Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is the best Medicare Advantage company in Minnesota, with broad county availability, the most plan options in the state and a strong 4.5-star CMS rating. Align powered by Sanford Health Plan has the lowest median maximum annual cost exposure among the carriers we analyzed at $4,280. UnitedHealthcare pairs a 4.5-star CMS rating with coverage in 27 counties, though its $6,500 median cost ceiling is the highest in Minnesota. HealthPartners and Allina Health Aetna Medicare also perform well on plan quality and are good options depending on your location.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Minnesota (2026)
Updated: September 3, 2026
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Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Minnesota
| Overall rating based on cost, quality, benefits and availability. | Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum. | Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans. | Number of Minnesota counties where plans are offered. | Number of Medicare Advantage plans offered in Minnesota. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota | 4.4 | $5,500 | 4.5 | 66 | 9 |
Align powered by Sanford Health Plan | 4.3 | $4,280 | 3.5 | 19 | 2 |
Allina Health Aetna Medicare | 4.3 | $5,050 | 4.0 | 20 | 8 |
HealthPartners | 4.3 | $5,450 | 4.5 | 22 | 4 |
UnitedHealthcare | 4.1 | $6,500 | 4.5 | 27 | 7 |
Minnesota Medicare Advantage Market Overview
Minnesota's Medicare Advantage market is midsize by national standards, with 48 non-SNP plans from eight carriers. Your actual choices depend heavily on where you live, however, and county-level options vary widely in cost, coverage and quality.
Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans | 48 | Minnesota has a moderate plan selection, but your actual choices depend heavily on where you live. |
Carriers | 8 | Competition is spread across eight insurers. You have multiple carrier options in much of the state. |
CMS contracts | 9 | Most insurers operate their Minnesota plans under a single CMS contract. |
Median plans per county | 10 | The typical county has only about one-fifth of the statewide plan total available locally. |
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans | 532,278 | More than half a million beneficiaries are enrolled in the non-SNP plans included in our analysis. |
Plans with a $0 premium | 52% | Not all plans charge $0 per month. Compare premiums closely alongside out-of-pocket limits. |
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP) | $4,950 | Many plans cap in-network medical cost sharing under $5,000 for the year. |
MOOP range | $3,000–$9,250 | The highest limit is more than three times the lowest, so MOOP limits are an important differentiator between plans. |
Average CMS star rating | 4.05 out of 5 | Minnesota's average clears the 4-star benchmark with relatively strong overall performance on CMS quality and member experience. |
Contracts rated 4+ stars | 56% | A majority of contracts meet the 4-star threshold, though quality ratings still vary enough to matter when comparing plans. |
Blue Cross Blue Shield
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
4.4/5Quality & Member Experience
4.5/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,500Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
66Plans Available
9
Align
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
5/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
3.9/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$4,280Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
19Plans Available
2
Allina Health Aetna Medicare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,050Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
20Plans Available
8
HealthPartners
MoneyGeek Rating
4.3/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.1/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,450Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
22Plans Available
4
UnitedHealthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
3.8/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,500Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
27Plans Available
7
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.
- 1Check availability in your county
Medicare Advantage plans vary by county. Start by identifying the plans available where you live.
- 2Confirm 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.
- 3Compare 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.
- 4Review prescription drug coverage
Check each plan's drug formulary to make sure your medications are covered and compare their tiers, copays and pharmacy networks.
- 5Consider 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.
- 6Compare 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 in Minnesota are relatively low compared with national averages. HMO and HMO-POS plans have a $0 median monthly premium, while PPO plans have a median premium of $6 per month. Out-of-pocket limits range from $4,200 for HMOs to $6,750 for HMO-POS plans. Primary care copays are consistent at $15 across plan types, while specialist and inpatient costs vary more across plan types.
Median Monthly Premium | $0 | $0 | $6 |
Median Max Out-of-Pocket | $4,200 | $6,750 | $4,950 |
Median Inpatient Copay | $260 | $550 | $390 |
Median PCP Copay | $15 | $15 | $15 |
Median Specialist Copay | $40 | $50 | $40 |
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 2026.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is January 1 to March 31. If you move or lose other coverage, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Most Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota include prescription drug coverage. Before you enroll, check that your medications are on the plan's formulary and note their tier placement. Higher tiers mean higher copays at the pharmacy.
Medicare Advantage networks are county-specific, so a move may require a plan change. Contact your insurer within 30 days of relocating to confirm what's available in your new county. If your current plan doesn't cover the area, you'll qualify for a Special Enrollment Period and can change plans.
Most Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota include some dental and vision coverage, but benefit limits vary from plan to plan. In our analysis, dental maximums go up to $2,500 in Minnesota, while vision allowances go up to $300.
Our Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated Minnesota Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2026 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 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.