The bottom line: Molina’s Medicare Advantage plans all have $0 premiums in 2025, but they get below-average star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). And while Molina is the eighth-largest provider of for-profit Medicare Advantage plans, it offers those plans in only 15 states. Jump to: Full Review
Molina Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- $0 premiums: All of Molina’s Medicare Advantage HMO plans have $0 premiums in 2025.
- Part B premium reductions: Some plans refund part of your Medicare Part B premium.
Cons
- Star ratings: Molina plans’ average overall star rating from CMS, weighted by enrollment, is 3 stars, which is well below the national average for all providers.
- State availability: Molina offers Medicare Advantage plans in only 15 states.
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
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Molina Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3
Molina Medicare Advantage plans are rated below the industry average, receiving an average rating of 3 stars out of 5 from CMS for 2025, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 3.96.
Of Molina members who are in plans with a Medicare star rating, none are in plans rated 4.0 or above for 2025.
CMS maintains its own 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.
You can find a plan’s rating with Medicare's plan finding tool.
What does Molina Medicare Advantage cost?
All of Molina’s Medicare Advantage plans have $0 premiums in 2025. Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $185 per month in 2025, although some plans cover part or all of this cost.
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).
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 whether 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 Molina plans or compare across carriers.
Molina Medicare Advantage plan types
There are two kinds of Molina Medicare Advantage plans, and all Molina Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.
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 to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually limited.
- SNPs
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. The benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members.
Molina offers Dual-Eligible SNPs for people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Molina third-party ratings
NCQA Score Range: 2.0 to 3.0 out of 5
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, the NCQA scored Molina plans between 2.0 and 3.0 stars, with the majority receiving ratings of 2.5 stars.
Molina Medicare Advantage service area
Molina offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans in 15 states.
Molina is number eight among the largest for-profit Medicare Advantage companies, by enrollment, with about 213,000 Medicare beneficiaries, although the company lost 47,000 members from 2024 to 2025.
About Molina
Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980. The company’s headquarters are in Long Beach, California.
Molina’s health insurance offerings include Medicare, Medicaid and state health insurance marketplace plans.
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).
- All Medicare Advantage HMO plans have $0 premiums.
- Some plans cover part of your Medicare Part B premium.
- Below-average star ratings.
- Available in only 15 states.
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. 2025 Star Ratings Data Tables (ZIP). Accessed Apr 22, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2025 Landscape (202412). Accessed Apr 22, 2025.
- 3.NCQA. Health Plans. Accessed Apr 22, 2025.
- 4.Chartis. Medicare Advantage market growth slows amid intensified headwinds. Accessed Apr 22, 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 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.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(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) | |
(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 | 4.29 | 4.29/5 | 44 states and Washington, D.C. | High (85% to 100%) | 4.01 (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 | 3.97 | 3.97/5 | 29 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.82 (Above average) |