bestMedicare AdvantageMichiganMoneyGeek used the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) five-star quality rating system to decide which high-rated plans are widely available in Michigan. We analyzed the best plans based on plan type, if you need drug coverage, and if you want to limit costs with a low annual maximum-out-of-pocket (MOOP).
It's best to shop around for a Medicare Advantage plan in Michigan that suits you best; MoneyGeek only provides general recommendations. Plus, comparing plans helps you find a plan that includes in-network hospitals and providers near you.
If you're not looking for a Medicare Advantage plan but want to cover out-of-pocket costs that your base Medicare plan doesn't cover, MoneyGeek also ranked the best Medicare Supplement Plans in Michigan.
bestMedicare AdvantageMichiganBest Medicare Advantage Plans in Michigan
Best plan overall - Aetna Medicare
Best HMO plan - Blue Care Network of Michigan
Best plan without drug coverage - Blue Care Network of Michigan
Best plan for low out-of-pocket costs - Aetna Medicare
Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Michigan - Overall
The best Medicare Advantage plan in Michigan for you depends on your healthcare needs. MoneyGeek found that in Michigan, Aetna Medicare Value, offered by Aetna Medicare, is the best plan that includes drug coverage, at least six core benefits and a high star rating from the CMS.
Aetna Medicare Value is a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan that provides more flexibility compared to other types and has several benefits. For example, you have a broader network, which means you have more choices of treatment centers, doctors and hospitals. Plus, a referral is not needed to see a specialist. However, a PPO comes with a higher premium.
Aetna Medicare
Although the best plan depends on your needs, MoneyGeek considers Aetna Medicare Value the best Medicare Advantage plan in Michigan for people who want a PPO. With this plan, you can expect:
- No monthly premium
- Enhanced drug coverage with no deductible
- An in-network maximum-out-of-pocket limit of $4,900 a year
- A high overall star rating of 4.5 out of 5 from CMS
Aetna Medicare Value has six common benefits: vision, dental, hearing, fitness, worldwide emergency and telehealth. Planholders also have an over-the-counter drugs benefit. The worldwide emergency benefit makes this plan a great option for travelers. The plan also has a high CMS rating and Part D drug coverage.
Best HMO Medicare Advantage Plan in Michigan
The kind of healthcare plan you need determines which HMO Medicare Advantage plan in Michigan best suits you. For people in Michigan looking for an HMO plan with drug coverage, the six core benefits and a high rating from the CMS, MoneyGeek finds BCN Advantage HMO-POS Prime Value by Blue Care Network to be the best choice.
HMOs are generally more affordable than PPOs. It is the most common type of healthcare plan, but you need to be within your network to make sure you get coverage, except in an emergency. In addition, you need a referral to see a specialist.
Blue Care Network of Michigan
For those looking for an HMO, the best Medicare Advantage plan in Michigan, according to MoneyGeek’s research, is BCN Advantage HMO-POS Prime Value. However, your needs and preferences ultimately decide the best plan for you.
BCN Advantage HMO-POS Prime Value planholders get:
- No monthly premium
- Enhanced drug coverage with a $50 deductible
- A $4,500 in-network maximum-out-of-pocket annual limit
- A perfect overall star rating from the CMS (5/5)
BCN Advantage HMO-POS Prime Value offers all six of the common benefits: vision, dental, hearing, fitness, worldwide emergency and telehealth. In addition, planholders have in-home support and home safety devices and modification benefits. It also has Part D drug coverage and receives the highest rating from the CMS.
Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Michigan Without Drug Coverage
If you don’t require Part D prescription drug coverage, you have more Medicare Advantage plan options in Michigan.
Whether or not you need drug coverage in Michigan but do want six core benefits and a high CMS rating plan, MoneyGeek found that the best Medicare Advantage plan is Blue Care Network’s BCN Advantage HMO-POS Prime Value.
Blue Care Network of Michigan
MoneyGeek considers BCN Advantage HMO-POS Prime Value as the best option for Michigan Medicare Advantage plan shoppers, regardless of whether they need drug coverage or not. You get the following with this plan:
- No monthly premium
- An in-network maximum-out-of-pocket annual limit of $4,500
- A 5 out of 5 overall star rating from the CMS
In addition to its high rating from the CMS, BCN Advantage HMO-POS Prime Value has the six common benefits of vision, dental, hearing, fitness, worldwide emergency and telehealth, as well as in-home support and home safety devices and modifications benefits. And even though you may not need it, the plan does include Part D drug coverage with a $50 deductible.
Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Michigan for Low Max Out-of-Pocket Costs
In Michigan, many Medicare Advantage plans have low or no premiums. However, you could pay thousands of dollars out-of-pocket in a given year. To avoid this, MoneyGeek recommends finding a plan with a low in-network maximum-out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit.
Our analysis shows that Aetna Medicare Value, offered by Aetna Medicare, is the best option for Michigan Medicare Advantage shoppers who want a low in-network MOOP, drug coverage, the six core benefits and a high star rating from the CMS.
Aetna Medicare
When looking for a plan with or without drug coverage, MoneyGeek found Aetna Medicare Value is the best option in Michigan. We excluded plans with high maximum-out-of-pocket limits for that analysis. With Aetna Medicare Value, you get:
- No monthly premium
- A $4,900 in-network maximum-out-of-pocket annual limit
- A 4.5 out of 5 overall star rating from the CMS
Having a plan with a low MOOP protects you against significant expenses, especially if your yearly medical needs are costly. With this PPO plan, Aetna Medicare pays for all in-network services after you meet the MOOP. However, the maximum out-of-pocket limit for out-of-network coverage is $7,500.
Medicare Advantage Plan in Michigan - Statistics
In Michigan, 17 healthcare organizations offer Medicare Advantage plans. MoneyGeek researched various statistics to help you understand whether Medicare Advantage plan components in Michigan are rare or common.
1
Michigan Medicare Advantage plans are a mix of HMO, PPO and PFFS, with 86.2% offering drug coverage
In Michigan, 86.2% of Medicare Advantage plans offer drug coverage. Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans take up 58.2% of the market, 40.5% are health maintenance organization (HMO) plans, and 1.2% are private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans.
2
47% of Medicare Advantage plans in Michigan have a $0 premium
You can find 44 plans with no monthly premium in Michigan. The plans that require a monthly premium cost an average of $91.70.
3
Vision, dental and hearing benefits are common in Michigan, with most plans offering them
In Michigan, every Medicare Advantage plan offers vision, dental and hearing benefits — they are the most common — as well as telehealth and fitness. The rarest benefits are in-home support, home safety devices and modifications and emergency response device.
Methodology
MoneyGeek collected data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2022 MA Landscape Source Files released in October 2021. Plans in Michigan were filtered down to those that offer drug coverage (unless otherwise noted), offer six of the most common Medicare Advantage coverage benefits and are available to at least 50% of the population of Michigan based on county availability.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
