HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Advantage Review (2026): Cost, Pros & Cons

HealthSpring is the stronger choice for Medicare beneficiaries whose primary concern is keeping monthly premium to zero. Nearly all PPO plans and most HMO plans charge nothing beyond the $202.90 Part B premium. Silver&Fit, MDLIVE and quarterly OTC allowances add further value. Out-of-pocket limits range from $257 to $677 above national averages.

HealthSpring's core advantage is premium cost. Most plans charge nothing per month beyond the $202.90 Part B premium. The limitations show up in quality scores, out-of-pocket limits that are above the national average and one contract receiving CMS's lowest quality designation.

HealthSpring Medicare Advantage costs vary by plan type and location. Your monthly premium and out-of-pocket maximum together determine your total annual cost exposure.

*The figures in this table are plan averages across 29 states. The specific plan in your county may have different costs. Use Medicare.gov or the plan finder below to see the exact options available at your ZIP code.

HealthSpring PPO plans average $1 per month and HMO plans average $8, both below their respective national averages. HMO-POS plans, which blend referral requirements with limited out-of-network access, average $34 per month, $13 below the national HMO-POS average of $47.

All three plan types sit on top of the Part B premium. The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month. Every Medicare Advantage enrollee pays that amount to Social Security separately from any HealthSpring plan cost.

Once you reach your plan's out-of-pocket maximum in a year, the plan covers all remaining costs at no charge. HealthSpring HMO plans average $5,585 at that ceiling, $677 above the $4,908 national HMO average. PPO plans average $6,578, $312 above the national average. HMO-POS plans average $5,329, $257 above the $5,072 national average.

The 2026 federal ceiling for Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket limits is $9,250. HealthSpring stays well below that ceiling across all plan types. But running above the national average means beneficiaries who need inpatient or specialist care in a given year pay more than under the average national plan.

Most HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage, so you do not need a separate drug plan. CMS caps annual out-of-pocket drug spending at $2,100 for 2026. That cap applies to all Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage, regardless of insurer.

Copays and coinsurance vary by plan, location and the type of care. A copay is a fixed dollar amount per visit. Coinsurance is a share of the total service cost. In-network care costs less than out-of-network care on all HealthSpring plan types. HMO plans cover no out-of-network care except emergencies.

CMS rates every Medicare Advantage plan annually using data on care coordination, customer service and health outcomes. HealthSpring scores between 3.01 and 3.96 stars out of 5 for 2026, all three plan types score below their respective national averages, though by different margins.

PPO plans scores 0.62 stars below the 3.63 national average. HMO-POS plans score 3.96 stars, 0.05 below the 4.01 national average. HMO plans fall 0.09 below the 3.86 national average. CMS considers four stars or above to be high quality.

In 2026, 207 of the 516 Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage rated by CMS earned four stars or higher, per the CMS 2026 Star Ratings Fact Sheet. The enrollment-weighted average across all rated plans was 3.98 stars. HealthSpring's portfolio falls below the national average across all three plan types.

HealthSpring offers three coverage structures for 2026. The structure that fits you depends on how much flexibility you want in choosing doctors and how much you are willing to pay for that flexibility. 

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization)

  An HMO plan requires you to choose a primary care doctor who manages all your care and issues referrals to specialists. Plans cover no out-of-network care except emergencies. HealthSpring HMO plans average $8 per month, the lowest monthly cost in the portfolio. 
  

• HMO-POS (Health Maintenance Organization Point of Service)

  An HMO-POS plan works like an HMO for in-network care but allows you to see certain out-of-network providers at a higher cost. HealthSpring offers HMO-POS plans in five states. At 3.96 CMS stars, these plans score closest to the 4.01 national HMO-POS average and are the strongest quality option in the portfolio. 
  

• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization)

  A PPO plan requires no primary care doctor and no referrals. You can see any Medicare-accepting provider, in or out of network, at lower cost for in-network care. HealthSpring PPO plans are available in most states and average $1 per month.

Cigna HealthCare transitioned to HealthSpring in 2026. The insurer has HMO, PPO and SNP plans in 29 states and Washington, D.C. Browse options below by location to compare monthly premiums, covered benefits and provider networks before selecting a plan.

Coverage varies by county and ZIP code. Your actual costs, covered services and plan features depend on your location, health status and the specific plan you enroll in.

HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans are available in 29 states and Washington, D.C., leaving 21 states without coverage. Tennessee and Texas offer the most plan options, with six each. Illinois, Missouri, South Carolina and Texas each offer two PPO options. Connecticut limits availability to PPO plans only. HMO-POS plans are available in only five states.

Plan availability varies by county within each state. A beneficiary in one county may have four plan choices. A beneficiary in a neighboring county may have two. Use the plan finder below or go to Medicare.gov to see the exact HealthSpring plans available at your ZIP code before comparing costs.

For a HealthSpring beneficiary paying $0 per month in premiums, the supplemental benefits determine what the plan is worth beyond its premium.

• Silver&Fit fitness: Silver&Fit membership gives access to gyms, YMCAs and senior centers at no additional cost. A beneficiary already paying $40 to $60 monthly for a gym membership saves $480 to $720 per year when a HealthSpring plan covers the cost, regardless of the stated monthly premium.
• Over-the-counter allowance: A quarterly allowance on your Flex Card covers pain relievers, vitamins, first aid supplies, cold medications and dental care items at participating retailers. The amount varies by plan. For members who buy these items regularly, the allowance directly offsets pharmacy and drugstore spending that would otherwise come out of pocket.
• Wellness incentives: HMO plans load up to $200 onto your Flex Card for completing health screenings and eligible healthy activities. That figure doubled from $100 in 2025.
• Part B Premium Reduction: Select HealthSpring plans reduce your monthly Part B premium through a giveback benefit credited directly to Social Security. The 2026 standard Part B premium is $202.90 per month. The reduction amount varies by plan and county. Confirm the exact amount for your ZIP code before enrolling, as not all plans carry this benefit.
• MDLIVE Telehealth: MDLIVE provides 24/7 video and phone visits with primary care doctors, specialists and mental health providers. Visits cost the same as in-office appointments under your plan terms. For HMO members in counties where in-network provider density is lower, telehealth closes care gaps that in-person-only coverage would leave open.
• Non-emergency transportation: Transportation through Modivcare, HealthSpring's third-party transport coordinator, covers one-way trips up to 70 miles to medical appointments, scheduled at least 48 hours in advance. Vans, taxis, wheelchair-equipped vehicles and rideshare options are available depending on location. The benefit matters most for members who cannot drive themselves to appointments.
• Post-hospitalization meals: HealthSpring delivers meals to your home at no cost during recovery following a hospital or skilled nursing facility stay. The benefit covers the period after discharge. For members without caregiver support at home, this is a recovery resource Original Medicare does not provide.
• Caregiver support: One-on-one coaching connects family members managing care responsibilities with resources and guidance. This coaching is available at no additional cost on plans that carry the benefit. Most relevant for members with chronic conditions who rely on family-based care coordination.
• Dental, Vision and Hearing: All HealthSpring plans cover routine vision exams and hearing tests annually. Most include preventive and comprehensive dental through the Cigna Dental network. Select plans add eyeglass or contact lens allowances through EyeMed. These benefits cover routine care that Original Medicare Parts A and B do not pay for.

HealthSpring's parent company, HCSC, and the Medicare entity that directly underwrites HealthSpring plans hold different AM Best financial strength ratings. That distinction matters because the Medicare business was recently acquired and is rated on its own standalone financial performance.

AM Best is an independent rating agency that evaluates insurers on their ability to pay claims. HCSC as a parent organization holds A+ (Superior), AM Best's highest rating, confirmed in January 2026. The HCSC Medicare and Supplemental Group, the entity that directly underwrites HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans, holds a separate rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best as of the same date. An A (Excellent) rating means AM Best determined this entity has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.

J.D. Power measures Medicare Advantage member satisfaction annually across 10 states using factors including trust, ability to access services, ease of doing business and complaint resolution. J.D. Power released a 2026 Healthcare Digital Experience Study in April 2026. Among commercial health plans, Cigna Healthcare ranked highest with a score of 684 out of 1,000 for a second consecutive year. Among the 17 largest Medicare Advantage plans in the same study, Cigna Healthcare ranked last with a score of 604 out of 1,000.

The National Committee for Quality Assurance evaluates health insurance plans based on clinical quality, member experience and care coordination. NCQA accreditation signals a plan has met standards for network management, quality improvement and member rights that go beyond what CMS star ratings capture.

About one in three HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans held NCQA accreditation as of NCQA's September 2025 annual update. That accreditation share is below the industry average for large Medicare Advantage carriers. NCQA 2026 Health Plan Ratings are scheduled for release on September 15, 2026.

Blue Cross Blue Shield operates through regional affiliates in 31 states. In states where both HealthSpring and BCBS plans are available, the same trade-off appears across all plan types. BCBS earns higher quality scores on most plan types and carries a lower MOOP on HMO and PPO plans. On HMO-POS plans, HealthSpring's $5,329 MOOP costs $171 below BCBS's $5,500.

UnitedHealthcare is the largest Medicare Advantage insurer by enrollment and operates in 46 states. The most relevant comparison for beneficiaries in states where both insurers offer plans is the PPO and HMO-POS tiers. UHC HMO plans are available only in Florida for 2026 and are not a factor for most beneficiaries comparing the two insurers.

HealthSpring PPO plans average $1 per month against UHC's $37, a $36 monthly gap that totals $432 per year in premium savings. UHC PPO plans score 3.87 CMS stars versus HealthSpring's 3.01, the largest quality gap between the two insurers at 0.86 stars. Out-of-pocket limits are nearly identical at this tier.

We've answered common questions about HealthSpring Medicare Advantage, from coverage and costs to enrollment and plan quality:

We scored Cigna HealthCare's Medicare Advantage plans (rebranded as HealthSpring in 2026 following Health Care Service Corporation's acquisition) by reviewing 2026 plan data for all eligible plans across 29 states and Washington, D.C., using Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services data accessed in March 2026. The review covered plan costs, federal quality ratings and geographic availability.

• Affordability (50%): We weighted combined Part C and Part D monthly premiums at 30% and in-network maximum out-of-pocket limits at 20%. Lower premiums and MOOP amounts score higher because they limit what retirees pay when serious health issues require expensive treatment.
• Star Ratings (40%): The Overall Star Rating combines Part C and Part D performance on a 1-to-5 scale based on CMS audits of care coordination, customer service and health outcomes. Plans scoring 4 stars or higher show stronger operational systems that lead to fewer coverage denials and faster claim resolutions.
• Availability (10%): Geographic reach factors into our score because broader coverage means you won't need to switch carriers if you relocate. It also correlates with stronger infrastructure for processing claims across different state regulations.