UnitedHealthcare offers nationwide coverage with happy customers and $0 copays
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans include coverage for dental, vision, and hearing care, in addition to an annual cap on out-of-pocket spending. In exchange (and unlike Original Medicare), you are generally required to utilize clinicians and services inside the network. However, because MA plans are administered by private insurance firms, pricing and benefits vary, making comparison shopping necessary.
During Medicare open enrollment, during Medicare Advantage open enrollment (if you already have an MA plan), or during your initial enrollment period, you can enroll or switch plans, so it’s vital to make an informed decision. We examined critical characteristics, such as quality of care, customer satisfaction, available features, pricing, Medicare donut hole coverage, and plan service areas, to select the top Medicare Advantage plans for 2025. In addition to vision, dental, and hearing treatment, the following providers also offer coverage for fitness programs, international emergencies, and telemedicine services.
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Best Medicare Advantage Plans
- Best Overall: AARP / UnitedHealthcare
- Best Overall, Runner up: Aetna
- High Medicare Star Ratings: Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Great for Nationwide Coverage: Humana
- Best for Customer Satisfaction: Kaiser Permanente
- Lowest Cost: Cigna
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BEST OVERALL
Pros & Cons
Pros
Available in most states and Washington D.C.
Largest national provider network
Provides supplementary drug coverage during the gap
UHC “HouseCalls”
$0 copays for your primary care physician, specialist, and lab tests
Cons
Customer satisfaction ranks one point below the market average
Why We Chose It
UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is the leading Medicare Advantage plan provider, holding 28% of the market in 2025. This may be due to UnitedHealthcare’s co-branded MA plans with AARP, which continue to receive high evaluations for plan quality and member satisfaction.
- The average Medicare star rating for UHC Medicare Advantage plans with medication coverage is 4.2, higher than the national average of 4.0.
- Additionally, UHC maintains a nearly 4-star average rating from the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA), the second-highest among the largest MA providers.
UHC provides HMO, PPO, and PFFS plan options, offering benefits such as vision, hearing, and dental coverage, non-emergency transportation, and worldwide emergency care.
UHC also sponsors its HouseCalls program, providing free annual in-home care visits. Furthermore, the majority of plans offer supplemental drug coverage during the Medicare donut hole, which can help reduce prescription costs after reaching $5,030 in 2025.
J.D. Power Medicare Advantage Survey: UHC ranked fourth among the top 10 providers for overall customer satisfaction, maintaining strong scores in key areas.
Out-of-Pocket Maximum: The average plan maximum for out-of-pocket spending in 2025 is $5,490, which is higher than some competitors but slightly below the national average for major insurers.
BEST OVERALL, RUNNER UP
Pros & Cons
Pros
Provides supplementary drug coverage during the gap
Cost-effective plans
Concierge assistance
Home health care visits are included in all Medicare Advantage plans.
$0 copays for PCP and specialists
Superior to average Medicare rating
Cons
MA plans unavailable in Alaska, Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, and Vermont
No PFFS MA plans
Why We Chose It
Aetna provides more plans with extra prescription coverage in the Medicare donut hole than any other national Medicare Advantage (MA) provider. This is significant because, in 2025, once you and your plan spend $5,030 on prescription drugs, you will pay up to 25% on brand-name and generic drugs until you spend $8,000 out of pocket and exit the donut hole. Some Aetna plans offer $0 copayments for generic medications during this period.
Aetna remains among the top 5% of the largest MA providers in terms of plan value. “Plan value” evaluates plan costs—such as monthly premiums, deductibles, and copayments—against plan benefits, including out-of-pocket maximums, extra perks, and Medicare/NCQA star ratings.
Certain Aetna plans provide $0 copayments for primary care physicians and specialists, and all plans include a concierge service to help members access home health care, pet care, and yard care services. However, if you reside in Alaska, Hawaii, Minnesota, Montana, or Vermont or if you choose a PFFS (private fee-for-service) plan, you will need to look elsewhere for coverage.
HIGH MEDICARE STAR RATINGS
Pros & Cons
Pros
National insurer with the highest median Medicare star rating
Most plans offer gap coverage for prescription drugs.
Highmark, a subsidiary of BCBS, fared favorably in terms of client satisfaction.
Excellent value for FL and TX members
Cons
Inaccessible in all states
No Medicare Advantage fee-for-service plans
Why We Chose It
The average Medicare star rating for Blue Cross Blue Shield’s MA plans with medication coverage is 4.27, significantly above the industry average of 3.97.4 According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), BCBS members have a better experience than members of other plans. In fact, BCBS MA plans with prescription drug coverage are the highest-rated in the country, with the exception of Kaiser Permanente, which is only available in eight states.
Based on an analysis of plans with the lowest out-of-pocket maximums in Florida and Texas, BCBS also delivers outstanding value to members in these areas.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and Highmark are included in the wide network of the company. Highmark offers a smaller coverage area (Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia), but was ranked third in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power.
GREAT FOR NATIONWIDE COVERAGE
Pros & Cons
Pros
Second-largest available plan width
J.D. Power ranks second for customer satisfaction.
Advantages of over-the-counter medications
A variety of plan kinds are available.
Cons
Few plans give gap coverage for extra medications.
Why We Chose It
Humana is the second-largest national provider of Medicare Advantage plans in 2025, accounting for 18% of the market. According to J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Medicare Advantage Survey, it also stands out as the second-best firm for customer satisfaction (behind Kaiser Permanente). Depending on your location, Humana offers HMO, PPO, and PFFS plans, as well as benefits such as an over-the-counter (OTC) prescription benefit.
Humana’s lower rating is due to the fact that fewer than one-third of its Medicare Advantage plans with drug coverage offer supplementary benefits during the coverage gap. In 2025, if you rely on prescription drugs costing more than $5,030, you may be responsible for 25% of the cost due to the coverage gap (donut hole).
Humana offers plans in every state except Alaska, Rhode Island, and Wyoming.
BEST FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Pros & Cons
Pros
Nationally highest average NCQA rating
Five-star rating for Medicare
First in J.D. Power’s Medicare Advantage Survey for the United States.
Averagely lowest deductibles compared to all other major providers.
Cons
Exclusively available in eight states including the District of Columbia.
Offers only HMO plans
No transportation advantages
Why We Chose It
Customers of Kaiser Permanente are extremely satisfied with their plans. Medicare awards all Kaiser Medicare Advantage plans five stars, the highest grade attainable. With an average NCQA rating of 4.75 stars out of 5, Kaiser Permanente remains the highest-rated Medicare Advantage provider, according to the National Council for Quality Assurance. The company also ranked first in the 2024 J.D. Power U.S. Medicare Advantage Survey, maintaining a 20-point lead over the runner-up (Humana).
Additionally, compared to other top competitors, Kaiser Permanente has the lowest drug deductibles in the nation for 2025, averaging $6.10. One reason the organization keeps member costs low is that it only offers HMO plans, requiring members to stay within the network for coverage. Unlike other providers, Kaiser does not cover transportation costs for medical appointments.
To be eligible for coverage, you must reside in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, or the District of Columbia.
LOWEST COST
Pros & Cons
Pros
The least expensive overall plans among the largest suppliers.
Lowest average rate in comparison to the largest insurers
Cons
Placed eighth in customer satisfaction.
No PFFS plans
Medicare’s coverage gap provides limited drug coverage.
Why We Chose It
Comparing premiums, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket expenditures among all plans provided by the largest Medicare Advantage (MA) providers in 2025, Cigna offers the most affordable Medicare Advantage plans with prescription medication coverage.
Cigna offers the lowest monthly average premium at $6.25 and the second-lowest monthly average prescription deductible at $52.10 (Kaiser Permanente has the lowest).
In 28 states, Cigna offers HMO and PPO plans with medication coverage.
Cigna’s average Medicare rating is 4.1, slightly higher than the national average of 4.0.
In the J.D. Power U.S. Medicare Advantage Survey, Cigna ranked seventh out of ten major insurers, still below the industry average but showing slight improvement from previous years.
Final Verdict
There are numerous providers of Medicare Advantage plans, making selection difficult. Start by determining what you require from a plan. Are you content with an HMO, or do you require more flexibility? UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Humana are some of the fewer providers to consider if you want a PFFS plan.
Do you favor a greater deductible in return for reduced upfront expenditures, such as a $0 premium? Consider Cigna, but be mindful of its low customer satisfaction scores. Or would you rather pay a larger monthly premium for greater coverage? Examine the AARP plans of UHC and Aetna.
Want a plan that includes drug coverage? If so, how much do you anticipate spending on prescription medications, and what medications do you use? Our Medicare plan finder lets you compare plans to see which provides the best coverage. You can also view which plans offer supplemental coverage during the Medicare coverage gap.
Bear in mind that each Medicare plan has its own star rating; we looked at the national company averages. Hence, even if you choose a top-rated business like UnitedHealthcare, ensure that the plan you’re interested in has a satisfactory rating.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Medicare Donut Hole or Coverage Gap?
The Medicare donut hole, or coverage gap, is a temporary limit on Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. In 2025, it begins when total drug costs (what you and your plan pay) reach $5,030. During this phase, you pay up to 25% of the cost of brand-name and generic drugs.
A major 2025 update eliminates catastrophic cost-sharing—once your out-of-pocket costs reach $2,000, Medicare will cover 100% of your covered prescription drug costs for the rest of the year.
Some Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra savings during the donut hole, so it’s important to review your plan benefits each year to minimize costs.
What Is the Highest-Rated Medicare Advantage Plan?
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have awarded all of Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare Advantage plans with medication coverage five stars (CMS). On a scale from one to five stars, the CMS ranks Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans, with five stars representing the highest or best grade. A plan’s star rating indicates its performance, as determined by the experiences of its enrollees.
What Is the Biggest Disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?
Having dedicated networks, such as HMOs or PPOs, is one of the most significant disadvantages of Medicare Advantage plans. Original Medicare does not impose network restrictions, allowing you to choose any Medicare-approved provider.
Can I Drop my Medicare Advantage Plan and Go Back to Original Medicare?
Sure, but only during one of the available enrollment periods. You can return to Original Medicare from October 15 to December 7 during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Your new coverage will become effective on 1 January. Alternately, you can change plans during Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment, which runs from January 1 to March 31. Your new coverage will begin on the first day of the month following your enrollment request.
Consider purchasing a Medicare supplement plan (Medigap) during open enrollment if you return to Original Medicare.
Methodology
Data Collection and Verification
Our data was gathered through independent rating agencies, official government websites and databases, and directly from businesses via their websites, media contacts, and existing partnerships. AM Best, the National Council for Quality Assurance (NCQA), J.D. Power, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are among our sources (CMS).
Ratings Methodology
We generated star ratings for the quality of each company’s different plan kinds. Considered by providers of Medicare Advantage programs were the following:
- Plan quality and customer satisfaction (30%): Ratings from CMS and NCQA were employed to evaluate these criteria. During open enrollment, each organization independently ranks the quality of Medicare plans on a scale from one to five to facilitate plan comparisons.
- Cost to value (20%): This is a measure of plan value based on plan premiums, deductibles, maximum out-of-pocket costs, whether supplementary Medicare gap medication coverage is offered, and star ratings.
- Additional coverage offered in the Medicare gap (15%): The coverage gap or “donut hole” refers to a period during which drug coverage is limited. During this period, members are liable for up to 25 percent of brand-name and generic medications. If your plan provides supplemental coverage during the gap, you may pay less for prescription drugs.
- State availability (15%): This metric represents the availability of plans in the United States.
- Additional plan benefits (10%): This measure addresses the availability of extra services, such as vision, dental, hearing, non-emergency transportation, international emergencies, gym memberships, and telemedicine.
- Types of plans available (5%): Via managed care organizations including HMOs and PPOs, insurance firms offer Medicare Advantage plans. This metric relates to the availability of managed care options.
- Special needs plans (5%): This metric indicates whether or not the company offers insurance for persons with specified diseases.
