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Healthspring Medicare Advantage 2027

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

HealthSpring, formerly Cigna’s Medicare Advantage business, is now owned by HCSC, which is cutting its Medicare Advantage footprint from 948 counties to about 478 for 2027. Many HealthSpring members will need a new plan.

HCSC (Health Care Service Corporation) bought Cigna’s Medicare business, including the HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans. HCSC also runs the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.

For 2027, HCSC is leaving Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington, D.C., cutting 48 PPOs, and shrinking sharply in its home states: Texas from 229 counties to 47, Illinois from 100 to 7, and Oklahoma from 58 to 6. See compare HealthSpring plans.

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

Key Highlights

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HealthSpring is owned by HCSC.

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HCSC is shrinking from 948 counties to about 478 and cutting 48 PPOs for 2027.

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HCSC is leaving CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and D.C.

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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

Where HCSC Is Cutting for 2027

Area 2026 2027
Total counties 948 About 478
Texas counties 229 47
Illinois counties 100 7
Oklahoma counties 58 6
State exits CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and D.C.
PPO plans cut 48

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

If you live in one of the exit states, your HealthSpring plan is ending. If you live in Texas, Illinois or Oklahoma, there is a good chance your county is among those losing HCSC plans. Check your non-renewal letter or Annual Notice of Change.

Benefits HealthSpring Plans May Offer

HealthSpring 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.

How HealthSpring Medicare Advantage Works

What Changed for 2027

948 to About 478

HCSC Medicare Advantage counties.

7 Exits

CT, KS, MT, NY, OR, UT and D.C.

48 PPOs

Being cut.

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.

Find & Compare Plans Online

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-398-0716TTY 711

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HealthSpring Plan Types

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

Where HealthSpring continues for 2027, it offers HMO and PPO plans, and in some areas Special Needs Plans. With 48 PPOs cut, PPO members in particular should confirm whether their plan continues.

Your Options If HealthSpring Leaves

Another Medicare Advantage Plan

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Compare plans from other insurers in your county

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Check doctors, drugs and the out-of-pocket maximum

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Enroll by December 7 for January 1 coverage

Original Medicare + Medigap + Part D

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Generally a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans

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Any provider who accepts Medicare

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Add a Part D plan for drugs

Other insurers are moving too. Devoted Health is entering Connecticut and New York for 2027, and UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Aetna remain in many HCSC counties. See Medicare Advantage plans 2027.

How HealthSpring Differs from Original Medicare

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, HealthSpring 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

If Your Plan Is Ending

If your HealthSpring 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 HealthSpring 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.

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

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 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

HealthSpring, now owned by HCSC, is cutting its Medicare Advantage footprint roughly in half for 2027. If your plan is ending, compare replacement plans or consider Medigap, and choose before December 31, 2026, to avoid a gap.

Compare plans and enroll online

Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Who owns HealthSpring?

HCSC (Health Care Service Corporation) owns HealthSpring after buying Cigna’s Medicare business, including the HealthSpring brand. HCSC also runs Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Montana. If you have a HealthSpring plan, read your 2027 Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter to see what is changing.

➤ Is HealthSpring leaving states for 2027?

Yes, HCSC, which now runs HealthSpring, is leaving Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, New York, Oregon, Utah and Washington, D.C. for 2027, and shrinking from 948 counties to about 478 overall. If your plan is ending, your coverage continues through December 31, 2026, and you get a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan.

➤ Is HealthSpring leaving Texas?

Not entirely, but HCSC is shrinking its Texas Medicare Advantage footprint from 229 counties to 47 for 2027. Many Texas members will need to pick a new plan, so check your non-renewal letter or Annual Notice of Change. You can compare other 2027 plans in your county during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026.

➤ What should I do if my HealthSpring plan is ending?

Compare other 2027 plans in your county or consider Original Medicare with Medigap and Part D. Your coverage continues through December 31, 2026, and you have a Special Enrollment Period.

➤ Is HealthSpring the same as Cigna?

Not anymore. HealthSpring was Cigna’s Medicare Advantage brand, but Cigna sold its Medicare business to HCSC, which now runs HealthSpring. Your plan may still carry familiar names on documents, so confirm which company issues your policy and check your 2027 Annual Notice of Change for any plan changes.

➤ When can I enroll in a HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plan for 2027?

Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, with coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you are already in Medicare Advantage, you can also make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.

➤ What happens if my Medicare Advantage plan is ending?

You will get a non-renewal notice, and your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. You can choose a new plan during Annual Enrollment or a Special Enrollment Period, and you generally have a guaranteed issue right to buy certain Medigap plans.

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

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

MedicarePlansGuide.org
1200 Lakeway Drive, Suite 17A
Austin, TX 78734

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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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