The bottom line: Peoples Health Medicare Advantage plans are available in Louisiana. While the company’s star ratings ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are about average, it scores well above average on measures of member experience. Peoples Health is a part of UnitedHealthcare. Jump to: Full Review
Peoples Health Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- Members give high marks: Member experience ratings on metrics like customer service and getting appointments and care quickly are above the average for major providers.
- $0 plans: All Peoples Health Medicare Advantage plans (other than special needs plans) offer a $0 premium.
Cons
- Limited availability: Peoples Health offers Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana only.
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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Peoples Health Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.98
Peoples Health Medicare Advantage plans are rated on par with the industry average, receiving an average rating of 3.98 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.
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.
December update
Medicare star ratings are typically released once per year, but CMS recalculated its 2025 star ratings for People’s Health parent company UnitedHealthcare in December 2024. Pursuant to a court order, CMS removed disputed data from the calculations. NerdWallet has updated this article accordingly.
What does Peoples Health Medicare Advantage cost?
In 2025, all of Peoples Health Medicare Advantage plans that aren’t special needs plans have a $0 premium.
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 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 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 Peoples Health plans or compare across carriers.
Available Medicare Advantage plans
Peoples Health offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage. About 60% of Peoples Health plans include prescription drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
- HMO-POS plans
HMO point of service (POS) plans are health maintenance organization (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. Peoples Health offers two types of SNP:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure or a cardiovascular disorder.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Peoples Health Medicare Advantage service area
Peoples Health offers Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana only. Peoples Health covers more than 140,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.
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).
- High ratings for member experience.
- $0 premiums for all plans except certain special needs plans (SNPs).
- Plans available only in Louisiana.
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 23, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2025 Landscape (202412). Accessed Apr 23, 2025.
- 3.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Costs. Accessed Apr 23, 2025.
- 4.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Monthly Enrollment by Plan. Accessed Apr 23, 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) |