Aetna Medicare Advantage 2027

Aetna’s plan lineup varies by county. Most areas have at least one HMO, and many have PPOs and Special Needs Plans.

If you live in Maryland or New Hampshire, or in one of the 123 counties where Aetna is pulling standard plans, you should have received a non-renewal letter. Your Aetna coverage continues through December 31, 2026. Everyone else should read Aetna’s Annual Notice of Change, because premiums, copays and networks can change even when a plan continues.

Aetna is one of the few large insurers growing its plan count for 2027, but every big carrier is trimming somewhere. Here is how its changes compare:

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

See UnitedHealthcare vs Aetna and Humana vs Aetna.

Most Aetna Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage. Each plan has its own formulary, tiers and pharmacy network, and Aetna plans commonly offer lower copays 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.

Check every drug you take in the plan’s 2027 formulary, along with any prior authorization or step therapy rules, before you enroll.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Aetna’s 29 new Chronic Condition SNPs for 2027 are a sign of where the company is focusing. If you have a qualifying condition such as diabetes, chronic heart failure or chronic lung disease, ask whether an Aetna C-SNP is available in your county; these plans may offer drug lists, care management and benefits designed around the condition.

Aetna also sells Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans in many states, including Plan G, Plan N and High-Deductible Plan G. If your Aetna Medicare Advantage plan is ending and you would rather have any-doctor freedom, you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans without health questions. See Aetna Medicare Supplement plans.

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

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.

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

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.