Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Minnesota (2027)

fact checked icon

Updated: October 30, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Minnesota

Allina Health Aetna Medicare is the best Medicare Advantage company in Minnesota for 2027, with the lowest median cost exposure among the ranked insurers at $5,441. Its six plans serve 15 counties and have a 3.5-star median CMS rating. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has broader availability with six plans across 35 counties, a 4-star median CMS rating and $7,025 in median cost exposure.

Medica has the largest plan selection and geographic reach among the top insurers, with eight plans across 44 counties and $7,150 in median cost exposure. HealthPartners and UnitedHealthcare have the highest median CMS ratings at 4.5 stars, though both serve just 15 counties. HealthPartners also has the highest median cost exposure among the ranked carriers at $8,500.

Allina Health Aetna Medicare
4.4
$5,441
3.5
15
6
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
4.2
$7,025

4.0

35
6
Medica
4.2
$7,150

4.0

44
8
HealthPartners
4.1
$8,500
4.5
15
4
UnitedHealthcare
4.1
$7,150
4.5
15
5

* Align powered by Sanford Health Plan and Quartz Medicare Advantage also operate in Minnesota but were excluded from our rankings due to lower scores or limited county availability.

Minnesota Medicare Advantage Market Overview

Minnesota's Medicare Advantage market has 36 non-SNP plans from seven carriers for 2027, but local selection is limited. The median county has just five plans available, so provider networks, coverage options and county availability are important considerations when choosing a plan.

Only half of Minnesota Medicare Advantage plans have $0 monthly premiums, and annual out-of-pocket limits vary by as much as $5,950. Plan quality is strong, with an average CMS rating of 4.08 stars and 71% of rated contracts earning at least 4 stars. Comparing total costs, quality ratings and supplemental benefits can help you find the best coverage among the plans available in your county.

Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans
36
Statewide options may look plentiful, but your county determines which plans you can enroll in.
Carriers
7
With a smaller insurer pool, differences in provider networks and benefits are worth examining.
CMS contracts
7
Each carrier has one contract in the state, so contract-level quality ratings are easier to compare.
Median plans per county
5
Residents in many counties have limited choices, especially outside of major population centers.
Plans with a $0 premium
50%
Half of plans charge an additional premium beyond Medicare Part B, so monthly costs are a key differentiator.
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP)
$6,900
Half of plans have annual in-network spending limits at or below this amount.
MOOP range
$3,900–$9,850
There's a $5,950 difference in potential out-of-pocket costs.
Average CMS star rating
4.08 out of 5
Average quality exceeds the 4-star benchmark, though individual plan performance varies.
Contracts rated 4+ stars
71%
Most rated contracts in the state meet the 4-star quality benchmark.
Allina Health Aetna Medicare

Allina Health Aetna Medicare

MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.9/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $5,441

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    3.5

  • Counties Served

    15

  • Plans Available

    6
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesotta

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesotta

MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,025

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.0

  • Counties Served

    35

  • Plans Available

    6
MEDICA

MEDICA

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

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,150

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.0

  • Counties Served

    44

  • Plans Available

    8
HealthPartners

HealthPartners

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
3.9/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
3.5/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $8,500

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.5

  • Counties Served

    15

  • Plans Available

    4
UnitedHealthcare

UnitedHealthcare

MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.4/5Quality & Member Experience
3.8/5Benefits & Availability

  • Median Max Annual Cost Exposure

    $7,150

  • Median CMS Star Rating

    4.5

  • Counties Served

    15

  • Plans Available

    5

How to Choose the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Minnesota

The best Medicare Advantage plan for you in Minnesota depends on where you live, which providers you use and how much you could pay for care.

  1. 1
    Check availability in your county

    Medicare Advantage plans vary by county. Start by identifying the plans available where you live.

  2. 2
    Confirm your doctors are in-network

    Check that your primary care doctor, specialists and preferred hospitals participate in the plan's network. Minnesota's prominent PPO plans allow out-of-network care, but you'll pay more for it than in-network care.

  3. 3
    Compare total cost, not just premiums

    A $0 premium doesn't necessarily mean a plan is cheaper overall. Compare copays, deductibles and the maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit, which caps what you pay for covered medical services during the year.

  4. 4
    Review prescription drug coverage

    Check each plan's drug formulary to make sure your medications are covered and compare their tiers, copays and pharmacy networks.

  5. 5
    Consider CMS star ratings

    CMS rates Medicare Advantage contracts from one to five stars based on measures such as quality of care and member experience. When plans have similar costs and coverage, higher ratings can help distinguish stronger options.

  6. 6
    Compare supplemental benefits

    Dental, vision, hearing and OTC benefits vary substantially by plan. Compare the actual allowances and coverage limits rather than simply whether a benefit is included or not.

How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Minnesota?

Medicare Advantage costs vary by plan type. HMO plans have a $7 median monthly premium, compared with $0 for PPOs, but have lower out-of-pocket costs. HMOs have a $4,900 median maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit, $2,250 below the PPO median of $7,150.

Median primary care copays are $15 for both plan types, while specialist visits cost $40 for HMOs and $50 for PPOs. Inpatient hospital copays also vary widely, with a $282 daily median for HMOs compared with $459 for PPOs. Despite the modest premium, HMOs are a more affordable option for people who expect frequent medical care and are comfortable using in-network providers.

HMO
$7
$4,900
$282
$15
$40
PPO
$0
$7,150
$459
$15
$50

Minnesota Medicare Advantage Resources

If you have questions a plan brochure doesn't answer, these government sources can help. Minnesota Aging Pathways provides free counseling from certified SHIP counselors. Medicare.gov's plan comparison tool shows every plan available in your county, such as star ratings and drug coverage details.

Medicare Plan Finder: The official CMS tool for comparing every Medicare Advantage plan available in your ZIP code. Shows exact premiums, MOOP limits, drug formularies and star ratings for 2027.

Minnesota Aging Pathways: Minnesota's federally designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Free one-on-one counseling from certified SHIP advisors on plan selection, enrollment and cost-saving programs. Call 800-333-2433, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Minnesota Department of Commerce Medicare Page: State-level guidance on Medicare options in Minnesota, including Medigap and Part D plan information.

Social Security Administration: Handles Medicare enrollment if you aren't yet receiving Social Security benefits. Also manages income-related premium adjustments for Part B.

Compare Medicare Advantage Rates

Get the best insurance rate. Compare quotes from top insurance companies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluated Minnesota Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2027 plan year, including 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 carrier in the state receives an overall MoneyGeek score out of five from a weighted average of three category scores:

  • Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure, calculated as annual premiums plus the maximum out-of-pocket limit, along with inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
  • Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings make up 60% of this category and CAHPS C26 member ratings make up 40%. Both are measured at the contract level.
  • Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, make up 50% of this category. County coverage makes up 30% and plan choice per county makes up 20%.

About Patrick Bryant

Patrick Bryant, Vertical Lead, Life & Health Insurance, MoneyGeek

Patrick Bryant is the Vertical Lead for Health Insurance at MoneyGeek, where he researches insurance products, writes consumer guides and maintains the scoring methodologies behind our provider comparisons. He analyzed more than 100 health insurance carriers across all 50 U.S. states and multiple policy types. His methodologies are reviewed quarterly to reflect current market conditions and carrier data.

Read Full Bio »