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UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage 2025 Review

UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans are available in only two states but get above-average star ratings from CMS.
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Apr 22, 2025
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The bottom line: UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage gets above-average star ratings and member experience scores, but plans are only available in Pennsylvania and a small part of Ohio. Jump to: Full Review

UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage - Chapter
UPMC for Life
4.41
CMS Star Rating
on NerdWallet
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage pros and cons

Pros

  • Star ratings: UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans score a higher-than-average star rating from CMS. 
  • High marks from members: Member experience ratings on metrics like customer service and getting appointments and care quickly are above the average for major providers. 
  • Tops in Pennsylvania: UPMC for Life earned the top spot for customer satisfaction in Pennsylvania in J.D. Power’s latest Medicare Advantage Study. 
  • Affordable prescription drugs: Plans offer $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drugs at preferred pharmacies.

Cons

  • Limited availability: UPMC for Life offers Medicare Advantage plans mostly in Pennsylvania, along with two counties in Ohio. 
  • Fewer $0 plans: UPMC for Life offers fewer $0-premium plans than many other providers. 

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Our full review

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UPMC for Life Medicare star ratings

Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.41

UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans are rated 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 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.

What does UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage cost?

In 2025, less than a third of UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans (28%) that aren’t special needs plans (SNPs) have a $0 premium. You'll also still 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 cover part 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 UPMC for Life plans or compare across carriers.

Available UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans

UPMC for Life offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans without 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 in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.

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. UPMC for Life 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.

UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage service area

UPMC for Life offers Medicare Advantage plans in only two states: Pennsylvania and Ohio. (The provider is available in only two counties in Ohio.) UPMC for Life covers more than 227,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.

Compare Medicare Advantage providers

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).

UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage - Chapter
UPMC for Life
4.41
CMS Star Rating
UPMC for Life sells Medicare Advantage in Pennsylvania and a small part of Ohio. Its plans get above-average ratings from CMS, and member experience scores are high.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
on NerdWallet
UPMC for Life sells Medicare Advantage in Pennsylvania and a small part of Ohio. Its plans get above-average ratings from CMS, and member experience scores are high.
States available 2 states
Members in high-rated plans High (85% to 100%)
Member experience 4.71 (Above average)
IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?

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.

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 UnitedHealthcare
from UnitedHealthcare
Advertisement
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage logo
UnitedHealthcare
(855) 821-0556 / TTY 711
Call UnitedHealthcare
from 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.org
on NerdWallet
Humana Medicare Advantage logo
Humana
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
on NerdWallet
3.63
3.63/5
48 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto RicoLow (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.org
on NerdWallet
Aetna Medicare Advantage logo
Aetna
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
on 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.org
on NerdWallet
Cigna Medicare Advantage logo
Cigna
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
on NerdWallet
3.97
3.97/5
29 states and Washington, D.C.Medium (50% to 84%)3.82 (Above average)