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Braven Health Medicare Advantage 2024 Review
Braven Health offers $0-premium PPO plans throughout New Jersey, but it falls behind on quality.
Alex Rosenberg Lead Writer | Medicare, health care, legislation
Alex Rosenberg is a NerdWallet writer focusing on Medicare and information technology. He has more than 10 years of experience researching and writing about health care, insurance, technology, data privacy and public policy. His research has supported lawmakers in the Wisconsin State Legislature as well as health systems and national health authorities in the U.S. and more than 10 other countries. He is based in Stoughton, Wisconsin.
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This influences which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Braven Health
3.5
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Braven Health sells Medicare Advantage plans in New Jersey only. It offers $0-premium PPO plans, but star ratings from CMS are below average.
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Low (49% or less)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
3.67 (Average)
Pros
$0-premium PPO plans available in every New Jersey county.
Cons
Below-average star ratings from CMS.
High maximum out-of-pocket limits.
Plans available in New Jersey only.
States available
1 state
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
Low (49% or less)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
3.67 (Average)
Pros
$0-premium PPO plans available in every New Jersey county.
Cons
Below-average star ratings from CMS.
High maximum out-of-pocket limits.
Plans available in New Jersey only.
Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans are available in New Jersey. The company offers $0-premium PPO plans throughout its service area, but it gets below-average star ratings for quality from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Here’s what you should know about Braven Health Medicare Advantage.
Braven Health Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans have advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
$0 PPO options: $0-premium preferred provider organization (PPO) plans are available in all 21 New Jersey counties.
Cons
Below-average star ratings: Braven Health trails the all-company weighted average for star ratings from CMS.
High out-of-pocket limits: Plans have higher maximum out-of-pocket limits than most competitors.
Limited availability: Braven Health plans are available only in New Jersey.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releases annual star ratings that rank Medicare plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency’s ratings are based on data measuring plans’ quality of care and customer satisfaction.
Based on the most recent year of data and weighted by enrollment, Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans get an average overall 2024 star rating of 3.5 stars
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $174.70 per month in 2024, although some plans cover part or all of this cost
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out-of-network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and whether the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Braven Health plans or compare across carriers.
Braven Health Medicare Advantage plan types
All Braven Health Medicare Advantage plans offered in 2024 are preferred provider organization (PPO) plans.
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
Braven Health offers Medicare Advantage plans in New Jersey only, but they’re available in all of the state’s 21 counties. The company covers about 48,000 Medicare Advantage members
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
