Plan year 2027 · Medicare AdvantageCMS files of Sept. 22 and Oct. 1, 2026

Peoples Health Essentials, 2027

H1961Contract017Plan

HMO-POS · 13 counties in Louisiana

Run by Peoples Health, Inc. (contract H1961), sold as Peoples Health, owned by UnitedHealth Group, Inc.

Renews for 2027

2026 star rating, contract H1961: 4.5 of 5

Peoples Health Essentials (H1961-017) costs $0 a month in 2027, the same as in 2026, with an in-network out-of-pocket limit of $6,700. In 2026 it was called Peoples Health Choices Gold.

What changes from 2026 to 2027?

The changed lines are marked and come first. In-network amounts; members keep paying the Part B premium unless the plan reduces it.
What you pay or get	2026	2027	Change
Plan name	Peoples Health Choices Gold	Peoples Health Essentials	renamed
Drug deductible	$355	$685	up $330
Hospital stay, in network	$275 a day for days 1–10, then $0 a day for days 11–90	$305 a day for days 1–10, then $0 a day for days 11–90	up $150for a 5-day stay
Skilled nursing facility, in network	$0 a day for days 1–20, then $218 a day for days 21–100	$0 a day for days 1–20, then $221 a day for days 21–100	up $30for a 30-day stay
Ground ambulance, in network	$290 copay	$350 copay	up $60
Eyewear, yearly limit	$150 a year	$125 a year	down $25
Hearing aids, yearly limit for both ears	not offered	$1,000 a year	added
Drug tier 2, generic	$10	$5	down $5
Drug tier 3, preferred brand	20% of the cost	22% of the cost	up 2 points
Drug tier 4, non-preferred drug	38% of the cost	27% of the cost	down 11 points
Drug tier 5, specialty tier	29% of the cost	26% of the cost	down 3 points
11 lines do not change
Monthly premium	$0	$0	no change
In-network out-of-pocket limit	$6,700	$6,700	no change
Part B premium reduction, monthly	none	none	no change
Primary care visit	$0 copay	$0 copay	no change
Specialist visit	$0 copay	$0 copay	no change
Emergency room	$130 copay	$130 copay	no change
Medical deductible, in network	none	none	no change
Comprehensive dental, yearly limit	not offered	not offered	no change
Over-the-counter items, yearly	not offered	not offered	no change
Counties served	13	13	no change
Drug tier 1, preferred generic	$0	$0	no change

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision); CMS plan benefit package files, 2027 and 2026; CMS plan crosswalk from 2026 to 2027 (Oct. 1, 2026). Plan details can change during the year; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder.

What will prescriptions cost?

Your share for a 30-day supply at a retail pharmacy, as filed with CMS; tiers whose share changes are marked
Tier	What the tier holds	2026	2027
Tier 1	Preferred Generic	$0	$0
Tier 2	Generic	$10	$5
Tier 3	Preferred Brand	20% of the cost	22% of the cost
Tier 4	Non-Preferred Drug	38% of the cost	27% of the cost
Tier 5	Specialty Tier	29% of the cost	26% of the cost

Source: CMS plan benefit package files, 2027 and 2026. Insulin is capped at $35 a month by law. A drug's tier is set by the plan's formulary.

How does it compare with plans sold where it is?

In the counties it serves, 35 plans open to everyone are sold for 2027, this one included. Against the others, 14 plans have a lower out-of-pocket limit, 2 the same, 18 a higher one. On the premium, 24 the same, 10 a higher one.

Out-of-pocket limits of the 35 plans open to everyone

$0 to under $2,0000 plans

$2,000 to under $4,0002 plans

$4,000 to under $6,00011 plans

$6,000 to under $8,000 (this plan)18 plans

$8,000 to $10,0004 plans

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision).

Where is it sold, and what does it cost there?

The premium and the out-of-pocket limit are the same in all 13 counties: $0 a month and $6,700.

Louisiana

Acadia Bossier Caddo Calcasieu Cameron Evangeline Iberia Lafayette Ouachita Rapides St. Landry St. Martin Vermilion

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision).

Who runs this plan?

Plan ID: H1961-017
Legal name of the contract: Peoples Health, Inc.
Sold as: Peoples Health
Parent company: UnitedHealth Group, Inc.
Plan type: HMO-POS
2026 star rating of the contract: 4.5 of 5 overall; health plan 4.5 of 5, drug plan 3.5 of 5
Members, September 2026: 5,847
Plan website, as filed with CMS: peopleshealth.com

Source: CMS Medicare Advantage and Part D landscape files for 2027 (Sept. 22, 2026, revised Sept. 30) and 2026 (Sept. 2, 2026 revision); CMS 2026 Star Ratings (October 2025); CMS monthly enrollment by plan and by county, September 2026 (CMS hides counts under 11). CMS publishes the 2027 Star Ratings in October 2026.

What else should you check?

Other 2027 plans in Caddo, LAWhere most of its members live; premiums and limits side by side
Every Peoples Health plan for 2027Its contracts, counties and plans that end
The other 11 plans of contract H1961Same company, same contract
Is your prescription covered?Coverage share and tier for 2,259 drugs

Data, not advice. These are the plan's filed amounts, not a quote for you; confirm on Medicare Plan Finder or call the plan before you enroll.