Humana Medicare Advantage Review (2026): Cost, Pros & Cons

Humana earns a 4.4 out of 5 MoneyGeek score. Its HMO plans average $3 monthly, $23 below the national HMO average of $26, with 83% having $0 premiums. Seniors who want premiums at or near $0 and are comfortable with a restricted network are well matched to Humana's HMO tier at $3 monthly on average.

Seniors who prioritize plan quality over annual ceiling size can get a 3.86-star PPO from Humana at $14 monthly, though the $7,200 out-of-pocket maximum exceeds the national PPO average by $934. Those who need to keep annual exposure below $5,000 will find better footing in Humana's HMO tier, where the average ceiling is $4,856. 

Humana's HMO-POS plans score 3.57, the lowest-rated plan type in the portfolio and 0.44 below the national HMO-POS average of 4.01. Members with chronic conditions or frequent care needs should review county-level HMO-POS ratings at medicare.gov before enrolling in this plan type.

Humana offers four Medicare Advantage plan types: Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), HMO Point-of-Service (HMO-POS), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS). Each determines how you access care and which providers you can see, though availability varies by state.   

• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): You choose a primary care doctor who coordinates your care and refers you to specialists. You must use in-network providers for non-emergency care. HMO plans offer lower premiums than PPO and PFFS options but restrict you to the in-network provider list.
• HMO Point-of-Service (HMO-POS): This plan type uses the same in-network structure as an HMO, but you can see out-of-network providers without a referral at a higher cost share. Out-of-network care costs more than in-network care.
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): You can see any Medicare-approved provider without referrals. In-network care costs less, and out-of-network care is covered at a higher cost share. PPO plans work for members who want to choose their own providers without coordinating through a primary care doctor.
• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS): You can visit any Medicare-approved provider who accepts the plan's payment terms. No referrals are required and there's no provider network requirement. Not all doctors accept PFFS plans, so confirm acceptance before scheduling an appointment.

Humana's Medicare Advantage plans are available in 46 states and Washington, D.C. Texas has 50 plans across HMO, PPO and PFFS tiers, and Florida has 40.

Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Vermont, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. have PPO plans only, with no HMO or HMO-POS options. Seniors in those states have access only to the PPO tier, where the average out-of-pocket maximum is $7,200, $2,344 above the HMO average of $4,856 available in other states. Texas has more Humana Medicare Advantage plans than any other state at 50, across HMO, PPO and PFFS tiers.

Humana's Medicare Advantage plans earn an average CMS Star Rating of 3.66 out of 5, 0.15 below the national average of 3.81. CMS star ratings score each plan on care effectiveness and member experience. Care coordination and health outcomes are measured alongside member satisfaction and customer service.

Members managing chronic conditions or using specialist care regularly should pay attention to the HMO-POS gap. CMS measures care coordination and health outcomes directly, and those categories account for most of the difference between Humana's 3.57 HMO-POS rating and the 4.01 national average. Seniors who rarely need care beyond annual checkups are less likely to see a practical difference.   

County-level HMO-POS ratings vary from the statewide average. Use the Medicare Plan Finder at medicare.gov with your ZIP code to see what Humana's HMO-POS plans score in your county before enrolling.

Sixty-five percent of Humana Medicare Advantage plans have $0 monthly premiums, based on MoneyGeek's analysis of CMS data. The average monthly cost across all plan types is $25.

The plan type choice is primarily a trade-off between network flexibility and annual cost exposure. Humana's HMO has the lowest ceiling of any plan type at $4,856, $51 below the national HMO average, with 83% of HMO plans carrying $0 monthly premiums. Seniors who are comfortable staying in-network get the lowest monthly costs and the lowest annual exposure ceiling from this tier. 

PPO plans add unrestricted provider access but raise the annual exposure ceiling. The $7,200 PPO out-of-pocket maximum is $934 above the national PPO average of $6,266. A senior who hits the PPO ceiling pays $2,344 more per year than a Humana HMO member who hits the HMO cap.   

PFFS plans average $27 a month (vs. $14 for PPO) but carry a $6,578 out-of-pocket maximum, $622 below the PPO ceiling. Paying $156 more per year in premiums buys a $622 lower annual exposure ceiling than Humana's PPO tier.

Humana's Medicare Advantage plans include dental and vision benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover. Most plans also include hearing coverage and Part D prescription drug benefits, with $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications at preferred pharmacies. Plan-level benefit limits vary by county. Check the Summary of Benefits for your specific plan to confirm dental caps, hearing aid coverage and any cost-sharing that applies before enrolling.

• Dental coverage: Most Humana plans, including the Humana Gold Plus HMO series, include dental benefits covering preventive care such as cleanings and X-rays, plus restorative services including fillings, crowns and deep cleanings. Annual dental benefit caps vary by plan and county. Check the Summary of Benefits for your plan to confirm restorative coverage limits before enrolling.
• Vision and hearing benefits: All 2026 Humana plans include routine vision coverage for eye exams and eyewear. Hearing benefits cover exams and hearing aids. Original Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids. Without coverage, hearing aids cost $3,000 to $6,000 per device.
• Prescription drug coverage: Most Humana Medicare Advantage plans, including HumanaChoice PPO plans, include Part D drug coverage. Many plans have $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 medications at preferred pharmacies, covering most generics at no cost.
• Primary care and preventive services: Many plans feature unlimited primary care visits with $0 copays at in-network providers. Preventive services, including mammograms, colonoscopies, bone density exams and routine vaccines, are also covered at $0.
• Special Needs Plans: Humana's Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) include additional care coordination support, music therapy sessions designed by certified therapists and transportation benefits for members with chronic conditions.

Humana Medicare Advantage plan availability varies by state and county. Use the table to review options in your area and compare coverage across plan types:

MoneyGeek's scoring system rates Medicare Advantage plans on quality, affordability and availability across the U.S. The 2026 dataset covers all Medicare Advantage contracts, sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plan landscape files. Our dataset covers premiums, out-of-pocket maximums and CMS Star Ratings across every plan type: HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and PFFS, in all 46 states where Humana participates.

Scoring System

Our methodology evaluates three factors to identify plans that provide the best value for your health care needs:

• Affordability (50%): Cost makes up half of our overall score because it directly affects your budget. Monthly premiums for Part C and Part D coverage combined have 30% of the total score. In-network maximum out-of-pocket limits account for the remaining 20%.
• Star Ratings (40%): CMS ratings score each plan on care effectiveness and member experience, covering how well the plan coordinates care and resolves member issues. The Overall Star Rating combines both Part C (medical coverage) and Part D (prescription drug) ratings on a scale from 1 to 5 stars.
• Availability (10%): Geographic reach accounts for the remaining 10%. Providers available in more states are more likely to maintain coverage if you move and can invest more in customer support and plan improvements.