Medicare Advantage

Geo depth: Class B

Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans are an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private insurers approved by Medicare, often bundling hospital, medical, and prescription drug coverage into a single plan. Plan availability and costs are set at the county level by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Compare Medicare Advantage rates

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What is medicare advantage?

CMS approves and regulates Medicare Advantage plans, but private insurers administer them, and plan availability is set at the county level — the specific plans, networks, and extra benefits (like dental or vision) offered can differ meaningfully from one county to the next, even within the same state.

Most Medicare Advantage plans use a network model (HMO or PPO), so confirming that your preferred doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies participate in a plan's network is one of the most consequential comparison steps, alongside checking that your regular prescriptions are on the plan's drug formulary.

What affects your medicare advantage cost

Typical costs vary significantly by state, provider, and personal factors — {{VERIFY: national average medicare advantage premium not yet sourced}}. Rather than a single number, the factors below are what actually move your quote up or down.

County of residence (drives which plans are even available to you)
Plan type (HMO vs. PPO) and its network
Whether the plan includes Part D prescription drug coverage
Extra benefits offered (dental, vision, hearing, fitness programs)
Your specific prescription drug list and whether it matches the plan's formulary
Plan star rating

How to compare medicare advantage providers

Price is only one part of the decision. Before choosing a provider, compare each of the following side by side:

Coverage limits, and exactly what's included or excluded
Deductible options and how a higher or lower deductible changes the premium
Financial strength ratings from an independent rating agency (e.g., AM Best, S&P, Moody's) — an indicator of an insurer's ability to pay future claims
Customer service and claims-handling reputation, including complaint-ratio data where a state Department of Insurance publishes it
Available discounts and bundling options
Confirmation that the carrier is licensed to write this coverage in your state

Explore medicare advantage by state

Coverage requirements and licensed carriers for medicare advantage vary by state. Here are a few popular starting points, or browse the full state directory below.

Medicare Advantage FAQ

When can I switch Medicare Advantage plans?

The main window is the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period, which runs October 15 – December 7 each year, plus a separate Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period from January 1 – March 31 for those already enrolled in an MA plan. Confirm dates on Medicare.gov each year, since exceptions and special enrollment periods can apply.

Are Medicare Advantage plans the same everywhere?

Far from it — because CMS sets plan availability at the county level, the specific plans, premiums, networks, and extra benefits available to you depend on which county you live in, even compared with a neighboring county in the same state.

Does Medicare Advantage cost more than Original Medicare?

The specific plan, your health care usage, and whether you'd otherwise pair Original Medicare with a Medigap-style supplement (which isn't compatible with Medicare Advantage) all shape the answer. Comparing your specific expected costs with a SHIP counselor or licensed agent is worth doing rather than assuming either option is cheaper. {{VERIFY: comparative cost figures}}.

Ready to see medicare advantage options?

Compare providers side by side using the factors above, then see options tailored to your state and situation.