Best for size of network: UnitedHealthcare
4.17 CMS Star Rating UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are widely available and boast the largest Medicare Advantage provider network, although member experience ratings are average. (855) 821-0556 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcare from UnitedHealthcare States available 49 states and Washington, D.C. Members in high-rated plans Medium (50% to 89%) Member experience 3.55 (Average) States available 49 states and Washington, D.C. Members in high-rated plans Medium (50% to 89%) Member experience 3.55 (Average) Pros Cons
UnitedHealthcare
Why we picked it: UnitedHealthcare offers the largest Medicare Advantage network of all companies, with more than 1 million network care providers.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. UnitedHealthcare also partners with AARP, insuring the Medicare products that carry the AARP name. Many of UHC’s members are in highly rated plans, although member experience ratings are average among major providers.
» MORE: Read our review of UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans
Best for extra perks: Aetna
4.14 CMS Star Rating Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are widely available and offer a variety of extra benefits. Member experience scores are also high, and star ratings land just above the industry average. (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org on NerdWallet States available 46 states and Washington, D.C. Members in high-rated plans Medium (50% to 89%) Member experience 3.77 (Above average) States available 46 states and Washington, D.C. Members in high-rated plans Medium (50% to 89%) Member experience 3.77 (Above average) Pros Cons
Aetna
Why we picked it: Some Aetna Medicare Advantage members have access to cost help with dental, vision and hearing care, as well as a variety of other benefits, such as in-home health visits and meal delivery after a hospital stay.
Aetna, a CVS Health company, is the fourth-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. All of Aetna’s plans provide cost help with dental, vision and hearing care, and many offer other extras. Some valuable Aetna benefits include a travel benefit that allows you to access Aetna Medicare providers outside your service area, an over-the-counter benefit that lets you pick up items like vitamins and cold medications from drugstores or online at no cost and access to a consultant to help members find local resources and activities.
» MORE: Read our review of Aetna Medicare Advantage plans
Best for local support: Blue Cross Blue Shield
3.93 CMS Star Rating Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are widely available and affordable, but some companies earn higher marks than others on member satisfaction. (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org on NerdWallet States available 48 states and Puerto Rico Members in high-rated plans Medium (50% to 89%) Member experience 3.41 (Average) States available 48 states and Puerto Rico Members in high-rated plans Medium (50% to 89%) Member experience 3.41 (Average) Pros Cons
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Why we picked it: Blue Cross Blue Shield is a collective of 33 different companies, and many are geographically specific, offering benefits targeted to local members.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield collective is the third-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans and includes companies present in 48 states and Puerto Rico. Though BCBS’s presence is nationwide, individual companies offer benefits specific to their areas. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, for instance, offers a Medicare plan in partnership with Meijer, a supermarket chain primarily concentrated in the Midwest. And Highmark companies provide access to state-specific concierge teams that can connect members to local tools and resources. Member experience ratings vary from company to company, so it’s important to research your local BCBS provider.
» MORE: Read our review of Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans
Best for low-cost plan availability: Humana
4.35 CMS Star Rating Humana plans are widely available, highly rated by CMS and score well for member satisfaction. Humana also offers $0-premium plans in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org on NerdWallet States available 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico Members in high-rated plans High (90% or more) Member experience 4.04 (Above average) States available 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico Members in high-rated plans High (90% or more) Member experience 4.04 (Above average) Pros Cons
Humana
Why we picked it: Humana offers $0-premium plans in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and 83% of members in non-special needs plans (SNPs) are in a $0-premium plan.
Humana is the second-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, and in addition to being widely available, the company offers $0-premium plans in every U.S. state except Alaska. Humana’s average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment, is 4.35 out of 5, and the vast majority of the plan’s members are in highly rated plans.
» MORE: Read our review of Humana Medicare Advantage plans
Best of the Blues: Highmark
4.42 CMS Star Rating Highmark is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield family, which includes 33 independent companies. Highmark plans are highly rated and score well for member satisfaction, but plans are available in only four states. (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9am-9pm ET, Sa 10am-9pm ET Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org on NerdWallet States available 4 states Members in high-rated plans High (90% or more) Member experience 3.99 (Above average) States available 4 states Members in high-rated plans High (90% or more) Member experience 3.99 (Above average) Pros Cons
Highmark
Why we picked it: Highmark gets high Medicare star ratings and high member experience scores from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Highmark is a member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield family, which includes 33 independent companies that together form the third-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. Highmark is one of the few Blue companies with a 5-star contract in 2024, and Highmark’s average star rating is among the best of the bigger BCBS companies. The provider also ranks second in customer satisfaction in Pennsylvania, one of the major Medicare markets surveyed in this year’s J.D. Power study.
» MORE: Read our review of Highmark Medicare Advantage plans
What states have 5-star Medicare Advantage plans?
💬 From our Nerds: What is the highest-rated Medicare Advantage plan?
"There isn’t one Medicare Advantage plan that’s the highest-rated; there are multiple plans that get an overall rating of 5 stars, which is the highest rating from CMS. In 2024, 29 states and Puerto Rico have 5-star plans available.
"About 7% of rated Medicare Advantage contracts achieved an overall star rating of 5 stars in 2024. However, not everyone has access to a 5-star plan, and not every 5-star plan is the right fit. Research what plans are available in your area."
— Kate Ashford, lead writer covering Medicare
How to choose the best Medicare Advantage plan
The right Medicare Advantage plan for you will depend on your health history, prescription medications and where you live, among other factors. Here are some strategies for selecting the best plan:
Check star ratings. The CMS collects data on Medicare Advantage plans from member surveys, the plans themselves and medical providers, and then it assigns a star rating based on the results. The star rating is on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being best.
Compare out-of-pocket costs. Each plan will have a monthly premium (many Medicare Advantage plans have no premium) and a maximum out-of-pocket cost, which is the most you’ll pay in a year for covered health care.
Keep your meds in mind. Your medications may seem like an afterthought, but make sure you investigate how each plan will cover your medications — or whether they’re covered at all.
Look for your doctors. If you’ve got a list of caregivers and medical facilities you use and prefer, look for plans that include them.
Consider the plan type. If you see specialists frequently and you don’t want to seek a referral for every office visit, a PPO plan is probably the better fit. If you’re a light health care user and see mostly your primary care physician, an HMO might be more affordable.
Bottom line: Our top picks for Medicare Advantage plans
Best for size of network: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage.
Best for extra perks: Aetna Medicare Advantage.
Best for local support: Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage.
Best for low-cost plan availability: Humana Medicare Advantage.
Best of the Blues: Highmark Medicare Advantage.
» MORE: What you'll pay for Medicare in 2024
You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan when you first become eligible for Medicare (your initial enrollment period) or during designated annual Medicare enrollment periods.
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Medicare Advantage review methodology
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
