Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Massachusetts 2024

There are several companies selling Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts. See which plans come out on top.

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. 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.

Profile photo of Kate Ashford, CSA®
Lead Writer
Profile photo of Holly Carey
Edited by Holly Carey
Assigning Editor
Fact Checked

Over 1.4 million people in Massachusetts are signed up for Medicare, placing it in the top 20 U.S. states for Medicare beneficiaries

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Fact Sheet. Accessed Jul 10, 2024.
.

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.

45+ Medicare companies and brands analyzed by our team of experts.

30+ years of combined experience covering Medicare and personal finance.

Governed by NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

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.

Compare the best Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts

What to know about Medicare in Massachusetts

About 1 in 6 people in Massachusetts are 65 and older, and there are a variety of Medicare Advantage plans in the state

U.S. Census Bureau. QuickFacts, Massachusetts. Accessed Jul 10, 2024.
.

  • The average monthly premium in 2024 for a Medicare Advantage plan in Massachusetts is $37.53. (It was $43.73 in 2023.)

  • There are 110 Medicare Advantage plans available in Massachusetts in 2024. (There were 113 plans in 2023.)

  • Of Medicare-eligible people in Massachusetts, 99.5% have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.

Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts for the 2024 plan year

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2024_Landscape_Files_Final_20240710 (ZIP). Accessed Jul 10, 2024.
. (Get more information about Medicare star ratings.)

5-star plans

The company below offers plans in Massachusetts that are rated 5 stars out of 5 by CMS:

4.5-star plans

The companies below offer plans in Massachusetts that are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by CMS:

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.

Medicare resources in Massachusetts

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 Massachusetts? Check out these resources:

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 Massachusetts.