Updated: June 16, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Humana has the best HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana with 4-star CMS ratings.
WellCare provides the best HMO-POS plans in Louisiana at an average premium of $32 per month with $4,200 MOOP limits.
Make sure your preferred doctors and hospitals are in-network and that your prescriptions are covered. Review all costs, including monthly premiums and out-of-pocket maximums, to find the plan that suits you.
After reviewing CMS star ratings, premiums, out-of-pocket maximums and plan features, we identified the best Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana.
Humana leads Louisiana's Medicare Advantage market, ranking first for both HMO and PPO plans with 4-star CMS ratings. WellCare tops the HMO-POS category with a 3.5-star rating and a $32 average monthly premium, with out-of-pocket costs capped at $4,200.
| HMO | Humana | 4.00 | $0 | $2,900 | Humana FMOL Baton Rouge H1951-053 (HMO) |
| HMO-POS | Wellcare | 3.50 | $32 | $4,200 | Wellcare Assist (HMO-POS) |
| PPO | Humana | 4.00 | $33 | $6,100 | HumanaChoice H7617-080 (PPO) |
Medicare Advantage plans combine hospital stays, doctor visits and prescription drugs into one plan sold by private insurers. These Part C plans replace Original Medicare and must cover all traditional benefits, plus extras like dental and vision care.
Best HMO & PPO
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Best HMO-POS
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Louisiana's HMO Medicare Advantage market has just two insurers. Humana and Aetna provide distinct options that differ sharply in quality, cost protection and plan availability.
Humana leads Louisiana's HMO market with 13 plans and a 4-star CMS rating. Aetna has one zero-premium plan with a $6,750 MOOP and a 3.42-star rating.
| Humana | 4.00 | $0 | $2,900 | 13 | 5 |
| Aetna | 3.42 | $0 | $6,750 | 1 | 3.75 |
HMO plans have the lowest premiums and out-of-pocket costs among Medicare Advantage options. They require a primary care doctor and specialist referrals, and coverage is limited to the plan's network. The plan type is a practical fit for members who want lower costs and coordinated care.
HMO-POS Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana have a strong mix of quality and affordability. Of the 10 available plans, seven earn 4-star CMS ratings, and none fall below 3 stars. Annual out-of-pocket maximums average $5,571 for the plan type, though limits range widely from $3,500 to $9,250.
| Wellcare | 3.50 | $32 | $4,200 | 3 | 5 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 4.00 | $63 | $4,606 | 4 | 4.5 |
| Peoples Health | 4.00 | $0 | $5,833 | 3 | 4.44 |
HMO-POS plans cost less than PPOs each month but give you more flexibility than standard HMOs. Louisiana seniors can see out-of-network providers when needed while keeping monthly costs lower through a primary care focus. You'll pay more for out-of-network visits, but monthly premiums run well below PPO rates.
Louisiana has 17 PPO Medicare Advantage plans, which cost more than HMO options but provide greater flexibility to see providers both in and out of network. Monthly premiums range from $0 to $160, with a $0 median premium statewide. Average out-of-pocket maximums are $6,291 and range from $4,000 to $9,250. Plan quality is strong, with 11 plans earning 4.5-star CMS ratings and the remaining options rated 3.5 stars.
| Humana | 4.00 | $33 | $6,100 | 8 | 5 |
| Aetna | 4.50 | $6 | $7,964 | 5 | 4.42 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 4.50 | $60 | $5,314 | 3 | 4.4 |
| Peoples Health | 2.50 | $0 | $6,700 | 1 | 3.92 |
PPO plans cost more than HMOs and allow visits to any provider without a referral. Out-of-network visits are covered, at a higher cost than in-network care. The plan type is a practical fit for members who need frequent access to specialists or expect to travel.
Choosing the right Medicare Advantage plan depends on care needs, budget and network flexibility.
Contact your providers directly to verify network participation, not just whether they accept the insurer generally. Each plan from the same insurer can have a different provider network.
A $0-premium plan may carry higher copays and deductibles. Factor in expected medication costs and specialist visit frequency when calculating annual out-of-pocket exposure.
Look up each medication on the plan's formulary, confirm coverage and note the tier level. Higher tiers mean higher copays, and some drugs require prior authorization.
HMO plan types have the lowest premiums and coordinated care through a primary doctor. HMO-POS adds occasional out-of-network flexibility. PPO is the right fit for frequent travelers or members who need unrestricted specialist access.
CMS star ratings measure care quality, customer service and member satisfaction on a 1 to 5 scale. Plans rated 4 or 5 stars are the top performers across those categories.
Louisiana Medicare Advantage plans frequently include dental, vision, fitness memberships and OTC allowances. Match what each plan includes to your actual health needs before deciding.
The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you'll pay for covered care in a year. Lower caps mean less annual exposure but higher monthly premiums.
Medicare Advantage costs in Louisiana vary by type. PPO plans have the highest average monthly premiums at $18, though many still charge $0, while HMO-POS plans average $29 per month. HMOs are the most affordable, averaging just $8 monthly with a $0 median premium.
Out-of-pocket limits tell a similar story. HMOs average $4,251 annually, compared with $5,571 for HMO-POS plans and $6,291 for PPOs, nearly twice the HMO average.
| HMO | $0 | $8 | $4,251 |
| HMO-POS | $0 | $29 | $5,571 |
| PPO | $0 | $18 | $6,291 |
| Regional PPO | $189 | $189 | $3,300 |
Get answers about how to enroll, what's covered and when to sign up for Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana.
Enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period or the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7). Apply through Medicare.gov, insurance companies or licensed brokers. You may also qualify during other qualifying periods.
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does plus often include prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing services, and fitness memberships.
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare through a private insurer with its own provider network. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to cover deductibles and copays.
The Annual Enrollment Period runs October 15 through December 7. Current enrollees have an additional window from January 1 through March 31.
We scored Medicare Advantage plans in Louisiana on three criteria:
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.
