HealthSpring Medicare Advantage Plans 2027: Costs, Star Ratings and What Changed

The rebrand did not cancel your coverage. Benefits, provider networks and doctors carried over through the ownership change. A change in ownership does not by itself change what your plan covers.

Your ID card changed. Cards issued for 2026 and later carry the HealthSpring name. If a provider’s office does not recognize the card, HealthSpring is the former Cigna Medicare plan.

The Cigna name still exists elsewhere. The Cigna Group continues to run its commercial and employer health insurance business. Its Medicare business moved to HCSC.

The 2027 cuts are the real reason to check. The rebrand is not a reason to shop. The footprint cut is. If HealthSpring is leaving your county, you will have received a non-renewal letter, and you have a Special Enrollment Period to choose new coverage.

IF YOUR HEALTHSPRING PLAN IS ENDING

Your coverage continues through December 31, 2026. You get a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan, and you may have a guaranteed-issue right to buy certain Medicare Supplement policies, generally within 63 days after your coverage ends. Choosing during Annual Enrollment, October 15 to December 7, keeps you from any gap on January 1.

HealthSpring Preferred (HMO). Network-based plans, generally with the lowest cost sharing. You pick a primary care doctor and usually need a referral to see a specialist.

HealthSpring True Choice (PPO). Covers out-of-network care at a higher cost share and generally does not require referrals. It costs more but travels better. HCSC cut 48 PPO plans for 2027, so confirm your True Choice plan still exists. Learn how the structure works in our guide to Medicare Advantage PPO plans.

2027 plan details are now public. HealthSpring’s 2027 premiums, out-of-pocket limits and benefits went live on Medicare Plan Finder on October 1, 2026. Across the industry, out-of-pocket maximums rose about 10% and Part D deductibles about 30% for 2027, so do not assume 2026 pricing carried forward. Compare the actual 2027 plans in your ZIP code.

Vision and hearing. Routine coverage was included across HealthSpring’s 2026 Medicare Advantage plans, along with a no-cost fitness program membership.

Dental and drug coverage. Included on most 2026 plans, as were home-delivered meals following a hospital stay on many plans.

The HealthSpring Flex Card. Preventive care incentives loaded onto it, up to $200 on most 2026 plans and up to $500 on Special Needs Plans. Under 2027 federal rules, plan-issued benefit cards must disclose every condition and eligible item and check eligibility at the point of sale.

Part B giveback. Some plans reduce what you pay toward your Medicare Part B premium. This is offered on select plans only, but where available it is a direct monthly saving worth more than most supplemental extras.

Chronic Condition SNP grocery allowance. On C-SNP plans, members with qualifying conditions such as diabetes, chronic heart failure or cardiovascular disorders may receive a quarterly grocery allowance. For 2027, plans must use objective eligibility criteria and post them publicly, so you can check whether you qualify before you enroll.

Good fit: monthly cost is what you are optimizing. A $4 average premium in 2026, PPO plans near $1, and Part B giveback on some plans made this one of the cheaper carriers to carry month to month. Check that the 2027 version of the plan holds that pricing.

Good fit: you qualify for a Special Needs Plan. The D-SNP and C-SNP lineup is a real strength, and the chronic-condition grocery allowance is a benefit most carriers do not match.

Good fit: you are a member, your plan continues, and you are happy. Nothing about the rebrand is a reason to leave. Compare your 2027 Annual Notice of Change against alternatives on the merits.

Weaker fit: star ratings drive your decision. With most contracts at 3 to 3.5 stars for 2027 against a 3.99 national average, this is not the carrier to pick if quality scores are your primary filter.

Weaker fit: you live outside the 2027 footprint. Medicare Advantage now covers 478 counties in 24 states. If you are in Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, New York, Oregon, Utah or DC, HealthSpring Medicare Advantage is no longer an option.

Weaker fit: you want predictable yearly costs. Medicare Advantage trades a low premium for variable cost sharing. If knowing your annual number in advance matters more, compare against Medicare Supplement coverage, which works on a different structure entirely.

Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, 2026. The main window, with coverage starting January 1, 2027. 2027 plan details and star ratings are already public, so you can compare before it opens. Start with our overview of 2027 Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, 2027. Already in a Medicare Advantage plan and it is not working? You get one switch here, to another plan or back to Original Medicare.

If your plan is ending, or you qualify for a Special Needs Plan. A non-renewed plan gives you a Special Enrollment Period, and D-SNP or C-SNP eligibility may let you enroll or switch outside the standard windows.

➤ Is HealthSpring the same as Cigna Medicare?

Yes. HealthSpring is the former Cigna Healthcare Medicare business. Health Care Service Corporation completed the purchase on March 19, 2025, and the plans were rebranded to HealthSpring for the 2026 plan year. There are no Cigna-branded Medicare Advantage plans for 2027.

➤ Is HealthSpring leaving my state in 2027?

HCSC’s Medicare Advantage business, which includes HealthSpring, shrinks from 948 counties in 30 states plus DC to 478 counties in 24 states for 2027, leaving Connecticut, Kansas, Montana, New York, Oregon, Utah and DC. About 127,000 members are affected. If your plan is ending, you should have received a non-renewal letter, and you get a Special Enrollment Period to choose new coverage.

➤ What is HealthSpring’s star rating for 2027?

Most HealthSpring contracts are rated 3 to 3.5 stars for 2027, below the 3.99 national average, with individual contracts ranging from 2.5 to 4 stars. For 2026, 47% of its members were in plans rated 4 stars or higher. Ratings vary by contract, so check the 2027 rating on the specific plan in your county.

➤ Did my benefits change when Cigna became HealthSpring?

The rebrand itself did not change coverage. Benefits, provider networks and doctors carried over, and members received new HealthSpring ID cards for 2026. Plans do change every year, and the 2027 footprint cut means some plans are ending, so review your Annual Notice of Change and any non-renewal letter.

➤ Who owns HealthSpring?

Health Care Service Corporation, the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States, with about 26.5 million members. HCSC is also the company behind Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Montana.

➤ How much do HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans cost?

For 2026, HealthSpring plans averaged about $4 a month, and its PPO plans roughly $1, well under the approximately $15 average across all Medicare Advantage enrollees. 2027 premiums are now on Medicare Plan Finder. You still pay your Medicare Part B premium separately, though some plans give part of it back.

➤ What is the difference between HealthSpring Preferred and True Choice?

HealthSpring Preferred plans are HMOs: you use a network, pick a primary care doctor and usually need a referral to see a specialist, in exchange for lower cost sharing. HealthSpring True Choice plans are PPOs, which cover out-of-network care at a higher cost share and generally do not require referrals. HCSC cut 48 PPO plans for 2027, so confirm yours continues.

➤ Do HealthSpring plans include dental, vision and hearing?

For 2026, routine vision and hearing coverage was included on HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans, and dental was included on most. 2027 benefits may differ, and allowance amounts vary widely by county and plan, so check the specific plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits rather than assuming a dollar figure.

➤ What is the HealthSpring Flex Card?

It is a plan-issued card that carried preventive care incentives in 2026, up to $200 on most plans and up to $500 on Special Needs Plans. Under 2027 federal rules, plan-issued benefit cards must disclose every condition and eligible item and verify eligibility at the point of sale. Check the 2027 amount on your specific plan.

➤ Which carrier has the highest rated Medicare Advantage plans for 2027?

Among large national carriers, Humana has the highest share of members in 4-star-plus plans for 2027, at about 95%, and Kaiser Permanente rated 4 stars or higher on every contract where it sells. HealthSpring sits below the national average. Ratings apply to contracts, so check the rating on the specific plan in your county.

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

The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7, 2026, with coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage plan, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 to March 31, 2027 allows one additional switch. If your plan is ending, you get a Special Enrollment Period.