Top Rated Medicare Advantage Plans by State and County

by David Bynon, last updated October 1, 2024

Many of the plans featured here are available through our partner, HealthCompare, who may compensate us when you enroll. This does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own, based on our independent research. Learn more about how we make money.

When you enter your zip code in the search tool above, we’ll show you a list of the top-rated Medicare Advantage plans available in your area, excluding Special Needs Plans and employer plans. Plan pages include benefits, out-of-pocket costs, and a plan’s most recent CMS star rating (out of 5 stars).

What are Medicare Advantage Plans?

Medicare Advantage plans are a private healthcare alternative to Original Medicare. The program provides healthcare for nearly half (48%) of all individuals on Medicare.^[1]

Medicare Advantage plans are local. Each plan is designed for the specific needs of its local residents and the availability of local healthcare providers. The easiest way to shop and compare 2025 plans where you live is to enter your zip code in the search tool above. You can also browse by state using the links below.

If you are new to Medicare and want to understand if Medicare Advantage is the best option for you and your personal situation, keep reading below.

Browse Top-Rated Medicare Advantage Plans by State

What Every Medicare Beneficiary Needs to Know About Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage, Part C of Medicare, is a private health insurance option for Medicare beneficiaries. Each year, health insurance companies offer new plans or update their existing ones in their counties. Most Medicare Advantage plans, like most Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, don’t give you nationwide coverage. Except in an emergency, coverage is regional.

People who choose Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare generally do so because they get more benefits. The key advantage of private health plans is their ability to offer more services, including prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, hearing, and/or possibly transportation services.

There may not be a plan in your area with all these benefits in one plan.

How Does Medicare Advantage Work?

When a Medicare beneficiary enrolls in a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan takes over responsibility for the member’s healthcare coverage. In other words, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is no longer the primary payor for the beneficiary’s care.

As you prepare to compare plans, it’s important to understand that all Medicare Advantage plans must provide all of the coverage guaranteed by Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.  However, plans are not required to cover benefits in the same way. For example, Part A and Part B (e.g., Original Medicare) are private fee-for-service coverage. Medicare pays approximately 80 percent for most Part B covered services, and the beneficiary pays the remainder as an out-of-pocket cost or with supplemental insurance (e.g., Medigap).

With Medicare Advantage plans, members pay monthly premiums and copayments when they use services. Depending on a member’s use of healthcare services, their costs may be more or less than 20 percent.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans?

It’s understandable why most people with Medicare would want to know the disadvantages of Medicare Advantage plans. After all, the advantage is easy to see. Medicare Advantage plans are able to offer additional benefits that Original Medicare does not. But how do you quantify advantages and disadvantages when comparing plans?

It isn’t easy.

There are many potential disadvantages to these plans. Most are subjective. Some of these may include:

1. Most private insurance companies that offer Medicare Part C plans use network providers to cover a service area. This might be a disadvantage if your doctor or specialist is not in the plan’s network of healthcare providers.
2. Most HMO plans require members to get a referral from their primary care doctor to use healthcare services (except emergency care).
3. Most types of Medicare Advantage plans have copays or coinsurance when a member uses services. Original Medicare also has a coinsurance requirement (often 20%), but Medicare Advantage plan copayments can cost more.

What is the Difference Between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Insurance?

When comparing Medicare Advantage with a Medicare Supplement plan, it’s important to remove the fluff and look at the facts. Healthcare can be very expensive. Ensure your major healthcare costs are covered as completely as possible with a Medicare Advantage plan or Original Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan.

Medicare Supplement plans only work with Original Medicare. They cover some out-of-pocket costs, like certain deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Unlike Original Medicare with Medicare Supplement coverage, Medicare Advantage plans have an annual out-of-pocket limit.

Another difference between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare plus a Medicare Supplement is when you pay. With Medicare Advantage, you pay most of the costs at the point of service. As a result, costs can vary and be difficult to plan for in advance.

With Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement insurance, you pay many of your costs up-front through monthly premiums. As a result, your medical costs may be easier to plan and budget.

Most people who join a Medicare Advantage plan do so because there is a cost-benefit. Generally, the cost-benefit comes from a low monthly premium combined with additional benefits bundled with a plan.

However, it’s important to do more than ask, “how much is Medicare Advantage,” and look at all of the extra benefits plans offer. If you do, you might be disappointed when the bills start rolling in.

There is a general misconception that Medicare Advantage plans cost less than Original Medicare. This isn’t always true. In fact, studies show that an inpatient stay in the hospital is likely to cost more with a Medicare Advantage plan, not less.^[4]

For this reason, it is very important to do your homework and examine costs when you use healthcare services with a plan. Every plan publishes a summary of benefits document that details all costs. MedicareWire publishes the summary of benefits information on all plan pages. You can download it as a PDF document to easily compare plans.

When Can I Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan?

Unlike Medigap, which does not have a specific enrollment period, you are only allowed to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan or Medicare Part D plan (PDP) during specific enrollment periods, which include your Individual Enrollment Period (IEP), the Annual Election Period (AEP), the General Enrollment Period (GEP), and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP).  It’s critical that you mark these open enrollment period dates on your calendar:

• IEP—A 7-month period that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65.
• AEP—This period starts October 15 and ends December 7. During AEP, individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can change plans or dis-enroll from their existing plan and return to Original Medicare. Changes made during AEP take effect on January 1.
• GEP—Starts January 1 and ends March 31. If you did not enroll in Medicare during your IEP, you can sign up for Part A and/or Part B during this time.
• OEP—Starts January 1 and ends March 31. During this time, individuals enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can make a one-time election to change to a different Medicare Advantage plan with or without prescription drug coverage or Original Medicare.

In certain circumstances, Medicare may also grant a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). A SEP is generally approved for specific life circumstances, such as moving out of your plan’s service area.

If you’re considering keeping your Original Medicare coverage and supplementing with additional coverage, the best time to buy a Medicare Supplement plan is during the six-month enrollment period that starts the first day of the month you turn age 65 — as long as you have enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B.

If you are newly eligible for Medicare because you’re disabled and under 65, you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan starting 21 months after you get Social Security. Your Medicare coverage begins 24 months after you get Social Security. Your chance to enroll in an MA plan lasts through the 27th month after you get Social Security benefits.

Are Medicare Advantage Plans Really an Advantage?

If you’ve read this far, you might wonder if Medicare Advantage is worth it. Medicare Advantage private health plans may be a good option for the following people:

1. People with retiree benefits may receive help paying for their Medicare Advantage premiums, deductibles, and copays.
2. Individuals who qualify for a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan.
3. People who are exceptionally healthy rarely use healthcare services outside their annual wellness visits.
4. Individuals outside of their Medigap Open Enrollment Period who can’t get a Medicare Supplement plan (no guaranteed issue right) and need the maximum out-of-pocket cost safety net built into Medicare Advantage plans.
5. People seeking additional benefits and who typically incur significant costs for things like dental, vision, and/or hearing.
6. People who need prescription drug benefits, in addition to their Original Medicare coverage, that prefer an all-in-one solution.

If you fall into one of the above categories, then yes, we recommend comparing the Medicare Advantage plans available in your area.

How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans

One of the minor disadvantages of Medicare Advantage is that plans can be difficult to compare and plans can change every year. The Original Medicare system, with supplemental coverage through standardized Medigap plans, typically has fewer changes.

To compare Medicare Advantage plans we recommend looking at four things:

1. Copayments and Coinsurance. Every service has its own costs that the member pays when they use the service. These costs are spelled out in a plan’s summary of benefits document. MedicareWire shows the summary of benefits information on plan pages.
2. Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) Cost. This is the maximum you will pay out-of-pocket on deductibles, copays, and coinsurance in a plan year before the plan begins paying 100 percent. It does not include your monthly premiums or prescription drug (Medicare Part D) costs. MOOP only includes Part A and Part B covered services that you receive from in-network providers.
3. Monthly Premiums. When you join a Medicare Advantage plan you will pay the plan’s premium and you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premiums. Some Medicare Advantage plans have a low or zero-dollar monthly premium, which simply means your Part B premium covers all or most of the cost.
4. Star Ratings. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans on a 5-star rating system. The star ratings help members understand the quality of care and service they can expect.

Types of Medicare Advantage Plans

There are several different types of Medicare Advantage plans:

1. HMO — Medicare Advantage HMOs provide care through a network of doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals that you must use to be covered for your care.
2. PPO —  PPO plans, like HMOs, have network doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals. You pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the plan’s network. However, with a Medicare Advantage PPO, you are not restricted to using providers in the network
3. HMO-POS — With a Medicare Advantage HMO-POS you have the option to go outside of the network for care, but you’ll pay more when you do. Also, The HMO and POS portions of the plan have separate deductibles. Care you receive in-network through the HMO has a different deductible than the care you get out-of-network through the POS.
4. COST — Medicare Cost Plans are a type of Medicare health plan available in certain, limited areas of the country. Unlike other plans, you can join even if you only have Part B. If you have Part A and Part B and go to a non-network provider, Original Medicare covers the services. You’ll pay the Part A and Part B coinsurance and deductible. Also, you can get your Medicare drug coverage from either the plan or you can join a Medicare Part D plan.
5. PFFS — A Medicare Advantage PFFS plan sounds a lot like Original Medicare and Medigap, but it’s not. The plan determines how much it will pay doctors, other health care providers, and hospitals, and how much you must pay when you get care. You can go to any Medicare-approved doctor or hospital that accepts the plan’s payment terms and agrees to treat you.
6. MSA — Medicare Advantage MSA plans combine a high-deductible insurance plan with a medical savings account that you can use to pay for your health care costs.
7. SNP — Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are most commonly HMO and PPO plans designed to provide healthcare to people with special health, financial, or institutional needs. Due to their specialization and qualification requirements, MedicareWire organizes SNP plans in its own directory.

NOTE: Although a plan may use provider networks to deliver care, emergency care is always covered both in and out of the provider network.

What is the Best Medicare Advantage Plan For You?

With Medicare, one size does not fit all. What’s best for your neighbor may not be your best choice. The only way to determine which Medicare Advantage plan is best for you is to look at your unique personal needs.

For many people, Medicare Advantage offers a good amount of coverage at an affordable cost. For instance, people with employer retiree benefits that assist them with copayments and deductibles love Medicare Advantage. The same is true of most people with dual-eligible status (e.g., Medicare and Medicaid) in counties that offer D-SNP (Special Needs Plans for dual-eligible people) plans.

However, if you don’t have financial assistance from a former employer or your state, Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage, might be a better option. Even though most private health plans offer more coverage options than Original Medicare, those options could cost you more money, especially if you use services often.

People often want to know who has the best Medicare Advantage plan for them. Or, what is the highest-rated Medicare Advantage plan? Medicare’s star ratings provide a clear-cut answer for the highest-rated plans, but there’s more to it than that.

Finding the best Medicare Advantage plan for you takes a little legwork. It’s important to understand that plans are regional, not national. As a result, a plan your friend has and loves in the next county over from you may not be available where you live. You must research plans in your region.

Plan Benefits That Go Beyond Original Medicare

From its inception, Original Medicare was designed to cover major medical services. Medicare Advantage plans also cover major medical, but insurance companies are free to bundle extra benefits with their health insurance. The most common benefit included is a prescription drug plan. However, an increasing number of plans also offer routine care for dental, vision, hearing, and/or possibly more.

NOTE: There may not be a plan in your area with all these benefits in one plan.

Another benefit that is quickly becoming a popular option, particularly in the age of the COVID-19 virus, is telehealth. This is an excellent option for anyone, but it’s particularly beneficial if getting to your doctor’s office is inconvenient.

Speak with a Licensed Insurance Agent

Ready to enroll? Still have questions? It’s time to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

You can enroll through the plan itself, using one of its agents, or use an independent agency like HealthCompare. Your cost will be the same, regardless.

Call 1-855-728-0510 (TTY 711) to speak with a licensed advisor.

Citations & References

• 1. KFF.org, Medicare Advantage in 2022: Enrollment Update and Key Trends, Last Accessed October 19, 2022
• 2. Medicare.gov, How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?, Last Accessed October 13, 2022
• 3. Medicare.gov, How to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, Last Accessed October 11, 2022
• 4. KFF.org, Medicare Advantage in 2022: Premiums, Out-of-Pocket Limits, Cost Sharing, Supplemental Benefits, Prior Authorization, and Star Ratings, Last Accessed November 5, 2022

Plans Offered

Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Capital Blue Cross, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, Freedom Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, HealthSun, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Medica Central Health Plan, Optimum HealthCare, Premera Blue Cross, SCAN Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare(R), Wellcare, WellPoint.