The best Medicare Advantage companies in Rhode Island are Aetna Medicare, UnitedHealthcare and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. All three serve every county in the state. Aetna has the highest median CMS star rating at 4.5 and has both HMO-POS and PPO plans for people seeking greater provider flexibility. UnitedHealthcare has the lowest maximum annual cost exposure at $4,900, while all five of its plans have $0 premiums. Blue Cross & Blue Shield includes dental and vision benefits on all five plans and has the most enrollees in the state. With statewide availability largely equal, costs, plan type and supplemental benefits are the more useful points for comparison.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Rhode Island (2026)
Updated: September 2, 2026
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Best Medicare Advantage Companies in Rhode Island
| 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 Rhode Island counties where plans are offered. | Number of Medicare Advantage plans offered in Rhode Island. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aetna Medicare | 4.2 | $5,900 | 4.5 | 5 | 4 |
UnitedHealthcare | 4.2 | $4,900 | 4.0 | 5 | 5 |
Blue Cross & Blue Shield | 4.1 | $5,750 | 4.0 | 5 | 5 |
Rhode Island Medicare Advantage Market Overview
Rhode Island has a small Medicare Advantage market, with just three carriers and 14 non-SNP plans, but the available options compare well on cost and quality. Nearly all plans have $0 monthly premiums, average CMS ratings exceed 4 stars and the median out-of-pocket maximum is $5,825. HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plan types are available in the state.
Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans | 14 | Rhode Island has a small, concentrated Medicare Advantage market, with fewer plans and carriers than larger states. |
Carriers | 3 | You only have three insurers to choose from in the state. |
CMS contracts | 5 | Some insurers offer plans under different CMS contracts, so quality can vary. |
Median plans per county | 13 | Despite having only 14 plans statewide, most counties have access to nearly the full statewide selection. |
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans | 105,784 | More than 100,000 Rhode Islanders are enrolled in the non-SNP plans included in our analysis. |
Plans with a $0 premium | 93% | Most plans in the state have no additional monthly premium. |
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP) | $5,825 | Half of Rhode Island plans have an in-network MOOP of $5,825 or less. |
MOOP range | $4,500–$6,750 | Plans differ less on maximum annual cost exposure than in larger markets. |
Average CMS star rating | 4.04 out of 5 | The average plan clears the 4-star quality benchmark. |
Contracts rated 4+ stars | 60% | Most rated contracts earn at least 4 stars, so you have access to several higher-rated options despite the small market. |
Aetna Medicare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
3.9/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,900Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
5Plans Available
4
UnitedHealthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$4,900Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
5Plans Available
5
Blue Cross Blue Shield
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.1/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,750Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
5Plans Available
5
How to Choose the Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Rhode Island
Choosing the best Medicare Advantage plan in Rhode Island comes down to comparing total costs, provider networks, prescription coverage and benefits.
- 2Compare prescription drug coverage
Check each plan's prescription drug formulary to make sure your medications are covered and review their assigned tiers, copays and pharmacy requirements.
- 3Look beyond the premium
Most Rhode Island Medicare Advantage plans have $0 monthly premiums, so copays, deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums are more useful for comparing potential costs.
- 4Compare supplemental benefits
Dental, vision and hearing coverage varies by plan. Consider the benefit limits and covered services rather than simply whether a benefit is included or not.
- 5Review CMS star ratings
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Advantage contracts from 1 to 5 stars based on care quality, member experience and customer service. A rating of 4.0 or higher indicates above-average performance and can help distinguish plans with similar costs and benefits.
How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Rhode Island?
Medicare Advantage costs in Rhode Island are low upfront, with most HMO, HMO-POS and PPO plans charging $0 monthly premiums. Your total costs, however, depend on how much care you use. HMO plans have the lowest median out-of-pocket maximum at $5,000, compared with $5,900 for PPO plans, while median specialist copays range from $0 for HMOs to $40 for PPOs. A $0 premium doesn’t mean $0 health care costs, so be sure to compare out-of-pocket limits, copays and other cost sharing alongside the monthly premium.
Median Monthly Premium | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Median Max Out-of-Pocket | $5,000 | $5,000 | $5,900 |
Median Inpatient Copay | $275 | $400 | $327 |
Median PCP Copay | $15 | $15 | $15 |
Median Specialist Copay | $0 | $10 | $40 |
Rhode Island Medicare Advantage Resources
Rhode Island residents can use these free state and federal resources to compare Medicare Advantage plans, get enrollment guidance and find programs that can lower Medicare costs.
- Medicare Plan Finder: Compare Rhode Island Medicare Advantage plans side by side by ZIP code. Enter your medications and doctors to see what each plan covers and what it costs you.
- Rhode Island State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): Free one-on-one Medicare counseling through the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging. Call 888-884-8721, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS): Find information about Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs that can help you pay Medicare premiums and other costs.
- Medicare Extra Help: Learn about the federal program that helps people with limited income and resources pay Part D premiums, deductibles and prescription drug costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does, plus most include prescription drugs and extra benefits like dental, vision and fitness memberships.
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a bundled plan from a private insurer. Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, works alongside Original Medicare and pays costs Original Medicare leaves behind, such as your share of each doctor visit or hospital stay. Medigap lets you see any provider who accepts Medicare nationwide. Medicare Advantage plans come with lower or $0 monthly premiums. In exchange, you use a defined provider network.
You can enroll during in a Medicare Advantage plan during the Annual Enrollment Period, which runs from October 15 to December 7 each year. New Medicare beneficiaries have a 7-month Initial Enrollment Period around their 65th birthday. A Special Enrollment Period applies if you move, lose coverage or qualify for Medicaid.
Yes, 79% of Rhode Island Medicare Advantage plans include a supplemental dental benefit, with plan maximums ranging from $500 to $3,000. All BlueCHiP plans include dental coverage. Three Aetna and UnitedHealthcare plans don't offer supplemental dental.
No Rhode Island Medicare Advantage plans in 2026 include a supplemental hearing aid benefit. Standard Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids either. If you need hearing aid coverage, compare standalone supplemental policies or Medigap plans.
Yes, every non-SNP Medicare Advantage plan we reviewed in Rhode Island includes a vision benefit. Allowances range from $100 to $300 per year depending on the plan.
Our Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated Rhode Island 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.