Excellus Medicare Advantage Plans 2027: Upstate NY Plans, Costs & Counties

These are 2026 figures. 2027 Excellus plans, premiums and benefits become viewable on October 1, 2026 and may change. Plan names, out-of-pocket limits and drug deductibles can all shift between years. Not all plans offer all benefits.

Check by ZIP code, not by county list. The 2027 service area is confirmed when plans publish on October 1, 2026. Two neighboring counties in different Excellus groups can have entirely different plan names, premiums and out-of-pocket limits.

Excellus is one of three regional carriers serving upstate. For the statewide picture, including which carriers sell in each metro area, see our guide to Medicare Advantage plans in New York 2027.

Read your Annual Notice of Change. Excellus mails it by September 30. It is the only document that tells you exactly what is changing in your specific plan for 2027, including premium, copays, drug coverage and whether the plan continues at all.

ROCHESTER · HMO AND HMO-POS

You use the Excellus network and pick a primary care doctor. Out-of-network care is generally not covered except for emergencies. The Blue Choice Optimum HMO-POS allows some out-of-network care: in 2026, members paid 30% out of network, up to a $3,000 yearly coverage limit, and those costs did not count toward the out-of-pocket maximum. Learn more in our guide to Medicare Advantage HMO plans 2027.

CENTRAL NY AND EAST · PPO

You can see out-of-network providers at a higher cost share, with no referral needed for specialists. Excellus PPOs carry two limits: an in-network maximum and a higher combined in-network and out-of-network maximum. For example, the 2026 BlueEnhanced had $7,500 in network and $8,500 combined. Learn more in our guide to Medicare Advantage PPO plans.

Comprehensive dental is where plans differ most. In 2026, Blue Choice Optimum, every Central NY group one PPO, BlueEnhanced and BluePlus included a $500 comprehensive dental allowance, while Blue Choice Core, Blue Choice Prime, BlueVital and BlueBalanced relied on an optional dental add-on. If dental matters to you, compare the allowance and the add-on cost together, not just the plan premium.

YOUR 2027 CHECKLIST

Five steps before you pick an Excellus plan

➤  Does Excellus offer Medicare Advantage plans for 2027?

Excellus currently sells Medicare Advantage in 31 upstate New York counties and is expected to offer plans for 2027. The exact 2027 plans, premiums and counties become viewable on October 1, 2026. Existing members will see any changes in the Annual Notice of Change mailed by September 30.

➤  Does Excellus have a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan?

Yes, in most of its area for 2026. Blue Choice Core in Rochester, BlueActive and BlueEssential in Central NY group one, and BlueVital in Central NY group two all had $0 premiums. The East region’s only plan, BluePlus, was $140 a month. $0 premium plans carried the highest out-of-pocket maximums, up to $9,250.

➤  Why is Excellus dropping Medicare Advantage plans?

Excellus dropped select plans because of rising health care costs and a 2023 change to the Medicare wage index that lowered hospital payment rates in upstate New York. Excellus says that change alone costs it about $100 million a year. It has not dropped Medicare Advantage entirely and still sells plans in all 31 of its counties.

➤  Why did Excellus cancel my Medicare Advantage plan?

Excellus ended select plans for 2026 and moved members toward replacement plans, such as Blue Choice Core and Blue Choice Prime in Rochester and BlueVital and BlueBalanced in the Southern Tier. If your plan ends, you get a special enrollment period to choose a new plan so you are not left without coverage.

➤  Is Excellus merging with CDPHP?

CDPHP now shares a parent company, The Lifetime Healthcare Companies, with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. A merger of CDPHP into Excellus Health Plan is planned for early 2027, pending New York State approval, and CDPHP is expected to keep its brand for most members.

➤  Are Excellus Medicare Advantage plans HMO or PPO?

It depends on your county. In 2026, the Rochester region had HMO and HMO-POS plans only, while Central New York and the East region had PPO plans only. Excellus also offers dual-eligible special needs plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid.

➤  Do Excellus Medicare Advantage plans include dental?

Every 2026 Excellus plan included $0 preventive dental. Some plans, including Blue Choice Optimum and the Central NY group one PPOs, also included a $500 comprehensive dental allowance, and optional dental add-ons were available for an extra monthly premium. 2027 dental benefits may differ, and not all plans offer all benefits.