Initial Enrollment Period
Seven months around your 65th birthday: the 3 months before, your birthday month, and the 3 months after.
Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona
Mesa, AZ Medicare Plans 2027: What Changes
Mesa has more residents aged 65 and over than any other East Valley city. If you are already on a Medicare Advantage plan, the most useful thing to know this fall is whether your plan is changing for 2027.
- 52 Medicare Advantage plans in Maricopa County, 2027
- 50 With a $0 Part C premium
- 13 Organizations offering plans
- 40 Special Needs Plans, counted separately
In clients' words
What working with Viola looks like
I’m very happy I went to Viola at Rise up Benefits Group for my Medicare enrollment. I was inundated with mail and way too much information. I have been with Champ VA for 9 years so it gets confusing what to sign up for without losing those benefits as they become secondary. Viola explained everything and picked out the best option for me. I highly recommend her as it made this transition very smooth.
Verbatim client reviews from the agency's public profiles (5.0 stars from 49 Google reviews). Read all reviews.
Mesa Medicare at a glance for 2027
- 52 Medicare Advantage plans for Mesa residents (Maricopa County), 50 with a $0 Part C premium
- In-network out-of-pocket maximums from $2,000 to $8,900 a year
- 13 insurance companies offer them
- 9 standalone Part D plans in Arizona
- You still pay the Part B premium, $202.90 a month in 2026 (the 2027 amount is announced by CMS around November)
- Annual Enrollment: October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027
Examples of $0 premium plans with drug coverage, by 2026 star rating and out-of-pocket limit
- SCAN Classic (HMO)SCAN Health Plan · 4.5★ (2026) · out-of-pocket max $2,000 · drug deductible $0
- SCAN MyChoice (HMO)SCAN Health Plan · 4.5★ (2026) · out-of-pocket max $2,500 · drug deductible $0
- AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC AZ-2 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · 4.5★ (2026) · out-of-pocket max $3,500 · drug deductible $685
CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D Landscape, contract year 2027. A plan's fit depends on your doctors and prescriptions; Viola checks both before you choose. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
The community
Mesa at a glance
The Census Bureau counts about 512,000 Mesa residents and about 89,000 of them, 17.5%, are 65 or older. That is more older adults than Chandler and Gilbert combined, and second only to Phoenix among Arizona cities.
Mesa is in Maricopa County, so Mesa residents choose from the Maricopa County plan list. For 2027 the CMS crosswalk shows several plans ending in the county and others folding into a different plan. Six Mesa hospitals appear in the CMS hospital file, from Banner Desert Medical Center on Dobson Road to Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital on Elliot Road.
How Viola helps here. Mesa borders Chandler and Gilbert. Viola Lucero reviews your Annual Notice of Change with you at the Chandler office, by phone or by video, and explains in plain English what moves on January 1.
| Measure | Mesa | Maricopa County | Arizona |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 511,764 | 4,559,748 | 7,378,838 |
| Residents aged 65 and over | 89,374 | 742,814 | 1,397,551 |
| Share aged 65 and over | 17.5% | 16.3% | 18.9% |
| Median age | 37.4 | 37.6 | Not shown |
| Median household income | $82,752 | $89,300 | Not shown |
| Share with no health insurance (all ages) | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.5% |
Arizona totals are the sum of all 15 Arizona counties in the same Census release; a statewide median is not computed here.
What changes for 2027
Maricopa County plans: 2026 to 2027
Your plan mailed an Annual Notice of Change by September 30, 2026. It lists what changes on January 1, 2027: premium, deductible, out-of-pocket limit, copays, drug list and network. Compare it line by line, or bring it to Viola.
| Measure | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | 82 | 85 |
| $0 premium plans | 58 | 67 |
| Average in-network out-of-pocket limit | $5,073 | $5,378 |
| Average Part D deductible | $426.71 | $493.21 |
| Maximum Part D deductible allowed by CMS | $615 | $700 |
| Part D out-of-pocket cap | $2,100 | $2,400 |
This count differs from the headline above, which covers every non-SNP plan with or without drug coverage. No carrier leaves Maricopa County for 2027, and no carrier enters that was not already there; the changes are plan by plan.
If your plan is not renewing: you receive a non-renewal letter in October. You can pick a new plan during the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7, 2026), and a Special Enrollment Period runs through the end of February 2027. Confirm your dates on Medicare.gov. The official Medicare & You handbook explains each option.
Hospitals
Hospitals in Mesa
Medicare-certified hospitals in Mesa from the CMS Hospital General Information file, with the CMS overall star rating. A rating is not network status: check each hospital against a plan.
| Hospital | Address | Emergency services | CMS overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banner Desert Medical CenterAcute Care | 1400 South Dobson Road, Mesa, AZ 85202 | Yes | 2 of 5 |
| Banner Baywood Medical CenterAcute Care | 6644 East Baywood Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85206 | Yes | 2 of 5 |
| Banner Heart HospitalAcute Care | 6750 East Baywood Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85206 | No | 2 of 5 |
| Arizona Spine and Joint HospitalAcute Care | 4620 East Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85206 | No | Not available |
| HonorHealth Four Peaks Medical CenterAcute Care | 1301 South Crismon Road, Mesa, AZ 85209 | Yes | 2 of 5 |
| Dignity Health Arizona General HospitalAcute Care | 9130 East Elliot Road, Mesa, AZ 85212 | Yes | 5 of 5 |
By the numbers
2027 Medicare Advantage in Maricopa County
Medicare Advantage plans are approved by county, so Mesa residents see the Maricopa County list. Figures from the CMS Landscape file for contract year 2027; Special Needs Plans are counted separately.
- $1.90 Average monthly Part C premium
- $7.68 Average Part C + D premium
- 45 Plans that include drug coverage
- $2,000 Lowest in-network out-of-pocket limit
- $4,896 Average in-network out-of-pocket limit
- $8,900 Highest in-network out-of-pocket limit
- $494.71 Average Part D deductible (plans with drugs)
- 15 Plans with a 2026 rating of 4★ or more
- 3.73★ Average 2026 star rating (rated plans)
The "$0" and average premium figures use the Part C premium, the CMS convention for comparing plans. The Part C + D figure adds the drug premium. A $0 premium plan still has costs: you keep paying the Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026) plus copays up to the plan’s limit. Star ratings shown are 2026 ratings, because 2027 ratings are not loaded yet.
| Plan type | Plans | $0 Part C premium | Average premium | Average out-of-pocket limit | Without drug coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMO | 29 | 28 | $0.69 | $4,305 | 1 |
| PPO | 14 | 14 | $0 | $6,046 | 3 |
| HMO-POS | 7 | 7 | $0 | $4,564 | 2 |
| Regional PPO | 2 | 1 | $39.45 | $6,575 | 1 |
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Spotlight
Plans ending or merging in Maricopa County for 2027
From the CMS CY2026 to CY2027 plan crosswalk. A consolidated plan moves its members into the plan shown.
| 2026 plan | Carrier | CMS crosswalk status | Members move to |
|---|---|---|---|
Wellcare Giveback (HMO) H0351-064 | Wellcare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
Wellcare Simple Value (HMO) H0351-065 | Wellcare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) H0354-001 | HealthSpring | Consolidated Renewal Plan | HealthSpring Preferred (HMO)H0354-028 |
Wellpoint I CareMore Home Care (HMO I-SNP) H1423-008 | Wellpoint | Consolidated Renewal Plan | Wellpoint I CareMore Home Care (HMO I-SNP)H1423-007 |
SCAN Strive (HMO C-SNP) H1822-006 | SCAN Health Plan | Consolidated Renewal Plan | SCAN Balance (HMO C-SNP)H1822-002 |
eternalHealth Grand Give Back (HMO) H3551-002 | eternalHealth | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
Aetna Medicare Prime Extra (HMO) H3931-092 | Aetna Medicare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (HMO) H3931-129 | Aetna Medicare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
Aetna Medicare Prime Chronic Care (HMO C-SNP) H3931-188 | Aetna Medicare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO) H4835-001 | Aetna Medicare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
Aetna Medicare Elite (PPO) H5521-363 | Aetna Medicare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
Wellcare Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP) H5590-008 | Wellcare | Renewal Plan | Wellcare Arizona Complete Health Dual Liberty Sync (HMO D-SNP)H5590-012 |
Wellcare Arizona Complete Health Dual Align (HMO D-SNP) H5590-010 | Wellcare | Terminated/Non-renewed Contract | No plan in this county; choose a new plan |
See every Maricopa County plan with premiums and limits, or compare plans for your ZIP code with the plan finder.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Health profile
What is common in Mesa
Plan choice follows the conditions you actually live with, because they decide which specialists and drugs you need covered.
| Measure | Mesa | Maricopa County | Arizona county average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnosed diabetes | 10.6% | 10.6% | 11.3% |
| High blood pressure | 31.3% | 30.8% | 32.8% |
| Obesity | 30.7% | 30.4% | 31.3% |
| Coronary heart disease | 6.0% | 5.7% | 6.4% |
| COPD | 6.3% | 5.7% | 6.6% |
| Adults 18 to 64 without health insurance | 13.0% | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| Arthritis | 24.7% | 23.5% | 25.2% |
| High cholesterol | 36.9% | 36.5% | 37.3% |
| Stroke | 3.2% | 3.0% | 3.4% |
CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, Place Data, 2025 release (2023 survey estimates), retrieved 2026-10-13. Model-based small-area estimates of crude prevalence among adults 18 and over, not a count of local diagnoses. Crude rates follow the age mix of a place: an older community reads higher on most conditions. Arizona figure: average of the 15 Arizona counties, weighted by adult population.
Quality
How the 2026 stars fall
CMS rates each contract from 1 to 5 stars. 2027 ratings are not published yet, so this shows the 2026 rating for each of the 52 Maricopa County plans. New plans and some small contracts are not rated.
- 4.5★ 12 plans (23%)
- 4.0★ 3 plans (6%)
- 3.5★ 18 plans (35%)
- 3.0★ 5 plans (10%)
- 2.5★ 2 plans (4%)
- Not rated 12 plans (23%)
No plan on the Maricopa County list has a 5-star 2026 rating.
The other path
Medigap in Mesa
Every Advantage plan on this page replaces Original Medicare with a plan network. The other path keeps Original Medicare and adds a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy plus a separate Part D plan.
Medigap has no network: any provider that accepts Medicare accepts it, anywhere in the country. Premiums are higher than most Advantage plans, and in exchange your costs are more predictable.
Timing matters. Your 6-month Medigap open enrollment window starts when you are 65 or older and enrolled in Part B. Inside it, an insurer cannot turn you down or charge more for your health. Outside it, in most cases it can. See Medicare Advantage vs Medigap.
When you can change
How and when to enroll
You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan, and live in the plan's service area, here Maricopa County.
Annual Enrollment Period
October 15 to December 7, 2026. Choose or change plans for 2027; coverage starts January 1.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment
January 1 to March 31. If you are in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch plans or return to Original Medicare once.
Special Enrollment Periods
Moving, losing employer coverage, gaining Medicaid (AHCCCS) or a plan not renewing can open a window outside the normal calendar.
Ways to enroll: with a licensed agent such as Viola ((480) 300-5776), directly with a plan, or on Medicare.gov. More detail: Medicare enrollment periods.
Under 65
Health insurance before Medicare in Mesa
Arizona uses HealthCare.gov, the federal Marketplace, for individual and family health insurance. Open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026. Premium tax credits depend on household income, and people with very low income may qualify for AHCCCS, Arizona Medicaid.
CDC estimates that 13.0% of adults aged 18 to 64 in Mesa have no health insurance (2023 estimates).
Viola helps with Marketplace plans and employer coverage too. Try the ACA subsidy calculator or read about individual and family health insurance. Estimates are estimates; final premiums are set at enrollment.
Rise Up Benefits Group is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operating on behalf of HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace, or any federal or state government agency. Plan availability, premiums and advance premium tax credits are set by the carriers and the Marketplace.
Plain English
Medicare plan terms on this page
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)
- A Medicare approved plan from a private company that provides your Part A and Part B benefits in place of Original Medicare. Most include drug coverage and some extras. You keep paying your Part B premium.
- $0 Part C premium
- The plan charges no monthly premium of its own for medical coverage. You still pay your Part B premium, any drug premium the plan lists, and copays or coinsurance when you use care.
- In-network out-of-pocket maximum (MOOP)
- The most you pay in a calendar year for covered Part A and Part B services from in-network providers. Once you reach it, the plan pays for covered in-network care for the rest of the year. Premiums and Part D drug costs do not count toward it.
- HMO
- Health Maintenance Organization. You generally use doctors and hospitals in the plan network, except for emergencies and urgent care, and many HMOs ask for a referral before you see a specialist.
- PPO
- Preferred Provider Organization. You can use doctors in or out of the network, but out-of-network care usually costs more. Referrals are usually not required.
- HMO-POS
- An HMO with a point of service option. You mostly use the network, but the plan lets you get some services out of network, usually at a higher cost.
- Special Needs Plan (SNP)
- A Medicare Advantage plan open only to people with particular needs: both Medicare and Medicaid (AHCCCS in Arizona), certain chronic conditions, or living in an institution such as a nursing home.
- Star rating
- A yearly CMS quality score from 1 to 5 stars, based on measures such as preventive care, member experience and customer service. It describes the plan overall; it does not tell you whether your doctors or drugs are covered.
FAQ
Mesa Medicare questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Mesa for 2027?
Mesa uses the Maricopa County plan list. It has 52 Medicare Advantage plans for 2027 (Special Needs Plans not included) from 13 organizations, and 50 of them have a $0 Part C premium. You still pay the Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026; the 2027 amount is announced around November 2026. Source: CMS 2027 Landscape file.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
My Medicare Advantage plan in Mesa is ending. What happens now?
If your plan is not renewing for 2027, the plan must send you a non-renewal notice. You can choose a new plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 to December 7, 2026, and people whose plan is not renewing also get a Special Enrollment Period that runs through the end of February 2027. If you do nothing, you return to Original Medicare. Confirm your dates on Medicare.gov.
Which Mesa hospitals have the highest CMS ratings?
In the CMS Hospital General Information file, Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital (9130 East Elliot Road) carries a 5 out of 5 overall rating. The other Mesa acute care hospitals listed are rated 2 out of 5 or have no published rating. The rating is about quality measures, not about which plans include the hospital.
What changes for Medicare plans in Mesa in 2027?
In Maricopa County, plans with drug coverage (Special Needs Plans included) go from 82 in 2026 to 85 in 2027. The CMS crosswalk shows 9 plans ending or leaving the county with no successor there, 4 plans folding into another plan, and 14 new plans. No carrier leaves the county entirely. Your plan’s Annual Notice of Change lists what changes for you on January 1.
What does local data say about health coverage in Mesa?
Census figures (ACS 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates) show 10.6% of Mesa residents with no health insurance, against 10.5% for Arizona. People under 65 can shop for coverage on HealthCare.gov, the Marketplace Arizona uses; open enrollment for 2027 coverage starts November 1, 2026.
Provenance
Sources and methodology
- Plan data: CMS Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape, contract year 2027 (https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/cy2027-landscape-202609.zip), filtered to Maricopa County (FIPS 04013), retrieved 2026-10-13 through THE BRAIN (healthcare-db, cms_ma_pd_landscape). Star ratings: CMS 2026 Star Ratings joined by plan ID.
- 2027 changes: CMS Landscape 2026 (https://www.cms.gov/files/zip/cy2026-landscape-202609.zip) and 2027, with the CMS CY2026 to CY2027 plan crosswalk, retrieved 2026-10-13 through THE BRAIN (healthcare_aep_county_report).
- Health data: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, Place Data, 2025 release (2023 survey estimates), retrieved 2026-10-13. Model-based small-area estimates of crude prevalence among adults 18 and over, not a count of local diagnoses. Endpoint: https://data.cdc.gov/resource/eav7-hnsx.json.
- Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020 to 2024 5-year estimates, Mesa city, Arizona, retrieved 2026-10-13 through THE BRAIN (census_query). Queries: detailed tables and subject table S2701. Residents 65 and over are the sum of the 12 age groups 65 and older in table B01001.
- Hospitals: CMS Hospital General Information (Provider Data Catalog) (https://data.cms.gov/provider-data/dataset/xubh-q36u), retrieved 2026-10-13.
- Federal figures: 2026 Part B premium and deductible and Part D base premium ($38.99) from CMS. 2027 values are announced around November 2026.
How the figures are derived
- Headline plan counts and averages exclude Special Needs Plans, which have their own eligibility rules and are reported separately.
- "$0 premium" and "average premium" use the Part C premium; the Part C + D premium is reported separately. Out-of-pocket limits are in-network amounts. The average Part D deductible covers plans with drug coverage only.
- The 2026 to 2027 comparison counts Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage, Special Needs Plans included, so it differs from the headline count.
- We do not publish per-plan enrollment: the source does not carry it, and we never estimate plan figures.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
Rise Up Benefits Group is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Medicare has neither endorsed nor reviewed this information.
Areas we serve
More East Valley guides
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- Pinal CountyCounty guide
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- Maricopa (city)Pinal County
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Let's talk about your coverage in Mesa
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2160 North Alma School Road, Suite 102, Chandler, AZ 85224 · (480) 300-5776