In short
- CMS counts 48 Medicare Advantage plans in Nebraska for 2027, down from 50, and the average monthly premium falls from $20.65 to $14.14.
- Medica leaves Butler, Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington counties.
- UnitedHealthcare's AARP Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage are offered in only 5 Nebraska counties for 2027, down from 52.
- Devoted Health grows from 14 to 42 counties, including Lancaster, and Aetna returns to Hall County.
- If your plan is leaving, you can switch during open enrollment or from December 8 through the end of February, and you may have Medigap guaranteed issue rights.
CMS released its 2027 Nebraska fact sheet on September 28, and its plan landscape files show which companies offer Medicare Advantage in each county. The headline is fewer plans and more county-by-county shuffling than usual. Below are company-level facts from CMS. Plan benefits and the 2027 Star Ratings come later, so check those before you choose.
How many Medicare Advantage plans will Nebraska have in 2027?
CMS counts 48 Medicare Advantage plans in Nebraska for 2027, down from 50 in 2026. The average monthly premium falls from $20.65 to $14.14. CMS says 97.69% of Nebraskans with Medicare can get a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan, though you still pay your Part B premium.
About 34.2% of Nebraskans with Medicare were in Medicare Advantage or another health plan in June 2026, with 45.0% in Douglas County, 38.6% in Hall and 35.0% in Lancaster. Eight counties have no standard Medicare Advantage plan for 2027: Box Butte, Brown, Cherry, Dawes, Keya Paha, Rock, Sheridan and Sioux. Rock and Sioux are new to that list.
Which carriers are leaving or shrinking?
Several large carriers are pulling back by county. These changes come from comparing CMS's 2026 and 2027 landscape files.
| Carrier | 2026 footprint | 2027 change |
|---|---|---|
| Medica | 49 counties | Leaves Butler, Cass, Dodge, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington; adds Dakota; 42 counties |
| UnitedHealthcare (AARP) | Plans with drug coverage in 52 counties | Plans with drug coverage only in Cass, Douglas, Lancaster, Sarpy and Washington; elsewhere a plan without drug coverage, plus D-SNPs |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska | 76 counties | 61 counties; leaves 15, including Butler, Dawson, Johnson, Phelps and Saline |
| Humana | 32 counties | 26 counties; leaves Banner, Cheyenne, Kimball, Morrill, Scotts Bluff and Sioux |
| Wellcare | HMO-POS and PPO plans | Drops its PPO plans; HMO-POS plans in 54 counties |
| Aetna | 58 counties | 54 counties; returns to Hall, Adams, Buffalo, Kearney and Phelps, among others; leaves 13, including Colfax, Cuming, Fillmore and Johnson |
If your county shows up in that table, read your plan's Annual Notice of Change or non-renewal letter closely. That letter is the final word on your own plan, so if it and this table disagree, call the plan to confirm.
Who is expanding?
Devoted Health grows the most, from 14 counties to 42, adding Lancaster, Gage, Seward, York and Saline. Its plans for people with both Medicare and Medicaid also expand to 42 counties. Aetna returns to Hall County and much of central Nebraska. Iowa Health Advantage is new, with an Institutional Special Needs Plan in Antelope, Burt, Cedar and Nance counties.
What does this mean in Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island?
| County | 2026 standard plans | 2027 standard plans | 2027 Special Needs Plans | Biggest change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster (Lincoln) | 29 | 26 | 15 | Medica out, Devoted in |
| Douglas (Omaha) | 29 | 24 | 15 | Medica out |
| Sarpy | 29 | 24 | 15 | Medica out |
| Hall (Grand Island) | 20 | 21 | 13 | UnitedHealthcare drug plans out, Aetna back |
In Lancaster County, the 2027 standard-plan carriers are Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Devoted, Humana, MyAdvocate, UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare. See our local pages for Lincoln, Omaha and Grand Island.
Networks are set plan by plan and can change each year. Whether Bryan Health, CHI Health or Nebraska Medicine is in a 2027 network is something to confirm with the plan and the provider, never assume.
What are your options if your plan is leaving?
You have more time than you might think. You can switch during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. When a plan is not renewed, Medicare also gives a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February. If you don't pick another Medicare Advantage plan, you will be enrolled in Original Medicare, and you should add a Part D plan for drugs.
Going back to Original Medicare also opens a door. When your Medicare Advantage plan stops serving your area, federal rules give you a guaranteed right to buy certain Medicare Supplement plans, including Plan G, without health questions. You can apply up to 60 days before your coverage ends and no more than 63 days after. Our guide to Medigap open enrollment in Nebraska explains the rules, and our Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage comparison can help you decide.
What should you check before choosing a 2027 plan?
- Doctors and hospitals. Confirm each one in the plan's 2027 directory and by phone.
- Medications. Check the drug list, tiers and any drug deductible.
- Worst-case costs. Look at hospital copays and the yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
- Star Ratings. The 2027 ratings post on or around October 8. Our Star Ratings guide explains them.
- Prior authorization. Since January 1, 2026, plans must decide standard requests within 7 days and urgent ones within 72 hours.
Plan availability, premiums, networks and benefits vary by county and change every year. For unbiased help, use Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (TTY 1-877-486-2048), or call Nebraska SHIP (formerly SHIIP) at 1-800-234-7119. Our Medicare Advantage page covers how these plans work.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. CMS's 2027 plan landscape shows no Medica Medicare Advantage plans in Lancaster, Douglas, Sarpy, Cass, Butler, Dodge, Saunders or Washington counties. Medica stays in 42 Nebraska counties and adds Dakota County. If you have a Medica Medicare Advantage plan in one of the counties it is leaving, your plan should have sent a notice, and you will need to choose new coverage for 2027.
CMS's 2027 landscape lists seven companies with standard Medicare Advantage plans in Lancaster County: Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Devoted Health, Humana, MyAdvocate, UnitedHealthcare and Wellcare. Lancaster has 26 standard plans for 2027, down from 29, plus 15 Special Needs Plans. Benefits, premiums and networks differ by plan, so the right one depends on your doctors, medications and budget.
You can pick a new plan during open enrollment, October 15 to December 7, 2026. Medicare also gives a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 through the last day of February. If you don't join another Medicare Advantage plan, you will be enrolled in Original Medicare and should add a standalone Part D plan. You may also have a guaranteed right to buy certain Medigap plans.
Yes. CMS says 97.69% of people with Medicare in Nebraska have access to a $0 premium Medicare Advantage plan for 2027, but you still pay your Part B premium, which is $202.90 a month in 2026. A plan with no premium can still have copays, a drug deductible and an out-of-pocket maximum, so compare total costs, not just the premium.
CMS says the 2027 Star Ratings will appear on Medicare.gov on or around October 8, 2026. The ratings score plans from 1 to 5 stars on quality and member experience. Ratings in last year's materials are 2026 ratings, so wait for the new ones before comparing. Plans rated 5 stars also open a special chance to switch during the year.
It depends on the plan, and networks can change from one year to the next. Check each 2027 plan's provider directory, then call your doctor's office and the plan to confirm that your doctors, Bryan Health, CHI Health or Nebraska Medicine are in network for 2027. Never assume a hospital is in network because it was in 2026.
Sources
- CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D state-by-state fact sheets (September 28, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- CMS: 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D premiums press release (September 28, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- CMS: CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files (opens in a new tab)
- CMS: Medicare Monthly Enrollment, June 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Special Enrollment Periods (opens in a new tab)
- Medicare.gov: Choosing a Medigap Policy (CMS Product No. 02110, March 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- CMS: Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule (CMS-0057-F) fact sheet (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.
