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If you’re considering enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan (also known as Medicare Part C) in New York to meet your health insurance needs, you’re not alone.
According to recent Census data estimates, over 3.5 million people ages 65 and older live in New York, accounting for more than 18% of the state’s total population[1]. Considering that New York’s average life expectancy is nearly 78 years, maintaining health insurance coverage after retirement is crucial for both physical and financial well-being[2].
Identifying the best Medicare Advantage plan for your specific needs can be a daunting task. To assist your search, Forbes Health created a snapshot of the market specific to your location to help you better understand how many options you have, how extensive coverage in your area tends to be and how much you can expect to pay each month for a plan. We also created a downloadable checklist with the goal of streamlining your Medicare Advantage enrollment experience.
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Medicare Advantage Plans in New York
Since Medicare Advantage plan eligibility is largely dependent on where you live, we gathered data specific to an urban, suburban and rural location in New York to show how plan availability, monthly premium rates and in-network maximum out-of-pocket amounts can vary.
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Medicare Advantage Providers in New York
Twenty private health insurance providers offer Medicare Advantage plans in the state of New York, including:
- Aetna Medicare
- CDPHP Medicare Advantage
- Centers Plan for Healthy Living
- Cigna
- Elderplan
- EmblemHealth
- Empire BlueCross BlueShield
- Excellus Health Plan, Inc.
- Healthfirst Medicare Plan
- Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Humana
- Independent Health
- MediGold
- MetroPlus Health Plan
- MVP HEALTH CARE
- UnitedHealthcare
- VillageCareMAX
- VNS Health Medicare
- Wellcare
- Wellcare by Fidelis Care
Plan availability varies by ZIP code, so not all providers listed above offer Medicare Advantage plans in every county of New York.
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- Easy to distinguish between plan options with straight-forward information
- Plan options from Aetna, Anthem, BCBS, Cigna, Humana, and more
- Licensed, experienced and dedicated Medicare professionals are here to help you navigate your options
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Top-Rated Medicare Advantage Plans in New York
Every year CMS rates Medicare Advantage (Part C) and Part D prescription drug plans toreflect the experience of being enrolled in such coverage. The agency uses a scale of one to five stars, with one star representing poor performance and five stars representing excellent performance. The following plans available in the state of New York in 2024 earned five-star ratings from CMS.
- Devoted Health
- Independent Health’s Encompass 65 (HMO)
- Independent Health’s Encompass 65 Basic (HMO)
- Independent Health’s Encompass 65 Core (HMO)
- Independent Health’s Encompass 65 Edge (HMO)
- Independent Health’s Encompass 65 Element (HMO)
- Independent Health’s Medicare Passport Access (PPO)
- Independent Health’s Medicare Passport Advantage (PPO)
- Independent Health’s Medicare Passport Prime (PPO)
To determine which of these plans might be available in your area, enter your ZIP code in Medicare.gov’s plan finder tool. The tool also displays each plan’s rating from CMS.
Medicare Resources in New York
If you live in New York and are looking for additional information about Medicare plans available and assistance with selecting the best coverage for your health care needs and budget, here are a few resources to help you get started.
- New York Department of Financial Services: This department provides comprehensive Medicare information for New York residents on its website, as well as a variety of other health insurance resources.
- New York State Office for Aging Health Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP): More than 500 trained HIICAP counselors across the state are available to answer questions pertaining toMedicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medigap and other health and long-term care insurance issues. Counseling is also available through the toll-free HIICAP helpline. Call (800) 342-9871 to be directed to your local office.
- NYC Department for the Aging: If you live in New York City specifically and have questions about Medicare, you can join one of the department’s local orientation or training sessions, download additional resources and more.
While not exclusive to the state of New York, Medicare.gov and CMS’s website are two more useful tools for learning about the various components of Medicare coverage. You can also search for plans available in your ZIP code and compare options via Medicare.gov’s plan finder tool.
How to Pick the Best Medicare Advantage Plan in New York
With that snapshot of your state’s Medicare Advantage coverage in mind, it’s time to consider what’s involved in identifying the best plan for you, from in-network hospitals and providers to drug formularies and deductibles. For those approaching the age of 65, navigating another qualifying event or reviewing their plan options ahead of the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment period (which runs from January 1 to March 31 annually), we created the downloadable checklist below to help you simplify enrollment.
Your Medicare Advantage Plan Shopping Checklist (Text Version)
Medicare Advantage Plans By State
Confused About Medicare Advantage Insurance Options?
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On Medicare Enrollment's Website
HealthCompare Insurance Services does not offer every plan available in your area. Currently it represents 18 organizations, which offers 52,101 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
HealthCompare Insurance Services represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand-alone PDP prescription drug plans that are contracted with Medicare. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C?
Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) is a type of health insurance provided by private insurance companies to U.S. adults ages 65 and up, as well as younger individuals with certain disabilities and health conditions. The federal government pays a flat fee per enrollee to the insurance companies, which then provide the core benefits of Original Medicare, payment to care providers and oftentimes additional benefits.
Who can benefit most from Medicare Advantage coverage?
Any qualifying U.S. adult interested in convenient coverage options that are largely covered by a single insurer can benefit from a Medicare Advantage plan. People with chronic health conditions and specific coverage needs might also find bundled coverage under a Medicare Advantage plan to be more affordable than taking a piecemeal approach with Original Medicare and Medigap plans.
What insurance companies are the top providers of Medicare Advantage plans?
Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and Anthem are the top Medicare Advantage providers, according to a Forbes Health analysis of U.S. insurance companies that offer these types of plans nationwide. We evaluated each provider based on the number of states they provide coverage in, the variety of benefits they offer, how they’re ranked by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and how they’re ranked in terms of their financial health by agencies like A.M. Best and how agencies like J.D. Power rank them regarding consumer feedback.
