Medicare Advantage plans are private insurance plans that offer an alternative to Original Medicare. Original Medicare covers hospitalizations, inpatient nursing home care, doctor’s visits, diagnostic tests, and emergency ambulance transportation. Medicare Advantage plans must cover at least the same services as Original Medicare, and also often offer additional coverage for prescription drugs and routine dental, vision, and hearing care.
When deciding on a Medicare Advantage plan, its star rating is one thing to consider. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-star scale. One is the lowest ranking, whereas five stars represent the highest ranking. Plan star ratings are assigned based on member experience, customer service, plan performance, chronic conditions, and staying healthy. These star ratings are updated once per year.
There are also independent ratings available to give you more information when deciding on plans. J.D. Power examines the experiences of over 9,000 members from 10 states to understand which plans offer the best experience. The National Center for Quality Assurance (NCQA) uses a star system to rank plan quality.
The CMS star system, plus independent ratings, costs, and benefits, can help you find the best Medicare Advantage plan for you.
5 stars is the top ranking. It shows the plan excels in member experience, customer service, plan performance, chronic conditions, and staying healthy.
Kaiser Permanente, UnitedHealthcare/AARP, Humana, Blue Shield Blue Cross, and Aetna Medicare Advantage plans often rank highly.
Provider networks, premium costs, out-of-pocket maximums, additional benefits, and plan stability should also be considered when choosing a plan.
In 2025, there were seven 5-star Medicare Advantage plans. This is lower than the 38 in 2024, due to stricter evaluation from the CMS. Below we share information on highly-rated Medicare Advantage plans. Keep in mind that plan availability varies by county. To better understand the plans available to you, speak with one of our licensed advisors by calling 855-900-2427.
| Plan | CMS Rating | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Core II | 4.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $35 specialist co-pay, $3,400 in-network maximum. |
| Aetna Medicare Eagle Plus | 4.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-40 specialist co-pay, $6,750 in-network maximum. |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot | 4.0 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-50 specialist co-pay, $6,700 in-network maximum. |
| AARP Medicare Advantage | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $800 in-network maximum. |
| Humana Gold Plus | 3.5 | $0 doctor and specialist co-pay, $675 in-network maximum. |
| Plan | State | CMS Ranking | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Together Blue Medicare HMO Signature | Southwestern Pennsylvania | 5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $4,900 in-network maximum. |
| Leon MediExtra | Florida | 5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $1,00 in-network maximum. |
| Network Health Armor | Wisconsin | 5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $40 specialist co-pay, $4,900 in-network maximum. |
| Alignment Health Platinum | North Carolina, Nevada | 5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $3 specialist co-pay, $2,999 in-network maximum. |
| HealthSun Health Advantage Plus | Florida | 5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $3,450 in-network maximum. |
Can’t find your state? We have more detailed guides, including The Best Medicare Advantage Plans in New York and The Best Medicare Advantage Plans in New Jersey.
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| Plan | States | CMS Ranking | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCAN Classic | Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico | 4.5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $199 in-network maximum. |
| Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage | California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, District of Columbia | 4.5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $699 in-network maximum. |
| Aetna Medicare Eagle Plus | Nationwide | 4.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-40 specialist co-pay, $6,750 in-network maximum. |
| Alignment Health MyChoice | North Carolina, Nevada | 4.0 | $0 doctor copay, $498 in-network maximum. |
| Blue Shield Inspire | California | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $599 in-network maximum. |
Below is a breakdown of the top-rated Medicare Advantage providers based on their coverage and CMS’ rankings.
Kaiser Permanente has plans in eight states: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington. They also offer plans in DC. J.D. Power found that Kaiser Permanente ranked highest in satisfaction in California.
| Plan | CMS Ranking | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage | 4.5 | $0 doctor co-pay, $699 in-network maximum. |
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Liberty | 4.5 | $15 primary doctor co-pay, $40 specialist co-pay, $5,900 in-network maximum. |
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Value | 4.5 | $5 primary doctor co-pay, $0-40 specialist co-pay, $6,900 in-network maximum. |
| Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Standard | 4.5 | $5 primary doctor co-pay, $0-35 specialist co-pay, $6,900 in-network maximum. |
UnitedHealthcare is a nationwide provider of Medicare Advantage plans. According to J.D. Power, their plans rank highest for customer satisfaction in Florida, Georgia, and Illinois.
| Plan | CMS Ranking | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| AARP Medicare Advantage | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pays, $800 in-network maximum. |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot | 3.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-15 specialist co-pay, $4,900 in-network maximum. |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pays, $800 in-network maximum. |
Humana Medicare Advantage plans are offered nationwide. Humana’s plans generally rank high on NCQA’s scale, particularly on the ability to receive care and satisfaction with the plan’s doctors.
| Plan | CMS Rating | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Humana Gold Plus | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pays, $675 in-network maximum. |
| Humana Gold Plus Giveback | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pays, $25 specialist co-pays, $2,450 in-network maximum. |
| Humana USAA Honor Giveback | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pays, $4,999 in-network maximum. |
| HumanaChoice | 3.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $25 specialist co-pay, $3,850 in-network maximum. |
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers Medicare Advantage plans nationwide, including Puerto Rico. NCQA reports that Blue Cross Blue Shield does well on screening and preventative services, such as vaccinations.
| Plan | CMS Rating | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Shield Inspire | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pays, $599 in-network maximum. |
| Blue Shield 65 Plus | 3.5 | $0 doctor co-pays, $1,500 in-network maximum. |
| Blue Shield 65 Plus Plan 2 | 3.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-5 specialist co-pay, $2,100 in-network maximum. |
| Blue Shield AdvantageOptimum | 3.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-5 specialist co-pay, $2,900 in-network maximum. |
Aetna offers Medicare Advantage plans nationwide. NCQA ranks Aetna’s plans highly due to member satisfaction with doctors and plan services.
| Plan | CMS Rating | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Eagle Plus | 4.5 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-40 specialist co-pay, $6,750 in-network maximum. |
| Aetna Medicare Core | 45 | $0 primary doctor co-pay, $0-30 specialist co-pay, $4,500 in-network maximum. |
| Aetna Medicare Select | 3 | $0 doctor co-pays, $2,000 in-network maximum. |
When the CMS determines star ratings, it considers 5 factors. Here are some more details:
CMS determines what members think about the plan through interviews. According to a study by J.D. Power, member satisfaction is based mostly on members’ ability to get care, low out-of-pocket costs, and provider choice.
CMS evaluates how well the insurance company responds to customer complaints and requests for help. This includes how easy it is to get in touch with the plan and how quickly issues are resolved.
Plan performance examines how the plan has changed over time. For example, they might monitor if there is an increase in the number of complaints or if the performance has improved.
CMS checks how well the insurance plan helps people with chronic conditions. It does this by examining coverage for services, including tests and treatments. Diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis are some examples of chronic conditions that are considered.
Staying healthy involves preventative medicine. This includes screening tests, vaccinations, and preventative check-ups. A 5-star plan will make it easy for its members to access these preventative services.
While star ratings help determine quality, it shouldn’t be all that you consider, especially since there aren’t that many plans with the highest rating. First and foremost, you should ensure the plan you choose meets your specific health and budgetary needs.
Original Medicare doesn’t limit you to provider networks (you can see any doctor nationwide who accepts Medicare), but Medicare Advantage plans do. Because of this, you’ll want to consider the network size to determine which doctors and specialists are covered by your plan.
Out-of-pocket costs vary between Medicare Advantage plans. Knowing how much you’ll need to pay for doctor’s visits and treatments can help you budget and compare plans. Medicare Advantage plans also have yearly out-of-pocket spending limits. This means that once you reach this yearly limit, you’ll pay no more for covered services for the rest of the year.
Some Medicare Advantage plans may offer additional benefits. These can include over-the-counter spending cards or fitness benefits. Knowing if your plan offers these benefits can help you weigh costs and benefits.
Sometimes, premiums increase or plans halt service in specific areas. It’s important to be aware of your plan’s stability to help you plan ahead. That said, if your plan is no longer offered, you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. And, if your plan is no longer suitable for your needs, you can change Medicare Advantage plans during the annual Open Enrollment Period, which occurs every year from October 15th to December 7th.
Medicare.gov offers a tool to help you find the highest-rated plans in your area. You’ll input your zip code and will be presented with a list of plans in your area. You can filter these plans by benefits, insurance carrier, drug coverage, star rating, and special needs plan. If you’re using any prescription drugs, you can also input this information to compare coverage.
The tool allows you to compare plans and offers in-depth information on these plans. Information includes co-pay amounts, in-network maximum costs, and premiums.
Even with this tool, comparing plans, sorting through the long explanations of benefits, and understanding your estimated costs for the year can be challenging! Speaking with a Chapter Medicare Advisor, you can get help doing all of this and find the best plan for you, one that maximizes benefits and minimizes costs, in a one-hour call.
Medicare Advantage plans receive star ratings. These star ratings reflect member experience, customer service, plan performance, chronic conditions, and staying healthy. While a star rating can be helpful, it’s most important to consider your individual needs. You’ll want to think about plans’ provider networks, premiums and out-of-pocket costs, and additional benefits.
A Chapter Advisor can help you understand Medicare Advantage plan options so you can make a choice that’s best for you. Get in touch by calling us at (855) 900-2427 or scheduling a free consultation.
Medicare Advantage plans are rated using a star system. A five-star rating is the best, whereas one star is the worst. They are assessed on five key areas: member experience, customer service, plan performance, chronic conditions, and staying healthy.
The star rating of a Medicare Advantage plan can provide you with details about
Its performance. Also, think about network, premium costs, out-of-pocket maximums, additional benefits, and plan stability. These factors will help you find the best plan for your needs.