Kaiser Permanente is the best Medicare Advantage company in Colorado. The carrier has 11 HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans with a 4.5-star CMS rating, and every plan includes dental, vision and hearing benefits. Devoted Health and UnitedHealthcare are strong alternatives, combining some of the lowest annual cost exposures in our analysis with CMS ratings of 4 and 4.5 stars. Carriers and plans vary by county, so compare options available in your area before enrolling.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Colorado (2026)
Updated: September 17, 2026
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Best Medicare Advantage Companies in Colorado
| Overall rating based on cost, quality, benefits and availability. | Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum. | Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans. | Number of Georgia counties where plans are offered. | Number of Medicare Advantage plans offered in Georgia. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kaiser Permanente | 4.4 | $5,560 | 4.5 | 17 | 11 |
Devoted Health | 4.3 | $5,100 | 4.0 | 36 | 7 |
UnitedHealthcare | 4.3 | $4,550 | 4.5 | 25 | 16 |
Aetna Medicare | 4.2 | $5,700 | 4.0 | 33 | 8 |
Select Health | 4.2 | $5,900 | 4.5 | 18 | 7 |
Humana | 4.1 | $5,650 | 3.5 | 51 | 12 |
Colorado Medicare Advantage Market Overview
Colorado seniors have a wide range of Medicare Advantage options, with 11 active carriers and 67 total non-SNP plans. Overall plan quality is strong, with an average CMS star rating of 4.11 out of 5. While most plans have no additional monthly premium, copays and out-of-pocket limits vary greatly. Compare total potential costs based on how much care you expect to use during the year.
Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans | 67 | Colorado has a sizable plan pool, though the choices available to you depend heavily on your county. |
Carriers | 11 | Multiple insurers compete in the state, including national and regional carriers. |
CMS contracts | 21 | Several carriers operate under multiple CMS contracts. Quality ratings can differ even among plans from the same insurer. |
Median plans per county | 15 | Most counties have plenty of plan options to choose from. |
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans | 435,081 | More than 435,000 beneficiaries are enrolled in the non-SNP plans included in our analysis. |
Plans with a $0 premium | 88% | Most plans add no monthly premium beyond Part B. Copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits are more important to compare when considering cost. |
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP) | $5,500 | You could be responsible for thosands of dollars in cost sharing even on a plan with a $0 premium. |
MOOP range | $2,900–$9,250 | The $6,350 spread means MOOP limits are important to compare. |
Average CMS star rating | 4.11 out of 5 | The statewide average clears the 4-star quality benchmark. |
Contracts with 4+-star CMS rating | 43% | Fewer than half of rated contracts reach the 4-star threshold, so higher-rated plans are more valuable to consider. |
Kaiser Permanente
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,560Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
17Plans Available
11
Devoted Health
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.5/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,100Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
36Plans Available
7
UnitedHealthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.4/5Quality & Member Experience
3.9/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$4,550Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
25Plans Available
16
Aetna Medicare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
4.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,700Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
33Plans Available
8
Select Health
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.1/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,900Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
18Plans Available
7
Humana
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.5/5Benefits & Availbility
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,650Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
51Plans Available
12
How to Choose the Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Colorado
The best Medicare Advantage plan in Colorado depends on your health care needs, preferred providers, prescriptions and expected costs for the year.
- 1Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network
Confirm that your doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals participate in the plan’s network. HMO plans limit coverage to in-network providers, while PPO plans have more flexibility to get out-of-network care at a higher cost. Learn more about health insurance network types before choosing a plan.
- 2Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs
Look beyond the monthly premium and compare each plan’s maximum out-of-pocket limit, which caps how much you pay for covered medical services during the year. A $0-premium plan with a high limit may cost more overall than a plan with a monthly premium and lower cost exposure if you need frequent care.
- 3Review Prescription Drug Coverage
Check whether your medications appear on the plan’s drug formulary and which tiers they fall into, since tier placement affects what you pay. Also review deductibles, copays and any prior authorization requirements that apply to your prescriptions.
- 4Evaluate Additional Benefits
Compare benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like dental, vision, hearing, fitness and over-the-counter (OTC) allowances. Focus on benefits you expect to use and check their annual limits, copays and coverage restrictions rather than assuming their inclusion makes one plan more valuable.
- 5Consider CMS Star Ratings
CMS star ratings measure Medicare Advantage plan quality on a one-to-five scale using factors such as member experience, preventive care and customer service. When costs, networks and benefits are similar, a higher-rated plan can help distinguish between otherwise comparable options.
How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Colorado?
Medicare Advantage rates in Colorado vary by plan type, though most enrollees have access to $0-premium options. HMO-POS plans have the lowest median maximum out-of-pocket limit at $4,550, while PPO plans have the highest at $6,200. Copays vary less between plan types, with median primary care visits costing $15 and specialist visits ranging from $25 to $35.
Median Monthly Premium | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Median Max Out-of-Pocket | $5,600 | $4,550 | $6,200 |
Median Inpatient Copay | $345 | $350 | $325 |
Median PCP Copay | $15 | $15 | $15 |
Median Specialist Copay | $35 | $25 | $35 |
Coloardo Medicare Advantage Resources
Colorado residents can get free counseling, compare plans and find financial assistance to help manage Medicare costs through these state and federal resources:
- Colorado Division of Insurance. Provides information on Medicare coverage, consumer protections and insurance regulations in Colorado.
- Colorado SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program). Gives free, unbiased counseling to help Medicare beneficiaries understand plan options, enrollment periods and coverage questions.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder. Lets you compare Medicare Advantage plans available in your ZIP code, including costs, CMS star ratings, prescription drug coverage and benefits.
- Colorado Medicare Savings Programs. Helps eligible residents pay certain Medicare premiums and other out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period when you turn 65, the Annual Enrollment Period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 or a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify. Colorado has no state-specific enrollment windows beyond federal rules.
Yes, most Medicare Advantage plans in Colorado include prescription drug coverage as part of their benefits package. Before enrolling, confirm your medications appear on the plan's formulary and review their tier levels, since higher tiers result in increased copay expenses.
Yes, most Medicare Advantage plans cover dental care in Colorado, with 79.1% of non-SNP plans including dental benefits ranging from $250 to $5,000.
Moving within Colorado may require switching Medicare Advantage plans since coverage networks differ by county. Contact your current insurer within 30 days of relocating to understand your options. You'll qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to choose a new plan if needed.
Our Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated Colorado Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2026 plan year, including the Medicare Plan Landscape File, Plan Benefit Package files, CMS Star Ratings, the CAHPS Report Card Master Table and the Contract/Plan Enrollment file.
How We Score Carriers
Each carrier in the state receives an overall MoneyGeek score out of five from a weighted average of three category scores:
- Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure, calculated as annual premiums plus the maximum out-of-pocket limit, along with inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
- Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings make up 60% of this category and CAHPS C26 member ratings make up 40%. Both are measured at the contract level.
- Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, make up 50% of this category. County coverage makes up 30% and plan choice per county makes up 20%.
About Patrick Bryant
Patrick Bryant is the Vertical Lead for Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches insurance products, writes consumer guides and maintains the scoring methodologies behind our provider comparisons. He analyzed more than 100 health insurance carriers across all 50 U.S. states and multiple policy types. His methodologies are reviewed quarterly to reflect current market conditions and carrier data.