Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Massachusetts (2027)

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Updated: November 5, 2026

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Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is the best Medicare Advantage insurer in Massachusetts because it costs the least in a bad year and rates highest for quality. Its median max annual cost exposure, a year of premiums plus the out-of-pocket cap, is $5,764. Its plans’ median CMS rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Tufts Health Plan costs $42 more than Blue Cross in a bad year. Aetna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare share Tufts’ 4-star rating but cost $1,344 more in a bad year, so the extra money buys no extra quality. Get Blue Cross and Tufts quotes first, or Fallon Health quotes in Berkshire County, where neither sells.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
4.5
$5,764
4.5
11
7
Tufts Health Plan
4.5
$5,806
4
10
15
Mass General Brigham Health Plan
4.2
$6,517
3.5
9
3
Fallon Health
4.2
$6,649
4
12
4
Aetna Medicare
3.9
$7,150
4
8
9
Humana
3.9
$7,150
4
6
5
Health New England Medicare Advantage Plans
3.9
$6,891
3
4
8
UnitedHealthcare
3.9
$7,150
4
10
4
eternalHealth
3.8
$6,500
2.5
6
3

Massachusetts Medicare Advantage Market Overview

Massachusetts has 58 Medicare Advantage plans from nine carriers, and the median county offers 33. Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare-approved private plans that provide Part A hospital and Part B medical coverage in place of Original Medicare, the federal program. Most add drug coverage.

Nine of the 16 Massachusetts contracts rate 4 stars or higher for 2027, compared with about 37% of contracts nationally. A contract is a carrier’s agreement with Medicare to offer a group of plans, and each has its own rating to check before you enroll.

Medicare Supplement plans take a different route. They work alongside Original Medicare and help pay the copays, coinsurance and deductibles Original Medicare leaves you to cover.

Non-SNP MA plans
58

Massachusetts offers 58 Medicare Advantage plans through nine carriers, not counting Special Needs Plans for people with certain chronic conditions or Medicaid. County boundaries determine your eligible plans, so run a search at your address first.

Carriers
9

Nine carriers offer Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts. Each one builds a separate provider network and drug formulary, so weigh both across all nine before you choose.

CMS contracts
16

Massachusetts has 16 CMS contracts across nine carriers. A contract is a carrier’s agreement with Medicare to offer a group of plans, and each has its own star rating, so find which one your plan falls under.

Median plans per county
33

The median Massachusetts county has 33 Medicare Advantage plans. Check which are available at your address, then narrow by premium, MOOP and contract rating.

Plans with $0 premium
43%
Fewer than half of Massachusetts MA plans carry no monthly premium. The majority charge one, so check the premium on every plan you consider.
Median MOOP
$6,500
Annual in-network cost sharing on Massachusetts’s median MA plan maxes out at $6,500.
MOOP range
$3,400–$9,850

Massachusetts annual cost ceilings go from $3,400 to $9,850. The plan you choose sets your ceiling within that $6,450 range.

Average star rating
3.78

Massachusetts contracts average 3.78 stars. Each contract has its own rating, so look yours up before you sign up.

Contracts rated 4+ stars
56%

Nine of Massachusetts’ 16 contracts reach 4 stars or above, compared with about 37% of contracts nationally. Confirm which contract your plan is under before enrolling.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Blue Cross Blue Shield

MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.4/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $5,764

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.5

  • Counties Served

    11

  • Plans Available

    7
Tufts Health Plan Direct

Tufts Health Plan Direct

MoneyGeek Rating
4.5/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $5,806

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4

  • Counties Served

    10

  • Plans Available

    15
Mass General Brigham Health Plan

Mass General Brigham Health Plan

MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
3.9/5Quality & Member Experience
4.1/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $6,517

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3.5

  • Counties Served

    9

  • Plans Available

    3
Fallon Health

Fallon Health

MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $6,649

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4

  • Counties Served

    12

  • Plans Available

    4
Aetna Medicare

Aetna Medicare

MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ 5
3.7/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,150

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4

  • Counties Served

    8

  • Plans Available

    9
Humana

Humana

MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ 5
3.8/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
3.8/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,150

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4

  • Counties Served

    6

  • Plans Available

    5
Health New England Medicare Advantage Plans

Health New England Medicare Advantage Plans

MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ 5
4.1/5Affordability
3.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.1/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $6,891

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3

  • Counties Served

    4

  • Plans Available

    8
UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare

MoneyGeek Rating
3.9/ 5
3.6/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,150

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4

  • Counties Served

    10

  • Plans Available

    4
eternalHealth

eternalHealth

MoneyGeek Rating
3.8/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
3.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.1/5Benefits & Access

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $6,500

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    2.5

  • Counties Served

    6

  • Plans Available

    3

How to Find the Best Massachusetts Medicare Advantage Plans

The right Massachusetts Medicare Advantage plan depends on your preferred doctors, prescription coverage and total out-of-pocket budget.

  1. 1
    Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network

    Switching to a plan your doctor isn't enrolled in can mean paying out-of-network rates or finding a new provider mid-treatment. HMO plans cover care only from in-network providers, except emergency care, out-of-area urgent care and temporary out-of-area dialysis. PPOs allow out-of-network visits, but at higher cost. Confirm the plan accepts your providers, since coverage can differ across plans from the same insurer.

  2. 2
    Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs

    A $0 premium doesn't mean $0 out of pocket. The out-of-pocket maximum is the yearly limit on what you pay for covered Part A and Part B services, and it doesn’t include drug costs. Massachusetts plans range from $3,400 to $9,850 on that ceiling for 2027.

  3. 3
    Review Prescription Drug Coverage

    Your medications land in different cost tiers depending on the plan’s formulary, the list of drugs it covers. A drug one plan covers at a low copay may require prior authorization on another. Plans with “No Rx” in the name skip drug coverage, and HMO members on those plans can’t add a separate drug plan.

  4. 4
    Evaluate Additional Benefits

    Compare dental and vision benefits by their limits, since a plan can list a benefit that covers little. A dental benefit capped at $500 covers different needs than one with a $2,250 annual maximum, the highest in Massachusetts for 2027. Over-the-counter and hearing allowances lower your costs only when their annual limits match what you’d actually use.

  5. 5
    Consider CMS Star Ratings

    CMS star ratings measure plan performance on preventive care, member experience and customer service on a 1-to-5 scale. Nine of Massachusetts’ 16 contracts rate 4 stars or higher for 2027, compared with about 37% of contracts nationwide. When two plans have similar costs and benefits, the higher-rated plan has a better-documented record on care coordination and member complaint resolution.

How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts Medicare Advantage premiums are low, with medians from $0 to $69 monthly, but the out-of-pocket maximum sets more of your yearly bill. The MOOP caps what you pay for covered Part A and Part B services, excluding drugs. HMOs, which limit you to a network, carry a $69 median premium and $4,500 median cap.

HMO-POS and PPO plans have a $0 median premium and cover some or all out-of-network care, but their median cap is $7,150. The HMO’s $828 in yearly premiums buys a cap $2,650 lower. An HMO is the better choice when you expect a hospital stay or frequent specialist visits.

Median Monthly Premium
$69
$0
$0
Median Max Out-of-Pocket
$4,500
$7,150
$7,150
Median Inpatient Copay
$332
$395
$435

Median Primary Care Copay

$15
$15
$15
Median Specialist Copay
$20
$50
$40

*Median costs across all 58 Massachusetts Medicare Advantage plans, grouped by plan type. Excludes Special Needs Plans (SNPs), which serve people with certain chronic conditions or Medicaid coverage. Dollar figures rounded to the nearest dollar. Source: CMS 2027 data, MoneyGeek analysis.

Massachusetts Medicare Advantage Resources

Massachusetts residents can compare plans, get free personalized counseling and find financial assistance programs through these state and federal resources.

  • Massachusetts SHINE Program: Free, unbiased Medicare counseling from trained counselors, often volunteers, for Massachusetts residents. SHINE counselors can help you compare plans, review costs and explain enrollment rules.
  • Medicare.gov Plan Finder: The official federal tool for comparing Medicare Advantage plans available in your ZIP code, including premiums, drug coverage and CMS star ratings.
  • Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence: The state agency formerly called Elder Affairs, which connects older residents with local aging services, caregiver support and benefits counseling.
  • Medicare Savings Programs in Massachusetts: Helps eligible residents pay Medicare Part B premiums and certain cost-sharing amounts, including copays and deductibles.
  • Social Security Administration: Processes Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment for most Massachusetts residents. Use it to apply for Medicare, check enrollment status or set up premium payments.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Our Methodology

MoneyGeek’s 2027 Massachusetts Medicare Advantage ratings cover 58 plans across nine carriers, 16 CMS contracts and 14 counties, excluding Special Needs Plans, which serve people with certain chronic conditions or Medicaid coverage. Five CMS datasets back the analysis: the Medicare Plan Landscape File, Plan Benefit Package files, CMS Star Ratings, the CAHPS Report Card Master Table and the Contract/Plan Enrollment file.   

To be rated, a carrier needed plans in at least three of Massachusetts’ 14 counties and data for all three scoring categories. All nine carriers met both requirements.

How We Score Carriers

All nine carriers earn a MoneyGeek score out of five. MoneyGeek computes each score as the median across that carrier’s Massachusetts Medicare Advantage plans, excluding SNPs, with CMS star ratings and CAHPS as plan-weighted medians. Three categories build each score:   

  • Affordability (40%): Four cost items make up this category. Maximum annual cost exposure, a year of premiums plus the out-of-pocket maximum, counts for 20%, followed by inpatient hospital copays (10%), specialist copays (6%) and primary care copays (4%).
  • Quality and Member Experience (40%): The quality score comes from two contract-level inputs: CMS Star Ratings at 60% and CAHPS Rating of Health Plan scores at 40%.
  • Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental dental, OTC, vision and hearing benefits hold 50% of this category, county coverage 30% and plan choice per county 20%.

Affordability and Benefits and Access scores are scaled from 3.5 to 5.0 across the nine rated carriers. Quality scores use each CMS star rating as published and convert CAHPS scores to a 5-point scale.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.

Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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