10 Steps to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans
Follow these 10 steps to find the best Medicare Advantage plan to fit your unique needs.
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
You should compare Medicare Advantage plan rates and features to get the cheapest and best policy for you. Find out if a plan fits your budget by looking at its monthly rates and out-of-pocket costs. Then use Medicare star ratings to filter out plans with poor customer reviews.
Get the most out of your benefits by choosing a plan that has good customer service, prescription drug coverage and a large doctor network.
10 steps to compare Medicare Advantage plans
Side-by-side comparison of Medicare Advantage plans
Medicare Advantage plans cost an average of $28 per month.
Keep in mind this is an average cost. In 2025, Medicare Advantage plans can range from $0 to $353 per month. How much you pay depends on the type of plan and company you choose.
Look at your current company to see how its prices and ratings for quality compare to others. For example, a more expensive plan from a well-rated company may be a better choice for you than a cheap plan from a poorly rated company.
Medicare Advantage plan comparison
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
Cigna is selling its Medicare Advantage business to Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), a Blue Cross Blue Shield company. That means you may lose access to your network of doctors when the switchover occurs next year if you have a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan.
Why compare Medicare Advantage plans?
- Save money: Comparing plans helps you find the cheapest combination of monthly rates and out-of-pocket costs.
- Get access to doctors and hospitals you want: By comparing plans, you can find out which company gives you the best access to the doctors you want to see. Some plans won't have your doctors in their networks. That means you'll pay more to see them.
- Avoid paying too much if something catastrophic happens: Medicare Advantage plans limit the total amount you have to pay each year. Comparing policy details can help you choose the best Medicare plan for your budget and your health care needs.
How to compare Medicare Advantage plans
When comparing Medicare Advantage plan offerings, start by seeing what options are available in your area. Then review costs, coverage and extra benefits. Finally, check out each company's reviews.
Start with a list of Medicare Advantage plans and companies in your area
If you're eligible for Medicare, you have an average of 23 Medicare Advantage plans to choose between. But the list of plans and their costs changes depending on the county where you live.
Use the Medicare Plan Finder to find out what plans are available near you, or request personalized quotes from insurance companies or brokers.
It's not just the insurance companies you can get that change by location. The price of plans and their benefits can change too.
For example, Medicare Advantage plans cost an average of $12 per month in Florida and $46 per month in New York. In Florida, Humana is a top choice because of its many free plans and large network of doctors. But in New York, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield stands out for its low-cost, high-quality plan options.
State | Monthly cost |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $23 |
| Arizona | $18 |
| Arkansas | $14 |
| California | $13 |
| Colorado | $16 |
Medicare Advantage plans are not available in Alaska.
Avoid plans that don't include prescription drug coverage
A good way to narrow down your options is to only consider Medicare Advantage plans that cover prescription drugs.
You can't buy a separate Part D prescription drug plan if you have Medicare Advantage. That means if you get Medicare Advantage without drug coverage, you'll have to pay for all your prescriptions yourself at full price.
Prescription drugs can be expensive, costing hundreds or thousands of dollars per month. Only comparing plans that include prescription drug coverage will help you focus on the best Medicare Advantage plans by eliminating an average of four plans from your options.
See if you qualify for a Special Needs Plan (SNP)
If you live in a nursing home, have chronic health issues or earn a low income, you should consider a Special Needs Plan (SNP). If you qualify for an SNP, this plan will usually give you the best coverage.
- Dual Eligible SNPs (D-SNPs) are for people enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid.
- Institutional SNPs (I-SNPs) are for people living in an institution like a nursing home or those who need at-home help.
- Chronic Condition SNPs (C-SNPs) are for people with ongoing conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease or a stroke.
An SNP will cover the same Medicare services as other plans. You might also get more benefits or lower rates depending on the SNP.
For example, all Medicare Advantage plans cover skilled nursing facility care. But coverage from an Institutional SNP might go beyond what normal plans have to pay for.
Similarly, all Medicare Advantage plans will cover treatments for heart disease. But if you qualify for a Chronic Condition SNP, you might have access to more doctors who specialize in heart disease. An SNP might also have better coverage for your medications.
Compare costs for doctor's visits, procedures and drug coverage
On average, a Medicare Advantage plan costs $28 per month for 2025. But you can usually find plans for less. Almost everyone in the country has access to $0-per-month Medicare Advantage plans. With these plans, you won't pay anything on top of the cost of Original Medicare (Parts A and B).
However, you want to find a Medicare Advantage plan that balances affordable monthly rates and good medical benefits.
More expensive plans usually have better benefits, making them a good choice if you have ongoing health care needs. A cheaper plan will save you money each month, but you could pay more each time you need medical care.
When comparing plans, look at the coinsurance and copayments for the medical care you expect to need.
You should also compare the deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums for each plan, to find your total cost for the year.
You can compare how an expensive or cheap Medicare Advantage plan would work, depending on your situation.
If you need frequent or expensive medical care, paying more for a plan might be a better financial deal.
In this example, say you need a surgery that costs $30,000, and you have to pay $6,000 of the bill. Option A, a typical cheap plan, costs $0 per month and has a $500 deductible, which counts toward an out-of-pocket maximum of $5,000. Option B costs $25 per month, has a $250 deductible and has an out-of-pocket maximum of $3,000.
Annual health care cost comparison
Option A | Option B | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly plan cost | $0 | $300 |
| Out-of-pocket max. | $5,000 | $3,000 |
| Total annual cost | $5,000 | $3,300 |
By paying $25 more per month with Option B, you would save $1,700 the year that you needed surgery. Even though Option B is the more expensive plan, it has a lower out-of-pocket limit.
This caps the amount you pay out of pocket for in-network health care. A low out-of-pocket maximum can be an important benefit if you need expensive medical services.
If you don't have ongoing health problems, a cheaper plan could be a better deal. That's because choosing a more expensive plan would mean overpaying for unnecessary coverage.
Compare the same two plans for a scenario where you visit the doctor five times per year and pay an extra $100 in out-of-pocket costs.
Cheap health care plan comparison
Option A | Option B | |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly plan cost | $0 | $300 |
| Copays | $125 | $125 |
| Extra out-of-pocket costs | $100 | $100 |
| Total annual cost | $225 | $525 |
In this situation, paying more for a plan wouldn't be worth it. You wouldn't spend enough on health care to reach the deductible, so you would pay all your bills yourself. You should choose your coverage based on the amount of care that you expect to need. If you end up needing more or less medical care than you expect, you'll still have coverage. But you won't be getting the best deal in that case.
You can never know exactly how much medical care you'll need in a given year. But an educated guess about how much health care you'll need can help you find the right plan.
Consider the cost of prescription drugs you take
You should also compare plans based on the cost of the medications that you currently take.
The prescription drug part of your Medicare Advantage plan will usually have its own set of rules for how much you pay. This can include:
- A drug deductible, which is separate from the medical deductible
- Drug copayments for different groups of drugs, also called medication tiers
To find out which medications your plan covers, check the list of covered drugs, called a drug formulary.
Compare coverage based on total yearly costs. If you spend a lot on prescription drugs, it might be better to pay more for a policy that has better benefits.
Choose your plan type based on how much flexibility you want
With a Medicare Advantage plan, you have to use the network of doctors that the plan covers. These doctor restrictions are a downside of Medicare Advantage plans compared to Original Medicare. The type of doctor network you choose will affect your plan's coverage and cost.
For example, an HMO plan is usually a cheaper option, but you have to use in-network doctors to have coverage.
HMO plans need you to get your primary doctor's permission before you can see a specialist.
Medicare Advantage PPO plans let you see specialists without asking your primary care doctor. Paying more for a PPO plan gives you the option to go to out-of-network health care offices.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans to see how much more you'll have to pay if you want the flexibility to use out-of-network doctors. This can help you decide if it's worth it.
HMO | Local PPO | |
|---|---|---|
| Average cost | $16 | $28 |
| In-network coverage | ||
| Out-of-network coverage | ||
| Emergency out-of-network coverage | ||
| Referrals required |
Monthly costs based on Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage
Make sure your doctor is in your plan's network
No matter what type of plan you choose, it usually costs more to see doctors not in the plan's network. This won't affect you if you don't have a specific doctor you want to see. But if you want to continue to visit your primary care doctor or a certain specialist, you should check that they're included in your plan's network before you commit.
Each Medicare Advantage company decides what doctors and hospitals are in a plan's network.
For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield has one of the largest networks overall and over 90% of the country's doctors and hospitals accept it.
On the other hand, Kaiser Permanente has a much smaller network than Blue Cross Blue Shield. But it has some of the best Medicare Advantage plans by star rating.
If you often spend time traveling, consider how a plan would cover your care outside of your area. Emergency care is covered in most situations, but some HMO-POS plans may also cover routine health care even when you're out of the area. Otherwise, choosing a PPO plan ensures that you have some coverage no matter which doctor you see.
Look at the extra included benefits
A Medicare Advantage plan bundles hospital care, medical care and prescription drug coverage. In addition, many Medicare Advantage plans also come with extras including:
- Add-on insurance such as dental or vision insurance
- Add-on benefits such as hearing aid coverage, telemedicine or chiropractic visits
- Perks such as gym memberships, discount programs, medical alert systems or SilverSneakers subscriptions
The value of these add-ons can add up. For example, you might get dental benefits in your Medicare Advantage plan rather than buying a separate plan for $25 per month. That could save you $300 per year because you wouldn't have to enroll in a stand-alone dental plan.
These extras add value to your Medicare Advantage coverage. But you should narrow down your plan options based on the main health benefits before weighing the add-ons. It's always important to find a plan with good medical and prescription drug benefits before reviewing the other perks. Then let perks like an included gym membership tip the scales with their extra value.
Compare Medicare star ratings
The best-rated Medicare Advantage plans have four stars or more.
Medicare star ratings reflect how much people like the plan. Star ratings do not factor into a plan's cost.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services use 40 measurements to determine each plan's star rating. These include:
- Customer satisfaction
- Number of complaints
- The appeals process
- Preventive care access
- Prescription drug affordability
A plan with a good star rating is not necessarily more expensive, and there are 5-star Medicare Advantage plans that cost $0 per month. In fact, if a 5-star plan is available in your area, you can switch to it at any time, even if it's not Medicare open enrollment.
Consider company reviews and downsides
No Medicare Advantage plan is perfect. A plan might have great benefits in one area but do poorly in another.
Insurance reviews can help you understand these trade-offs so that you can choose the best coverage for your needs. For example, consider some of the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans from these top companies.
Frequently asked questions
How do you compare Medicare Advantage plans?
Start by finding the plans that are available in your area. Then, cross off plans based on their coverage, medical benefits, doctor network and quality. This process will lead you to the Medicare Advantage plan that best matches your needs.
Is there a website to compare Medicare Advantage plans?
The Medicare Plan Finder on Medicare.gov is the best tool for comparing Medicare Advantage plan benefits, prescription drug coverage and costs.
But you can also use reviews to learn more about the best Medicare Advantage plans and what the trade-offs are with each company.
What is the best way to compare Medicare Advantage plans?
One of the most important steps in a Medicare Advantage plan comparison is to see how well a plan's medical benefits match your health care needs. You want to find a plan with an affordable monthly cost and low out-of-pocket costs for medical care.
Do all Medicare Advantage plans have the same benefits?
No, Medicare Advantage plans have different deductibles and copayments, which change how much you pay for medical care. But the list of covered services in a Medicare Advantage plan needs to be at least as good as what Original Medicare offers.
For example, all plans would cover an MRI, but one plan could charge $50 and another could charge $150.
Methodology and sources
Medicare Advantage cost data and star ratings came from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) public use files. Average costs are based on plans that include prescription drug coverage.
This analysis excludes employer-sponsored plans, Special Needs Plans, PACE plans, sanctioned plans and Health Care Prepayment Plans (HCPPs). The rate of savings is based on the inflation-adjusted average savings as a percentage of the average plan cost. Additional sources include Medicare.gov and KFF.
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Callers will be directed to a licensed and certified representative of Medicare Supplement insurance and/or Medicare Advantage HMO, HMO SNP, PPO, PPO SNP and PFFS organizations. Calls will be routed to a licensed insurance agent who can provide you with further information about the insurance plans offered by one or more nationally recognized insurance companies. Each of the organizations they represent has a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal.
Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 73 organizations that offer 5,110 products in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.
These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.
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Medicare supplement insurance is available to people age 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or end stage renal disease.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
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