Kaiser Permanente is the best Medicare Advantage provider in Virginia, with one of the lowest median annual cost exposures in the state at $5,986 and the highest median CMS star rating at 4.5. Anthem HealthKeepers has the lowest median annual cost exposure in our analysis and the broadest service area, though its median CMS rating is lower at 3.5 stars. HealthSpring, UnitedHealthcare and Aetna Medicare are reliable alternatives depending on your location, budget and expected health care needs.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Virginia (2026)
Updated: September 8, 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 | 4.6 | $5,986 | 4.5 | 12 | 7 |
HealthSpring | 4.2 | $6,250 | 4.0 | 11 | 4 |
Anthem HealthKeepers | 4.2 | $5,900 | 3.5 | 132 | 7 |
UnitedHealthcare | 4.2 | $6,700 | 4.0 | 131 | 25 |
Aetna Medicare | 4.0 | $7,165 | 3.0 | 120 | 13 |
Virginia Medicare Advantage Market Overview
Virginia's Medicare Advantage market is large and competitive, with 98 non-SNP plans across nine carriers and median of 28 options per county or independent city. Costs and plan quality vary widely. Out-of-pocket maximums differ by nearly $7,500, and fewer than half of rated contracts earn at least 4 stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans | 98 | Virginia has plenty of Medicare Advantage options, so careful plan comparisons are important. |
Carriers | 9 | Plan options vary meaningfully by carrier, network and benefits. |
CMS contracts | 21 | Several carriers operate multiple CMS contracts, which can mean different quality ratings and member experiences within the same insurer. |
Median plans per county / independent city | 28 | Most Virginia beneficiaries have dozens of local plan options to choose from. |
Medicare Advantage enrollment in non-SNP plans | 556,038 | More than half a million beneficiaries are enrolled in the non-SNP plans analyzed. |
Plans with a $0 premium | 84% | Most plans charge no additional monthly premium. Comparing copays, deductibles and annual out-of-pocket limits is more important when considering cost. |
Median max out-of-pocket (MOOP) | $6,750 | You can be responsible for several thousand dollars in annual medical cost sharing, even with a $0 premium. |
MOOP range | $1,800–$9,250 | The $7,450 spread makes the out-of-pocket limit one of the most consequential cost differences between Virginia plans. |
Average CMS star rating | 3.85 out of 5 | Overall plan quality sits just below the 4-star quality benchmark. |
Contracts with 4+ CMS star rating | 43% | Fewer than half of rated contracts reach 4 stars, so plans with higher ratings are especially valuable to consider. |
Kaiser Permanente
MoneyGeek Rating
4.6/ 5
4.8/5Affordability
4.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,986Median 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
HealthSpring
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.5/5Affordability
4.2/5Quality & Member Experience
3.7/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,250Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
4.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
11Plans Available
4
Anthem HealthKeepers
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.4/5Affordability
3.8/5Quality & Member Experience
4.6/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$5,900Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.5Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
132Plans Available
7
UnitedHealthcare
MoneyGeek Rating
4.2/ 5
4.2/5Affordability
4.2/5Quality & Member Experience
4.2/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$6,700Median 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
25
Aetna Medicare
MoneyGeek Rating
4/ 5
4.3/5Affordability
3.5/5Quality & Member Experience
4.3/5Benefits & Availability
Median Max Annual Cost Exposure
$7,165Median annual premium plus median out-of-pocket maximum.Median CMS Star Rating
3.0Median CMS quality rating across the carrier’s plans.Counties Served
120Plans Available
13
How to Choose the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Virginia
Virginia seniors have 98 non-SNP Medicare Advantage plans to compare for 2026, spread across four plan types and more than a dozen carriers. The best Medicare Advantage 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
84% of Virginia Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 monthly premium in 2026, but you can still pay deductibles, copays and coinsurance when you receive care. Compare the total cost structure rather than choosing a plan based on its premium alone.
- 4Review CMS quality ratings
CMS rates Medicare Advantage plans from 1 to 5 stars based on measures of quality and member experience. Four Virginia plans earn 5 stars in 2026, while 26 earn 4.5 stars. Use ratings alongside costs and coverage to compare plans with similar benefits.
- 5Compare supplemental benefits
Dental, vision, hearing and over-the-counter benefits vary widely by plan. In Virginia, annual allowances reach up to $5,000 for dental, $4,000 for hearing, $400 for vision and $400 for OTC benefits.
How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Virginia?
Most Medicare Advantage plans in Virginia have a $0 monthly premium, but total Medicare Advantage costs depend on how much care you use. Median out-of-pocket maximums range from $5,900 for HMO-POS plans to $9,250 for Regional PPOs. Primary care copays are $15 across plan types, specialist visits cost $25 to $30 and inpatient hospital copays range from $355 to $375.
Median Monthly Premium | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Median Max Out-of-Pocket | $6,750 | $5,900 | $7,700 | $9,250 |
Median Inpatient Copay | $362 | $355 | $375 | $375 |
Median PCP Copay | $15 | $15 | $15 | $15 |
Median Specialist Copay | $25 | $30 | $28 | $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 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.