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 Georgia (GA) in 2024 and their coverage, average costs, and ratings. In this article, we rank the top-rated MA plans in Georgia.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Georgia in 2024: shortlist
- Humana – high quality and customer service ratings, largest service area, outstanding unique benefits.
- AARP – cost-effective, large service area, robust additional benefits.
- Aetna – $0 premiums, focus on total health, ER/urgent care coverage worldwide.
Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Georgia: our top picks
These are our top three picks for the best Medicare Advantage Plans in Georgia available in 2023. Our search included only plans rated above average on The Centers 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
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Available in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, with variations based on plan types
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May cover transportation, meal delivery service, and lifestyle expenses
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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 of the 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 that covers all 159 Georgia counties and 2,000 contract options available. Humana provides a wide range of prescription drug coverage.
2. AARP insured by UnitedHealthcare
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Available in all 50 states, with variations based on plan types
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Provides dental, vision, hearing, and lifestyle benefits
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Rated 5 out of 5 by CMS
AARP insured by UnitedHealthcare is a cost-effective, high quality plan that offers a large service area in Georgia and a robust option of additional benefits. AARP offers some plans that have $0 options for monthly premiums and annual drug deductible making it affordable for most people.
Some additional benefits offered by AARP are fitness, dental, and hearing. They also have eyewear allowance and 24/7 telephonic access to a nurse.
3. Aetna
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Available in 49 states and Washington, DC, with variations based on plan types
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Along dental, vision, and hearing coverage, it also offers lifestyle benefits
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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 of the 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 offers 817 contracts throughout 127 counties in Georgia. Aetna is accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance and scored 4 out of 5 for overall MA Plan quality.
Comparing the top 3 Medicare Advantage plans in Georgia
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.
| Humana | AARP | Aetna | |
| Average Monthly Premium | $54.54 | $0 or $32 | $30.75 |
| Average In-Network-Max-Out-of-Pocket | $6,814.02 | $6,767.60 | $7,024.91 |
| Average Annual Drug Deductible | $349.31 | $0 for HMO-POS or $395 for PPO | $299.90 |
| Extra Benefits | Part B premium giveback, SilverSneakers, spending allowance | Fitness, dental, hearing, eyewear allowance, national network of providers, 24/7 access to a nurse | Fitness, dental, hearing, meal delivery, OTC allowance, prescription home delivery |
| No. of Contracts available | 2,000 | 287 | 817 |
| No. of Counties Serviced | 159 | 152 | 127 |
| Average CMS ratings | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| NCQA | Accredited; 4/5 | Not Listed | Accredited 4/5 |
| J.D. Powers (Overall Customer Satisfaction Index Ranking 2022) | 2nd | Not ranked but parent company, UnitedHealthcare, ranked 4th | 6th |
You can compare Medicare Advantage plans in Georgia or any other location specific to your zip code on Medicare’s plan finding tool.
How we ranked the best Georgia Medicare Advantage plans?
To rank the best Georgia 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 Georgia 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 Georgia: 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 a 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 our MA plan which can happen at any time during the year. By using your in-network health services, you can save costs.
- MA Plan service area is based on your Georgia county and zip code.
- All Georgia residents have a $0 monthly premium Medicare Advantage plan option.
- Average consolidated monthly premium of Georgia MA Plans (excluding $0 premiums): $45.94.
- Average Annual Drug Deductible of Georgia MA Plans: $317.50 although all 13 carriers have $0 annual deductible option.
- Average In-Network max out-of-pocket amount: $6,575.76.
- Medicare mandates that the max OOP amount for MA Plans is $8,300 although most plans have lower amounts.
- Average Overall Star Rating: 3.6.
What providers offer Medicare Advantage plans in Georgia
Various models of health insurance may be offered by Medicare Advantage plans in Georgia such as HMO, PPO, PFFS, MSA, and SNP. To learn more about what each model of MA plans has to offer, read the Best Medicare Advantage Plans article for detailed explanations. HMO and PPO plans are the most commonly offered.
These are the 13 providers that offer MA plans in Georgia in 2024. They are listed alphabetically along with the number of contracts each provider offers:
- Aetna Medicare - 817
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield – 816
- BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee – 3
- Cigna – 197
- Clear Spring Health – 114
- Clover Health – 453
- Essence Healthcare – 20
- Humana – 2,000
- Kaiser Permanente - 66
- Lasso Healthcare - 318
- Sonder Health Plan, Inc. – 12
- UnitedHealthcare – 763
- Wellcare - 1,065
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 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 contract(s) in Georgia are:
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
- BlueAdvantage Sapphire (PPO)
Cigna
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
Kaiser Permanente
- Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Basic 1 (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Basic 2 (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Care Plus (HMO-POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Enhanced 1 (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Enhanced 2 (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage Liberty (HMO)
What are the eligibility requirements for a Medicare Advantage plan in Georgia?
In order to be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan in Georgia, 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.
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Get in touch with a licensed insurance agent for a consultation
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Discuss various plans to get the best Medicare coverage for you
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Receive plan comparisons online
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Offered plans come from Humana, Aetna, Cigna, BCBS, and many more
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 a 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 Georgia
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, copays/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 free Georgia State programs also provide assistance in choosing the right health coverage:
Georgia State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), previously GeorgiaCares, is a state program that offers 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 Georgia SHIP or call 1-866-552-4464.
The Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services provides counselors to assist in understanding insurance benefits. They also offer an array of programs for people aged 60+ focused on maintaining health and independence. Visit Georgia Division on Aging Services to find your local Area Agency on Aging.
Medicare Advantage plans in other states
Best Medicare Advantage plans in Florida 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in Texas 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in South Carolina 2024
Best MA plans in Missouri 2024
Best Medicare Advantage plans in 2024 in California
FAQ
How do I know which Medicare Advantage plan is best in Georgia?
We rated Humana as one of Georgia's best Medicare Advantage plans considering quality, customer satisfaction, and service area. However, the best Medicare Advantage plan for you is going to be the one best suited to your needs. Speak with a specially trained Georgia counselor from SHIP or the Area Agency on Aging to find individualized assistance.
Does Georgia have Medicare Advantage plans?
Yes, Georgia has 81 Medicare Advantage plans available in 2023 provided by 13 insurance companies through 6,645 contracts. Every Medicare-eligible Georgian resident has access to a $0 monthly premium MA Plan.
Does Kaiser offer MediGap or Medicare Advantage plans?
Kaiser offers 67 Medicare Advantage plan contracts in 18 Georgia counties in 2023. All plans are HMO contracts. Kaiser is rated 5 Stars by CMS in 2023. Kaiser does not currently offer MediGap.
9 resources
- Medicare. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans
- Medicare. Your Coverage Options
- CMS. 2023 MA Landscape Source File.
- CMS. 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings.
- Humana. Humana Medicare Advantage Plans.
- AARP. AARP Medicare Advantage Plans.
- Aetna. Aetna Medicare Solutions.
- J.D. Power. 2022 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study.
- National Committee for Quality Assurance. NCQA Health Plan Report Cards.
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