A Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan is a type of health insurance offered by private insurance companies that are bound by Medicare rules and provide Medicare Part A and B coverage and frequently Part D drug coverage as well. They often offer additional benefits such as routine hearing, vision, dental exams, and even fitness club memberships.
Plan availability varies by zip code and county. Discover the best Medicare Advantage Plans in Florida in 2024 and learn about their coverage, average costs, and ratings. In this article, we present our highest rated Medicare Advantage plans in Florida.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Florida in 2024: shortlist
- Humana – overall best Medicare Advantage Plan provider
- Aetna – provider focused on total health
- Cigna – cost-effective with robust benefit options
Best Medicare Advantage Plan in Florida: our top picks
These are our top three picks for the best Medicare Advantage Plans in Florida available in 2024. Our search included plans rated above average in the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Star ratings with broad service areas, and the best overall value for the member. However, you might value lower costs, greater access to care, or additional perks and benefits.
You are unique and so are Medicare Advantage Plans. Read more on these top picks and learn about other search tools to find the best fit for your unique health needs.
1. Humana - overall best Medicare Advantage Plan provider
-
Available in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, with variations based on plan types
-
May cover transportation, meal delivery service, and lifestyle expenses
-
Rated 4.3 out of 5 by CMS
Humana is noteworthy for its high quality and customer service ratings, large service area, and outstanding unique benefits. Some unique benefits include options such as Part B Premium giveback, SilverSneakers fitness memberships, and a spending allowance.
Humana has an extensive network of healthcare providers and has service plans that cover all 67 Florida counties. Humana provides a wide range of prescription drug coverage.
2. Aetna - provider focused on total health
-
Available in 49 states and Washington, DC, with variations based on plan types
-
Along dental, vision, and hearing coverage, it also offers lifestyle benefits
-
Rated 4.06 out of 5 by CMS
Aetna is known for its focus on total health, ER/urgent care coverage worldwide, and $0 monthly premium options. Some unique benefits offered by Aetna are Resources for Living, 24-Hour Nurse line, Prescription delivery, SilverSneakers fitness membership, OTC benefit, and Meals-at-home post hospitalization.
Aetna is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and scored 4 out of 5 for overall MA Plan quality.
3. Cigna - cost-effective with robust benefit options
-
Available in 26 states and Washington, DC, with variations based on plan types
-
Includes dental, hearing, vision, lifestyle, and transportation benefits
-
Rated 4.17 out of 5 by CMS
Cigna is a strong, cost-effective provider with outstanding benefit options. They offer incentives for wellness visits, 24/7 telehealth, and transportation to health facilities. Cigna offers a $0 annual drug deductible which is beneficial to members taking prescription medications.
Some additional benefits that Cigna offers include Healthy Rewards, Medication Management Therapy, Meal delivery, OTC and hearing aid allowances, and a fitness membership benefit.
Comparing the top 3 Medicare Advantage plans in Florida
This chart provides an at-a-glance view of the evaluation criteria utilized in our article. We reviewed MA Plan costs, availability, and quality and customer satisfaction ratings.
You can compare plans specific to your zip code on Medicare’s plan finding tool.
| Humana | Aetna | Cigna | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Premium | $0-$111 | $0 | $0-$22 |
| Average Monthly Premium | $55.31 | $0 | $18.62 |
| In-Network-Max-out-of-pocket | $500 – $7,550 | $1,500 – $6,700 | $1,450 – $4,900 |
| Average Annual Drug Deductible | $222.53 | $216 | $360 |
| Extra benefits | Part B premium giveback, Silver Sneakers, spending allowance | Fitness, dental, hearing, meal delivery, OTC allowance, Prescription home delivery | Healthy Rewards, Case Mgmt, Medication Therapy Mgmt, Pharmacy Network, 24/7 support |
| Number of Contracts Available | 547 | 145 | 80 |
| Number of Counties Serviced | 67 | 36 | 32 |
| Types of MA Plans | Local HMO and PPO; Regional PPO | Local HMO and PPO | Local HMO and PPO |
| Average CMS Rating | 3.89 | 3.7 | 4.04 |
| NCAQ | Accredited 4/5 | Accredited 4/5 | Not Accredited 3/5 |
| JD Powers (Overall Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking 2022) | 2nd | 6th | 8th |
How we ranked the best Florida Medicare Advantage plans?
To rank the best Florida Medicare Advantage Plans, we evaluated cost, availability, quality ratings, and customer satisfaction ratings.
- Cost. We utilized the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 2023 data to evaluate plan costs such as monthly premiums, annual prescription drug coverage, and in-network max-out-of-pocket limits.
- Availability. Service area for MA Plans are based on Florida county and zip code. We used CMS 2023 data to tally the number of providers and contracts provided per county.
- Quality Ratings. We used CMS Star Ratings from CMS.gov along with data from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Report Cards. The NCQA is a non-profit organization that is the leader in health care accreditation.
- Customer Satisfaction. We considered J.D. Powers' overall customer satisfaction index ranking from 2022 for each MA Plan. This J.D. Power analysis considered six factors: coverage and benefits; provider choice; cost; customer service; information and communication; and billing and payment.
Medicare Advantage in Florida: things to know
Medicare Advantage Plans provide everything covered by your Medicare Part A and Part B services as well as Part D and additional benefits, in most cases. You may select an MA plan regardless of your pre-existing health conditions. You might need to choose a new health provider if your health provider joins or leaves your MA plan which can happen at any time during the year. By using your in-network health services, you can save costs.
-
To compare Medicare plans available in your area, click Compare Plans or call 816-643-5223 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
MA Plan service area is based on your Florida county and zip code. Listed below are some 2023 averages about Medicare Advantage Plans in Florida.
- Average consolidated monthly premium of Florida MA Plans (excluding $0 premiums): $59
- Average Annual Drug Deductible of Florida MA Plans: $218.29
- Average In-Network max out-of-pocket amount: $4,695.14
- Average Overall Star Rating: 3.64
What providers offer Medicare Advantage plans in Florida
Various models of health insurance may be offered by Florida Medicare Advantage plans such as HMO, PPO, PFFS, MSA, and SNP. Best Medicare Advantage Plans article offers more information regarding these models of MA Plans. HMO and PPO plans are the most commonly offered.
These are the 29 providers that offer MA plans in Florida in 2023. They are listed alphabetically along with the number of contracts each provider offers:
- Aetna Medicare - 145
- Alignment - 4
- Ascension Complete – 32
- AVMed Medicare – 11
- BayCare Health Plans – 12
- Bright Health – 33
- Capital Health Plan – 21
- CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. – 85
- Cigna – 115
- Devoted Health – 91
- Doctors HealthCare Plans, Inc. - 4
- Florida Blue – 145
- Florida Blue HMO – 81
- Freedom Health, Inc. – 78
- Health First Health Plans, Inc. – 12
- HealthSun Health Plans, Inc. – 8
- Humana – 547
- Lasso Healthcare – 134
- Leon Health Plans – 2
- Molina Healthcare of Florida – 48
- Optimum HealthCare, Inc. – 24
- Oscar – 3
- Prominence Health Plan – 1
- Simply Healthcare – 41
- Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. – 28
- Solis Health Plans – 5
- Ultimate Health Plans – 21
- UnitedHealthcare/AARP – 288
- Wellcare - 245
5-star Medicare Advantage plans in Florida
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage on a Star Rating System based on five main categories comprising 38 quality measures. These ratings are reviewed annually and updated on CMS.gov. Each category is rated on a scale of 1–5 stars with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.
Nationwide, about 78% of MA Plan beneficiaries were enrolled in a plan rated 4 or more stars in 2023. MA Plans rated 4 or 5 are considered “excellent”.
The CMS Star rating categories include:
- Staying healthy (screenings, tests, and vaccines)
- Managing Chronic (Long Term) Conditions
- Member Experience with Health Plan
- Member complaints and changes in the health plan’s performance
- Health Plan Customer Service
The 2023 CMS 5-star Medicare Advantage providers and specific contracts in Florida are:
HealthSun Health Plans, Inc.
- HealthSun HealthAdvantage Plan (HMO)
- HealthSun HealthAdvantage Plus (HMO)
- HealthSun MediMax (HMO)
Optimum HealthCare, Inc.
- Optimum Gold Plan (HMO)
- Optimum Gold Plus Plan (HMO)
- Optimum Gold Rewards Plan (HMO)
- Optimum Platinum Plan (HMO)
UnitedHealthcare
- Erickson Advantage Freedom (HMO-POS)
- Erickson Advantage Liberty with Drugs (HMO-POS)
- Erickson Advantage Signature with Drugs (HMO-POS)
Medicare Advantage plans in Florida: comparing different counties
Florida contains 67 counties with more than 17 million residents. The chart below shows cost averages and the number of plans available for the four counties with the highest percentage of population aged 65 or older.
| Sumter County | Charlotte County | Sarasota County | Citrus County | |
| Percent of population aged 65+ | 57.8% | 40.1% | 36.7% | 36.4% |
| Number of MA Plan Carriers | 15 | 11 | 15 | 11 |
| Number of contracts | 53 | 42 | 49 | 36 |
| Average Max in-network-out-of-pocket | $4,230.43 | $5,161.43 | $4,785.53 | $4,676.92 |
| Average Annual drug deductible | $350.71 | $321.54 | $335.19 | $332.62 |
What are the eligibility requirements for a Medicare Advantage plan in Florida?
In order to be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan in Florida, you must be a Medicare beneficiary with Part A and Part B coverage, not enrolled in Medigap, and live within the service area of your chosen MA plan. You are not required to answer any health questions prior to enrollment except if you have end stage renal disease, and you cannot be denied coverage based on a pre-existing health condition. In order to be a Medicare beneficiary, you must:
- Qualify for Social Security (or Rail Road Retirement) benefits by having worked for at least 10 years while paying Medicare and Social Security taxes.
- Be at least 65 years old or have a qualifying disease or disability for earlier enrollment.
You may sign up for, switch, or drop an MA plan during set enrollment periods. These include:
- Initial Enrollment Period when you turn 65.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.
- Special Enrollment Period.
Choosing the best Medicare Advantage plan in Florida
When choosing the best MA Plan, consider these questions to help you obtain the coverage that’s right for you. If your needs change, you have the option to change MA plans or switch to Original Medicare at set times throughout the year.
- Plan Network. Are your doctors and specialists in-network?
- Cost. What will the plan cost? Consider the monthly premium, drug cost, deductibles, co-pays/coinsurance, and max out-of-pocket costs.
- Benefits. What are the additional perks and benefits?
- Medications. Are my prescription medications covered?
- Utilization. How often do you plan to use your benefits?
- Coverage area. Will you be traveling often?
Medicare.gov offers a plan comparison tool that many people find useful Medicare’s plan finding tool.
These two free Florida State programs also provide assistance in choosing the right health coverage:
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPS) are state programs that offer free local health insurance counseling to people with Medicare coverage. These programs are paid for with federal government money and are independent of any insurance company. Visit shiphelp.org or call 1-800-MEDICARE.
Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders (SHINE) is a free Florida program that offers specially trained counselors to assist in selecting the right healthcare coverage for you. SHINE is sponsored by Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs and the local Area Agencies on Aging.
Medicare Advantage plans in other states
Best Medicare Advantage plans in Georgia 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in Texas 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in South Carolina 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina 2024
Best MA plans in Missouri 2024
Best MA plans in Oregon in 2024
FAQ
What is the best Medicare Advantage plan in Florida?
The best overall Medicare Advantage plan in Florida is Humana considering availability, unique benefits, and quality ratings. However, the best MA Plan for you is going to depend upon your specific needs and where you live.
Who is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in Florida?
Humana is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in Florida with more than 547 plans offered. Humana has plans available in all 67 Florida counties.
What is the difference between a Medicare Advantage plan and Medicare?
Medicare Advantage Plan includes Part A and B, usually D and extra benefits, Must use in-network providers for non-emergency care, requires referral to a specialist, max-out-of-pocket cost and deductible Part B and MA Plan. While Original Medicare includes Part A and B, may use any provider in the U.S. that accepts Medicare, no yearly max-out-of-pocket cost and deductible Part B.
7 resources
- Medicare. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans.
- CMS. 2023 MA Landscape Source File.
- CMS. 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings.
- Medicare. Your Coverage Options.
- Humana. Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans.
- Cigna. Medicare Advantage Additional Benefits.
- J.D. Power. Press Release 2022 US Medicare Advantage Study.
Your email will not be published. All fields are required.