Kaiser Permanente is the best Medicare Advantage company in Virginia for the 2027 plan year, with the highest median CMS star rating at 4.5 and a median maximum annual cost exposure of $7,548. Its availability is limited to 12 counties. Anthem HealthKeepers has the lowest median annual cost exposure at $6,648 but the lowest CMS quality rating of 3.0 stars. UnitedHealthcare balances affordability and quality with a $6,900 median annual cost exposure and a 4.0-star rating, while Humana has the broadest availability, serving all 133 Virginia counties.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Virginia (2027)
Updated: October 27, 2026
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Best Medicare Advantage Companies in Virginia
| 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 Virginia counties and independent cities where plans are offered. | Number of Medicare Advantage plans offered in Virginia. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kaiser Permanente | 4.4 | $7,548 | 4.5 | 12 | 7 |
Aetna Medicare | 4.2 | $7,243 | 3.5 | 117 | 14 |
UnitedHealthcare | 4.2 | $6,900 | 4.0 | 131 | 26 |
Anthem HealthKeepers | 4.1 | $6,648 | 3.0 | 132 | 7 |
Humana | 4.1 | $9,850 | 4.0 | 133 | 33 |
Virginia Medicare Advantage Market Overview
Virginia's Medicare Advantage market has 103 non-SNP plans across nine carriers for 2027, with a median of 29 options per county or independent city. Most plans (82%) have $0 monthly premiums, but out-of-pocket maximums range from $2,250 to $9,850, so it's important to compare cost sharing carefully. Plan quality also varies, with an average CMS star rating of 3.9 out of 5 and only 55% of contracts earning at least 4 stars.
Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans | 103 | Residents have choices, but plan options vary by county. |
Carriers | 9 | You can compare competing insurers, though carrier availability also depends on your location. |
CMS contracts | 20 | Some carriers operate with multiple contracts in the state, and quality ratings can vary by plan even for the same insurer. |
Median plans per county | 29 | Most people have a broad selection of local plans to compare. |
Plans with a $0 premium | 82% | Most plans require no additional monthly premium beyond Part B. |
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP) | $7,150 | Half of plans have lower annual in-network spending limits, and half have higher limits. |
MOOP range | $2,250–$9,850 | Choosing a plan with a lower limit can reduce financial exposure during a high-cost medical year. |
Average CMS star rating | 3.90 out of 5 | Overall plan quality is close to 4 stars, though ratings vary by contract. |
Contracts rated 4+ stars | 55% | Just over half of rated contracts meet or exceed the 4-star quality benchmark. |
Kaiser Permanente
MoneyGeek Rating
4.4/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$7,548Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
12Plans Available
7
Aetna Medicare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$7,243Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
117Plans Available
14
UnitedHealthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,900Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
131Plans Available
26
Anthem HealthKeepers
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4.6/5Affordability
3.4/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,648Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
132Plans Available
7
Humana
MoneyGeek Rating
4.1/ 5
4/5Affordability
4.1/5Quality & Member Experience
4.4/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$9,850Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
133Plans Available
33
How to Choose the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Virginia
Virginia residents have 103 non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans to compare for 2027 from nine carriers across four plan types. The best plan depends on your doctors, prescriptions, expected health care use and budget.
- 1Confirm availability in your county
Medicare Advantage availability varies by county and independent city in Virginia. Check your ZIP code on Medicare’s Plan Finder before comparing specific plans, since statewide carrier availability doesn't mean every plan is offered where you live.
- 2Choose the right plan type
HMO plans require you to use in-network providers, while HMO-POS plans allow some out-of-network care. PPO plans have greater out-of-network flexibility but at a higher cost. Confirm that your doctors, specialists and preferred hospitals participate before enrolling.
- 3Compare premiums with other costs
About 82% of Virginia Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 monthly premium in 2027, but deductibles, copays and coinsurance still apply. Out-of-pocket maximums range from $2,250 to $9,850, so compare potential annual medical expenses rather than premiums alone.
- 4Review CMS quality ratings
CMS rates Medicare Advantage contracts from 1 to 5 stars based on quality and member experience. Virginia's average rating is 3.9 stars for 2027, with 55% of contracts rated 4 stars or higher. Compare CMS ratings alongside costs, provider networks and benefits.
- 5Compare supplemental benefits
Vision and hearing benefits are included in about 97% of Virginia Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, while 81% include dental benefits. Coverage limits and allowances vary by plan, so check how much each plan pays for dental services, eyewear, hearing aids and over-the-counter products.
How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Virginia?
Most Medicare Advantage plans in Virginia have a $0 monthly premium for 2027, but total Medicare Advantage costs depend on out-of-pocket costs and how much care you use. Median out-of-pocket maximums range from $6,825 for HMO-POS plans to $9,850 for Regional PPOs. Primary care copays are $15 across all plan types, while specialist copays range from $25 to $30 per visit and median inpatient hospital copays range from $375 to $395.
HMO | $0 | $7,150 | $375 | $15 | $25 |
HMO-POS | $0 | $6,825 | $395 | $15 | $30 |
PPO | $0 | $7,700 | $375 | $15 | $25 |
Regional PPO | $0 | $9,850 | $375 | $15 | $25 |
Virginia Medicare Advantage Resources
State and federal agencies publish free tools to help you compare Virginia Medicare Advantage plans, check costs and resolve coverage issues.
- Medicare Plan Finder: The official federal tool for comparing Medicare Advantage plans available in your ZIP code, including premiums, deductibles and covered benefits.
- Virginia Bureau of Insurance: Virginia's insurance regulator. You can file complaints, verify a plan's licensure and access consumer guides specific to the state.
- Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP): A free, unbiased counseling service for Virginia Medicare beneficiaries. VICAP counselors can walk you through plan options, billing disputes and appeals at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, with coverage changes taking effect January 1. People new to Medicare have a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period surrounding their 65th birthday. Certain circumstances, such as moving or losing qualifying coverage, can trigger a Special Enrollment Period.
Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does plus extras like prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing aids and fitness benefits.
Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with bundled coverage from private insurers, while Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to cover deductibles and copays.
Not always. Medicare Advantage plans use provider networks, and your doctor must accept the specific plan you're enrolling in, not just Medicare. Call your doctor's billing department before you enroll and ask by plan name. HMO plans restrict you to in-network providers except in emergencies. HMO-POS and PPO plans allow out-of-network visits at a higher cost.
Our Methodology
MoneyGeek evaluated Virginia Medicare Advantage companies using five CMS data sources for the 2027 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.