Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Idaho (2026)

Saint Alphonsus Health Plan is the best medicare advantage carrier for cost and quality in Idaho, with a $6,000 median annual cost exposure ($288 below the next-lowest carrier) and a 4-star CMS rating above Idaho's 3.71 average. Saint Alphonsus plans are available in 10 Idaho counties.

UnitedHealthcare provides the best statewide access with 43 counties and 10 plans. All 10 UnitedHealthcare plans carry a 4-star CMS rating. At $6,700, the carrier's median is $700 above Saint Alphonsus's. Blue Cross of Idaho covers 24 counties with eight plans at $6,288, the second-lowest cost. Humana covers 31 counties at $6,750, Idaho's highest carrier median. Confirm PacificSource serves your county before comparing its $6,550 cost.

Idaho has 36 Medicare Advantage plans from five carriers. Medicare Advantage, or Part C, replaces Original Medicare through a private insurer and bundles hospital, medical and drug coverage in one plan. Idaho's 3.71 average CMS rating falls below the four-star quality benchmark, and fewer than one in three Idaho contracts earn four stars.

The median Idaho county has 10 plans, most carrying no monthly premium beyond Part B. Out-of-pocket limits span $3,000 to $9,150, a $6,150 gap that makes plan choice the main cost variable. Every Idaho plan includes vision, and none cover hearing aids. Medicare Supplement plans add cost-sharing coverage alongside Original Medicare and can't be used with Medicare Advantage.

In Idaho, monthly premiums are only one part of a Medicare Advantage plan's total cost. Your out-of-pocket maximum, provider network and drug coverage determine what you actually pay.

Medicare Advantage HMO plans in Idaho charge $20 monthly premium. Add the $240 annual premium to a $5,900 out-of-pocket ceiling and the worst-case total is $6,140. PPO plans carry a $6,700 ceiling with no monthly premium, $560 above the HMO worst case. Members who expect heavy health care use pay less overall with an HMO. At $6,600, HMO-POS plans cost $460 more than the HMO worst case and have no monthly premium.

Primary care copays are $15 across all three plan types. HMO specialist visits cost $40, compared with $35 for HMO-POS and PPO plans, so members who see specialists regularly should factor that $5 per-visit difference into their plan-type decision.

*Median cost figures across all 36 non-SNP Idaho MA plans, grouped by plan type. All dollar figures rounded to nearest dollar. Source: CMS 2026 data, MoneyGeek analysis.

These state and federal resources help you compare Idaho Medicare Advantage plans, check insurer licensing and get enrollment support.

• Idaho SHIBA (State Health Insurance Benefits Advisors): Free, unbiased Medicare counseling through trained volunteers, including help comparing plans and reviewing your enrollment options by county.
• Idaho Department of Insurance: Regulates Idaho insurance carriers and lets you verify a carrier's license or file a complaint if a coverage dispute arises.
• Medicare Plan Finder: Search and compare Medicare Advantage plans in your Idaho county by premium, estimated annual cost, benefits and CMS star rating.
• Social Security Administration: Handles Medicare enrollment and lets you apply online or locate a local office for in-person help.
• Idaho Commission on Aging: Connects Idaho residents with local services including Medicare counseling, benefits support and care coordination resources.

Five CMS data sources shaped MoneyGeek's ratings of Idaho Medicare Advantage carriers for the 2026 plan year: 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 Idaho carrier's final score out of five comes from three weighted categories.   

• Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure reflects annual premiums, the out-of-pocket maximum and inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
• Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings cover 60% of this category. CAHPS C26 member ratings take the remaining 40%. MoneyGeek applies both at the contract level.
• Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, form 50% of this category. The remaining 50% goes to county coverage at 30% and plan choice per county at 20%.