Updated: June 4, 2026
Advertising & Editorial Disclosure
Essence Healthcare is the top HMO Medicare Advantage provider in Missouri, with a 4.5 CMS star rating.
UnitedHealthcare has the best HMO-POS plans in Missouri, while Humana has the top PPO coverage.
When selecting a Medicare Advantage plan in Missouri, check that your preferred doctors and prescriptions are covered. Compare the plan’s monthly premiums, out-of-pocket limits, network options and drug benefits.
We researched the best Medicare Advantage plans in Missouri, focusing on CMS star ratings, premiums, maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs and coverage features.
Essence Healthcare is our top HMO pick, with a $0 monthly premium, a $3,675 out-of-pocket maximum and a 4.5-star CMS rating. UnitedHealthcare earns the top spot for HMO-POS plans, and Humana leads the PPO category. Each carries a 4-star rating with mostly zero-premium options.
| HMO | Essence Healthcare | 4.50 | $0 | $3,675 | Essence Advantage (HMO) |
| HMO-POS | UnitedHealthcare | 4.00 | $12 | $4,106 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC KC-0003 (HMO-POS) |
| PPO | Humana | 3.96 | $16 | $5,591 | Humana Value Choice H7617-023 (PPO) |
Medicare Advantage plans bundle hospital stays, doctor visits and prescription drugs into comprehensive packages from private insurers. These Part C plans serve as alternatives to Original Medicare while adding extra benefits like dental and vision coverage.
Best HMO
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Best HMO-POS
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
Best PPO
CMS Star Rating
Plan Types
The right plan depends on your health needs, what you can spend and how much flexibility you want in choosing providers.
Contact providers directly to confirm they're in the specific plan's network, not just with the insurer in general. Plans from the same carrier have different provider networks.
A $0-premium plan has higher cost-sharing through copays and deductibles. Add expected medication costs and typical specialist visits to get an accurate annual total.
Check your medications against the plan's formulary and note their tier. Higher tiers cost more at the pharmacy. Some drugs require prior authorization before the plan pays.
HMO plans have the lowest premiums and require care coordination through a primary doctor. HMO-POS adds occasional out-of-network access. PPO removes referral requirements and includes out-of-network coverage at a higher cost-share.
CMS star ratings score quality, customer service and member satisfaction on a 1-to-5 scale. Plans at four or five stars perform better across all three.
Dental, vision, hearing, fitness memberships and over-the-counter allowances vary by plan. Match available extras to your actual needs rather than counting them as uniform advantages.
The out-of-pocket maximum is the most you'll spend on covered care in a year. Lower caps mean less financial exposure but higher monthly premiums.
In Missouri, the type of Medicare Advantage plan you choose is the largest driver of cost. HMOs are the cheapest in the state with an average $7 per month premium and $4,263 in out-of-pocket maximums. HMO-POS plans average $8 per month, slightly more than HMOs, with similar $4,265 maximums. PPO plans are the most expensive, averaging $18 monthly with $5,365 in out-of-pocket costs.
| HMO | $0 | $7 | $4,263 |
| HMO-POS | $0 | $8 | $4,265 |
| PFFS | $37 | $37 | $6,800 |
| PPO | $0 | $18 | $5,365 |
| Regional PPO | $78 | $78 | $8,350 |
Three options: enroll through Medicare.gov, contact carriers directly or work with a licensed agent. The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. Special Enrollment Periods apply when first becoming eligible or after qualifying life events.
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does, plus most include prescription drugs and extras like dental, vision, and fitness benefits.
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a single private plan that bundles hospital, medical and usually drug coverage. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare and pays costs that Original Medicare doesn't cover, including deductibles and copays.
Two windows are available for most enrollees: the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 to March 31) for current plan members.
MoneyGeek scored Missouri Medicare Advantage plans on three factors:
Affordability (50%): Monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage account for 30% of the total score. In-network maximum out-of-pocket limits account for 20%. Lower costs on both measures score higher.
Star Ratings (40%): CMS star ratings measure plan performance on care quality, customer service and member satisfaction on a 1-to-5 scale. The Overall Star Rating combines Part C and Part D scores. Higher-rated plans score better.
Availability (10%): We scored each carrier on U.S. geographic footprint, including Washington, D.C. Broader coverage scores higher for infrastructure stability and continuity if you relocate.
Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. He has spent nearly a decade covering the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he analyzes 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 influence his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College before earning a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. Before MoneyGeek, he worked in financial risk management at State Street. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
