Best Medicare Advantage Plans 2026

Cigna HealthCare is the best provider of Medicare Advantage HMO plans in the country with a MoneyGeek score of 4.8 out of 5, balancing solid quality ratings with competitive pricing. The insurer provides HMO options across 30 states with an average monthly premium of $20 and maximum out-of-pocket costs of $4,961 annually. CMS ratings range from 3.5 to 4 stars across its plans, with all plans including Part D prescription drug coverage. Cigna also has HMO-POS and PPO alternatives for members who want more provider flexibility, though these plans come at higher costs.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington

Cigna's HMO network works against you if you travel frequently or split time between multiple states. HMO plans cover only in-network providers, so a snowbird spending winters in Florida and summers in Ohio needs to confirm Cigna has strong provider networks in both locations. Its availability in 30 states means there are gaps in care. Beneficiaries in the 20 states where Cigna doesn't operate, or those who want the flexibility to see any Medicare-approved provider without a referral, will find better options with Humana or UnitedHealthcare.

Blue Cross Blue Shield leads PPO Medicare Advantage coverage in the U.S., delivering the provider flexibility many seniors want at an affordable premium. The insurer provides 80 PPO options nationwide with an average CMS star rating of 4.5 and maximum out-of-pocket costs averaging $6,750 annually. All Blue Cross Blue Shield plans include Part D prescription drug coverage, and 123 of 151 plans have drug tiers with no deductible, simplifying medication costs. The insurer also has a wide selection of HMO and HMO-POS plans as well as some limited PFFS plans, delivering greater network flexibility.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington, West Virginia

The higher MOOP exposure is the main risk here. At $6,750 annually, a beneficiary who hits the maximum in a Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plan pays $1,789 more per year than the average Cigna HMO enrollee. If you have predictable, high-volume healthcare needs, a PPO's out-of-network flexibility may not be worth that extra cost. People who stay within a consistent local provider network and want the lowest possible total annual cost should look at Cigna or UnitedHealthcare first.

Humana stands out in the limited PFFS Medicare Advantage marketplace with seven plans earning 3.5-star CMS ratings. PFFS plans let you see any Medicare-approved provider who accepts the plan, combining flexibility with straightforward coverage. Monthly premiums for Humana's PFFS options average $27, with one plan available at no monthly cost. Maximum out-of-pocket costs for the company’s PFFS plans run higher at $6,578 annually compared to HMO alternatives at $4,884, reflecting the added provider flexibility. Every Humana PFFS plan includes Part D prescription drug coverage with no-deductible drug tiers.

Humana also has a wide range of plan options across all major Medicare Advantage plan types, making it easier to find coverage that aligns with your healthcare usage and budget. Its broad nationwide availability means members can often maintain coverage when traveling or relocating, and many Humana plans include added benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, fitness programs, and robust prescription drug coverage. This combination of plan variety and geographic reach makes Humana a flexible choice for beneficiaries who want multiple coverage options under a single, well-established insurer.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Humana earns its spot here because the PFFS market is thin. Only a handful of insurers offer PFFS plans nationally, and Humana's seven plans are the strongest available in that category. But if plan type flexibility matters more to you than PFFS specifically, its 3.5-star CMS ratings are the weakest of our four picks.

Cigna and UnitedHealthcare both earn 4.0 CMS ratings with competitive premiums and broader plan type options. If you prioritize care coordination scores or appeals performance in CMS data, and you aren't looking for PFFS coverage, you'll find stronger options with either of those two providers.

UnitedHealthcare has the best HMO-POS Medicare Advantage plans in the country, delivering 258 plans that combine the cost efficiency of in-network care with the option to see out-of-network providers when needed. These plans give members flexibility without sacrificing affordability, reflected in an average CMS rating of 4.0. Monthly premiums average just $15, and 179 plans are available with a $0 premium. Average maximum out-of-pocket costs are at $5,659 per year, which is lower than most PPO plans but higher than most HMO plans. UnitedHealthcare also provides coverage options across all major plan types with solid CMS ratings and affordable premiums.

Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

UnitedHealthcare's HMO-POS structure is its main attraction, but it's also its main limitation. Out-of-network care is allowed but comes with higher copays and coinsurance. Some UnitedHealthcare plans also carry premiums up to $354 monthly. If you want to keep monthly costs as low as possible with predictable in-network coverage, Cigna's HMO plans average $5 less per month and carry lower MOOP costs.