Top Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa for 2024
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2024 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Begins October 15
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Uncovering the Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa
Are you considering enrolling in a 2024 Medicare Advantage plan in Iowa? You're in good company. This year, more than 31 million people enrolled in a private Medicare health plan. Some want lower costs. Some are looking for more benefits. Others need access to more healthcare providers and doctors.
This page is dedicated to assisting you in exploring the highest-rated Medicare Advantage (MA) plans available in Iowa, highlighting the insurance providers that offer these plans, and providing guidance on locating suitable plans within your specific geographic region. This information is crucial as the availability of these plans varies by location, and it's essential to identify the options accessible in your area.
Table of Contents
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Unveiling the Standout Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), reviews and rates Iowa's Medicare Advantage plans based on a 5-star scale. The information used to create a plan's star rating comes from member input and data reported by the plan.
Iowa has 5-star Medicare Advantage plans available in 2023. Not all states and locations do. This year, the highest rated Medicare plans available in Iowa come from:
- Quartz Health Plan
MedicareWire recommends that you evaluate the plans offered by these Iowa health insurance companies, before all others, for this single reason. More stars awarded by CMS typically means members get better results. So, for instance, five-star plan members might receive better service, phone support, and care than those who have a four-star plan.
TIP: Everyone's personal situation is different. And so are Iowa's Medicare Advantage plans. That's why it is so important to understand Medigap vs Medicare Advantage plans.
Complete List of Iowa's Plan Providers
Iowa has 11 providers that offer Medicare Advantage plans. They include:
- Aetna Medicare
- Health Alliance Medicare
- HealthPartners UnityPoint Health
- Humana
- Medica
- Medical Associates Health Plan
- MediGold
- Quartz Health Plan
- Sanford Health Plan
- UnitedHealthcare
- Wellmark Advantage Health Plan
Top Iowa Plans by CMS 5-Star Score
Here's a list of the best Medicare Advantage plans available in Iowa, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services:
Top Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa
| Provider | Plan ID | Plan Name | Premium | Limit | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quartz Health Plan | H5262-021 | Gundersen Quartz Med Advantage Core D (w/Rx) (HMO) | $0.00 | $5,900 | 5.0 |
| Quartz Health Plan | H5262-001 | Gundersen Quartz Med Advantage Elite D (w/Rx) (HMO) | $162.00 | $3,000 | 5.0 |
| Quartz Health Plan | H5262-003 | Gundersen Quartz Med Advantage Value D (w/Rx) (HMO) | $59.00 | $3,450 | 5.0 |
| HealthPartners UnityPoint Health | H3416-001 | HealthPartners UnityPoint Health Align (PPO) | $0.00 | $3,900 | 4.5 |
| HealthPartners UnityPoint Health | H3416-002 | HealthPartners UnityPoint Health Symmetry (PPO) | $49.00 | $3,300 | 4.5 |
| Humana | H5216-171 | Humana Value Plus H5216-171 (PPO) | $38.80 | $6,700 | 4.5 |
| Humana | H5216-254 | HumanaChoice H5216-254 (PPO) | $0.00 | $3,900 | 4.5 |
| Humana | H5216-340 | HumanaChoice H5216-340 (PPO) | $0.00 | $7,900 | 4.5 |
| Humana | H5216-014 | HumanaChoice H5216-014 (PPO) | $59.00 | $6,700 | 4.5 |
| MediGold | H3668-031 | MediGold MercyOne Medicare Plan Cash Back MAPD (HMO) | $0.00 | $6,900 | 4.5 |
| MediGold | H3668-025 | MediGold MercyOne Medicare Plan No Premium (HMO) | $0.00 | $3,500 | 4.5 |
| MediGold | H3668-026 | MediGold MercyOne Medicare Plan Plus (HMO) | $29.00 | $3,200 | 4.5 |
| UnitedHealthcare | H5253-108 | AARP Medicare Advantage (HMO-POS) | $34.00 | $3,400 | 4.5 |
| UnitedHealthcare | H5253-107 | AARP Medicare Advantage Plan 2 (HMO-POS) | $0.00 | $3,900 | 4.5 |
Interested in joining a plan from one of the top-rated providers? That has a lot to do with your Iowa County. Medicare Advantage plans are regional, and you can't join a plan that isn't in your area.
Best MA Plans in Iowa by County
Choose your Iowa County below to see the best (and the worst) plans.
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Strategies for Choosing the Optimal Medicare Advantage Plan in Iowa
If you’re approaching the age of 65, navigating a special enrollment event, or looking to review your plan options ahead of the Annual Enrollment Period, there are a number of details you need to consider when comparing your options.
1. Examine Your Projected Utilization Needs
Do you believe that you will get the most out of your plan's benefits, including hospital inpatient care? If you do, evaluate plans with higher monthly premiums, low copayments, and low maximum out-of-pocket limits. Conversely, if your health is good and you rarely use services, look for plans with low premiums or a zero-dollar premium. These plans may have high out-of-pocket maximums and high deductibles, so weigh your risk carefully.
2. Review Your Drug Costs
Prescription drugs, not doctors, are what many seniors blame for driving up their healthcare costs. Part D prescription benefits are included with most Iowa Medicare Advantage plans. It would be best if you made sure that the plan you choose covers your drugs at a price you can afford.
3. Assess Your Need for Supplemental Coverage
Original Medicare does not all health care costs. It covers your major medical and some preventive care services, but it does not cover dental, vision, hearing, or prescriptions. A growing number of Medicare Advantage plans cover many of the essential services that your Part A and Part B benefits do not.
4. Consider Your Healthcare Providers
Medicare Advantage plans use healthcare provider networks, and not all primary care doctors and specialists accept all plans. For many Iowa shoppers, finding a plan that their doctors accept is exhausting. We can help!
Find Plans in your area with your ZIP Code
Next Steps
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Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? These common questions and answers might help.
What is the biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans can have some potential drawbacks. Many plans require members to use their provider network. Costs are also heavily influenced by how you use healthcare services. This makes it difficult to budget for healthcare expenses. Most plans require members to get referrals for specialists or authorization before they can receive healthcare services. Learn more about the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans.
Do Medicare Advantage plans pay 100% of all costs?
The average cost of a Medicare Advantage plan in Iowa is $30.66. But that's just the monthly premium. If you have one or more chronic health conditions, a plan's out-of-pocket costs (e.g. deductibles and copays) are also a factor to consider. Plus, most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug benefits, which have their own out-of-pocket costs.
What do Medicare Advantage plans include?
All Medicare Advantage plans offered in Iowa must cover all of the Original Medicare benefits. But, private Medicare plans are not required to provide healthcare services similarly. For instance, Medicare Part A covers 80% of hospital stays, skilled nursing, home care, hospice care, and home health care. And Part B covers 80% of doctor visits, lab tests, and other outpatient services. However, Medicare Advantage plans are allowed to set their own copays and routinely charge more than 20%. That said, they do have an annual limit, whereas Original Medicare doesn't.
Citations & References
- CMS.gov, 2023 Medicare Part C Landscape Source Files, Last Accessed January 13, 2023
- CMS.gov, "5-STAR PLAN RATINGS", Last Accessed October 22, 2022
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans", Last Accessed October 16, 2022
- KFF.org, "Medicare Advantage 2023 Spotlight: First Look", Last Accessed September 5, 2023
- Medicare.gov, "How to join a Medicare Advantage Plan", Last Accessed October 11, 2022
- CMS.gov, Part C and D Performance Data, Last Accessed January 13, 2023
- CMS.gov, Monthly MA Enrollment by State/County/Contract, Last Accessed January 13, 2023
- CMS.gov, Biden-Harris Administration Announces Lower Premiums for Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans in 2023, Last Accessed September 29, 2022
- CMS.gov, Medicare Marketing Guidelines, Last Accessed February 2, 2023
Plans Offered
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Centene Corporation, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Cigna-HealthSpring, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Oscar Health Insurance, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Scott and White Health Plan now part of Baylor Scott & White Health, and UnitedHealthcare.
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