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Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans 2027

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker — Last updated September 2, 2026

 

Aetna is one of the largest Medicare Advantage carriers in the country, offering 2027 Medicare Advantage plans in many states with a mix of HMO and PPO options, $0 premium plans in select areas, and extra benefits like dental, vision, and the SilverSneakers fitness program.

This page walks through what to expect from Aetna’s 2027 lineup, how its HMO and PPO plans differ, how Aetna has performed on recent quality ratings, and what coverage typically costs.

For the full picture on how Medicare Advantage works, plan types, star ratings, and enrollment timing across every carrier, see our complete 2027 Medicare Advantage guide.

Ready to compare Aetna against other carriers in your ZIP code? See 2027 plans in your area.

2027 Aetna Medicare Advantage plan types

Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans for 2027: Overview

Aetna, a CVS Health company, offers Medicare Advantage plans across a large footprint of U.S. counties. Plan availability, premiums, and extra benefits vary by ZIP code, so the specific Aetna plans offered where you live may differ from a neighboring county — this is true of every Medicare Advantage carrier, not just Aetna.

  • Plan types offered: primarily HMO and PPO, with availability depending on county
  • Prescription drug coverage: most Aetna Medicare Advantage plans bundle in Part D coverage
  • Fitness benefit: many Aetna plans include SilverSneakers, a fitness program with access to participating gyms nationwide
  • Dental, vision & hearing: commonly included as supplemental benefits, though specific coverage amounts vary by plan

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The 2027 Change Aetna Has Not Explained

In August 2026, Aetna told the agencies that sell its plans that it would not pay commissions on 123 Medicare Advantage plans across 33 states for the 2027 plan year, covering close to 780 counties. Roughly one in five of those counties is in Georgia. The freeze applies to some standalone Part D plans as well.

This is not a plan cancellation, and it is important not to read it as one. If your plan is on that list, your coverage continues into 2027, your provider network does not change because of this decision, and your drug formulary is unaffected. Nothing about your benefits moves.

Aetna's 2027 broker commission freeze - 123 plans, 33 states, 780 counties, one in five in Georgia

What changes is quieter. A plan that pays no commission stops being sold. Agents are not paid to place anyone new into it, so they stop presenting it, and enrollment in that plan effectively closes without any announcement being made. The plan technically still exists. In practice it has been retired from the market while its existing members stay in it.

Aetna has not published which 123 plans are affected. That is the practical problem. There is no public list to check yourself, and the announcement went to marketing organizations rather than to members. You will not receive a letter about it, because from a regulatory standpoint nothing has happened to your coverage.

There is a straightforward way to find out. Ask a licensed agent whether your specific plan number is commissionable for 2027 — they can look it up in seconds. It is a fair question to ask, and the answer tells you whether you are in a plan Aetna is quietly winding down or one it is still actively selling.

Why it matters for a decision you make this fall: a plan closed to new members has a shrinking, aging risk pool, and that is usually the year or two before a plan is formally discontinued. It does not mean you should leave. It does mean that if you were going to compare your options during Annual Enrollment anyway, this is a reason to actually do it rather than let the plan renew by default. Our guide to Medicare Advantage plans going away in 2027 covers what a formal non-renewal looks like and how it differs from this.

Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Types for 2027

Aetna sells two main plan structures, and the choice between them changes more about your year than the premium does. Each has its own detailed 2027 guide.

Plan type Best for Referrals Out-of-network Full 2027 guide
HMO Lowest premiums, settled local providers Usually required Emergency and urgent care only Aetna HMO networks and referral rules
PPO Specialist access without gatekeeping, travel Not needed Covered at a higher cost share Aetna PPO costs and coverage

Aetna HMO Plans

Aetna’s HMO Medicare Advantage plans generally require you to choose a primary care physician and get care from doctors and hospitals within Aetna’s network, except in an emergency. Referrals are commonly required to see specialists.

In exchange for that structure, Aetna HMO plans are typically priced below PPO options in the same county, and many carry $0 monthly premiums depending on your ZIP code. Across all 2026 Medicare Advantage enrollees, HMOs averaged a $12 monthly premium and a $4,636 in-network spending cap, against $18 and $6,592 for PPOs.

For the full breakdown — how the network works, what plans may offer for 2027, costs, and enrollment — see our guide to Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO 2027.

Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO 2027

Aetna PPO Plans

Aetna’s PPO Medicare Advantage plans offer more flexibility than its HMO plans — you can see out-of-network providers at a higher cost, and referrals generally aren’t required to see specialists.

This makes Aetna PPO plans a common choice for people who travel frequently, split time between two states, or simply want a broader choice of doctors and hospitals without needing prior approval.

PPO plans from Aetna typically carry a somewhat higher premium than comparable HMO plans in the same area, though many still offer $0 premium options depending on your county.

As with any PPO, staying in-network keeps your costs lowest, even though out-of-network care remains an option.

For the full breakdown — how out-of-network coverage works, the two spending caps, costs, and enrollment — see our guide to Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO 2027.

Humana Medicare Advantage PPO 2027

What Aetna's 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans Typically Include

Like all Medicare Advantage plans, every Aetna Medicare Advantage plan is required to cover everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover. Aetna commonly adds on top of that baseline:

  • Routine dental care, including cleanings and, on many plans, more extensive dental work
  • Vision coverage, including routine eye exams and an allowance toward glasses or contacts
  • Hearing exams and, on some plans, an allowance toward hearing aids
  • SilverSneakers fitness membership on many plans
  • An over-the-counter (OTC) allowance on select plans, for health-related items

Exact benefits, allowance amounts, and whether a given plan includes each item depends entirely on the specific plan and your ZIP code — always confirm against the plan’s actual Summary of Benefits before enrolling.

Aetna 2027 Medicare Advantage possible extra benefits

Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Reviews

  • ★ More than 81% of Aetna’s Medicare Advantage members are in plans rated 4 stars or higher for 2026
  • ★ Over 63% of Aetna’s members are in a 4.5-star plan for 2026
  • ★ Independent reviewers report Aetna’s average CMS star rating for 2026 in the high 3s to low 4s, generally above the industry average
  • ★ Aetna’s 4+ star enrollment share did decline slightly from 2025 (when it was around 88-89%), reflecting a broader industry-wide tightening of CMS’s rating criteria for 2026 rather than an Aetna-specific drop in quality

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Aetna vs. Humana Medicare Advantage Plans 2027

Aetna and Humana are both major national Medicare Advantage carriers, and in many counties you’ll find plans from both to choose between. 2027 star ratings aren’t out yet, but the most recent full data set — CMS’s 2026 Star Ratings — shows a clear gap between the two carriers worth knowing about:

 

2026 CMS Star Ratings Aetna Humana
Members in 4+ star plans Over 81% About 20%
Members in 4.5+ star plans Over 63% About 14%
Year-over-year trend Slight decline from ~88-89% in 2025 Down from 25% in 2025 and 94% in 2024

 

Based on the 2026 ratings cycle, Aetna significantly outperformed Humana on the share of members enrolled in top-rated plans.

That said, ratings are specific to the individual plan and county, not the company as a whole — a specific Humana plan in your area could still be highly rated even if the company average is lower nationally, and 2027 ratings (out this coming October) could shift the picture in either direction.

The most reliable way to compare the two isn’t a general “Aetna vs. Humana” verdict — it’s checking the specific plans each carrier offers in your ZIP code side by side. See our Humana Medicare Advantage plans page for a closer look at what Humana offers for 2027, or compare both by ZIP code here.

Aetna Medicare Advantage Costs for 2027

  • Monthly premium: Aetna offers $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans in many areas, though this varies by county — you’ll still pay your Medicare Part B premium separately
  • Deductibles & copays: vary by specific plan; confirm against the plan’s Summary of Benefits
  • Out-of-pocket maximum: capped annually, as required for all Medicare Advantage plans

A $0 premium doesn’t automatically make a plan the cheapest option overall. Weigh the full picture — premium, deductible, copays, and whether your specific prescriptions and doctors are covered — before comparing Aetna against other carriers on price alone.

Aetna Medicare Advantage plan costs

How to Enroll in an Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan for 2027

You can enroll in an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan during a few different windows, depending on your situation:

  • New to Medicare: enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period — the 3 months before your 65th birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after
  • Switching plans or carriers: enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage effective January 1, 2027
  • Already in a Medicare Advantage plan: use the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, January 1 – March 31, to make one additional switch

You can enroll in an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan directly through Aetna, through Medicare.gov, or by speaking with a licensed insurance agent who can compare Aetna’s specific 2027 plans in your ZIP code against other carriers — call 1-855-454-9051 (TTY 711) to get started.

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Is an Aetna Medicare Advantage Plan Right for You?

Aetna tends to be a strong fit for people who want a well-established national carrier with a broad benefits package and a strong recent track record on CMS quality ratings, particularly if the SilverSneakers fitness benefit matters to you.

HMO plans suit those prioritizing lower cost and comfortable coordinating care through a primary doctor; PPO plans suit those who want more flexibility to see specialists or out-of-network providers.

As with any carrier, the right choice ultimately comes down to whether your specific doctors are in-network, whether your prescriptions are covered at a reasonable tier, and whether the plan’s total costs fit your budget — not the carrier name alone.

For a full breakdown of how to evaluate any Medicare Advantage plan, including provider networks, drug formularies, and star ratings, see our 2027 Medicare Advantage plans guide.

Aetna Medicare Advantage 2027 — Frequently Asked Questions

➤ Does Aetna offer $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans in 2027?

In many areas, yes — Aetna offers $0 monthly premium Medicare Advantage plans, though availability depends on your specific ZIP code and county. You’ll still need to pay your Medicare Part B premium regardless of which plan you choose.

➤ What’s the difference between Aetna’s HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage plans?

Aetna HMO plans require staying in-network and often need referrals for specialists, typically at a lower cost. Aetna PPO plans allow out-of-network care at a higher cost and generally don’t require referrals, offering more flexibility.

➤ How does Aetna’s star rating compare to other carriers like Humana?

For the 2026 plan year, Aetna significantly outperformed Humana on CMS star ratings — over 81% of Aetna’s members are in 4-star or higher plans, compared to about 20% for Humana. 2027 ratings will be released by CMS in October 2026.

➤ Does Aetna include the SilverSneakers fitness program?

Many Aetna Medicare Advantage plans include SilverSneakers, a fitness benefit that provides access to a nationwide network of participating gyms and fitness locations, at no extra cost on qualifying plans.

➤ When can I enroll in an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan for 2027?

You can enroll in or switch to an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 – December 7, 2026, for coverage effective January 1, 2027. If you’re new to Medicare, you may also be eligible to enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period.

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