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

UnitedHealthcare has Medicare Advantage policies in four distinct plan types, giving you options based on your flexibility and provider access needs. From network-focused plans that focus on coordinated care to options that allow greater freedom to see out-of-network doctors, each plan type comes with its own rules, costs and benefits:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): You must use doctors and hospitals within the plan's network, except for emergencies. You'll need to choose a primary care physician who coordinates your care and provides referrals to specialists.
• HMO-POS (HMO with Point-of-Service): This plan works like a standard HMO but allows you to see out-of-network providers for some services at a higher cost. You still need a primary care physician and referrals for in-network specialist care.
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): You can see any doctor or specialist without a referral, both in-network and out-of-network. Out-of-network care costs more, but you have more flexibility than with an HMO.
• PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service): You can see any Medicare-approved doctor or hospital that accepts the plan's payment terms, and you don't need referrals.

UnitedHealthcare sells Medicare Advantage plans in 46 states, plus Washington, D.C., with plan availability varying by location. Texas has the most plan options with 50 total plans, followed by California with 30 plans and Florida with 39 plans. HMO-POS plans are the most common, available in 46 states, while PPO plans are the second most common. HMO plans are only available in Florida for the 2026 plan year.

CMS Star Ratings measure Medicare Advantage plan quality based on customer service, care management and health outcomes, with ratings from 1 to 5 stars. UnitedHealthcare has above-average ratings across most plan types. The company performs particularly well with its HMO plans, while its PFFS offerings lag behind competitors.

UnitedHealthcare delivers the strongest value in HMO coverage with $0 monthly premiums across all plans and an average maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) of $3,233, which is $1,674 below the national average. This makes UnitedHealthcare's HMO plans an excellent choice for budget-conscious enrollees who don't mind network restrictions. HMO-POS plans deliver moderate pricing at $15 monthly on average, with 63% available at a $0 premium, though out-of-pocket costs run higher at $5,659.

UnitedHealthcare's PPO and PFFS plans cost more than competitors. PPO plans average $37 per month with a $6,571 MOOP, both slightly above national averages. PFFS plans are the insurer's most expensive option at $118 monthly and a $6,700 MOOP, greatly exceeding national benchmarks. If you prioritize network flexibility, UnitedHealthcare's pricing becomes less competitive compared to its HMO options.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans include several member benefits beyond basic medical coverage. Members get access to the UCard, Renew Active fitness program, rewards for healthy activities and supplemental benefits not available through Original Medicare.

• UCard Benefits: The UCard is an all-in-one member ID card that doubles as a debit card for eligible purchases. You can use it to buy healthy food, over-the-counter products and pay utility bills at over 55,000 participating retailers including Walmart, Walgreens and CVS.
• Renew Active Fitness Program: UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans include free access to over 25,000 gym and fitness locations nationwide. The program also provides thousands of on-demand workout videos, live streaming fitness classes and an online brain health program from AARP Staying Sharp.
• Dental, Vision and Hearing Coverage: UnitedHealthcare plans include dental coverage with $0 copays up to annual maximums, vision benefits with allowances for frames or contacts and hearing aid coverage through a network of providers. These benefits are not available through Original Medicare.
• Rewards Program: Members can earn rewards loaded onto their UCard by completing healthy activities like annual wellness visits, flu shots or walking regularly. Earned rewards can be spent at participating retailers on eligible items including groceries, books, clothing and electronics.
• Prescription Drug Benefits: Most plans include $0 copays for Tier 1 prescriptions at network retail pharmacies and $0 copays for Tier 2 prescriptions through Optum Home Delivery. You also get access to mail-order prescription services.
• Virtual Care and Support: Access virtual doctor visits through video-enabled devices, 24/7 nurse support lines and care coordination services. Members can chat online with advocates or call the number on their UCard for assistance.

UnitedHealthcare has hundreds of Medicare Advantage plans across the country with varying premiums, coverage options and supplemental benefits. Use the table below to filter plans by state, plan type and key features to find coverage that fits your needs and budget.

We rate the best health insurance providers based on premiums, out-of-pocket expenses, customer experience, claims denial rates and plan selection.

MoneyGeek weights health insurance provider scores as follows:

• Affordability (60%): When scoring providers on affordability, we considered monthly premiums, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) costs. We weighted these factors as follows within the affordability score: monthly premiums (66.67%), deductible (16.67%), MOOP (16.67%).
• Customer Experience (30%): Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)’s Quality Rating System (QRS) overall rating for health-insurance plans. This is a 5-star rating system used to help consumers compare health plans on the Health Insurance Marketplace. Ratings are calculated based on three main categories: Medical Care, Member Experience, and Plan Administration. Providers with the highest overall rating get the highest score
• Denial Rate (10%): Denial rate is the percentage of submitted claims or applications that are rejected instead of approved. Providers with the lowest denial rate get the highest score.

Data sources

Health insurance plan and provider data was updated with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) exchange data released in October 2025 for the 2026 enrollment period as well as manual collection of health plan data from state insurance marketplaces for 22 states.

Sample consumer profile

We collected data on all available health plans for consumers ages 18, 26, 40, 50 and 60. Monthly premiums are based on a 40-year-old buyer unless otherwise noted, such as the category for seniors. We analyzed plans for each cited metal tier, which include Catastrophic, Bronze, Expanded Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.