Medicare Advantage Plan Cost (2026 Plan Year)

Most Medicare Advantage plans cost $0 per month in 2026, according to MoneyGeek's analysis. But that's just the starting point. Your total costs depend on the plan type you pick and how much medical care you need. While most Medicare Advantage plans are free (60% of all plans according to our analysis), there are some that plans that do charge a premium. Excluding free plans, HMO plans average $53 monthly, while PPO plans average $63 monthly. 

Don't forget the Medicare Part B premium of $185 monthly and the $257 annual deductible. You'll also pay copays and coinsurance when you see doctors or get services. Not yet 65? Check health insurance options for retirees until you qualify for Medicare.

Premium amounts represent consolidated monthly costs for Medicare Part C and Part D coverage, based on MoneyGeek's analysis of 2026 Medicare Advantage plan data. We've included both median and average rates to give a full picture of associated costs. For the average cost, we excluded $0 premium plans. Out-of-pocket maximums reflect average in-network limits for 2026. Individual plan costs vary by location, insurer and coverage level. The "% of $0 Premium Plans" represents the amount of free plans of that plan type according to the plans we surveyed.

Shopping for Medicare Advantage gets tricky when premiums change from state to state. Your ZIP code affects your costs because insurers price plans based on local health care expenses and competition. Colorado, Nebraska and Utah offer $0 HMO premiums, while Massachusetts charges $78 monthly. PPO plans show the same pattern, with Arizona at $0 and Montana averaging $64. 

The below table shows costs for HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage plans, the two most common types:

We show median and average consolidated monthly premiums for HMO and PPO Medicare Advantage plans by state, based on MoneyGeek's analysis. Actual costs can vary. N/A indicates insufficient data available for that plan type in the state.

Medicare Advantage plans bundle your coverage into one package, but you'll still pay for health care in different ways. Medicare Advantage plans charge several types of expenses beyond your monthly premium. Your total costs depend on your plan's structure, the services you use and whether you see in-network providers.

Want to slash what you're paying for Medicare Advantage? You've got options. Some work best when you're shopping for plans during open enrollment. Others are assistance programs you can tap into if money's tight. Don't skip checking these out even if you think you earn too much. The income limits might surprise you, and the savings definitely will.

Shopping for Medicare Advantage means balancing monthly costs with what you'll actually spend at the doctor. Most plans charge little or nothing beyond Part B, but your real expenses come from copays and prescriptions. Compare your options each fall and check if Extra Help can cut your drug costs.

We've answered frequently asked questions about Medicare Advantage plan costs below:

Medicare Advantage costs vary dramatically by location and plan type, so we analyzed over 64,000 plans across all U.S. states to show you what typical coverage actually costs in your area. 

Our Research Approach 
We collected 64,249 Medicare Advantage plan quotes from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CY2026 Landscape file. This dataset includes all available MA-PD (Medicare Advantage – Prescription Drug) plans in each state, giving you a complete picture of your coverage options and their costs. 

Plan Types Analyzed 
Our analysis focuses on MA-PD plans because they bundle everything Medicare beneficiaries need:

• Medicare Part A (hospital coverage)
• Medicare Part B (medical coverage)
• Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)

We excluded MA-only plans (without prescription coverage) since most Medicare beneficiaries need drug coverage and prefer the simplicity of an all-in-one plan. 

Coverage Categories 
We analyzed monthly premiums and out-of-pocket maximums across five plan types:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) – Lower costs with network restrictions
• HMO-POS (Point of Service) – HMO flexibility with some out-of-network access
• PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) – Maximum provider choice
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) – Network flexibility with higher costs
• Regional PPO – Multi-state coverage for frequent travelers.

Data Analysis

We use median costs for the analysis along with the averages. Here's why that matters: More than half of Medicare Advantage plans charge $0 in monthly premiums beyond your Part B payment. But a small number of plans charge $80 to $150+ monthly for extensive benefits, which skews averages upward and makes typical costs look higher than what most people actually pay. 

The median shows what a middle-of-the-pack plan costs in your state and nationally, giving you realistic expectations when shopping for coverage. 

Why This Methodology Works for You 
Medicare Advantage pricing depends heavily on your location and the plan type you choose. Generic national averages don't help when budgeting for coverage in your specific state. Our analysis of each state's data shows realistic cost expectations based on actual plans available in your area.