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Humana Medicare Review 2024: Is It Right for You?

Humana is one of the largest insurance carriers offering Medicare Advantage Plans (MA Plans) in 89% of all U.S. counties. Founded in 1961, it aims to elevate the human side of healthcare. Humana invests in philanthropy and public policy with the shared goal of “making a positive impact on the lives we touch and communities we serve.”

This year, Humana has expanded its co-branded MA plans with USAA and will also offer a Humana USAA Honor plan dedicated to complementing the VA veteran benefits.

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Is Humana good insurance?

Humana is a solid insurance company with an AM Best financial strength rating ranging from A to A-, meaning when it's time to pay claims, Humana is expected to have the funds. MA Plans are available in all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. In addition to this comprehensive coverage, Humana’s quality service shines, evidenced by 94% of its MA members enjoying plans rated four or higher on the CMS Star Rating Scale.

Humana is also highly rated by the J. D. Power 2024 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study. Humana services more than six million Medicare Advantage members.

Pros and cons of Humana Medicare plans

Humana Medicare Advantage plans offer unique benefits that fit almost any healthcare need and budget. Medicare highly rates Humana's MA plans, with a national average of 4 CMS Stars.

In addition to providing all services included with Medicare Parts A and B, Humana Medicare Advantage plans can include free transportation, meal delivery after a hospital stay, an over-the-counter allowance, the SilverSneakers fitness program, and plans dedicated to veterans. However, Humana's MA plans can be more costly than other MA plans, and its SNP plans are not available in all states.

Humana Medicare Advantage plan types: How does it work?

Humana contracts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide Medicare Part C, a consolidated option for receiving Medicare Part A and Part B. Many Part C plans, also known as Medicare Advantage, offer additional benefits such as hearing, vision, dental, and other unique benefits, such as those listed in the following section.

Within MA Plans, insurance carriers can adopt various insurance structures and payment models. Humana MA Plans offer PPO, HMO, SNP, and PFFS, which are described in more detail below.

PPO

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) allow maximum flexibility with coverage in exchange for higher monthly premiums. With a PPO, you can visit any healthcare provider that accepts Medicare, but you can maximize your cost savings by visiting in-network providers.

HMO

Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) offer coordinated care via a primary care physician (PCP) who would manage care and provide referrals to specialists. You can select any PCP within the Humana network of providers, and plan costs are generally lower. Humana has three HMO Plans: Gold Plus HMO, Gold Plus HMO-POS, and Gold Plus HMO SNP.

SNP

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for those with special health or financial needs requiring care coordination. Humana offers two SNP plans: chronic condition special needs and dual-eligible special needs. In partnership with Longevity Health Plan, Inc., Humana also offers institutional SNP plans (I-SNP).

PFFS

Private Fee for Service plans (PFFSs) are flexible plans that allow you to choose any Medicare-approved provider that accepts the plan’s terms. PFFS plans include global emergency coverage, most of which have prescription drug coverage.

Humana also offers Medicare Supplement, also known as Medigap, plans, stand-alone Part D prescription drug plans, and separate dental and vision coverage.

Unique benefits of Humana Medicare Advantage

By law, all Medicare Advantage plans provide standard Medicare services. Humana Medicare Advantage plans stand out with extra unique benefits that cater to seniors' needs. We list some of these outstanding resources below. Check with a Humana representative to see what is available in your area.

Part B premium reduction

Under some plans, Humana can cover a portion of your Part B Medicare Premium as a rebate, making coverage more affordable. Eligible seniors can expect an average of $50 to $75 back monthly. Speak with a Humana representative to find out if you qualify.

Humana well dine food program

Eligible Humana members can benefit from this program, which provides highly nutritious, ready-to-eat meals that last up to 14 days. The post-discharge meal program can deliver meals to qualifying seniors after an inpatient stay at a medical center or nursing facility. Dietician-approved recipes can support health needs and preferences such as lower sodium, renal-friendly, vegetarian, and pureed foods.

SilverSneakers fitness program

Humana offers a Medicare health and fitness program with some plans. This benefit provides free membership to over 16,000 local and national gyms and virtual on-demand classes.

Transportation benefits

Some Humana plans offer free roundtrip rides to medical appointments. These rides are arranged via a private transportation service local to your area.

Over-the-counter allowance

Qualifying Humana plan members can receive a monthly or quarterly OTC allowance benefit to purchase eligible over-the-counter items. They can buy eligible non-prescription products and health and wellness goods via OTC Mail Order or OTC Allowance.

Medication therapy management program (MTM)

Humana offers a medication therapy plan for Medicare-eligible individuals. A pharmacist or other healthcare provider will review all your medications one-on-one to ensure they are safe and answer any questions.

Cost of the Humana Medicare Advantage plans

To consider the cost of Humana Medicare Advantage plans, comparing plans on their website would be worthwhile. You can compare monthly premiums and deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket max costs. You will also want to include your medications if selecting an MA Plan with prescription coverage. The average prices for Humana MA Plans are as follows:

  • Monthly premium: $59.43 (includes Part C and Part D; excludes $0 premiums); for comparison, the average premium for all MA enrollees for the 2024 is $18/month
  • Annual drug deductible: $182.72
  • Out-of-pocket max: $5,512

Below are some sample Humana MA Plans with cost information currently available in Collin County, Texas.

Humana USAA Honor with Rx (PPO)Humana Gold Plus (HMO)HumanaChoice (PPO)
MonthlypPremium$0$0$0
Out-of-pocket max cost$6,900$3,400$5,900
Primary care visit$10 copay (in-network)$0 copay (in-network)$0 copay (in-network)
Part B givebackUp to $75NoneNone
TransportationNone60 trips to plan-approved locationsNone
Over-the-counter allowance$50 every 3 months$100 every 3 months$75 every 3 months

Humana reviews and ratings

Reputable third-party ratings objectively evaluate the strength, stability, and quality of a Medicare Advantage Plan. We chose these organizations that rate quality service and customer satisfaction.

CMS

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulate and evaluate all Medicare Advantage Plans. Plans are rated on a Star Scale of 1–5, with one being the worst and five being the best. They rate plans based on qualities like customer service, member experience, member complaints and changes in the health plan’s performance, managing chronic conditions, and initiatives to promote health.

Humana averaged 4.2 Stars nationwide.

NCQA

The National Committee for Quality Assurance is a standard for evaluating and measuring healthcare quality. They measure MA Plans on a scale of 1-5, with one being the worst and five being the best. Rating criteria include patient experience, treatment, prevention, and equity.

The average rating for Humana MA Plans in 2024 is 4 Stars, varying by location.

J. D. Power

A global trusted leader in data analytics, in 2023, J. D. Power ranked MA Plans in five major U.S. markets.

Humana MA plans rank 2nd in overall satisfaction in GA.

Humana MA Plans ranked 2nd in CA, 1st in FL, 3rd in NY, 6th in PA, and 3rd in TX.

Choosing the Right Humana Medicare Advantage Plan

It can be challenging to narrow your choices when selecting a Medicare Advantage Plan. According to KFF, most Medicare beneficiaries can access 43 different MA Plans from which to choose. Considering questions like those we list below can help you select a plan that fits your healthcare needs and budget.

  1. Utilization. How often do I plan on using medical services? Do I have consistent monthly needs, or do I anticipate only seeing the doctor once or twice a year?
  2. Provider network. Is my primary care physician in-network? What about my specialists, therapists, or preferred clinics?
  3. Prescription medications. Are my medications covered if I select a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription benefits? What tier are my commonly used medicines in?
  4. Overall cost. What will my overall cost be considering not only monthly premiums but also deductibles, copays/coinsurance, drug costs, and out-of-pocket max cost?

Verify whether your doctors are in-network. Check prescription drug coverage and tiers and compare premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Lastly, look for special benefits that match your needs, such as fitness, transportation, or prepared meals.

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