Best Medicare Advantage Plans in 2024

Check out the Medicare Advantage plans that get top marks.
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Quotes provided by Chapter

Kate Ashford, CSA®
By Kate Ashford, CSA® 
Updated
Edited by Holly Carey

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Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Original Medicare that includes all the benefits of Original Medicare and often a few extras, such as cost help with dental and vision care

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans. Accessed Oct 20, 2023.
. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers, and plan availability depends on location.

Medicare Advantage plans are a popular option for people who are eligible for Medicare: Just over half of Medicare-eligible people are in a Medicare Advantage plan

. But each plan has strengths and weaknesses. Here’s the list of Medicare Advantage plans that got our attention. (Information is current as of January 2024.)

Best Medicare Advantage companies

Insurance company
CMS Star Rating
States available
Members in high-rated plans
Member experience
Learn more
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Best for size of network
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage - UHC

UnitedHealthcare

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3.87
3.87 /5
49 states and Washington, D.C.Medium (50% to 89%)3.12 (Average)

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from UnitedHealthcare

Best for extra perks
Aetna Medicare Advantage - ME

Aetna

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(866) 907-3870
3.98
3.98 /5
46 states and Washington, D.C.Medium (50% to 89%)3.79 (Above average)

8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

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from MedicareEnrollment.com

Best for local support
Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage - ME

Blue Cross Blue Shield

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(888) 498-6687
3.86
3.86 /5
48 states and Puerto RicoMedium (50% to 89%)3.39 (Above average)

8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

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from MedicareEnrollment.com

Best for low-cost plan availability
Humana Medicare Advantage - ME

Humana

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(844) 974-2872
4.34
4.34 /5
49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto RicoHigh (90% or more)3.97 (Above average)

8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

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from MedicareEnrollment.com


Best for size of network: UnitedHealthcare

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UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage - UHC

UnitedHealthcare

3.87

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

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from UnitedHealthcare

States available

49 states and Washington, D.C.


Members in high-rated plans

Medium (50% to 89%)


Member experience

3.12 (Average)


States available

49 states and Washington, D.C.


Members in high-rated plans

Medium (50% to 89%)


Member experience

3.12 (Average)


Pros

  • Largest Medicare Advantage medical network of all companies, with more than 1 million providers.
  • Largest Medicare Advantage dental network, and all standard plans offer dental coverage.
  • Available in 49 states and Washington, D.C.

Cons

  • Member experience scores are average.
  • Offers one of the highest-priced special needs plans, although lower-priced plans are also available.

Standout feature: 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.

Best for extra perks: Aetna

Aetna Medicare Advantage - ME

Aetna

3.98

CMS Star Rating

Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are widely available and offer a variety of extra benefits. Member experience scores are also high, although star ratings fall just below the industry average.

(866) 907-3870 / TTY 711

8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

GET A QUOTE

from MedicareEnrollment.com

States available

46 states and Washington, D.C.


Members in high-rated plans

Medium (50% to 89%)


Member experience

3.79 (Above average)


States available

46 states and Washington, D.C.


Members in high-rated plans

Medium (50% to 89%)


Member experience

3.79 (Above average)


Pros

  • In addition to dental, vision and hearing, many plans offer perks like an over-the-counter allowance, meal delivery and in-home health visits.
  • More than 8 in 10 Medicare-eligible beneficiaries have access to a $0-premium Aetna plan.
  • Available in 46 states and Washington, D.C.

Cons

  • Customer satisfaction lands below industry average in some major Medicare markets.

Standout feature: In addition to cost help with dental, vision and hearing care, Aetna Medicare members have access to 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.

Best for local support: Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage - ME

Blue Cross Blue Shield

3.86

CMS Star Rating

Blue Cross Blue Shield plans are widely available and affordable, but some companies earn higher marks than others on member satisfaction.

(888) 498-6687 / TTY 711

8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

GET A QUOTE

from MedicareEnrollment.com

States available

48 states and Puerto Rico


Members in high-rated plans

Medium (50% to 89%)


Member experience

3.39 (Above average)


States available

48 states and Puerto Rico


Members in high-rated plans

Medium (50% to 89%)


Member experience

3.39 (Above average)


Pros

  • BCBS companies offer plans in 48 states and Puerto Rico.
  • $0-premium BCBS plans are available in 44 states and Puerto Rico.
  • BCBS plans offer extra benefits like chronic condition management and preloaded debit cards for over-the-counter items.

Cons

  • Ratings and member satisfaction vary among BCBS companies, and some score lower than others. You may not have access to a highly rated BCBS company.
  • BCBS companies offer special needs plans in only half of U.S. states.

Standout feature: 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 across the board are above average, but they vary from company to company, so it’s important to research your local BCBS provider.

Best for low-cost plan availability: Humana

Humana Medicare Advantage - ME

Humana

4.34

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.

(844) 974-2872 / TTY 711

8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

GET A QUOTE

from MedicareEnrollment.com

States available

49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico


Members in high-rated plans

High (90% or more)


Member experience

3.97 (Above average)


States available

49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico


Members in high-rated plans

High (90% or more)


Member experience

3.97 (Above average)


Pros

  • Offers $0-premium plans in every U.S. state except Alaska.
  • Higher-than-average overall star rating from CMS.
  • Strong member experience scores among major providers.

Cons

  • Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans available in only 22 states.
  • The National Committee for Quality Assurance gives several Humana plans a 3 or below on its 5-point scale.

Standout feature: Humana offers $0-premium plans in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and the company estimates that 15% more members will be in a $0-premium plan in 2024 than the previous year.

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 4.34 out of 5, and the vast majority of the plan’s members are in highly rated plans.

Best of the Blues: Highmark

Highmark Medicare Advantage - ME

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.

(888) 614-3549 / TTY 711

8am - 11pm EST, 7 days a week

Speak to a licensed insurance agent on MedicareEnrollment.com

GET A QUOTE

from MedicareEnrollment.com

States available

4 states


Members in high-rated plans

High (90% or more)


Member experience

4.06 (Above average)


States available

4 states


Members in high-rated plans

High (90% or more)


Member experience

4.06 (Above average)


Pros

  • Higher-than-average overall star rating from CMS.
  • Member experience ratings are well above average.

Cons

  • Available in only four states: Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
  • Has the smallest percentage of $0-premium plans of the major providers.

Standout feature: Highmark gets high Medicare star ratings and high member experience scores from CMS.

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.

How to shop for Medicare Advantage plans

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.

Here's an overview of our top picks:

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).

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