Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Washington, D.C. (2026)

The best Medicare Advantage plans in Washington, D.C., are Cigna HealthCare for HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield for PPO and Aetna for HMO-POS plans.

Explore Washington, D.C., Medicare Advantage providers to find the best option.

Written by Mark Fitzpatrick

Updated: June 10, 2026

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

Key Takeaways

Cigna HealthCare is the best HMO Medicare Advantage provider in Washington, D.C. with $0 monthly premiums and a $4,250 average maximum out-of-pocket limit.

Aetna offers the best HMO-POS plans in Washington, D.C. at $63 monthly while Blue Cross Blue Shield provides the best PPO coverage for $42 per month with greater provider flexibility.

Before enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan in Washington, D.C., check that your preferred doctors and prescription medications are covered. Compare monthly premiums, out-of-pocket maximums and network access to ensure the plan fits your needs.

Best Medicare Advantage Companies in Washington D.C.

Based on CMS star ratings, premiums, MOOP costs and coverage features, we identified the best Medicare Advantage plans in Washington, D.C.

Cigna HealthCare leads HMO options with a $0 monthly premium and $4,250 maximum out-of-pocket limit, earning a 3.0 CMS star rating. Aetna has the best HMO-POS plans, while Blue Cross Blue Shield takes the lead for PPO coverage.


HMO	Cigna HealthCare	3.00	$0	$4,250	HealthSpring Preferred (HMO)
HMO-POS	Aetna	3.00	$63	$7,500	Aetna Medicare Enhanced Plus (HMO-POS)
PPO	Blue Cross Blue Shield	3.50	$42	$7,300	CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Complete (PPO)

Medicare Advantage plans cover hospital stays, doctor visits and prescription drugs in comprehensive packages that serve as alternatives to Original Medicare. These Part C plans must provide everything Original Medicare does while adding dental, vision and hearing benefits.

CMS Star Ratings: CMS scores plans from one to five stars on quality and performance. Plans at four stars or higher have demonstrated strong member satisfaction and care quality.
Monthly premiums: Your total monthly cost is your Part B premium plus whatever the plan charges on top. Many Medicare Advantage plans add $0, but your cost depends on coverage level and location.
Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits: The MOOP caps what you spend on covered services in a year. Once you hit it, the plan pays 100% of covered care for the rest of the year.
Drug coverage: Most plans bundle Part D prescription coverage with a formulary of covered medications. Check the drug list for your specific prescriptions and any prior authorization requirements before enrolling.

Cigna

Best HMO

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.0
Plan Types
HMO, PPO

pros
- $0 monthly premiums across all plans
- Enhanced Part D drug coverage included with every plan
- Wide provider network across Washington, D.C.
cons
- No HMO-POS options
- Few plans to choose from
Cigna HealthCare has one HMO plan in Washington, D.C.: a 3.0-star plan with a $4,250 MOOP and a $0 monthly premium. The plan includes enhanced Part D drug coverage. The network is narrow, which limits provider choice but keeps costs down. Members who put price first will find it fits that priority. Cigna's PPO option, HealthSpring True Choice (PPO), carries a 3-star rating and a $6,800 MOOP with broader network access.

Aetna Medicare

Best HMO-POS

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.0
Plan Types
HMO-POS, PPO

pros
- One plan with a $0 premium
- Enhanced Part D prescription drug coverage
- HMO-POS structure allows out-of-network care
cons
- No standard HMO option
- Few plans to choose from
Aetna's HMO-POS option, the Aetna Medicare Enhanced Plus (HMO-POS), holds a 3-star CMS rating with a $63 monthly premium and a $7,500 MOOP. The plan includes enhanced Part D drug coverage. Members who need out-of-network access and a defined annual spending cap will find this plan meets both. Aetna also has a PPO plan at $87 a month with a $7,500 MOOP and enhanced drug benefits. Out-of-network care is available at higher cost-sharing.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Best PPO

MoneyGeek Rating

5/ 5

5/5Affordability

5/5Quality

5/5Availability

CMS Star Rating
3.5
Plan Types
PPO

pros
- Access to any Medicare-approved provider nationwide without a referral
- $42 monthly premium
cons
- Out-of-network care carries higher cost-sharing
- One plan option only
Blue Cross Blue Shield is Washington D.C.'s top-ranked Medicare Advantage PPO option. The CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Complete plan is $42 a month with a $7,300 MOOP and enhanced Part D drug coverage. The CMS rating is 3.5 stars, below the four-star threshold, but the plan's PPO structure gives access to any Medicare-approved provider nationwide without a referral.

How to Choose the Best Washington, D.C., Medicare Advantage Plan

The right plan depends on your medical needs, what you can spend and how much provider flexibility matters to you.

1
Confirm Your Doctors and Hospitals Are In-Network
Call your doctors and hospitals directly to verify they're in the specific plan's network, not just affiliated with the insurer generally. Two plans from the same insurer can have different provider lists.
2
Compare Total Costs, Not Just Premiums
A $0 premium plan can cost more overall if copays and deductibles are high. Before choosing, add up expected medication costs and typical specialist visits to get a realistic annual figure.
3
Check Prescription Drug Coverage
Pull up the plan's drug list and confirm your prescriptions are on it. Note the tier for each drug. Higher tiers mean higher cost-sharing, and some medications require prior authorization before the plan pays.
4
Compare Different Plan Types
HMO plans have the lowest premiums and coordinate care through a primary doctor. HMO-POS adds occasional out-of-network access. PPO plans suit frequent travelers or anyone who wants to see specialists without a referral. More on plan types here.
5
Review Star Ratings and Quality Metrics
CMS star ratings score plans on quality, service and member satisfaction from one to five stars. Plans at four or five stars have a track record of better care and service outcomes.
6
Compare Extra Benefits
Many Washington, D.C., Medicare Advantage plans add dental, vision, hearing, fitness memberships and over-the-counter allowances. Match these extras to your actual health needs rather than treating them as a tiebreaker.
7
Check Out-of-Pocket Maximums
Out-of-pocket maximums cap what you spend on covered care in a year. Lower caps mean less annual financial exposure but higher monthly premiums. The right balance depends on how much care you expect to use.

How Much Does Medicare Advantage Cost in Washington, D.C.?

In the nation's capital, Medicare Advantage costs vary mainly by plan type. HMO plans offer the most affordable option with $0 monthly premiums and $4,250 average out-of-pocket maximums. HMO-POS plans cost more at $51 average monthly premiums and carry higher $7,025 out-of-pocket limits. PPO plans fall in the middle with $33 average monthly costs and $6,917 out-of-pocket maximums.


HMO	$0	$0	$4,250
HMO-POS	$50	$51	$7,025
PPO	$32	$33	$6,917

Best Washington, D.C. Medicare Advantage: FAQ

Get answers about how to enroll, what's covered and when you can sign up for Medicare Advantage.

How do you get a Medicare Advantage plan in Washington, D.C.?

You must have Medicare Parts A and B, then enroll through Medicare.gov during Annual Enrollment (October 15-Dec. 7) or other qualifying periods.

What does Medicare Advantage cover?

Medicare Advantage plans cover everything Original Medicare does plus often include prescription drugs, dental, vision, hearing aids, and fitness benefits.

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

Medicare Advantage replaces Original Medicare with bundled coverage from private insurers, while Medicare Supplement (Medigap) works alongside Original Medicare to cover deductibles and copays.

When is open enrollment for Medicare Advantage in Washington, D.C.?

The Annual Enrollment Period runs Oct. 15 through Dec. 7 yearly. DC residents already enrolled have additional open enrollment from Jan. 1 to March 31.

Our Methodology: How We Ranked Washington, D.C.'s Best Medicare Advantage Plans

We scored Medicare Advantage plans on three factors:

Affordability (50%): We weighted monthly premiums for combined Part C and Part D coverage at 30% and in-network MOOP limits at 20%. Lower premiums and lower MOOPs score higher because they reduce total annual spending.
Star Ratings (40%): CMS star ratings score plan quality across care effectiveness, customer service and member satisfaction. The Overall Star Rating combines Part C and Part D scores on a one-to-five scale. Higher ratings score higher in our analysis.
Availability (10%): We scored providers on how many states they operate in, including Washington, D.C. Broader geographic coverage scores higher because it makes continued coverage more likely if you move and generally indicates more resources behind customer support and plan management.

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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