Updated: June 20, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Minnesota has 37 Medicare Advantage plans available from eight different providers, with premiums ranging from $0 to $236.
Top Medicare Advantage providers in Minnesota include UnitedHealthcare for PPO plans, Quartz Medicare Advantage for HMO and Medica for HMO-POS.
When searching for the best Minnesota Medicare Advantage companies, focus on provider networks that match your preferred doctors, cover your prescription medications and fit comfortably within your monthly budget.
Quartz Medicare Advantage has the best HMO plans in the state, with a 4-star CMS rating, $71 average monthly premium and $5,075 average maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit. Medica is the only HMO-POS provider in the state. UnitedHealthcare earns the top MoneyGeek Score among PPO providers at 5 out of 5.
We evaluated all 37 Medicare Advantage plans available in Minnesota for 2026 by plan type. CMS star ratings, premiums and maximum out-of-pocket limits determined each ranking.
| HMO | Quartz Medicare Advantage | 4.00 | $71 | $5,075 | Gundersen MN Quartz Med Advantage Value D (w/Rx) (HMO) |
| HMO-POS | Medica | 3.50 | $0 | $6,750 | Medica Advantage Solution H6154-001 (HMO-POS) |
| PPO | UnitedHealthcare | 4.50 | $42 | $6,500 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC FG-0001 (PPO) |
Medicare Advantage Plans Explained
Medicare Advantage plans are administered by private insurers and cover all Part A and Part B services. Most add dental, vision and wellness benefits that Original Medicare doesn't include. Four factors determine plan quality and cost:
Best HMO
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Best HMO-POS
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Best PPO
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Quartz Medicare Advantage is the only HMO Medicare Advantage insurer in Minnesota. It has four plans, all rated 4.0 stars. One plan charges $0 a month and the average MOOP is $5,075. All plans include prescription drug coverage.
HMO Medicare Advantage plans require you to stay within a provider network and get referrals for specialists. Quartz's HMO plans average $71 per month with a $5,075 average MOOP, $121 lower than the PPO average MOOP of $5,196. Choose an HMO if your current doctors are in the Gundersen network and you rarely see specialists outside it.
Medica is the only HMO-POS Medicare Advantage provider in Minnesota. Its single plan has a $0 monthly premium and a $6,750 maximum out-of-pocket limit. The plan covers out-of-network providers at a higher cost-share than in-network visits and includes enhanced Part D coverage with no deductible on select tiers. It has a 3.5-star CMS rating.
Medica's HMO-POS plan has a $0 monthly premium and allows out-of-network visits. Choose this plan type when you want a primary care doctor coordinating your care and occasional access to out-of-network specialists, not for members who see out-of-network providers routinely.
Minnesota has 31 PPO Medicare Advantage plans across seven insurers. Premiums average $70 a month, and six plans charge $0. MOOPs average $5,195 per year and range from $3,000 to $9,250. The average star rating is 4.0, and 14 plans earn 4.5 stars. All 31 plans include Part D coverage.
| UnitedHealthcare | 4.50 | $42 | $6,500 | 6 | 5 |
| HealthPartners | 4.50 | $61 | $5,275 | 4 | 4.25 |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield | 4.50 | $112 | $4,605 | 4 | 4.24 |
| Align powered by Sanford Health Plan | 3.00 | $47 | $3,900 | 2 | 4.21 |
| Humana | 3.50 | $43 | $6,675 | 4 | 4.06 |
| Medica | 3.50 | $83 | $5,544 | 6 | 3.62 |
UnitedHealthcare leads MoneyGeek's Minnesota PPO analysis at 5.00, 0.75 points above HealthPartners' 4.25. HealthPartners costs $19 per month more and has a $1,225 lower average MOOP. At maximum care use, HealthPartners saves $997 in total annual costs versus UHC.
PPO plans average $71 per month with a $5,196 average MOOP and cover any Medicare-approved provider without referrals. Choose a PPO if you travel or see specialists across multiple health systems.
The best Medicare Advantage plan for you in Minnesota depends on your specific doctors, prescription medications and total health care budget.
Confirm your current doctors, specialists and hospitals are in-network before choosing a plan. HMO plans limit out-of-network coverage to emergencies. HMO-POS plans pay for non-emergency out-of-network visits at a higher cost-share than in-network care.
Your maximum out-of-pocket limit caps what you'll spend on covered services in a year. A plan with a $0 premium and a high MOOP can cost more over a full year than a plan with a modest premium and a lower annual cap, if you use care regularly.
Check that your medications appear on the plan's drug formulary and note their tier placement, tiers determine what you pay at the pharmacy. Most Medicare Advantage plans bundle Part D drug coverage, but some require separate enrollment. Also confirm whether your medications need prior authorization or have quantity limits.
Medicare Advantage plans often include dental, vision, hearing aids, fitness memberships and transportation to appointments. These extras can offset premium differences between plans, but only if you'll actually use them.
CMS star ratings measure plan quality on a 1-to-5 scale, covering customer service, care coordination and health outcomes. Plans rated 4 stars or above show stronger performance across those areas than lower-rated plans on the same metrics.
Average Minnesota Medicare Advantage Cost Medicare Advantage costs in Minnesota vary by plan type and how much network flexibility you want. HMO plans carry a median monthly premium of $50 with an average out-of-pocket maximum of $5,075. HMO-POS plans have a $0 median monthly premium. Their average MOOP is $6,750. PFFS plans cost $37 per month and carry the highest average MOOP at $6,800. PPO plans have the highest median premiums at $54, with an average MOOP of $5,196.
| HMO | $50 | $71 | $5,075 |
| HMO-POS | $0 | $0 | $6,750 |
| PFFS | $37 | $37 | $6,800 |
| PPO | $54 | $71 | $5,196 |
UnitedHealthcare is the strongest all-around choice for most Minnesota Medicare Advantage enrollees. Its 4.5-star CMS rating is the highest in the state, and its PPO structure means no referrals and coverage outside Minnesota when you travel.
If your doctors are in the Gundersen network and you rarely travel, Quartz's Elite D plan caps total annual costs at $5,708. For anyone with one or two out-of-network specialists and a $0 premium preference, Medica's HMO-POS plan is the right starting point.
If your doctors are in the Gundersen network and you use care predictably, start with Quartz. Specialists outside any single network, or time spent in other states, call for UnitedHealthcare or HealthPartners. Medica's HMO-POS plan covers occasional out-of-network visits at a $0 monthly premium and a $6,750 out-of-pocket ceiling.
Get answers about Minnesota Medicare Advantage plans:
The Annual Enrollment Period is October 15 to December 7. The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is January 1 to March 31. If you move or lose other coverage, you may 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.
HealthPartners or Blue Cross Blue Shield are stronger choices for Minnesota enrollees with chronic conditions. Both carry 4.5-star CMS ratings. HealthPartners' average MOOP is $5,275; Blue Cross Blue Shield's is $4,605. Both are lower than UnitedHealthcare's $6,500, which limits annual out-of-pocket exposure when care use is high.
MoneyGeek assessed all 37 Medicare Advantage plans available in Minnesota for 2026 using CMS plan data and a three-factor scoring system:
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.
