In short
- CMS data shows 21 standard Medicare Advantage plans in Hall County for 2027, up from 20, plus 13 special needs plans.
- UnitedHealthcare's only standard Hall County plan for 2027 has no drug coverage, and you cannot add a separate Part D plan to it.
- Aetna returns to Hall County with seven plans after skipping 2026. Medica stays with three plans, unlike in Lincoln and Omaha.
- 13 of the 21 plans are PPOs and 8 are HMO-POS plans. Out-of-town specialists are the deciding factor for many Grand Island households.
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska's plans are not offered in neighboring Merrick County for 2027.
In June 2026, 4,520 of Hall County's 11,701 Medicare beneficiaries, about 38.6%, were in a Medicare Advantage or similar plan (CMS). For 2027, many of them are looking at a different set of companies than last year. This page lays out the Hall County lineup plan type by plan type and what to check before you pick. For how Medicare Advantage works in general, see the statewide Medicare Advantage guide.
Which Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Hall County for 2027?
Twenty-one standard plans from seven companies, according to the CMS 2027 landscape file, plus 13 special needs plans. The total barely moves from 2026. The mix underneath it changes a lot.
| Company | 2026 plans | 2027 plans | 2027 plan types | 2027 plans with drugs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna | 0 | 7 | 5 PPO, 2 HMO-POS | 6 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska | 4 | 3 | 2 PPO, 1 HMO-POS | 3 |
| Devoted Health | 2 | 3 | 3 PPO | 3 |
| Medica | 4 | 3 | 3 PPO | 2 |
| MyAdvocate (Sanford Health) | 2 | 2 | 2 HMO-POS | 2 |
| UnitedHealthcare | 4 | 1 | 1 HMO-POS | 0 |
| Wellcare | 4 | 2 | 2 HMO-POS | 2 |
That works out to 18 plans with drug coverage for 2027, up from 17. Humana does not offer a standard plan in Hall County in either year. In Hall County as anywhere, availability, premiums, networks and benefits depend on the county and change with each plan year.
What should UnitedHealthcare members in Grand Island do?
Pick new coverage if your plan with drug coverage is ending, and read every line of your notice. UnitedHealthcare's only standard Hall County plan for 2027 is an HMO-POS with no Part D. Medicare & You 2027 spells out the catch: an HMO or PPO without drug coverage cannot be paired with a standalone Medicare drug plan.
That can work for a veteran who gets prescriptions through the Grand Island VA Medical Center. For most people, it means going without drug coverage, which risks a late penalty later. Your realistic options are:
- Another company's plan with drug coverage, chosen between October 15 and December 7, 2026.
- Original Medicare, a Medigap policy and a standalone Part D plan. Leaving a plan that stops serving your area gives you a guaranteed issue right for certain Medigap plans. The Grand Island Medicare Supplement page has the deadlines.
- A later change through the special window for non-renewing plans, December 8 through the end of February.
PPO or HMO-POS: which fits if you drive to Lincoln, Omaha or Kearney for care?
If your specialists are out of town, look hard at the PPOs. As Bill puts it, "You'd be amazed how many people... drive two hours from other parts of the state of Nebraska to go see a doctor in Lincoln or Omaha." Of Hall County's 21 standard plans, 13 are PPOs and 8 are HMO-POS plans.
- PPO plans cover out-of-network care, usually at a higher cost. A Lincoln cardiologist or an Omaha cancer specialist outside the network is generally still covered, at the out-of-network rate.
- HMO-POS plans are HMOs that may cover some services out of network at a higher cost. Expect most care, other than emergencies, to need in-network providers.
The HMO vs PPO comparison explains referrals and costs in detail.
Which Grand Island and regional providers should you look up?
Every one you use, by name, in each plan's 2027 provider directory. Grand Island has two hospital systems side by side: CHI Health St. Francis on West Faidley Avenue and Grand Island Regional Medical Center on Prairieview Street, which Bryan Health bought in 2019. A plan can treat them very differently.
Make a list before you shop:
- Your primary care doctor and the clinic they work for.
- Each specialist, including any in Kearney, Hastings, Lincoln or Omaha.
- The hospital you would choose for surgery, and any rehab or skilled nursing unit you might need afterward.
- Merrick Medical Center in Central City, if you use it.
Then phone each office and ask if they expect to be in that specific plan's network for 2027, because directories run behind contract changes.
What changes for neighbors in Merrick County?
Fewer choices than in Grand Island. CMS data shows Merrick County, home of Central City, losing standard plans for 2027. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska leaves the county, and UnitedHealthcare keeps only a plan without drug coverage there. If you live in Central City and use Grand Island doctors, compare plans for your own county, not your Grand Island friends' county. Your plan choices follow your home county, not the county where your doctors are.
How do you compare Hall County plans with someone you trust?
Start with the numbers that matter. Even at a $0 premium, you keep paying the Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), so look at the out-of-pocket maximum, hospital copays and drug costs first. The 2027 Star Ratings are due on Medicare.gov on or around October 8, 2026, and the Star Ratings guide covers what they measure.
For an unbiased second opinion, call the Midland Area Agency on Aging in Hastings, which handles Nebraska SHIP (formerly SHIIP) counseling for this area, at 402-463-4565 or 800-955-9714, or use SHIP's statewide number, 1-800-234-7119. You can also reach 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227, TTY 1-877-486-2048) at any hour: it is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Bill reviews Hall County plans with Grand Island clients by phone or video, and in person at his Lincoln office when you are in town for an appointment. Gather your notice letter and doctor list, then talk to Bill.
Frequently asked questions
CMS plan data lists 21 standard Medicare Advantage plans in Hall County for 2027, from Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Devoted Health, Medica, MyAdvocate, UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare. Eighteen of them include Part D drug coverage. Hall County also has 13 special needs plans for people with Medicaid or certain conditions. Plans offered, premiums, networks and benefits differ by county and change annually.
Partly. UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are not in the CMS 2027 data for Hall County. It still offers one standard plan without drug coverage, plus special needs plans for people who also have Medicaid. Your plan's notice explains what happens to your coverage. You can choose a new plan from October 15 to December 7, 2026.
Yes. Aetna left Hall County for 2026 and returns for 2027 with seven standard plans, five PPOs and two HMO-POS plans, according to CMS plan data. Six of the seven include drug coverage. Because Aetna was absent for a year, check its 2027 provider directory carefully for your Grand Island doctors and hospitals rather than relying on what an older plan covered.
Yes. Medica leaves Lancaster, Douglas, Sarpy and five other eastern Nebraska counties for 2027, but CMS data shows it staying in Hall County with three PPO plans, down from four. Two of the three include drug coverage. If you are a Medica member in Grand Island, read your Annual Notice of Change to see whether your specific plan continues or changes.
That depends on the plan. An in-network specialist is covered at in-network rates, and a PPO generally covers an out-of-network one at a higher cost. Look up each Lincoln or Omaha doctor in the plan's 2027 directory, then have the office confirm its 2027 network status for that plan. Never assume a doctor is covered because the hospital system has a Grand Island location.
Sources
- CMS: CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files (opens in a new tab)
- CMS: CY 2026 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files (opens in a new tab)
- CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D state fact sheets (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare & You 2027 handbook (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods (opens in a new tab)
- Nebraska Community Action: Midland Area Agency on Aging (opens in a new tab)
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 or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
