Best Medicare Advantage Plans in North Dakota (2026)

Align powered by Sanford Health Plan is the best Medicare Advantage plan in North Dakota, with the lowest median annual cost exposure at $4,310 and a 4.5-star CMS quality rating, above the state average of 3.9. Align covers 17 of North Dakota's 53 counties.

Aetna Medicare covers 29 of North Dakota's 53 counties at a $4,750 median annual cost exposure, the second-lowest in the state. UnitedHealthcare also holds a 4.5-star CMS quality rating with four plans in 19 counties.

NextBlue of North Dakota covers all 53 counties as the only statewide option. NextBlue's $7,822 median cost exposure is the highest in the state. Medica covers four counties.

Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance alternatives to Original Medicare that bundle hospital and medical coverage in a single plan and often include prescription drug, dental and vision benefits. North Dakota has 15 of these plans across five carriers.

The median annual out-of-pocket maximum is $6,500, with plans ranging from $3,300 to $8,000. Beneficiaries with cost-sharing gaps that Medicare Advantage doesn't fill should also review Medicare Supplement plans, which cover deductibles and copays that Original Medicare doesn't pay.

The best Medicare Advantage plan in North Dakota isn't always the one with the lowest premium. Your total health care costs depend on how often you use care, which providers you need and where you live.

Most North Dakota Medicare Advantage plans charge no monthly premium, which shifts the real cost comparison to the out-of-pocket maximum. The out-of-pocket maximum ranges from $3,300 to $8,000, with a state median of $6,500.

Inpatient care costs $425 per day at the median, and a three-day hospital stay reaches $1,275 before other cost-sharing applies. Specialist visits cost $45 per visit, three times the primary care rate of $15.

*Median cost figures across all 15 non-SNP North Dakota MA plans, grouped by plan type. All dollar figures rounded to nearest dollar. Source: CMS 2026 data, MoneyGeek analysis.

These state and federal resources help you compare North Dakota Medicare Advantage plans, get free counseling and confirm your enrollment options.   

• North Dakota SHIC (Senior Health Insurance Counseling): Free, unbiased Medicare counseling for North Dakota beneficiaries on comparing plans, reviewing costs and understanding enrollment options.
• North Dakota Insurance Department: Regulates insurers in North Dakota and provides resources to verify carrier licenses and learn about your coverage rights.
• Medicare Plan Finder: Compare Medicare Advantage plans in your North Dakota county by premium, estimated costs, benefits and CMS star ratings.
• Social Security Administration: Handles Medicare enrollment and lets you apply for Part B, update coverage or find a local office.
• North Dakota Aging Services: Connects older adults with local services, including Medicare counseling and benefits assistance programs.

MoneyGeek's North Dakota Medicare Advantage scores for the 2026 plan year draw on five CMS data sources. These are 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 North Dakota carrier earns a MoneyGeek score out of five from three weighted categories.   

• Affordability (40%): Maximum annual cost exposure includes annual premiums, the out-of-pocket maximum and inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs.
• Quality and Member Experience (40%): This category is 60% CMS Star Ratings and 40% CAHPS C26 member ratings. MoneyGeek records both at the contract level.
• Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, build 50% of this category. The other 50% belongs to county coverage at 30% and plan choice per county at 20%.