Highmark Medicare Advantage Plans 2027: Coverage and Costs

FREEDOM BLUE PPO

Highmark’s flagship PPO, offered across Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. You can go out of network at a higher cost share rather than losing coverage. Most plans in this family include Part D prescription drug coverage.

COMPLETE BLUE PPO

Also offered across Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Positioned alongside Freedom Blue with a different cost and benefit mix, so compare the two directly in your county rather than assuming one is the budget option.

COMMUNITY BLUE HMO

The HMO option, available in select counties across Pennsylvania’s western, central and northeastern regions and in western New York. Tighter network, usually lower cost, and you will generally need to stay in network for non-emergency care.

NEW YORK PLANS

New York runs on its own product lines. Western New York has Forever Blue PPO and a Medicare Advantage HMO. Northeastern New York has NENY Freedom HMO and NENY Medicare Advantage PPO. These do not cross over into the Pennsylvania product families.

VALOR PLANS FOR VETERANS

Freedom Blue PPO Valor in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware, and Freedom Valor PPO in western New York. Both are built to work alongside VA benefits or TRICARE For Life rather than duplicate them, and both have carried a $0 premium.

Read your Annual Notice of Change. Plans mail it by September 30. It lists exactly what is changing for your plan in 2027 — premium, copays, drug list and network. A plan that continues is not necessarily a plan that stayed the same.

YOUR HIGHMARK CHECKLIST

Five steps before you enroll

1. Check which plan families reach your county. Highmark’s product lines are regional — a plan name you read about may not be sold where you live.

2. Confirm your hospital system, not just your doctor. In western Pennsylvania especially, carrier choice can decide which hospital network you get at in-network rates.

3. Run your prescriptions through the 2027 formulary. Check the tier each drug sits on, not just whether it is covered.

4. Compare Freedom Blue against Complete Blue directly. They sit in the same markets with different cost and benefit mixes — do not assume one is cheaper overall.

5. Enroll between October 15 and December 7, 2026 for coverage starting January 1, 2027 — unless a Special Enrollment Period applies to you.

➤  What states does Highmark Medicare Advantage cover?

Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, and western and northeastern New York. Within New York it does not reach New York City, Long Island or the Hudson Valley. Pennsylvania is served by two separate Highmark licensees depending on which part of the state you live in.

➤  Is Highmark leaving Medicare Advantage in 2027?

No. Highmark has confirmed it will continue to operate in all of the states and counties where it offered a Medicare Advantage plan in 2026. It has said benefits and costs will change in ways that vary by geography and plan, so your Annual Notice of Change is still worth reading closely.

➤  What is the difference between Freedom Blue and Community Blue?

Freedom Blue is a PPO, so you can use out-of-network providers at a higher cost share. Community Blue is an HMO, which usually costs less but generally requires you to stay in network for non-emergency care. Freedom Blue covers Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia; Community Blue is limited to select Pennsylvania counties and western New York.

➤  Does Highmark have a plan for veterans?

Yes. Freedom Blue PPO Valor is offered in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Delaware, and Freedom Valor PPO in western New York. Both are designed to work alongside VA benefits or TRICARE For Life rather than duplicate them, and both have carried a $0 premium.

➤  Is Highmark better than UPMC in western Pennsylvania?

Neither is universally better — it depends on which hospital system you use. Both carriers own hospitals as well as insurance plans, Highmark through Allegheny Health Network and UPMC through its own system. Check which hospitals and specialists you actually use before comparing premiums.

➤  Do I still pay my Part B premium with Highmark?

Yes. You must keep Medicare Part A and Part B and keep paying your Part B premium on any Medicare Advantage plan, including a $0 premium plan. Some plans offer a Part B giveback that reduces what you pay, but availability and amounts vary by plan and area.