The bottom line: Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage gets solid ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It offers a concierge program that might help members navigate care and coverage, but the company sells plans in only five states. Jump to: Full Review
Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- Low-cost plans: More than three-quarters of Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans offer a $0 premium, and the average maximum out-of-pocket cost is lower than those of major providers.
- Allowance for essentials: Alignment offers up to a $200 monthly allowance to members of some special needs plans (SNPs) for things like groceries and home safety items.
- Concierge program: All Alignment members have access to a concierge program offering virtual care for urgent medical needs and help navigating services, benefits and care coordination.
Cons
- Limited availability: Alignment Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans in just five states: Arizona, California, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas.
- Member experience: Alignment Health Plan’s ratings on measures of member experience are subpar.
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
Why trust NerdWallet
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.
Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage star rating
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.12
Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans are rated slightly above the industry average, with an average rating of 4.12 stars out of 5 from CMS for 2026, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 3.98.
All Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage plans get 4 stars or higher for 2026.
CMS maintains star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-point scale, ranking plans 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.
You can find a plan’s rating with the Medicare plan finding tool.
How much does Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage cost?
For 2026, more than three-quarters (78%) of Alignment Health Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium. For plans with premiums, Alignment’s average is $36.50 per month, which is lower than most big providers. You'll also be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $185 per month in 2025.
(Most people pay this standard Part B amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you'll pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). Some Medicare Advantage plans will pay some or all of your Part B premium.)
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 if 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 Alignment Health Plan plans or compare across carriers.
Alignment Health Plan Medicare Advantage plan types
Alignment Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans.
Plan offerings include the following types:
- HMO plans
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
- HMO-POS plans
HMO point of service (POS) plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but they’ll pay more for those services.
- 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.
- SNPs
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. Alignment Health Plan offers two types of SNPs:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and cardiovascular disease.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Alignment Health Plan Medicare service area
Alignment Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans in five states: Arizona, California, Nevada, North Carolina and Texas.
Alignment Health Plan covers over 225,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.
About Alignment Healthcare
Alignment Healthcare is a health insurance company headquartered in Orange, California, that provides Medicare Advantage plans. In 2014, Alignment Healthcare announced the acquisition of Citizens Choice Health Plan, a California Medicare Advantage plan that changed its name to Alignment Health Plan in 2015.
Compare Medicare Advantage providers
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.
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).
- Low-cost plans, and a lower average out-of-pocket max than most providers.
- Some SNPs include an allowance for groceries and home safety products.
- Concierge program offers virtual care and help navigate benefits and services.
- Available in only 5 states.
- Member experience ratings are below average.
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. 2026 Star Ratings Data Tables (ZIP). Accessed Oct 17, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2026 Landscape (202509). Accessed Oct 17, 2025.
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’s editorial team reviewed 25 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 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.
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.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.10 | 4.10/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.76 (Above average) | (855) 821-0556 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcarefrom UnitedHealthcare | |
3.61 | 3.61/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.61 (Above average) | from Humana | |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet | 4.19 | 4.19/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.88 (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 | 3.68 | 3.68/5 | 29 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 askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |