Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Vermont (2026)

Vermont's best Medicare Advantage plans come from Humana, the state's only carrier. Three Humana plans cover six counties, and your choice comes down to out-of-pocket costs and supplemental benefits.

Compare Vermont Medicare Advantage plans to find the right coverage.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: September 23, 2026

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Best Medicare Advantage Companies in Vermont

Humana provides the best Medicare Advantage plans in Vermont for 2026 as the state's only carrier, with three options across six of Vermont's 14 counties. Humana's plans cap annual out-of-pocket spending at $4,950 to $6,500, compared to the federal maximum of $9,250.

Vermont has no competing carriers. The decision is between Humana's three plans, out-of-pocket limits, quality and supplemental benefits vary enough to affect annual spending and coverage.

Three of Vermont's six covered counties have access to a plan that CMS rates 4.5 out of 5 on Medicare's five-star scale, above the four-star quality benchmark. The other three covered counties have only 3.5-star plans, which fall below it. Confirm your county before enrolling.


Humana	3.9	$6,500	3.5	6	3

Vermont Medicare Advantage Market Overview

Vermont's Medicare Advantage market has one carrier and three plans for 2026. Medicare Advantage, also called Part C, is a private alternative to Original Medicare that bundles hospital, medical and drug coverage into one plan.

All Vermont plans charge $0 monthly premiums, but you pay out-of-pocket for covered services up to $6,500 per year. Vermont beneficiaries who want lower out-of-pocket costs can also consider Medicare Supplement plans, which pair with Original Medicare instead of replacing it.


Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans	3	Vermont has 3 non-SNP MA plans total. The choice between them is the entire decision.
Carriers	1	Vermont's full MA market comes from a single carrier. There is no carrier competition in this state.
CMS contracts	2	Vermont's 1 carrier operates under 2 CMS contracts. The choice between Vermont's 3 plans comes down to which contract they fall under.
Median plans per county	2	Vermont residents have 2 local plans to compare. The statewide pool is only 3.
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans	49,358	49,358 Vermont residents are enrolled in the non-SNP MA plans this analysis covers.
Plans with a $0 premium	100%	Every Vermont MA plan charges nothing beyond Part B. The decision between plans comes down to out-of-pocket limits and coverage.
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP)	$6,500	Vermont's $6,500 median MOOP is the annual in-network cost ceiling on a typical plan.
MOOP range	$4,950–$6,500	Vermont's MOOP range is narrow. The difference between the lowest and highest annual cost ceiling is $1,550.
Average CMS star rating	3.83 out of 5	Vermont's average CMS rating of 3.83 stars falls below the four-star quality benchmark.
Contracts rated 4+ stars	50%	1 of Vermont's 2 contracts has a four-star or higher CMS rating. Which contract your plan falls under determines the quality rating.

Humana

MoneyGeek Rating

3.9/ 5

4/5Affordability

3.8/5Quality & Member Experience

4/5Benefits & Access

Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,500
Median CMS Star Rating
3.5
Counties Served
6
Plans Available
3

pros
- $0 monthly premium on all three plans
- USAA Honor Giveback plan caps out-of-pocket cost exposure at $4,950
- Dental coverage on USAA Honor plan, $2,000 annual maximum
- Vision benefits on every plan
- $15 primary care copay across all plans
- HumanaChoice H7617-046 has a 4.5-star Medicare quality rating
cons
- No hearing benefits on any plan
- Available in only six of Vermont's 14 counties
- Two of three plans carry no dental coverage
- Two of three plans hold a 3.5-star Medicare quality rating
Humana provides three PPO plans across six Vermont counties, all with $0 monthly premiums and $15 primary care copays. The USAA Honor Giveback plan has Vermont's lowest out-of-pocket cost exposure at $4,950 and is the state's only plan with dental coverage, a $2,000 annual limit, a $250 vision allowance and over-the-counter benefits.

The HumanaChoice H7617-046 holds a 4.5-star quality rating from CMS, above the four-star benchmark, and a member satisfaction score of 91 out of 100, both the highest in Vermont. This plan covers only three of Vermont's six counties.

Two of Humana's three Vermont plans carry 3.5-star quality ratings. None of Humana's plans include hearing coverage, and eight Vermont counties have no Medicare Advantage access.
- Plans offered: 3 PPOs
- Availability: 6 Vermont counties, or 42.9% of the state
- Counties: Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Windham and Windsor
- $0 premium plans: 100% of plans
- Supplemental benefits: All plans include vision benefits, 33% include dental and none include hearing
- Out-of-pocket costs: Median MOOP is $6,500, with plans ranging from $4,950 to $6,500

How to Choose the Best Vermont Medicare Advantage Plan

The three Humana PPO plans available in Vermont all charge $0 premiums. The right plan for you comes down to where you live, what out-of-pocket maximum fits your budget and which supplemental benefits you'll use.

1
Confirm Your Doctors and Hospitals Are In-Network
Vermont's Humana PPO plans let you see any Medicare-accepting provider without a referral. Confirm your doctors are contracted with Humana Medicare Advantage before enrolling, since network acceptance varies even among providers who take Original Medicare.
2
Compare Full Annual Costs
All three Vermont plans charge $0 monthly premiums beyond Part B. Your annual cost depends on copays, inpatient stays and how much of your out-of-pocket maximum you reach during the year.
3
Check Prescription Drug Coverage
Check each plan's formulary, which lists covered medications, to confirm your prescriptions are included. Drug tier placement, which determines your copay per prescription and any drugs requiring advance plan approval before filling both affect your total annual costs.
4
Understand the PPO Plan Structure
Vermont's only Medicare Advantage plan type for 2026 is the PPO. PPO plans don't require referrals, so you can book specialist appointments directly without going through a primary care doctor first.
5
Review Star Ratings and Quality Metrics
Vermont's plans carry 3.5-star or 4.5-star ratings on Medicare's five-star quality scale, where four stars is the standard for strong performance. The HumanaChoice H7617-046 holds the 4.5-star rating and covers three counties. If this plan is in your county, it meets that standard at the same $0 premium.
6
Compare Extra Benefits
The USAA Honor Giveback is Vermont's only plan with dental and over-the-counter benefits. All three plans include a vision allowance. Pick the plan whose extra benefits match your actual care habits.
7
Check Out-of-Pocket Maximums
Vermont's plans cap annual out-of-pocket costs, with one plan at $4,950 and the other plans at $6,500. For anyone with regular specialist visits or planned procedures, the lower-cost option saves $1,550 in a year when you reach your out-of-pocket maximum.

How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Vermont?

Vermont Medicare Advantage plans charge $0 monthly premiums, but your out-of-pocket costs depend on how much care you use. Two of Vermont's three plans cap median out-of-pocket costs at $6,500 and the USAA Honor Giveback caps them at $4,950.

Only 9% of Vermont Medicare Advantage enrollees are in the plan with the lowest out-of-pocket maximum and the state's only dental benefit. In a year when your medical costs reach the out-of-pocket limit, the USAA Honor Giveback saves $1,550 over either HumanaChoice option.

Inpatient copays differ between plans. HumanaChoice plans charge $445 per day and the USAA Honor Giveback charges $460 per day.


Median Monthly Premium	$0
Median Max Out-of-Pocket	$6,500
Median Inpatient Copay	$445
Median PCP Copay	$15
Median Specialist Copay	$40

*Median cost figures across all 3 non-SNP Vermont MA plans, grouped by plan type. All dollar figures rounded to nearest dollar. Source: CMS 2026 data, MoneyGeek analysis.

Vermont Medicare Advantage Resources

Vermont residents can get free counseling and find financial assistance through these state and federal resources.

Vermont SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program): Vermont's free, unbiased counseling program connects Medicare beneficiaries with trained advisors who can help compare Medicare Advantage plans, review out-of-pocket costs and explain enrollment windows.
Medicare.gov Plan Finder: The official federal tool for comparing Medicare Advantage plans in your Vermont county, including premiums, out-of-pocket limits, drug coverage and CMS star ratings.
Vermont Department of Financial Regulation: Vermont's insurance regulator. Use it to verify that a carrier or plan is licensed to operate in the state or to file a complaint.
Social Security Administration: Handles Medicare enrollment for most Vermont residents, including first-time enrollment and premium payment setup.
Medicare Savings Programs: State assistance for Vermont residents who qualify to help cover Medicare Part B premiums and certain out-of-pocket costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Vermont has one Medicare Advantage carrier for 2026, Humana. The state has three plans, all PPOs. Residents in eight of Vermont's 14 counties have no Medicare Advantage options and should consider Medicare Supplement plans instead.

The Humana USAA Honor Giveback PPO has Vermont's lowest out-of-pocket maximum at $4,950, $1,550 lower than either HumanaChoice plan. It's the state's only plan with dental coverage up to $2,000 per year and over-the-counter benefits.

Humana covers six of Vermont's 14 counties, Bennington, Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Windham and Windsor. Eight Vermont counties have no Medicare Advantage plans available. Medicare Supplement plans are the main alternative for those residents.

Enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 to Dec. 7) or when you first become eligible for Medicare. Compare plans at Medicare.gov, contact insurers directly, or work with a licensed agent. Coverage starts Jan. 1 or at the beginning of other qualifying periods.

Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with a bundled package of coverage from private insurers. Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to help cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays.

Vermont Medicare Advantage has two enrollment windows. The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, and current enrollees can also switch plans Jan. 1 to March 31.

Our Methodology

MoneyGeek rated Vermont Medicare Advantage plans for the 2026 plan year. Five CMS data sources supported the scores: 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 Vermont plan gets a score out of five from three weighted categories.

Affordability (40%): Annual premiums, the out-of-pocket maximum and inpatient hospital, specialist and primary care costs make up maximum annual cost exposure.
Quality and Member Experience (40%): CMS Star Ratings represent 60% of this category, CAHPS C26 member ratings the other 40%. MoneyGeek weighs both at the contract level.
Benefits and Access (20%): Supplemental benefits, including dental, OTC, vision and hearing, hold 50% of this category. County coverage and plan choice per county take up the other 50%, at 30% and 20%.

About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed 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 affect his recommendations.

Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

Read Full Bio »

Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Vermont (2026)

Best Medicare Advantage Companies in Vermont

Vermont Medicare Advantage Market Overview

Humana

How to Choose the Best Vermont Medicare Advantage Plan

How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Vermont?

Vermont Medicare Advantage Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vermont have more than one Medicare Advantage carrier?

Which Vermont Medicare Advantage plan has the lowest out-of-pocket maximum?

Are there any Vermont counties without Medicare Advantage coverage?

How do you get a Medicare Advantage plan in Vermont?

What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement?

When is open enrollment for Medicare Advantage in Vermont?

Our Methodology

About Mark Fitzpatrick