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Compare Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans Side by Side for 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 3, 2026

To compare Aetna Medicare Advantage plans, line up the plans sold in your county by network type, full-year cost, drug coverage and Star Rating, then benchmark them against other carriers in the same county. For 2027 Aetna’s lineup leans toward PPOs (43% of its plans versus 33% market-wide), so Aetna often has more out-of-network flexibility to compare than its rivals.

2027 by the Numbers

43% vs 33%

PPO share: Aetna vs all 2027 MA plans (our analysis of CMS files)

29% vs 36%

special needs plan share: Aetna vs market (our CMS count)

14

most Aetna plans in one county, e.g. St. Charles, MO and Bibb, GA (CMS)

Comparing Aetna Medicare Advantage plans happens on two levels. First you compare Aetna’s own plans in your county, which can range from a $0 premium HMO to a richer PPO. Then you compare the best Aetna option against plans from other carriers sold to the same ZIP code.

This page gives you a method for both, along with benchmark figures from our own count of the CMS 2027 plan files that show how Aetna’s lineup differs from the market. For a head-to-head with one rival, see UnitedHealthcare vs Aetna Medicare Advantage.

✔ Licensed in all 50 states
✔ Based on CMS 2027 data
✔ Free plan comparison

Key Highlights

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Compare plans only within your county; Aetna’s lineup changes county to county.

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Aetna’s plan names follow tiers such as Value Plus, Signature, Signature Extra and Elite.

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Aetna offers proportionally more PPOs and fewer HMO-POS plans than the market.

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Total yearly cost, not premium, is the fair comparison number.

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Our Analysis of CMS 2027 Plan Data: Aetna vs the Market

We compared Aetna’s 661 individual plans with all 5,481 individual Medicare Advantage plans in the CMS 2027 files. The differences show where Aetna stands out when you compare carriers.

Measure Aetna All carriers
HMO share 44% 46%
PPO share 43% 33%
HMO-POS share 13% 21%
Special needs plan share 29% 36%
Non-SNP plans with Giveback in the name 5% 14%

Our analysis of CMS 2027 plan data, individual plans only. Aetna total includes co-branded Allina Health Aetna plans.

What it means: If out-of-network coverage matters to you, Aetna is more likely than the average carrier to have a PPO in your county. If a Part B Giveback is your priority, other carriers usually offer more of them.

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Reading Aetna's Plan Family Names

Aetna reuses family names across states, which makes side-by-side comparison easier once you know the pattern. The same name does not guarantee the same benefits in another county.

Family name Plans nationwide How it is typically positioned
Signature 121 Core plan, HMO or PPO versions
Enhanced 40 Richer benefit design in many areas
Signature Extra 36 Adds extras to the Signature design
Elite 30 Upper tier where sold
Value Plus 23 Lower-cost PPO design
Eagle and Eagle Giveback 30 PPO designs, some with a Part B reduction
Chronic Care 52 C-SNP for qualifying conditions

Plan counts from our analysis of CMS 2027 plan data. Positioning is general; check each plan’s Summary of Benefits.

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Five Numbers to Compare on Every Aetna Plan

1

Monthly premium Note the plan premium and any Part B Giveback amount.

2

Out-of-pocket maximum The most you would pay in a bad year for covered medical care.

3

Hospital stay cost Usually a daily copay for a set number of days; multiply it out.

4

Drug costs Price your exact drugs. The 2027 Part D cap is $2,400, and the deductible can be as high as $700.

5

Star Rating The 2027 rating for the plan’s contract, shown on Medicare Plan Finder.

Worked example: Plan A has a $0 premium and a $6,000 out-of-pocket maximum. Plan B costs $40 a month ($480 a year) with a $4,000 maximum. In a heavy-use year, Plan B’s worst case is $4,480 against Plan A’s $6,000. In a light year, Plan A wins by $480.

HMO, HMO-POS and PPO: Comparing Aetna's Network Styles

Aetna HMO and HMO-POS

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Lower premiums are common

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Care generally stays in network

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HMO-POS adds some out-of-network services at higher cost

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Good fit if your doctors are all in one system

Aetna PPO

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Out-of-network care is covered at higher cost

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No referral usually needed for specialists

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Separate, higher combined out-of-pocket limit

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Good fit for travelers or people with doctors in several systems

Our Aetna HMO provider guide explains how to check that your doctors are in an HMO network.

Comparing Aetna With Other Carriers

Aetna is the fourth-largest Medicare Advantage carrier by plan count for 2027 in our CMS analysis.

822

UnitedHealthcare plans

793

Humana plans

740

Devoted Health plans

651

Aetna Medicare branded plans

Plan count is not quality. In your county, the fair test is the full-year cost and network of each carrier’s closest plan. For a Humana matchup, see Aetna and Humana compared.

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Where Aetna Gives You the Most to Compare

The number of Aetna plans in one county ranges from one to 14. The counties with the most Aetna plans for 2027 in our CMS count include St. Charles and St. Louis City in Missouri, Sebastian and Benton in Arkansas and Bibb in Georgia, each with 14.

By state, Aetna’s deepest lineups are in

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Florida, with 62 individual plans

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Texas, with 52

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Missouri, with 42

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New York, with 41

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Pennsylvania, with 40

Network caution: In the St. Louis and Kansas City areas, BJC Health and Saint Luke’s leave Aetna’s Medicare Advantage network on January 1, 2027, so more plans there does not mean more hospital choice.

When an Aetna Plan Is Not the Right Comparison

Some people are better served by comparing Aetna Medicare Advantage against Original Medicare with a supplement. That can make sense if you want any doctor that takes Medicare nationwide, or predictable costs in exchange for a higher premium.

Signs to compare beyond Medicare Advantage

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You spend months each year outside your home state.

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Your specialists work in different hospital systems.

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You want to avoid prior authorization for most services.

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You are in your Medigap open enrollment window and can buy without health questions.

Our 2027 Medicare Advantage vs Medigap guide covers that decision.

Bottom Line

The Bottom Line

A fair Aetna comparison starts with the plans in your county and ends with full-year cost, network fit and Star Rating. Aetna’s 2027 lineup is more PPO-heavy and less Giveback-heavy than the market, which tells you where it is likely to win or lose against other carriers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

➤ What is the best way to compare Aetna Medicare Advantage plans?

Use Medicare Plan Finder or Aetna’s plan tools with your ZIP code, then compare premium, out-of-pocket maximum, hospital copays, drug costs and Star Rating for each plan. Only compare plans sold in your county.

➤ Does Aetna offer more PPO plans than other carriers?

In our analysis of CMS 2027 files, 43% of Aetna’s individual plans are PPOs, compared with 33% across all carriers. That gives Aetna shoppers more out-of-network options in many areas.

➤ What do Aetna’s plan names like Signature and Elite mean?

They are plan family names. Signature is Aetna’s most common family, while Elite, Enhanced and Signature Extra often carry richer benefits where sold. Benefits for the same name differ by county.

➤ Are Aetna Giveback plans common?

Less common than average. About 5% of Aetna’s non-SNP plans for 2027 have Giveback in the name, compared with about 14% market-wide in our count.

➤ How does Aetna rank by number of plans?

Aetna is fourth for 2027 in our count, behind UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Devoted Health. Plan count alone does not measure quality.

➤ Should I compare Star Ratings between Aetna plans?

Yes. Ratings are assigned by contract, so two Aetna plans in one county can carry different ratings. Check the 2027 rating on Medicare Plan Finder.

➤ Which counties have the most Aetna plans to compare?

Our CMS count shows 14 Aetna plans in counties such as St. Charles, Missouri, Bibb, Georgia and Sebastian, Arkansas, the most of any counties.

➤ Can I compare and switch Aetna plans after January 1?

If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can make one change between January 1 and March 31, 2027. Otherwise, Annual Enrollment ends December 7, 2026.

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Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

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Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

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This website and MedicarePlansGuide.org are privately owned and operated and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Federal Medicare program or any other government agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent multiple organizations which offer Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement Insurance plans, and Medicare Prescription Drug plans. Not all plans offer all benefits mentioned. Benefits, premiums, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, exclusions, and limitations may vary by plan, carrier, and location and may change over time.

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MedicarePlansGuide.org is owned and operated by ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company.