AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) in El Paso County, Texas — 2026 plan details
Last updated Jul 18, 2026
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward
Published by Senior Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0
AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) (H2406-039) is a $0-premium Medicare Advantage PPO from UnitedHealth Group, Inc. available in El Paso County, Texas in 2026, with a 4.0-star overall rating, a $4,200 in-network out-of-pocket maximum, and a $440 annual Part D drug deductible.
Plan facts (CMS CY2026 Landscape file)
| Organization | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Plan name | AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) |
| Contract ID | H2406 |
| Plan ID | 039 |
| Segment ID | 0 |
| Contract year | 2026 |
| Contract category | MA-PD |
| Plan type | PPO |
| SNP | No |
| Monthly consolidated premium | $0.00 |
| Part C premium | $0.00 |
| Part D basic premium | $0.00 |
| Part D total premium | $0.00 |
| Annual Part D deductible | $440.00 |
| Maximum out-of-pocket (in-network) | $4200.00 |
| Overall star rating | 4.0 |
How this plan is structured
- $0 consolidated premium. A $0 or near-$0 consolidated premium does not remove the Part B premium — the standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month and still applies. See the 2026 Medicare Part B premium.
- PPO plan type. Plan-type rules determine in-network use and referrals. See how Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans differ.
- $4,200 in-network out-of-pocket maximum. The MOOP is the annual cap on what a member pays in-network for covered Part A and Part B services. See how the Medicare Advantage MOOP works.
- Service area = El Paso County. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by service area; moving out of the plan's service area triggers a Special Enrollment Period to switch plans. See how moving changes your Medicare options.
How it compares in El Paso County
The CMS CY2026 Landscape file lists 91 Medicare Advantage plans in El Paso County, Texas, of which 7 carry a 5.0-star overall rating and 57 have a $0 consolidated monthly premium. Consolidated premiums range from $0.00 to $142.00 per month, and in-network out-of-pocket maximums range from $2400.00 to $9250.00.
Other 5.0-star Medicare Advantage plans in El Paso County (first three alphabetically):
| Plan | Organization | Premium | MOOP |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEVOTED C-SNP 027 TX (HMO C-SNP) | Devoted Health, Inc. | $0.00 | $3750.00 |
| DEVOTED C-SNP PLUS 029 TX (HMO C-SNP) | Devoted Health, Inc. | $4.80 | $9250.00 |
| DEVOTED C-SNP PREMIUM 028 TX (HMO C-SNP) | Devoted Health, Inc. | $4.80 | $4250.00 |
For the full county plan directory, see all Medicare plans in El Paso County, Texas.
How to verify your doctors take this plan
Network participation changes throughout the year; we hold no provider-network data, so verify directly with these three sources before you decide:
- Open the plan's official Medicare.gov page and use its provider-directory link: Medicare.gov Plan Finder — H2406-039.
- Call the plan (UnitedHealth Group, Inc.) using the member-services number listed on that plan page and ask whether each doctor, hospital, and pharmacy is in-network for 2026.
- Get free, unbiased help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — see free unbiased Medicare help from SHIP.
What H2406-039 means
CMS assigns every Medicare Advantage and Part D offering a plan identifier made of three parts. In H2406-039, the leading H marks the contract type (H = Medicare Advantage / Part C contract), the four digits 2406 are the contract number issued to the organization, and the three-digit 039 is the plan benefit package under that contract. The segment ID 0 identifies the service-area segment within the plan (0 = the default single segment).
Frequently asked questions
Is AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) an HMO or PPO?
AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) is a PPO Medicare Advantage plan.
Does AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) include prescription drug coverage?
Yes — AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) is a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) and a $440.00 annual Part D drug deductible for 2026.
What is the maximum out-of-pocket cost for AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO)?
The 2026 in-network maximum out-of-pocket limit for AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) is $4200.00, per the CMS CY2026 Landscape file.
What counties offer AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) (H2406-039)?
AARP Medicare Advantage Essentials from UHC EP-1 (PPO) (H2406-039) is offered in one Texas county: El Paso County.
Sources
- CMS, Plan Year 2026 Medicare Advantage & Part D Landscape source file (March 2026) — retrieved 2026-07-18. Overall star rating year: 2026.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder — compare plans and enroll.