needs Plan. Learn more about help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

Getting Help

You do not have to compare plans alone, and you should not have to pay for help. These are the free options:

Free Help Comparing Plans

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Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov, available any time

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1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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

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A licensed insurance agent or broker, who can compare plans from several insurers at no cost to you

Before any call, have your Medicare card, your list of drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies ready. It turns a long conversation into a short one.

Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

Aetna Part C plans remain widely available for 2027, but confirm yours continues in your county and compare before December 7, 2026.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Is Aetna Medicare Advantage the same as Part C?

Yes, Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare Part C plans run by Aetna under contract with Medicare. They cover everything Parts A and B cover except hospice, and most include Part D drug coverage in the same plan.

➤ How many Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are there for 2027?

Aetna offers 654 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, up from 642. At the same time, it is pulling standard plans from 123 counties and leaving Maryland and New Hampshire, so the count in your county may be different.

➤ Is Aetna leaving Medicare Advantage in my state?

Aetna is leaving Maryland and New Hampshire and exiting 123 counties for 2027. If your plan is ending, you will get a non-renewal letter, and your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. Affected members get a Special Enrollment Period and generally a guaranteed issue right to certain Medigap plans.

➤ Is Aetna cutting PPO plans for 2027?

Yes, Aetna is cutting 20 PPO plans for 2027. If your Aetna PPO ends, compare HMOs, other PPOs and Original Medicare with Medigap during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. Your non-renewal letter will say whether your specific PPO is ending.

➤ What are Aetna C-SNPs?

Aetna C-SNPs are Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans designed for people with qualifying conditions such as diabetes or heart failure. Aetna is adding 29 C-SNPs for 2027, and you must have a qualifying diagnosis to join.

➤ Do I still pay the Part B premium with an Aetna Part C plan?

Yes, you keep paying your Part B premium to Medicare, $202.90 in 2026 and projected at $209.50 for 2027. You also pay your Aetna plan premium if the plan has one; the 2027 national average is $12.

➤ What extra benefits may Aetna plans include?

Some Aetna Medicare Advantage plans may include dental, vision, hearing, fitness or over-the-counter benefits. Not all plans offer all benefits, and extras vary by plan and county, so check the 2027 Evidence of Coverage. Extras usually come with annual limits, networks or approved vendors.

➤ Can I get Medigap if my Aetna plan leaves my area?

Yes, when your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions. That right generally lasts until 63 days after your coverage ends.

➤ How do I check whether my doctors take Aetna for 2027?

Search Aetna’s 2027 provider directory for your exact plan, then call each doctor’s office to confirm. Directories can be out of date, and networks differ between Aetna HMO and PPO plans. Ask whether the office accepts your exact plan name for 2027 and is taking new patients.

➤ When can I join an Aetna Part C plan?

You can join during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage starting January 1, 2027. You can also join when you first become eligible or during a Special Enrollment Period. Members already in Medicare Advantage can also make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.

Have Questions?

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-398-0716

TTY users 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-398-0716TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

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Austin, TX 78734

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