Best Medicare Advantage Providers of 2023

Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare Advantage plans may not be as widely available as those from the competition, but the available plans tend to be of higher quality than the alternatives.

Kaiser Permanente’s plans can include many additional benefits beyond the standard vision, hearing and dental; these include telehealth, fitness and transportation perks. A 2022 J.D. Power Medicare Advantage Study also found that Kaiser Permanente plans led all competitors in customer satisfaction by a significant margin.

The major drawback is the reach of the company. The diversity of plan options is fairly limited with plans offered in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia, Oregon, Washington and Washington, D.C.

UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the country with over 8 million beneficiaries enrolled and continues to grow year-over-year. It offers multiple types of plans, including HMO, PPO and SNP choices.

One of the company’s biggest advantages is the low cost of many of its plans. Most of its offerings include $0 premiums as well as $0 copays. This even extends to benefits in some cases, with many plans including no out-of-pocket costs for non-cosmetic dental care. Eye and hearing exams also come in at no cost on most plans. Additional benefits include over-the-counter allowances, gym memberships and rewards for completing health activities.

UnitedHealthcare’s size also ensures that beneficiaries across the country have access to these plans. There are some drawbacks despite the company’s size, however, with UnitedHealthcare scoring a below-average rating in the J.D. Power Medicare Advantage Study. While most plans scored well in 2023, there were several options that received a 2.5 Medicare Star Rating.

Humana is one of the largest Medicare Advantage providers in the country, but certainly has not sacrificed size for quality. In 2023, three different Humana plans received a perfect 5.0 Medicare Star Rating, with plans rated 4.5 available across 46 states as well.

While Humana offers numerous high-quality plans, it remains reasonably affordable. There are many plans that include $0 premiums, and the company has generally satisfied customers, scoring only behind Kaiser Permanente in the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Index.

Humana offers several plan types as well, including HMO, PPO and SNP options.

If you’re looking for additional benefits and perks above all, then Aetna, which is owned by CVS Health, could be a potential option for you to consider.

Aetna’s plans include HMO, PPO and SNP options, with SNP plans in 30 states. The plans can include many benefits, including some that are not often found with competitors. Eighty-five percent of plans offer a meal delivery benefit after an inpatient stay. Over 90% of plans include eyewear, hearing and dental benefits.

There are even more niche options. Some plans include fresh food boxes of fruits and vegetables delivered to your home. Many members also have access to fitness benefits, like exercise and brain games. Additional benefits offered include telehealth, fall prevention services and an over-the-counter allowance.

But Aetna does have drawbacks, as its plans took a significant hit in the CMS Star Ratings for 2023. Its National PPO plan fell from 4.5 stars to 3.5.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is a proven brand that supports a network of companies across the country and offers Medicare Advantage plans under its umbrella.

Many of the plans offered received high Star Ratings, and there may be various options available depending on where you live. BCBS plans typically include low-cost and $0-premium options in many areas as well.

The main drawback is simply that the quality or cost of the plans available to you will vary depending on where you live. Not all BCBS network companies are equal or offer the same plans. For example, while many affiliated plans scored high in the Star Ratings, there were some options that were rated as low as 2.5.