More than 3.8 million people in New York are signed up for Medicare, making it the fourth-largest U.S. state for Medicare beneficiaries.
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Medicare sold by private insurance companies. It offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as cost savings on dental and vision coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they can be cheaper than paying for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan. However, they have less flexibility since you’ll need to get care from within the plan’s network of providers. Weigh your options to determine which plan best suits your needs.
» MORE: Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Which should I choose?
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Compare the best Medicare Advantage plans in New York
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BEST FOR SIZE OF NETWORK | (855) 821-0556 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcarefrom UnitedHealthcare | ||||
3.95 | 3.95/5 | 49 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.41 (Average) | |
BEST FOR PART B GIVEBACK | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | ||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.63 | 3.63/5 | 48 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico | Low (49% or less) | 3.62 (Above average) |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | |||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.96 | 3.96/5 | 48 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.41 (Average) |
BEST FOR RATINGS | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | ||||
 (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.29 | 4.29/5 | 44 states and Washington, D.C. | High (85% to 100%) | 4.01 (Above average) |
Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in New York
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awards every Medicare Advantage plan a star rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being a top-rated plan. Below are companies with at least one plan that received top marks in New York for the 2025 plan year. (Get more information about Medicare star ratings.)
4.5-star plans
There are no 5-star rated plans available in New York for 2025. The companies below offer plans in New York that are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by CMS:
4-star plans
The companies below offer plans in New York that are rated 4 stars out of 5 by CMS:
Highmark.
This list doesn’t include special needs plans, which restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics, such as having a chronic illness or living in a nursing home.
- See all Medicare Advantage providers in New York.
Aetna.
CDPHP Medicare Advantage.
Centers Plan for Healthy Living.
Elderplan.
EmblemHealth.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield.
Healthfirst Medicare Plan.
Highmark.
Independent Health.
MetroPlus Health Plan.
MVP Health Care.
Trinity Health Plan New York.
VillageCareMAX.
VNS Health Medicare.
» MORE: Best Medicare Advantage plans
What to know about Medicare Advantage in New York
More than 1 in 6 people in New York are 65 and older, and there are a variety of Medicare Advantage plans in the state.
The average monthly premium in 2025 for a Medicare Advantage plan in New York is $42.90. (It was $30.35 in 2024.)
There are 280 Medicare Advantage plans available in New York in 2025. (There were 241 plans in 2024.)
All Medicare-eligible people in New York have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.
Third-party ratings
In its 2024 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study — the 10th it's done so far — J.D. Power measured member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans based on eight factors ranging from level of trust to how well a provider resolves problems or complaints. The study was fielded in the 10 biggest Medicare markets, including New York.
In New York, these Medicare Advantage providers scored at or above the regional average (624 points) on measures of member satisfaction (based on a 1,000-point scale):
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (654 points).
Healthfirst (625 points).
UnitedHealthcare (624 points).
Medicare resources in New York
New York State Office for the Aging: Provides advocacy, community programs and resources for people in New York.
New York State’s HIICAP: Provides free counseling and assistance with Medicare and other health insurance.
New York State Department of Health: Shares information on specific health and insurance topics.
💬 From our Nerds: What Medicare Advantage plans are rated the best in New York?
“While there aren’t any companies offering 5-star Medicare Advantage plans in New York in 2025, you can find 4.5-star plans from Aetna, CDPHP Medicare Advantage, Healthfirst, Highmark, Independent Health and MVP Health Care. And you can find 4-star plans from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and Highmark.
“That said, not every plan from these companies gets high ratings, and even a plan with a high rating may not be the right fit for you. Compare your options and keep your doctors and prescriptions in mind.”
— Kate Ashford, lead writer covering Medicare
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:
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).
Looking for more insurance in New York? Check out these resources:
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Fact Sheet. Accessed Oct 25, 2024.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2025 Landscape (202410) (ZIP). Accessed Oct 25, 2024.
- 3.U.S. Census Bureau. QuickFacts, New York. Accessed Oct 25, 2024.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
This roundup includes only insurers that sell Medicare Advantage in New York.