The bottom line: AARP Medicare Advantage plans are insured by UnitedHealthcare and offer widely available $0-premium plans. If you need to step up to a plan with a premium, however, you might find cheaper options elsewhere. Competitors might also offer a better customer experience. Jump to: Full Review
AARP Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- Backed by a solid company: UnitedHealthcare, which insures AARP Medicare Advantage plans, offers a large Medicare Advantage network with nearly 1 million network care providers.
- $0-premium plans: Among AARP Medicare Advantage plans, 64% offer a $0 premium. Premium-free AARP plans are available in 42 states.
Cons
- Customer experience: UnitedHealthcare scored below average on customer experience surveys in 6 out of 10 major Medicare markets in JD Power’s latest study.
- Plans with premiums: While AARP offers plenty of $0-premium plans, its plans with monthly premiums cost more than major competitors.
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Our full review
45+ Medicare companies and brands analyzed by our team of experts.
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NerdWallet’s Medicare content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in Medicare. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have been cited in publications including Healthline, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.
NerdWallet star rating for AARP Medicare Advantage
AARP Medicare Advantage plans earned 4.2 out of 5 stars for overall performance. NerdWallet’s ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formula takes into account premiums, out-of-pocket costs, government quality ratings, customer complaints, disenrollment survey data, third party quality accreditation and more.
UnitedHealthcare, which insures AARP Medicare Advantage plans, appears on our list of the best Medicare Advantage companies.
NerdWallet star ratings are different from CMS ratings for Medicare plans.
Our data-driven, consumer-first scoring rubric for Medicare Advantage plans includes crucial metrics like cost and a wider range of data sources for quality and customer satisfaction in addition to the information incorporated into CMS ratings.
Government quality ratings for AARP Medicare Advantage
Average CMS star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4
AARP-branded Medicare Advantage plans from UnitedHealthcare get government ratings on par with the industry average. AARP plans received an average rating of 4 out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2026, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted CMS star rating for plans from all companies is 4.02.
Among AARP members in rated plans, 75% are in a Medicare Advantage plan rated 4 stars or above for 2026.
CMS maintains its own database of star ratings, which rank each plan from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
All Medicare Advantage plans are evaluated on health plan measures, and Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage are also evaluated on drug plan measures.
You can find a plan’s rating with Medicare's plan finding tool.
How much does AARP Medicare Advantage cost?
Premiums
About 64% of AARP Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium.
AARP plans with a premium cost about $48.70 per month, on average, weighted by enrollment. That’s a little pricier than average among the companies NerdWallet reviewed.
With any Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll also be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is at least $202.90 per month in 2026.
Most people pay this standard amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). Some Medicare Advantage plans pay some or all of your Part B premium.
Prescription drugs
About 87% of AARP Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
Here’s what you might pay for prescription drugs at some common price points.
Tier 1 (Preferred generics) 99.5% of AARP Medicare Advantage plans have $0 copays/coinsurance.
$2.90: Average out-of-pocket cost for a drug with a $15 retail price, among AARP plans with copays or coinsurance at Tier 1 (after deductible, if any).
Tier 2 (Most generics) 24% of AARP Medicare Advantage plans have $0 copays/coinsurance.
$9.97: Average out-of-pocket cost for a drug with a $50 retail price, among AARP plans with copays or coinsurance at Tier 2 (after deductible, if any).
Tier 3 (Preferred brands) None of AARP's Medicare Advantage plans have $0 copays/coinsurance.
$34.44: Average out-of-pocket cost for a drug with a $200 retail price, among AARP plans with copays or coinsurance at Tier 3 (after deductible, if any).
Other out-of-pocket costs
AARP Medicare Advantage plans have an average maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) spending cap of $5,324, weighted by enrollment. That’s a little cheaper than average among the companies NerdWallet analyzed.
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 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, Medicare.gov and most other Medicare shopping tools can help you compare plans' premiums and out-of-pocket costs for certain services and prescription drugs in your location.
Why do people leave AARP Medicare Advantage plans?
CMS surveys people who voluntarily leave their Medicare plans about their reasons for leaving. Here’s the breakdown of problems people identified with their former AARP Medicare plans.
Problems getting covered care: 12% (All-company average: 11%).
Problems with doctor/hospital networks: 17% (All-company average: 17%).
Financial issues: 18% (All-company average: 17%).
Problems with prescription drug benefits: 2% (All-company average: 3%).
Problems getting information from the plan: 9% (All-company average: 9%).
(Members can give more than one reason for leaving on the survey and might leave plans for other reasons, so the categories won’t add up to 100%.)
AARP Medicare Advantage plan types
AARP offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans without prescription drug coverage. Available plan types include:
Health maintenance organization (HMO) point-of-service plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but you’ll pay more for those services.
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.
AARP Medicare service area
AARP Medicare Advantage plans are available in 45 states and Washington, D.C. More than 4.1 million people are enrolled in AARP-branded plans.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit interest group and advocacy organization. It advocates for local, state and national policies on behalf of older Americans. AARP members can access benefits through the organization, including discounts on products and services.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare offerings:
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other AARP insurance products:
AARP Medicare Advantage customer service
AARP Medicare Advantage members can contact their plan’s customer service (managed by UnitedHealthcare) in the following ways:
Call the number on your member ID card during the hours of operation listed.
Chat with a customer service agent online.
Call the number that loads on aarpmedicareplans.com (based on location) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in your time zone, 7 days a week.
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage insurance companies. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
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 preferred medical 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).
- Backed by insurance giant UnitedHealthcare, which has a very large Medicare Advantage network of medical providers.
- $0-premium plans available in nearly all states.
- Insurance partner UnitedHealthcare gets below-average scores in 6 out of 10 Medicare markets surveyed by J.D. Power.
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.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. 2026 Star Ratings Data Tables. Accessed Apr 27, 2026.
- 2.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. Monthly Enrollment by Plan. Accessed Apr 27, 2026.
- 3.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. CY2026 Landscape 202603. Accessed Apr 27, 2026.
- 4.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans. Accessed Apr 27, 2026.
- 5.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. Beneficiary Cost File. Accessed Apr 27, 2026.
- 6.NerdWallet analysis of CMS data. 2026 Star Ratings Data Table - Disenrollment Reasons (Oct 8 2025). Accessed Apr 27, 2026.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage ratings are based on premiums, out-of-pocket costs, prescription drug coverage, quality data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, consumer experience and more. We calculate each health insurance company’s rating on a curved 5-point scale.
NerdWallet’s editorial team analyzed companies covering about 87% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in the United States. We reviewed 25 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurance companies having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.)
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies. In many places, one company serves more than half of the market. At the national level, NerdWallet’s reviews include each of the 10 largest brands by enrollment.
At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in every state where Medicare Advantage plans are sold, and includes the top two insurers in 40 of those 49 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.
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.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 4.11 | 4.11/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.74 (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 | 3.79 | 3.79/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.82 (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 http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet | 4.20 | 4.20/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.89 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.76 | 3.76/5 | 29 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.96 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |