Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Massachusetts (2026)

Key Takeaways

There are 40 Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts from 16 providers, with options including HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plan types.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the best Massachusetts Medicare Advantage provider for both HMO-POS and PPO plans, while Tufts Health Plan ranks best for HMO options.

When choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, check if your preferred doctors and hospitals are included in the plan’s network, that your prescription medications are covered and evaluate how much you can spend on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Massachusetts

We researched the best Massachusetts Medicare Advantage plans to identify top providers by plan type, considering CMS star ratings, monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs to highlight the strongest value and coverage.

Tufts Health Plan is the top HMO provider in the state, offering a 4.0-star CMS rating, $151 average monthly premiums, and the lowest maximum out-of-pocket cost at $3,850. Blue Cross Blue Shield leads both HMO-POS and PPO options with 4.5-star ratings, offering plans that balance premiums, network flexibility, and coverage across the state.


HMO	Tufts Health Plan	4.00	$151	$3,850	Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Prime Rx Plus (HMO)
HMO-POS	Blue Cross Blue Shield	4.50	$0	$9,200	Medicare HMO Blue FlexRx (HMO-POS)
PPO	Blue Cross Blue Shield	4.50	$107	$6,600	Medicare PPO Blue EssentialRx (PPO)

Medicare Advantage Plans Explained

Medicare Advantage plans offer an alternative to Original Medicare by bundling hospital and medical coverage through private insurers. These plans include prescription drugs and extra benefits like dental and vision care.

CMS Star Ratings: Medicare scores plans from 1 to 5 stars based on care quality and member satisfaction. Plans with 4 or 5 stars show top performance.
Monthly premiums: You'll pay your Part B premium plus any extra plan costs. Many Medicare Advantage plans in the Bay State charge no additional monthly fees.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: This cap protects you from unlimited medical bills each year. Once you hit this amount, your plan covers all remaining costs.
Prescription drug coverage: Most plans bundle Part D medication benefits directly into your coverage. Check that your prescriptions appear on the plan's approved drug list.

Tufts Health Plan Direct

Best HMO

MoneyGeek Rating

4.5/ 5

4/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
4.0
Plan Types
HMO, PPO

pros
- All plans have 4-star CMS rating
- One $0 premium plan available
- Enhanced Part D drug coverage included with all plans
cons
- High premiums up to $212 per month
- No HMO-POS plans
- Only one PPO option
Tufts Health Plan provides five HMO Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts, each earning a solid 4.0-star CMS rating with a $4,360 average out-of-pocket maximum. Members must use in-network providers for optimal benefits, though all plans include enhanced Part D drug coverage.

Four plans charge premiums starting at $57 per month with Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Basic Rx, while one plan offers $0 monthly premiums. Tufts also offers one PPO plan with a 4.0-star CMS rating at $27 per month and a $6,570 maximum out-of-pocket limit, providing greater flexibility with out-of-network care options.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Best HMO-POS

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
4.5
Plan Types
HMO, HMO-POS, PPO

pros
- Strong 4.5-star CMS rating on all plans
- One $0 premium plan
- All plan types
cons
- High MOOP limits up to $9,250 on PPO plans
Blue Cross Blue Shield is a top Medicare Advantage provider in Massachusetts with seven available plans, all with 4.5-star CMS ratings. For HMO-POS coverage, Medicare HMO Blue SaverRx offers $0 monthly premiums with a higher $9,200 maximum out-of-pocket cost, while Medicare HMO Blue FlexRx balances coverage at $119 per month with a lower $4,100 MOOP.

For PPO plans, Medicare PPO Blue ValueRx costs $107 monthly with a $6,600 MOOP and added out-of-network flexibility. Two other options have premiums ranging from $59 to $300 with MOOP limits of $9,250 and $4,200, respectively. All Blue Cross Blue Shield plans include enhanced Part D prescription drug coverage.

Best Massachusetts HMO Medicare Advantage Providers

Massachusetts has 15 HMO Medicare Advantage plans from five providers, with annual out-of-pocket maximums ranging from $3,400 to $7,550 and averaging $4,883. Four plans charge $0 monthly premiums, and overall quality is strong at an average CMS rating of 3.93 stars.

Tufts Health Plan provides the widest selection, with five plans averaging $151 per month, 4.0-star ratings, and $3,850 average MOOP limits.
Blue Cross Blue Shield leads on quality, earning 4.5-star ratings across two HMO plans with an average $156 monthly premium and $3,775 out-of-pocket limits.
Fallon Health stands out for cost protection, offering three plans with the state’s lowest $3,400 maximum out-of-pocket costs, though premiums average $161 and CMS ratings sit at 4.0 stars.


Tufts Health Plan	4.00	$151	$3,850	5	4.50
Blue Cross Blue Shield	4.50	$156	$3,775	2	4.50
Fallon Health	4.00	$161	$3,400	3	4.50
Mass Advantage	4.50	$48	$5,750	2	4.09
Health New England Medicare Advantage Plans	3.00	$94	$5,417	3	3.48

HMO PROS AND CONS

HMO Medicare Advantage plans require you to stay within a provider network and get referrals for specialist care. But you'll pay lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs while getting coordinated care through a primary care physician. These plans suit people who prefer predictable health care expenses.

Best Massachusetts HMO-POS Medicare Advantage Providers

Out-of-network access makes HMO-POS plans appealing in Massachusetts, where you can choose from nine options from four providers. These plans average $51 per month, although four charge no premiums at all, and annual out-of-pocket maximums range from $2,900 to $9,200.

Blue Cross Blue Shield leads the HMO-POS market with two $0-premium plans, both earning 4.5-star CMS ratings, though they carry higher average out-of-pocket limits of $9,200.
UnitedHealthcare follows with five plans averaging $29 per month, $5,985 out-of-pocket caps, and an average 4.3-star CMS rating.
Aetna rounds out the options with one $0-premium plan, a 3.5-star rating, and a $6,750 maximum out-of-pocket limit.


Blue Cross Blue Shield	4.50	$0	$9,200	2	5.00
UnitedHealthcare	4.30	$29	$5,985	5	4.24
Aetna	3.50	$0	$6,750	1	3.98
Mass General Brigham Health Plan	3.50	$62	$3,350	1	3.92

HMO-POS PROS AND CONS

HMO-POS plans suit people who want coordinated, affordable care but need to visit providers outside their network. These hybrid plans let you access out-of-network specialists or doctors while keeping most of the cost benefits of standard HMO coverage. You'll pay additional expenses for out-of-network services.

Best Massachusetts PPO Medicare Advantage Providers

PPO plans in Massachusetts offer the flexibility to see out-of-network providers, but that freedom comes with higher costs. The state has sixteen PPO Medicare Advantage plans from eight providers, averaging $44 per month. Maximum out-of-pocket limits average $6,203 and range from $3,150 to $9,250, while average CMS star ratings are relatively high at 3.91.

Blue Cross Blue Shield has the best PPO Medicare Advantage plans in the state with a 4.5-star CMS rating, a $107 monthly premium, and $6,600 maximum out-of-pocket limit.
Aetna follows with two highly rated 4.5-star plans offering $0 premiums and a $6,325 average MOOP.
Humana offers four $0-premium plans, a $6,214 average MOOP, and an average 3.68-star CMS rating.


Blue Cross Blue Shield	4.50	$107	$6,600	3	5.00
Aetna	4.50	$0	$6,325	2	4.59
Humana	3.68	$0	$6,214	4	4.26
Mass Advantage	4.00	$0	$6,375	2	4.19
Mass General Brigham Health Plan	3.50	$75	$4,325	2	4.18
UnitedHealthcare	3.50	$47	$6,700	1	4.04
Tufts Health Plan	4.00	$27	$6,750	1	4.00
Health New England Medicare Advantage Plans	2.50	$29	$6,750	1	3.65

PPO PROS AND CONS

If you're someone who travels often or has established relationships with specific doctors, PPO Medicare Advantage plans provide the greatest flexibility by letting you choose any Medicare provider without referral requirements. You can access both in-network and out-of-network care, though out-of-network services cost more. The trade-off is you'll pay higher monthly premiums and maximum out-of-pocket costs.

How to Find the Best Massachusetts Medicare Advantage Plans

Selecting the right Medicare Advantage plan in Massachusetts requires considering your preferred doctors, prescription coverage and total out-of-pocket costs.

1
Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network
Verify that your preferred doctors, specialists and hospitals in Massachusetts participate in the plan's provider network. HMO plans require you to stay within the network except for emergencies, and you need referrals for specialists, while PPO plans let you see out-of-network providers at higher costs. Learn more about health insurance network types.
2
Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs
The maximum out-of-pocket limit is the most you'll pay for covered services annually, which matters more if you need frequent medical care. For example, a plan with a $0 premium but $7,833 maximum out-of-pocket could cost more than one with a $29 premium and $6,750 limit if you require regular treatment.
3
Review Prescription Drug Coverage
Check whether your current medications appear on each plan's drug formulary and understand which tier they're placed in, as this affects your costs. Most Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription coverage, but some require you to purchase it separately. Find out if you need authorization for your medication.
4
Evaluate Additional Benefits
Medicare Advantage plans often include extra benefits, such as dental care, vision services, hearing aids, fitness memberships and transportation to medical appointments.
5
Consider CMS Star Ratings
Review each plan's CMS star rating, which measures quality and performance on a scale of one to five stars. Plans with four or five stars deliver better customer service, care coordination and health outcomes.

Average Massachusetts Medicare Advantage Cost

In Massachusetts, Medicare Advantage costs vary by plan type. HMO plans have the highest median premium at $95 and average premium of $102, but the lowest average maximum out-of-pocket limit at $4,883. HMO-POS plans show a much lower median premium of $14 and average premium of $52, with a slightly higher $5,670 MOOP. PPO plans have a $0 median premium and $45 average premium, but the highest average out-of-pocket limit at $6,203, reflecting their broader network flexibility.


HMO	$95	$102	$4,883
HMO-POS	$14	$52	$5,670
PPO	$0	$45	$6,203

Best Massachusetts Medicare Advantage: FAQ

Learn more about Massachusetts Medicare Advantage plans:

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

In Massachusetts, enrollment is available during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 to March 31). You may also enroll during a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify due to circumstances like relocating or losing other coverage.

Does Medicare Advantage cover prescription drugs in Massachusetts?

Most Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts 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 placement, which directly impacts your out-of-pocket costs at the pharmacy.

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

Plan availability may change when you move between Massachusetts counties because Medicare Advantage networks operate differently across regions. Contact your current insurer within 30 days of relocating to understand your options. You can utilize a Special Enrollment Period to switch to a new plan that serves your area if necessary.

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

We analyzed Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts using a scoring system:

Affordability (50%): Costs represent half the total score due to their immediate effect on your spending. We analyzed combined monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage (weighted at 30%) and in-network maximum out-of-pocket limits (weighted at 20%). Plans with lower premiums and MOOP thresholds score higher by reducing annual health care expenses.
Star Ratings (40%): CMS star ratings evaluate plan performance in care quality, customer service and member experience. The Overall Star Rating merges Part C (medical benefits) and Part D (prescription drug coverage) scores into one rating on a 1 to 5-star scale. Higher-rated plans score better in our evaluation.
Availability (10%): We consider each insurer's coverage area across the United States. Providers serving more states score higher, as broader availability indicates better infrastructure, better support and more continuity if you relocate.

These factors create a fair comparison of Medicare Advantage plans, weighing costs against care quality and service.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. He has analyzed the insurance market for over five years, conducting original research for insurance shoppers. His insights have been featured in CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.

Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.

Read Full Bio »