Medicare Advantage (MA) is a private alternative to Original Medicare. It has extra benefits like dental and vision, but you often must use in-network providers and get prior authorization, which could delay care. UnitedHealthcare has the best Medicare Advantage plans overall, according to Investopedia, but other companies also caught our notice and may be a better fit for your needs. To choose the best Medicare Advantage companies, we evaluated nine major health insurance companies for 22 criteria that fall into categories including plan and care quality, cost, Medicare drug gap coverage, and state availability. Best Medicare Advantage Plans Best Medicare Advantage Plans Bottom Line What Is Medicare Advantage? Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage 2025 Medicare Changes How to Choose When Will 2025 MA Plans Be Available? FAQ Methodology Investopedia's Rating 4.7 Pros & Cons Pros Available in most states and Washington D.C. Largest provider network nationwide Offers additional drug coverage in the gap Free home visits $0 copays for primary care provider (PCP), specialist, and lab charges Cons Below-average J.D. Power score in some regions Why We Chose It AARP's UnitedHealthcare (UHC) plans feature high Medicare star ratings, the largest provider network of all MA plan providers, and a broad array of options. Overview UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans, and boasts the largest network of health care providers. UnitedHealthcare’s MA plans—co-branded with AARP—earn high marks for plan quality and member experience. On average, UHC Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage have a 3.94 Medicare star rating (out of a possible 5), which is on par with the national average of 3.94. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an independent organization that measures health plan quality and patient satisfaction, gives UHC MA plans a 3.8-star average rating, putting it about third in the list of companies we evaluated. Both NCQA and Medicare score on a five-star scale. While UnitedHealthcare scored well in the J.D. Power 2023 Medicare Advantage Study for Florida and Texas, it scored below average in California, Pennsylvania, and New York. The company offers a range of plan types, including HMO, PPO, and PFFS (private-fee-for-service) plans. Coverage is available for: Most plans offer additional drug coverage during the Medicare donut hole, which can save money if your drugs cost more than $5,030 in 2024. UHC outperforms its peers in key metrics, but the average out-of-pocket expense is $5,579 in 2024. This amount is higher than some competitors’ but lower than the average across major insurers. Read more in our UnitedHealthcare Medicare review. Note UnitedHealthcare Group is being sued for allegedly using a flawed artificial intelligence algorithm that denies rehabilitation care for Medicare Advantage patients, despite knowing that the algorithm has a 90% error rate. Investopedia's Rating 4.0 Pros & Cons Pros Lowest overall-cost plans compared to the largest providers Lowest average premium compared to the largest providers Cons No PFFS plans Limited drug coverage in the Medicare coverage gap Why We Chose It Cigna Medicare Advantage plans are the cheapest nationwide of all major insurers offering Medicare Advantage plans. Overview Cigna has the lowest-cost Medicare Advantage plans when considering premiums, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket cost limits across all plans. In particular, Cigna has the lowest average premium at $6.81 per month and the second-lowest average drug deductible at $23.96 (Kaiser has the lowest). However, Cigna’s plans are only available in 26 states. And the provider’s average Medicare star rating is 3.66, below the national average of 3.94. Learn more in our Cigna Medicare review. Investopedia's Rating 4.1 Pros & Cons Pros Available in 49 states Benefits for over-the-counter drugs Wide plan type range available Good Medicare star rating Cons Not available in Alaska Pharmacy network may be limited in some areas Why We Chose It Humana is the second-largest Medicare Advantage provider in the country and is available in most states. Overview Humana is the second-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans nationwide, with plans in 49 states. Alaska is the sole exception. Depending on where you live, HMO, PPO, and private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans may be available. But only about half of Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage offer additional coverage in the coverage gap. If your prescription drug costs add up to more than $5,030 in 2024, you could be on the hook for 25% of their cost in the coverage gap. Humana has a limited number of preferred cost-share pharmacies in urban areas of 25 states and suburban areas of 14 states. These are key to saving money on medications. Since access to cost-share pharmacies varies quite a bit, ensure there’s one convenient to you before signing up. Read more in our Humana Medicare review. Note Humana is also being sued for using artificial intelligence to deny rehabilitation care, despite allegedly knowing the AI model's estimations were often "highly inaccurate" and it used "rigid and unrealistic predictions for recovery" to override doctor recommendations. Investopedia's Rating 4.5 Pros & Cons Pros Offers additional drug coverage in the gap Well-priced plans Home health visits with all MA plans $0 PCP and specialist copays Cons MA plans unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and Vermont No private-fee-for-service MA plans Why We Chose It Aetna offers more MA plans across the U.S. that provide additional drug coverage in the Medicare donut hole than any of the other largest MA plan providers, making it an excellent choice if you spend a lot on prescription drugs. Overview Aetna has more MA plans that offer additional drug coverage in the Medicare gap phase than any other major provider. Some Aetna plans have $0 copays for generic drugs in the gap. This is important because once you and your plan spend $5,030 on drugs in 2024, you’ll pay up to 25% on brand-name drugs and generics. Then, after you spend $8,000 out of pocket on drugs, you leave the donut hole. Aetna came in second in our evaluation of nationwide costs for MA plans, which looks at average premiums, drug deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses. But if you live in Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, or Vermont, or want a PFFS plan (private-fee-for-service), you'll need to consider another Medicare Advantage provider. Read more in our Aetna Medicare review. Research Insight "Many Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage offer additional benefits to help manage prescription costs during the drug coverage donut hole, such as reduced copayment or coinsurance requirements. If you want continued access to your medication at the most affordable rate, making sure your plan provides additional coverage in the gap is crucial." — Shanker Narayan, Investopedia Research Analyst Investopedia's Rating 4.0 Pros & Cons Pros Highest average NCQA rating of the major providers Highest Medicare star rating of the major providers Lowest deductibles, on average, compared to all other major providers Cons Only available in 8 states and D.C. Only offers HMO plans Why We Chose It Kaiser Permanente stands out for its excellent plan quality and customer satisfaction. It has the highest star ratings from Medicare the NCQA of the providers we reviewed. Overview Kaiser Permanente isn’t available in many states, but where it is available, third parties rate it highly. Kaiser’s average Medicare star rating, which measures plan quality, is 4.77 out of 5. Its NCQA rating, which reflects quality and customer satisfaction, is 4.5 out of 5 stars, making Kaiser Permanente the highest-rated company we reviewed in both of those categories. Not only that, but compared to the other largest players, Kaiser Permanente’s drug deductibles are the lowest nationwide—only $3, on average. The company keeps member costs low because it only offers HMO plans for Medicare Advantage coverage. You’ll need to stay strictly in-network. You must reside in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington state, or the District of Columbia to be eligible for coverage. Read more in our Kaiser Permanente Medicare review. AARP/UnitedHealthcare is our pick for the top Medicare Advantage provider. It boasts the largest provider network nationwide, has excellent customer satisfaction ratings, and offers a lot of choice. To choose the best Medicare Advantage company, consider what you need from a plan. Are you comfortable with an HMO, or do you require additional flexibility? For instance, if you want a PFFS plan, there are a few providers to consider, including UnitedHealthcare and Humana. If cost is your primary concern, consider Cigna. But beware that its Medicare star rating—an important indicator of quality—is below average. Or would you rather pay more monthly for a higher level of quality and customer satisfaction? Check out UHC's AARP plans, Aetna, or Kaiser, if they're available in your area. Do you want a plan with drug coverage? If so, how much do you expect to spend on prescription drugs, and which specific drugs do you use? Medicare.gov’s plan finder lets you input the drugs you use when comparing plans to see which provides the best coverage. You can also see which specific plans offer additional coverage in the Medicare donut hole. Individual Medicare Advantage plans have their own Medicare star ratings—we looked at national company averages. So, even if you choose a top-ranked company like UnitedHealthcare, ensure the specific MA plan you’re interested in has a rating you’re comfortable with. That information is also available in the plan finder tool. "Aside from an overall star rating, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also publishes scores for specific subcategories, such as how well a plan helps manage chronic conditions, gives access to tests and screenings, and whether the insurer makes decisions on claims in a timely fashion. Considering these star ratings alongside out-of-pocket costs can ensure that you find coverage that matches your expectations. You can see a plan's star rating using the Medicare Plan Finder tool on Medicare.gov." — Shanker Narayan, Investopedia Research Analyst Medicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, is a program in which private insurers offer coverage as an alternative to government-provided Medicare. MA providers must be approved by Medicare and must offer most of the same coverage as Medicare parts A and B. They also usually offer prescription drug coverage and other benefits such as: This year will bring some of the biggest changes to Medicare in a generation. Look out for: If you already have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, carefully review any changes to them regarding the formulary, costs, networks, or benefits, and be ready to switch plans. All MA plans must offer the same standard coverage as Original Medicare (Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance). And many don't charge any premiums or deductibles. But there are other differences between plans. Would you prefer an HMO or a PPO? An HMO may be cheaper but require you to choose from a smaller group of health care providers and get referrals to see specialists. PPOs allow you to see out-of-network doctors and don't require referrals. If you have doctors that you see now and don't want to switch, see if they are included in the provider network of any plan you're considering. Although you probably won't have to pay a premium, Medicare Advantage plans do include copays, which are fees you pay out of pocket when you receive care. Plans have out-of-pocket maximums, so be sure to examine these limits on your costs. The lower the out-of-pocket maximum, the better. Look for any medications you currently take on the plan's formulary (the list of drugs covered by the plan) to see whether yours would be covered. And don't forget to look at medication copays, too. The government examines MA plans for their quality and customer satisfaction, and then assigns each a Medicare Star Rating. The ratings range from one star to five stars, with one star representing the lowest score. On Oct. 1, insurers will release their 2025 plan information on the Medicare.gov website. You can join or change plans during Medicare open enrollment, which runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 every year. Coverage begins Jan. 1 of the following year. If you already have an MA plan you can make one switch to a different plan or back to Original Medicare during Medicare Advantage open enrollment. That runs from Jan. 1 to March 31. The Medicare coverage gap or "donut hole" refers to a period when there is a limit on prescription drug coverage. It begins once you have spent up to a certain limit ($5,030 in 2024) on covered drugs. This is called the initial phase. After that, Medicare asks you to be responsible for up to 25% of drug costs until you've spent $8,000 on covered drugs. Once you've hit $8,000, the gap ends and the catastrophic phase of coverage begins. The coverage gap will be eliminated in 2025. Initial coverage for Part D will extend to the maximum out-of-pocket threshold, at which point catastrophic coverage begins. Kaiser Permanente’s 2023 Medicare Advantage plans receive 5 stars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, and Mid-Atlantic states (Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.). The CMS ranks Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars being the highest or best rating. A plan’s star rating reflects its performance based on enrolled people’s experiences. A primary Medicare Advantage plan drawback is that these plans typically require you to use dedicated networks, such as an HMO or PPO. As a result, geographic coverage and provider choice is limited. Original Medicare doesn’t restrict you to a network; you can choose any provider accepting Medicare. Yes, you can switch back to Original Medicare during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period from October 15 to December 7. Your Original Medicare coverage will go into effect on January 1. Or, you can switch during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment from January 1 to March 31. Your new coverage becomes effective on the first day of the month after joining the plan. To identify which Medicare insurance companies to review, we analyzed business and market insight databases including Statistia, Plunkett, and Gale. We also considered user-generated data from Google to determine public interest and trends in Medicare plans. We collected data from third-party rating agencies like the credit rating agencyAM Bestand the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), an independent organization that rates health insurance plans on quality and customer satisfaction. We also gathered data from government websites and databases provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) such as CMS.gov and HealthCare.gov, and directly from companies via websites, media contacts, and existing partnerships. The data collection process spanned Sept. 15 to Sept. 29, 2023. We then developed a quantitative model that scores each Medicare Advantage provider based on four major categories and 22 criteria that are crucial in evaluating the company's offerings and benefits. We weighted the four categories as follows for this article: Read our full methodology for reviewing Medicare insurance providers.Best Medicare Advantage Plans
Best Overall : AARP/UnitedHealthcare
Lowest Cost : Cigna
Great for Nationwide Coverage : Humana
Best for Additional Drug Coverage in the Gap : Aetna
Best for Quality and Customer Satisfaction : Kaiser Permanente
Bottom Line
Research Insight
What Is Medicare Advantage?
Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage
Pros
Cons
Changes Coming to Medicare in 2025
How to Choose a Medicare Advantage Plan
Think About Plan Type
Compare Provider Networks
Examine Costs
Check for Your Medicines
Look at Plan Star Ratings
When Will 2025 Medicare Advantage Plans Be Available?
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Medicare Donut Hole or Coverage Gap?
What Is the Highest-Rated Medicare Advantage Plan?
What Is the Biggest Disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?
Can I Drop My Medicare Advantage Plan and Go Back to Original Medicare?
How We Chose the Best Medicare Advantage Providers
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