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Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage 2024-2025 Review
Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare Advantage plans get above-average star ratings but are available in only a handful of states.
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Kate Ashford, CSA® Lead Writer | Medicare, retirement, personal finance
Kate Ashford is a writer and NerdWallet authority on Medicare. She is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and has more than 20 years of experience writing about personal finance. Previously, she was a freelance writer for both consumer and business publications, and her work has been published by the BBC, Forbes, Money, AARP, LearnVest and Parents, among others. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Kate has appeared as a Medicare expert on the PennyWise podcast by Lee Enterprises, and she's been quoted in national publications including Healthline, Real Simple and SingleCare. She is based in New York.
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.
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 Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The bottom line: Kaiser Permanente’s star ratings are above average, and its average maximum out-of-pocket is lower than all major providers. If you live in one of the eight states or Washington D.C., where plans are offered and don't mind a Medicare Advantage HMO plan, Kaiser is a strong contender.
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Kaiser Permanente
4.41
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
Californians are happy: Kaiser got the highest score in terms of customer satisfaction in California, one of the major Medicare markets measured by J.D. Power in this year's study.
Ratings are strong: Kaiser’s star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are well above average.
Prescription benefits: Most of Kaiser’s Medicare Advantage plans include drug coverage.
Cons
Limited availability: Kaiser Permanente plans are available in just eight states and Washington, D.C.
Limited plan types: Kaiser offers mostly HMO plans, so most members must work within Kaiser’s network of medical providers.
Low member experience ratings: Kaiser’s member experience ratings, including customer service and getting needed care, are lower than most major providers.
Compare against other providers
UnitedHealthcare
3.93
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
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.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.41
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans are rated well above the industry average, receiving an average rating of 4.41 stars out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2025, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 3.95.
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.
. For Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans with a premium, Kaiser’s average monthly premium is $82.85, which is higher than most competitors.
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 ($185 in 2025). However, 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 if the plan charges for them.
Here are examples of Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage costs for the most popular plans in a mid-range city:
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plan
Pricing
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Centennial (HMO)
Monthly premium: $0.
Deductible: None.
Out-of-pocket max: $4,950.
Copays:
Primary care: $0.
Specialist: $25.
Emergency care: $125.
Inpatient hospital: $385.*
Dental allowance: Preventive services only.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO)
Monthly premium: $99.
Deductible: None.
Out-of-pocket max: $4,200.
Copays:
Primary care: $0.
Specialist: $30.
Emergency care: $125.
Inpatient hospital: $200.**
Dental allowance: Preventive services only.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Columbia (HMO)
Monthly premium: $63.
Deductible: None.
Out-of-pocket max: $3,950.
Copays:
Primary care: $0.
Specialist: $20.
Emergency care: $140.
Inpatient hospital: $300.*
Dental allowance: Preventive services only.
Selected plans are available in ZIP code 99201.
*Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-4.
**Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-3.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s website to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Kaiser Permanente plans or compare across carriers.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plan types
Kaiser Permanente offers mostly HMO Medicare Advantage plans, but also offers some PPO plans.
Plan availability may vary by county. Plan offerings may 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 plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but you’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. Kaiser Permanente offers one type of SNP:
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Fitch Ratings is a credit rating agency that assigns ratings based on its opinion of a company’s ability to meet financial commitments. In May 2024, Fitch Ratings affirmed an Insurer Financial Strength rating of AA- (very strong) for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and its insurance company subsidiaries (KFHP collectively). Among other factors, Fitch Ratings called out KFHP’s favorable competitive positioning, unique operating model, and strong financial performance and earnings
In its 2024 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 state Medicare markets. On these measures, Kaiser Permanente placed first of all providers in California (the only state in which Kaiser had enough market share to be considered)
The National Committee for Quality Assurance rates health insurance plans on a 5-point scale (with 5 being best) based on quality of care, patient satisfaction and health plans’ efforts to keep improving.
In its September 2024 ratings of Kaiser Permanente plans, the NCQA awarded ratings of 4.5 stars to 5.0 stars to all Kaiser plans listed. Only one plan scored 5 stars: Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado
Kaiser Permanente offers Medicare Advantage plans in eight states and Washington, D.C. (Kaiser sells plans in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia and Washington state.)
More than 1.9 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente, headquartered in Oakland, California, was founded in 1945 and serves 12.5 million people across eight states and Washington, D.C. The company is made up of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and its subsidiaries, and the Permanente Medical Groups.
Kaiser Permanente offers insurance for individuals and families, employer group plans, Medicaid/Medi-Cal and Medicare Advantage.
Customer service
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage members can contact their plan’s customer service in a few ways:
Call a customer service representative, available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The phone number varies by location. Find yours by clicking on “Support Center” under “Member Support” at the bottom of your plan’s website.
Chat with a member services representative after signing into your account.
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.
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).
Kaiser Permanente
4.41
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Kaiser Permanente plans get above-average star ratings, but the company sells plans in only eight states and Washington, D.C.
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed above.
States available
8 states and Washington, D.C.
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
High (85% to 100%)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.80 (Below average)
IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
Pros
Earns top customer satisfaction scores in California, one of the major Medicare markets studied by J.D. Power.
100% of members are in a highly-rated plan.
Most plans include drug coverage.
Cons
Available in only eight states and Washington, D.C.
Offers mostly HMO plans, so most members must work within Kaiser’s network of medical providers.
Member experience ratings overall are below average.
States available
8 states and Washington, D.C.
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
High (85% to 100%)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
2.80 (Below average)
IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
PROS & CONS
Pros
Earns top customer satisfaction scores in California, one of the major Medicare markets studied by J.D. Power.
100% of members are in a highly-rated plan.
Most plans include drug coverage.
Cons
Available in only eight states and Washington, D.C.
Offers mostly HMO plans, so most members must work within Kaiser’s network of medical providers.
Member experience ratings overall are below average.
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.