Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Texas (2026)

For the 2026 plan year, the best Medicare Advantage plans in Texas come from Devoted Health, Alignment Health Plan and Wellcare.

Compare Texas Medicare Advantage options to find coverage that works for you.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: June 20, 2026

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Key Takeaways

Texas has 172 Medicare Advantage plans from 16 providers across HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and Regional PPO plan types. Most plans charge $0 monthly premiums and include enhanced Part D drug coverage.

Devoted Health ranks first for HMO plans in Texas, Alignment Health Plan for HMO-POS and Wellcare for PPO.

Compare Texas Medicare Advantage plans based on your health care needs: which doctors and hospitals you want, your prescription medications and your budget for premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Best Medicare Advantage Providers in Texas

Texas Medicare Advantage pricing is more competitive than most states, 53 of 61 HMO plans charge $0 monthly. The MOOP spread within a single plan type is $6,350. CMS star ratings averaged 3.66 on PPO plans versus 3.94 on HMOs.

Devoted Health is MoneyGeek's top HMO pick in Texas with a 5-star CMS rating and $0 monthly premiums, with $3,847 average out-of-pocket maximum. Alignment Health Plan leads HMO-POS plans with a 4.5-star rating, $0 average premium and the lowest average MOOP in its category at $2,950. Wellcare costs $0 per month with out-of-network access and a $5,439 out-of-pocket maximum.


HMO	Devoted Health	5.00	$0	$3,847	DEVOTED GIVEBACK 008 TX (HMO)
HMO-POS	Alignment Health Plan	4.50	$0	$2,950	Alignment Health smartHMO (HMO-POS)
PPO	Wellcare	3.50	$0	$5,439	Wellcare Simple Open (PPO)

Medicare Advantage Plans Explained

Original Medicare covers hospital and medical care under Parts A and B. Medicare Advantage (Part C) replaces that structure with a single private plan that covers both. Most plans add prescription drug coverage along with dental, vision and hearing benefits.

CMS Star Ratings: Medicare scores plans on a 1 to 5-star scale based on quality of care, member satisfaction and care coordination. Plans at four stars or above are top performers.
Monthly premiums: You pay your standard Part B premium plus any plan-specific cost. Many Texas Medicare Advantage plans charge $0 in added monthly fees.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: This annual cap is the most you'll spend on covered care in a year. Once you hit it, the plan pays 100% of covered services through December 31.
Prescription drug coverage: Most plans include Part D coverage. Check the formulary for your medications and note any prior authorization or quantity limit requirements before enrolling.

Devoted Health

Best HMO

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
5
Plan Types
HMO, PPO

pros
- 5-star CMS rating for HMO plans
- 10 of 11 plans charge $0 monthly premium
- Enhanced Part D drug coverage included with all plans
cons
- PPO plan has lower 3.5-star CMS rating
- MOOP limits range from $3,450 to $9,250
Devoted Health ranks first for HMO Medicare Advantage plans in Texas with a 5-star CMS rating across 11 plans. Its HMO plans average $3,847 MOOP. All 11 HMO plans include enhanced Part D drug coverage and 10 of 11 charge $0 monthly. Only the DEVOTED PREMIUM 002 TX plan charges $5 per month.

Devoted Health also covers one PPO option, DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK 001 TX, with a $0 monthly premium and $7,550 MOOP. At 3.5 CMS stars, it scores below the 4-star PPO options Humana holds across 23 plans.
Devoted Health's 5-star rating covers only its HMO plans. DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK 001 TX carries a 3.5-star CMS rating and a $7,550 MOOP. On quality, Humana's 23 PPO plans hold 4 CMS stars.

On cost, Wellcare's Simple Open caps annual costs at $5,439, $2,111 below the Devoted PPO. Seniors with a fixed specialist outside Devoted's HMO network get better out-of-network coverage from Alignment Health Plan's HMO-POS plans, which cap annual costs at $2,950 to $6,450 with a 4.5-star CMS rating.

Alignment Health Plan

Best HMO-POS

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
4.5
Plan Types
HMO-POS

pros
- Three plans charge $0 monthly premiums
- 4.5-star CMS rating across all plans
- Out-of-network provider access included
cons
- Limited to three plan options
- Part D deductible applies to $2,950 MOOP plan
- Out-of-network care costs more
Alignment Health Plan has three HMO-POS plans in Texas, all rated 4.5 stars by CMS and charging $0 monthly premiums. The ONE + Walgreens plan caps annual costs at $2,950, the second-lowest MOOP among Texas HMO-POS plans.

The smartHMO and smartSavings plans cap spending at $6,450 yearly. They differ in coverage details and provider networks rather than premium costs.
Alignment Health Plan has three HMO-POS plans. Seniors who need broad national out-of-network access have one alternative in this category: UnitedHealthcare's 36 HMO-POS plans, which average $9 per month. The ONE + Walgreens plan's $2,950 MOOP applies a Part D deductible before benefits start on some drug tiers. Seniors with high-cost prescriptions who need immediate drug coverage must check the formulary tier placement before enrolling.

WellCare

Best PPO

MoneyGeek Rating

4.6/ 5

5/5Affordability

4.2/5Quality

3.7/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.5
Plan Types
HMO, HMO-POS, PPO

pros
- $0 monthly premium
- $5,439 MOOP ($1,505 below Texas PPO average)
- Waives Part D deductible on select drug tiers
- See any Medicare-approved provider without referrals
cons
- 3.5-star CMS rating
- Out-of-network care costs more
Wellcare's Simple Open plan charges $0 per month and caps costs at $5,439, well below the $6,944 Texas PPO average. The plan waives Part D deductibles on select drug tiers. Wellcare's Simple Open holds a 3.5-star CMS rating, 0.5 stars below Humana's 4-star score across 23 PPO plans.
Humana's 4-star PPO plans score higher on care coordination and customer service than Wellcare's 3.5-star rating. Quality scores reflect member satisfaction with care coordination and customer service, areas where Humana's 4-star PPO plans consistently perform better, despite averaging $7,950 in MOOP.

If your priority is clinical quality over cost protection and you can absorb a higher out-of-pocket cap, Humana is the stronger PPO pick. Seniors with stable, low-use health care who mainly need a $0 premium and broad provider access are better served by Wellcare's Simple Open plan.

Best Texas HMO Medicare Advantage Providers

Texas seniors have 61 HMO Medicare Advantage plans from 10 providers. Most plans (53) charge $0 monthly premiums. Maximum out-of-pocket limits range from $2,900 to $9,250. The average MOOP is $4,513. The average CMS star rating across all HMO options is 3.94, with 37 plans earning 4 stars or higher. Nearly all plans (60 of 61) include enhanced Part D drug coverage.

Devoted Health's 11 Texas HMO plans carry a 5-star CMS rating, $0 monthly premiums on 10 plans and $3,847 average MOOP.
Wellcare matches Devoted's top MoneyGeek score with three plans averaging $5 monthly and $3,707 MOOP, though its 3.65-star CMS rating is lower.
Prominence Health Plan ranks third with a 4.5-star rating across four plans. Its average monthly premium is $2, with a $3,517 average MOOP.


Devoted Health	5.00	$0	$3,847	11	5
Wellcare	3.65	$5	$3,707	3	5
Prominence Health Plan	4.50	$2	$3,517	4	4.46
Memorial Hermann Health Plan	3.50	$0	$3,400	1	4.37
Aetna	4.00	$0	$5,061	5	4.31
Humana	3.73	$4	$3,617	24	4.27
KelseyCare Advantage	4.50	$0	$3,900	1	4.22
Cigna HealthCare	4.00	$0	$5,397	4	4.13
Blue Cross Blue Shield	2.54	$0	$5,199	6	3.95
CHRISTUS Health Advantage	3.50	$7	$4,393	2	3.63

Wellcare ties Devoted Health on MoneyGeek's composite score despite a 1.35-star CMS gap. Its $3,707 average MOOP ranks third-lowest among multi-plan HMO providers, behind Humana ($3,617) and Prominence Health Plan ($3,517). Seniors who prioritize cost protection over quality ratings will find Wellcare's HMO plans competitive.

HMO PROS AND CONS

HMO Medicare Advantage plans charge lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs in exchange for staying within a provider network and requiring specialist referrals. You'll save money but give up flexibility. HMO plans are the right fit when you have a primary care physician coordinating your care and don't need out-of-network doctors.

Best Texas HMO-POS Medicare Advantage Providers

Texas has 45 HMO-POS Medicare Advantage plans from six insurers. Thirty-seven charge $0 monthly premiums. The $18 average premium reflects plans offering out-of-network access. Maximum out-of-pocket limits range from $2,900 to $9,250, with an average of $5,474. All 45 plans include Part D prescription coverage. Forty-four offer enhanced benefits and 42 waive deductibles on select drug tiers.

Top Texas HMO-POS Providers

Alignment Health Plan: Three $0-premium plans average $2,950 MOOP and earn 4.5 CMS stars.
KelseyCare Advantage: One 4.5-star plan charges $0 premium with $6,750 MOOP
UnitedHealthcare: Thirty-six plans average $9 monthly, 4.48 CMS stars and $5,459 MOOP


Alignment Health Plan	4.50	$0	$2,950	3	5
KelseyCare Advantage	4.50	$0	$6,750	1	4.54
UnitedHealthcare	4.48	$9	$5,459	36	4.49
Prominence Health Plan	4.50	$0	$4,700	1	4.27
Wellpoint	3.50	$0	$3,425	2	4.17
Wellcare	4.00	$0	$8,018	2	4.14

Alignment Health Plan's $2,950 average MOOP is the lowest in this category, UnitedHealthcare's 36-plan portfolio averages $5,459, and KelseyCare's single plan caps at $6,750, with $2,509 gap between Alignment and UnitedHealthcare. Wellcare's two HMO-POS plans carry an $8,018 average MOOP, the highest in the category by $1,268.

HMO-POS PROS AND CONS

HMO-POS plans carry lower premiums than PPOs and add out-of-network access at a higher cost share. HMO-POS plans average $18 per month and include out-of-network access. Seniors who see out-of-network providers a few times a year pay an average MOOP of $5,474, compared to $6,944 for PPO enrollees.

Best Texas PPO Medicare Advantage Providers

Texans have 57 PPO Medicare Advantage plans across nine providers. Forty-one charge $0 premiums and the average monthly premium is $15. PPO plans have higher maximum out-of-pocket limits averaging $6,944 and ranging from $4,200 to $9,250 due to out-of-network access costs. Star ratings average 3.66. Most plans (26) earn 3.5 stars. PPO plans cover any Medicare-approved provider without referrals. Their average CMS star rating in Texas is 3.66, below the 3.94 HMO average.

Every PPO plan includes enhanced Part D prescription coverage, and 54 of 57 waive deductibles on select medication tiers.

Wellcare ranks first with Texas PPO options with a $0-premium structure, $5,439 MOOP and 3.5-star CMS rating.
Humana ranks second with 23 plans earning 4-star CMS ratings and charging $0 premiums, with $7,950 average MOOP.
Aetna ranks third with four plans charging $4 monthly on average, with $6,832 MOOP and 3.65-star CMS rating.


Wellcare	3.50	$0	$5,439	1	4.56
Humana	4.00	$0	$7,950	23	4.5
Aetna	3.65	$4	$6,832	4	4.3
Clover Health	3.50	$0	$6,350	1	4.25
UnitedHealthcare	3.51	$0	$6,951	13	4.24
Baylor Scott & White Health Plan	4.00	$53	$5,832	3	4.13
Cigna HealthCare	3.11	$0	$7,061	2	3.97
Devoted Health	3.50	$0	$7,550	1	3.96
Blue Cross Blue Shield	3.00	$38	$7,484	9	3.47

Humana hass the highest CMS ratings (4-star on 23 plans) at the highest average MOOP ($7,950). Wellcare has the lowest MOOP ($5,439) with a 3.5-star CMS rating.

PPO PROS AND CONS

PPO Medicare Advantage plans are the most flexible, you can see any Medicare-approved provider without referrals, in-network or out-of-network. Out-of-network care costs more. PPO plans are the right choice when you travel frequently, need to keep specific out-of-network doctors or want specialist access without a referral requirement.

How to Find the Best Texas Medicare Advantage Plans

Plan type determines your cost range before provider selection matters. HMO plans average $4,513 at the MOOP versus $6,944 for PPOs, a $2,431 difference. Work through these five before comparing providers:

1
Check Your Doctor and Hospital Network
Confirm your current doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals are in the plan's network. HMO plans cover in-network care only outside emergencies. PPO plans allow out-of-network access at higher cost.
2
Compare Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs
The out-of-pocket maximum is what you could spend in a high-use year. A $0-premium plan with a $7,833 MOOP can cost more than a $29-per-month plan capped at $6,750 if you need frequent care.
3
Review Prescription Drug Coverage
Check your medications against the plan's formulary and note their tier. Higher tiers mean higher pharmacy costs. Most Texas Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage and a few require a separate plan.
4
Evaluate Additional Benefits
Dental and hearing coverage vary in scope across Texas plans, so check the specific benefit limits before enrolling. Fitness memberships and medical transportation appear on some plans but not all.
5
Consider CMS Star Ratings
A plan's CMS star rating scores quality on a 1-to-5 scale. Plans at four stars or above consistently perform better on customer service, care coordination and health outcomes.

Average Texas Medicare Advantage Cost

Medicare Advantage costs in Texas vary by plan type and network structure. Plans with more restricted networks cost less in premiums and out-of-pocket expenses than plans with broader provider access.

HMO plans are the least expensive Medicare Advantage option in Texas: $0 median premium and $4,513 average MOOP. HMO-POS plans average $216 annually, with a $5,474 MOOP. PPO plans average $180 annually, with a $6,944 MOOP.

Texas has one PFFS plan at $29 per month. Regional PPO plans carry the highest average monthly premium at $81 and a $7,833 MOOP.


HMO	$0	$1	$4,513
HMO-POS	$0	$18	$5,474
PFFS	$29	$29	$6,750
PPO	$0	$15	$6,944
Regional PPO	$97	$81	$7,833

Bottom Line

For most Texas seniors, Alignment Health Plan is the right starting point. Its $0 premium, 4.5-star CMS rating and $2,950 annual cost cap are the strongest combination in the state at that quality level.

Seniors who need frequent out-of-network care or travel outside their county regularly are better served by Wellcare's Simple Open PPO. Its $5,439 MOOP is $1,505 below the Texas PPO average, and it requires no referrals.

If clinical quality is the priority over cost (for seniors managing complex or chronic conditions), Devoted Health's 5-star HMO plans are the only top-rated option in Texas at that rating level. The $3,847 average MOOP is the trade-off.

Best Texas Medicare Advantage: FAQ

When can I enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan in Texas?

Three enrollment windows are available: the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7), the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (Jan. 1 to March 31) and a Special Enrollment Period if a qualifying event (like moving or losing other coverage) applies.

Does Medicare Advantage cover prescription drugs in Texas?

Most Texas Medicare Advantage plans include Part D drug coverage. Confirm your medications are on the plan's formulary and check their tier before enrolling. Higher tiers mean higher copays at the pharmacy.

Do I need to change Medicare Advantage plans if I move to a different county in Texas?

You may need to. Medicare Advantage networks are county-specific, so your current plan may not cover your new area. Contact your insurer within 30 days of moving. If coverage doesn't extend to your new county, a Special Enrollment Period lets you select a different plan.

Which Medicare Advantage Plan Type Is Best for Most Texas Seniors?

HMO plans are the right fit for seniors with established local doctors who don't need out-of-network access. They carry the lowest premiums and MOOPs: $0 median premium and $4,513 average cap.

HMO-POS plans add out-of-network flexibility at a higher cost share and suit seniors who see occasional specialists outside their network. PPO plans are the right choice for seniors who travel, see multiple specialists or want to avoid referral requirements, at higher average MOOPs of $6,944.

Our Methodology: How We Chose the Best Texas Medicare Advantage Plans

MoneyGeek scored all 172 Texas Medicare Advantage plans available for the 2026 plan year using CMS data current as of May 2026. MoneyGeek scored Texas Medicare Advantage plans on three criteria:

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 scores plans from 1 to 5 stars on care quality, customer service and member experience. 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. National carriers with broader coverage score higher for infrastructure stability and member support continuity.

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.

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Sources

Medicare.gov. "Welcome to Medicare." Accessed June 23, 2026.
CMS.gov. "Medicare Advantage Resources." Accessed June 23, 2026.