Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Kentucky (2026)

The best Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky are Humana, Wellcare and Cigna HealthCare.

Compare Kentucky Medicare Advantage providers to find the right option for you.

Updated: June 20, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Seven providers offer 56 Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky, with most charging $0 monthly premiums and offering enhanced Part D drug coverage.

Humana is the best PPO Medicare Advantage provider in Kentucky, while Cigna HealthCare has the best HMO plans and Wellcare has the best HMO-POS.

When choosing a Medicare Advantage plan in Kentucky, consider whether your preferred doctors and hospitals are included in the plan’s network, check that your prescription medications are covered and evaluate your budget for premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Kentucky

Cigna HealthCare ranks first among HMO plans, Wellcare leads HMO-POS options and Humana tops the PPO category, according to MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis of seven providers and 56 plans. We scored Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky on CMS star ratings, monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs.

Wellcare is the top HMO-POS pick for members who want the lowest annual cost cap, with a 3.5-star CMS rating, $0 average premium and a $5,000 MOOP. Humana is the top PPO pick for members who want the widest plan selection, with $0 premiums, a 4.0-star CMS rating and 16 plans across Kentucky, though its $9,150 average MOOP is the second-highest in the category.


HMO	Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$5,825	HealthSpring Preferred (HMO)
HMO-POS	Wellcare	3.50	$32	$5,000	Wellcare Giveback (HMO-POS)
PPO	Humana	4.00	$0	$9,150	HumanaChoice H7617-050 (PPO)

Kentucky has 56 Medicare Advantage plans from seven providers in 2026. Seventeen of the 18 available plans, across all three major plan types, charge $0 monthly premiums. That $3,302 difference between Aetna's PPO MOOP ($5,848) and Humana's ($9,150) is the number that determines your actual annual cost, not the monthly premium, which is $0 for both. For a member who hits their MOOP every year, that $3,302 difference is the total additional cost of choosing Humana over Aetna.

Medicare Advantage Plans Explained

Original Medicare covers hospital and medical care under Parts A and B. Medicare Advantage replaces that structure with a single private plan that bundles both, and most plans add dental, vision and hearing coverage that Original Medicare doesn't include.

CMS Star Ratings: Medicare scores plans on a 1-to-5 scale based on care quality, member satisfaction and care coordination. Plans at four stars or above are top performers.
Monthly premiums: You pay your standard Part B premium plus any plan-specific cost. Many Kentucky Medicare Advantage plans charge $0 in added monthly fees.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: This annual cap is the most you'll spend on covered care in a year. Once you hit it, the plan pays 100% of covered services through December 31.
Prescription drug coverage: Most plans include Part D coverage. Check your medications against the plan's formulary and note tier placement and any prior authorization requirements before enrolling.

Cigna

Best HMO

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.0
Plan Types
HMO, PPO

pros
- All plans have $0 premium
- HMO and PPO plans
cons
- Limited plan options
- PPO plan has high $9,250 MOOP limit
Cigna HealthCare has two HMO Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky, both with 3.0-star CMS ratings and $0 monthly premiums. The insurer averages $5,825 in out-of-pocket maximums across its HMO options. Part D drug coverage comes standard with both plans.

Cigna's PPO plan, HealthSpring True Choice (PPO), carries the same 3.0-star rating and opens access to a wider provider network. The PPO's MOOP is $9,250, compared with $5,825 for the HMO options.

Cigna HealthCare is the right HMO pick for Kentucky seniors who want $0 premiums and don't have complex specialist needs. Both plans come in at no monthly cost and the insurer's $5,825 average HMO MOOP is above the Kentucky average of $5,109. If your primary care physician and preferred specialists are in Cigna's network, the cost structure is strong. If they're not, the out-of-pocket exposure on the PPO option, $9,250 more than offsets the premium savings.
Cigna HealthCare's HMO plans have no out-of-network coverage except emergencies, so members who see multiple specialists or need providers outside the network pay the full cost. The insurer's single PPO option, HealthSpring True Choice, has a $9,250 MOOP, the highest of any Kentucky PPO plan.

WellCare

Best HMO-POS

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.5
Plan Types
HMO-POS, PPO

pros
- Three of four plans have $0 monthly premiums
- Out-of-network provider access on HMO-POS plans
cons
- PPO plan holds a lower 3-star CMS rating
- Out-of-network care costs more
Wellcare's three HMO-POS plans each earn 3.5-star CMS ratings, with two at $0 monthly premiums. The Wellcare Assist plan caps costs at $5,000 a year for $31 monthly. The Wellcare Simple plan carries a $7,000 MOOP at no monthly cost. Wellcare Giveback's MOOP is $9,000, also premium-free.

All three plans allow out-of-network access for specialist visits and travel.

Wellcare leads the HMO-POS category in MoneyGeek's Kentucky analysis because the Wellcare Assist plan's $5,000 MOOP is the lowest cap among Wellcare's three HMO-POS options. For members who expect to use their coverage heavily, paying $372 per year to cap annual exposure at $5,000 costs less than a single specialist visit without coverage.
Wellcare's PPO plan is among the lowest-rated in Kentucky's PPO market at 3.0 stars and its $7,500 MOOP is toward the high end. If a CMS star rating above 3.5 is your priority, Aetna or Humana are better PPO options.

Humana

Best PPO

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
4.0
Plan Types
HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS

pros
- 21 of 28 plans have no premium
- All plan types
- PPO plans allow nationwide provider access without referrals
cons
- MOOP limits as high as $9,150 for select PPO plans
- Higher costs for out-of-network care
Humana ranks first among Kentucky PPO Medicare Advantage providers. The insurer has 28 plans across HMO, HMO-POS, PPO, PFFS and Regional PPO networks. Twenty-one of those plans carry $0 monthly premiums, and CMS ratings across the portfolio range from 3.0 to 4.5 stars.

The HumanaChoice H7617-004 plan has a 4.5-star CMS rating, $0 premiums and a $5,500 MOOP, which is $3,650 below Humana's average PPO MOOP of $9,150. All Humana plans include Part D drug coverage, and many waive the deductible on select medication tiers.

The 28-plan portfolio covers most Kentucky ZIP codes, with more network configurations than any other Kentucky PPO provider.
Humana's PPO MOOP averages $9,150, the second-highest among Kentucky PPO providers. For members with chronic conditions who expect to hit their MOOP most years, Aetna's average PPO MOOP of $5,848 reduces out-of-pocket exposure by $3,302 per year, with a higher 4.5-star CMS rating.

Best Kentucky HMO Medicare Advantage Providers

Cigna HealthCare tops MoneyGeek's HMO rankings in Kentucky with a 5/5 score, $0 monthly premiums and a $5,825 average MOOP. Maximum out-of-pocket costs range from $2,875 to $8,850. The average is $5,109 annually. The average star rating across providers is 3.56 and one plan earns 4 stars or higher. All plans include enhanced Part D drug coverage.

Cigna HealthCare provides two HMO plans with 3.0-star ratings, both charging $0 monthly premiums and averaging $5,825 out-of-pocket limits.
Essence Healthcare has the highest CMS star rating but only has one plan charging $0 monthly with a $3,350 maximum out-of-pocket cost.
Humana six plans average $1 per month with a 3.17-star rating and $5,602 average maximum costs.


Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$5,825	2	5
Essence Healthcare	4.50	$0	$3,350	1	4.64
Humana	3.17	$1	$5,602	6	3.57

Essence Healthcare has the highest CMS star rating of any Kentucky HMO provider at 4.5 stars, with only one plan available in the state. Cigna HealthCare's two HMO plans carry $0 monthly premiums and a $5,825 average MOOP. The two plans differ by network. Check which covers your doctors before enrolling.

HMO PROS AND CONS

HMO Medicare Advantage plans are the most affordable plan type in Kentucky, with $0 median monthly premiums and a $5,109 average MOOP. Your primary care physician coordinates all care, and you must stay in-network except for emergencies. Choose an HMO when your preferred doctors are in-network and you're unlikely to need out-of-network specialists.

Best Kentucky HMO-POS Medicare Advantage Providers

Wellcare ranks first with a 5/5 score, a 3.5-star CMS rating and a $5,000 average MOOP. Most of the 18 plans carry $0 monthly premiums. The average across all 18 is $11 a month. Maximum out-of-pocket limits range from $3,900 to $9,000, averaging $5,891, and 17 out of the 18 available plans have enhanced drug benefits.

Wellcare ranks first with three HMO-POS plans averaging $32 a month, a 3.5-star CMS rating and a $5,000 out-of-pocket maximum.
Aetna ranks second with two plans at $0 a month, a 4.0-star rating and a $4,850 out-of-pocket maximum.
Humana has four plans at $0 a month, averaging 3.28 stars and a $6,189 out-of-pocket maximum. It's the widest plan selection of the three carriers.


Wellcare	3.50	$32	$5,000	3	5
Aetna	4.00	$0	$4,850	2	4.97
Humana	3.28	$0	$6,189	4	4.23
UnitedHealthcare	4.00	$12	$6,322	8	4.21
Anthem	3.50	$0	$6,369	1	4.01

UnitedHealthcare has the most HMO-POS plans in Kentucky at eight. Its $6,322 average MOOP is $1,472 higher than Aetna's and both carriers hold a 4.0-star CMS rating. Aetna's two plans are $0 per month, compared with UnitedHealthcare's $12 average.

HMO-POS PROS AND CONS

HMO-POS plans cost less than PPOs and allow out-of-network care at a higher cost-share. Choose an HMO-POS if you want lower costs than a PPO for routine care and occasionally need out-of-network access for specialist visits or travel.

Best Kentucky PPO Medicare Advantage Providers

Humana posts the top score in MoneyGeek's Kentucky PPO rankings: 5/5, a 4.0-star CMS rating and $0 monthly premiums across 16 plans. CMS star ratings average 3.77, with most plans earning 4.0 stars.

Humana is the top-ranked PPO carrier with 16 plans at $0 a month and a 4.0-star CMS rating. The $9,150 out-of-pocket maximum is among the highest in this category.
Aetna ranks second with three plans at $22 a month, a 4.5-star rating and a $5,848 average out-of-pocket maximum.
Essence Healthcare ranks third with one plan at $20 a month, a $4,150 out-of-pocket maximum and a 3.0-star rating.


Humana	4.00	$0	$9,150	16	5
Aetna	4.50	$22	$5,848	3	4.47
Essence Healthcare	3.00	$20	$4,150	1	3.98
Wellcare	3.00	$0	$7,500	1	3.95
Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$9,250	1	3.87
Anthem	4.00	$30	$6,950	2	3.85
UnitedHealthcare	3.50	$46	$6,700	2	3.77

Aetna is the highest-rated PPO provider in Kentucky at 4.5 stars. Its $5,848 average MOOP is $3,302 lower than Humana's $9,150. Humana's $0 premium across 16 PPO plans is the stronger choice for members who don't expect to hit their annual MOOP. Members who expect to reach their MOOP most years pay $3,302 less annually with Aetna's $5,848 cap than Humana's $9,150.

PPO PROS AND CONS

PPO Medicare Advantage plans cost more than HMOs, with Kentucky averaging $18 per month and a $6,813 MOOP. You get access to any Medicare-approved doctor without referrals, and out-of-network care is covered, though at a higher cost-share.

Choose a PPO when you travel frequently, want to keep doctors who aren't in an HMO network, or see multiple specialists without primary care referrals. The added flexibility carries a real premium cost.

How to Find the Best Kentucky Medicare Advantage Plans

Compare Kentucky Medicare Advantage plans on four factors: MOOP, drug formulary, provider network and any add-on benefits you use, not on premium alone. For most Kentucky enrollees who use care regularly, MOOP differences outweigh premium differences because 17 of 18 plans charge $0 per month.

1
Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network
Confirm your doctors, specialists and hospitals are in-network before enrolling. In Kentucky cities like Louisville and Lexington, HMO plans restrict you to in-network providers except for emergencies. PPO plans remove that restriction but charge more for out-of-network care.
2
Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs
Monthly premiums aren't the only number that matters. The maximum out-of-pocket limit is the most you'll pay for covered services in a year and it can matter as much as your monthly cost. A $0-premium plan with a $7,833 maximum may cost more than a $29-per-month plan capped at $6,750 if you use care regularly in Kentucky.
3
Review Prescription Drug Coverage
Check that your medications are on the plan's drug formulary and note their tier placement, which determines your cost. Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage, though some require separate Part D enrollment. Make sure your prescriptions are covered. This directly affects your total annual spending.
4
Evaluate Additional Benefits
Many Kentucky Medicare Advantage plans include extras like dental care, vision services, hearing aids, fitness memberships and transportation to medical appointments. Match those add-ons to your actual health needs.
5
Consider CMS Star Ratings
CMS rates each plan from one to five stars based on care quality and customer service. MoneyGeek weights star ratings at 40% of the total score, so plans rated below four stars rank lower regardless of their cost data.

Average Kentucky Medicare Advantage Cost

Plan type is the main cost driver for Medicare Advantage in Kentucky. HMOs have $0 median monthly premiums and a $5,109 average MOOP, the lowest cost combination across all plan types. HMO-POS plans average $11 a month with a $5,891 MOOP.

PPO plans average $18 monthly and a $6,813 MOOP. PFFS plans carry $0 premiums but a $7,100 MOOP, a higher cost floor tied to their fee-for-service structure. Regional PPOs are the most expensive, at $59 per month and a $9,200 MOOP.


HMO	$0	$3	$5,109
HMO-POS	$0	$11	$5,891
PFFS	$0	$0	$7,100
PPO	$0	$18	$6,813
Regional PPO	$58	$59	$9,200

Who Should Choose Each Plan Type?

Most Kentucky Medicare Advantage enrollees do best with a $0-premium HMO. If your primary care physician and preferred specialists are in-network, the $5,109 average MOOP is the lowest available across all plan types. Cigna HealthCare and Essence Healthcare both start at $0 with the best cost structures for low-utilization members.

Members with chronic conditions or planned procedures should weight MOOP above premium. Aetna's Kentucky PPO plans carry a $5,848 average MOOP and a 4.5-star CMS rating, the best combination for high-utilization members. Frequent travelers who want out-of-network access at lower cost than a PPO should compare Wellcare and Aetna HMO-POS options first.

Best Kentucky Medicare Advantage: FAQ

Get answers about Kentucky Medicare Advantage plans:

When can I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan in Kentucky?

Three enrollment windows are available: the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7), the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 to March 31) and a Special Enrollment Period if a qualifying event applies, including relocation or loss of other coverage.

Does Medicare Advantage cover prescription drugs in Kentucky?

Most Kentucky Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage. Confirm your medications are on the plan's formulary and check their tier before enrolling. Higher tiers mean higher copays at the pharmacy.

Do I need to change Medicare Advantage plans if I move to a different county in Kentucky?

You may need to. Medicare Advantage networks are county-specific, so your current plan may not cover your new area. Contact your insurer within 30 days of moving. If coverage doesn't extend to your new county, a Special Enrollment Period lets you select a different plan.

Does Medicare Advantage replace Original Medicare?

Yes. Enrolling in Medicare Advantage moves your coverage from Original Medicare to a private CMS-approved insurer. That insurer covers your Part A hospital and Part B medical benefits. You still pay your Part B premium. Most Kentucky plans add dental, vision and hearing coverage that Original Medicare doesn't include. You can't use both at the same time.

Which Medicare Advantage plan type is best for someone with chronic conditions?

A PPO with a lower MOOP is the strongest option. Aetna's Kentucky PPO plans carry a $5,848 average MOOP and a 4.5-star CMS rating, the highest in the state. For members who expect to hit their annual limit most years, the $3,302 gap between Aetna's MOOP and Humana's $9,150 average is the number that matters most.

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Kentucky Medicare Advantage Plans

MoneyGeek assessed Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky using data pulled from CMS Medicare Plan Finder in May 2026, modeled for a 65-year-old nonsmoker. We evaluated plans across three criteria:

Affordability (50%): Costs account for half the total score. We scored combined monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage at 30% and in-network MOOP at 20%. Plans with lower premiums and MOOP thresholds score higher.
Star Ratings (40%): The Overall Star Rating combines Part C medical benefits and Part D prescription drug coverage into a single 1-to-5-star scale. Plans rated 4.0 and above score highest.
Availability (10%): We scored each insurer's footprint across the United States. Providers active in more states score higher, as broader reach often indicates stronger member infrastructure.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Fitzpatrick earned his degrees from Johns Hopkins University (M.A. Economics and International Relations) and Boston College (B.A.). His career began in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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