Humana Medicare Advantage 2024: Pros, Cons, Costs, Benefits

Humana is a widely available Medicare Advantage provider in the U.S., with a selection of highly rated plans.

Jul 1, 2024 Written by Kate Ashford, CSA® Lead Writer

Kate Ashford, CSA®
Lead Writer | Medicare, retirement, personal finance

Kate Ashford is a writer and NerdWallet authority on Medicare. She is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and has more than 20 years of experience writing about personal finance. Previously, she was a freelance writer for both consumer and business publications, and her work has been published by the BBC, Forbes, Money, AARP, LearnVest and Parents, among others. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Kate has appeared as a Medicare expert on the PennyWise podcast by Lee Enterprises, and she's been quoted in national publications including Healthline, Real Simple and SingleCare. She is based in New York.

Assigning Editor

Holly Carey
Assigning Editor | Medicare

Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

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Humana Medicare Advantage

Humana

CMS Star Rating

Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

Humana plans are widely available, highly rated by CMS and score well for member satisfaction. Humana also offers $0-premium plans in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

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Pros & Cons

49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico

Members in high-rated plans

Percentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.

High (90% or more)

The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.

4.04 (Above average)

49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico

Members in high-rated plans

Percentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.

High (90% or more)

The average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.

4.04 (Above average)

Humana Medicare Advantage plans are available to most people in the U.S., and Humana is the second-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans [0]

KFF . Medicare Advantage in 2023: Enrollment Update and Key Trends. Accessed Jun 28, 2024.

. The vast majority of its Medicare Advantage customers are in high-quality contracts rated 4 stars or higher by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the company offers some nice perks with many plans.

Although most of Humana’s Medicare beneficiaries are in high-rated contracts, there are a few contracts with lower scores, so it’s worth doing your research before you sign on.

Here’s what you should know about Humana Medicare Advantage.

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Humana Medicare Advantage pros and cons

Humana’s offerings have advantages and disadvantages:

Plans are widely available: With plans available in 94% of U.S. counties, Humana is an option for most Americans.

Plans are highly rated: Humana has 25 contracts rated 4 stars or higher (out of 5) for 2024.

Members are happy: Humana scores above industry average in customer satisfaction in several major Medicare markets, according to J.D. Power's latest study.

Humana has veteran-focused plans: Humana USAA Honor plans are designed to work with veteran benefits to provide a complete package of health care for those who served.

Third-party reviews are mixed: Although Humana's member experience numbers are high, the National Committee for Quality Assurance gives several Humana plans a 3 or below out of 5 on its ratings scale.

Special needs plans aren't available everywhere: Humana's SNPs are available in 38 U.S. states and Puerto Rico.

What is the star rating for Humana Medicare Advantage?

Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.35

Humana Medicare Advantage plans are rated above the industry average, receiving an average rating of 4.35 stars out of 5 from CMS for 2024, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 4.04 [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . Fact Sheet - 2024 Medicare Advantage and Part D Star Ratings. Accessed Jun 28, 2024.

It’s also worth noting that 94% of Humana's Medicare Advantage members who are in rated contracts are in contracts with 4 stars or more as of March 2024. Four Humana contracts in 2024 received 5 stars.

CMS maintains its own database of star ratings on every Medicare Advantage and separate Medicare Part D plan, ranging from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.

All Medicare Advantage plans are evaluated on health plan measures, and Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage are also evaluated on drug plan measures.

You can find a plan's rating with the Medicare plan finding tool.

Still deciding on the right carrier? Compare Medicare Advantage plans

What does Humana Medicare Advantage cost?

About 6 out of 10 (63%) of Humana’s Medicare Advantage plans in 2024 have a $0 monthly premium [0]

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . CY2024_Landscape_Files_Final_20240314 (ZIP). Accessed Jun 28, 2024.

. You'll also be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is at least $174.70 per month in 2024 .

(Most people pay this standard Part B amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you'll pay more. Some Medicare Advantage plans cover part or all of your Part B premium.)

Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:

Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium. The plan's deductibles.

Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.

The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.

Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.

Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.

Here are examples of Humana Medicare Advantage costs for the most popular plans in a mid-range city:

Humana Medicare Advantage plan

Monthly premium: $0.

Out-of-pocket max: $3,600.

Primary care: $0. Specialist: $30. Tier 1 prescription drugs: $0.

Humana Gold Plus (HMO-POS)

Monthly premium: $0.

Out-of-pocket max: $3,000.

Primary care: $0. Specialist: $20. Tier 1 prescription drugs: $0.

Humana USAA Honor (PPO)

Monthly premium: $0.

Out-of-pocket max: $4,500.

Primary care: $0. Specialist: $35. Tier 1 prescription drugs: N/A.

Selected plans are available in ZIP code 66013.

To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Humana plans, or compare across carriers.

Humana Medicare Advantage plan types

Humana offers several kinds of Medicare Advantage plans, and they vary in structure, costs and available benefits. Many plans offer dental and vision benefits, worldwide emergency care, and fitness benefits through SilverSneakers.

In general, Humana offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans, or MAPDs, as well as stand-alone prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage. And Humana and USAA have partnered to offer the Humana USAA Honor with Rx plan, another plan in the Humana Honor family, which is aimed toward U.S. military veterans.

Other plan offerings include the following types:

A Medicare health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.

HMO-POS plans

HMO point-of-service plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but you’ll pay more for those services.

Medicare preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.

PFFS plans

Humana’s private fee-for-service (PFFS) plans allow you to see any Medicare-approved provider who accepts your Humana plan. You won’t have to pick a primary doctor, and you won’t need a referral to see a specialist.

Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. Humana offers two types of SNPs:

Chronic Condition SNP: For people with one or more conditions such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders, chronic heart failure or chronic lung disorders.

Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.

Humana Medicare Advantage

Humana

CMS Star Rating

Average Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

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We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.

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Third-party ratings

There are a few companies that weigh in on health plans or on the strength of the company in question, and we’ve included three here:

AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A (Excellent) for most

AM Best is a credit rating agency that specializes in the insurance industry. In September 2023, AM Best upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) for Humana Health Group.

AM Best also affirmed an FSR of B++ (Good) for Humana Insurance of Puerto Rico Inc. and Humana Health Plans of Puerto Rico Inc., which are Humana subsidiaries [0]

An A rating in this category indicates that AM Best believes Humana has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations. (The two subsidiaries with a B++ rating are deemed to have a “good” ability to meet ongoing insurance obligations.)

J.D. Power Ranking

In its 2023 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study — the ninth it's done so far — J.D. Power measured member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans based on eight factors ranging from level of trust to how well a provider resolves problems or complaints. The study was fielded in the five biggest Medicare markets, and here’s how Humana ranked out of all major providers [0]

California: 2nd out of 7. Florida: 1st out of 6. New York: 3rd out of 8. Pennsylvania : 6th out of 7. Texas: 3rd out of 6.

NCQA Score Range: 2.5 to 4.0 out of 5

The National Committee for Quality Assurance rates health insurance plans on a 5-point scale (with 5 being best) based on quality of care, patient satisfaction and health plans’ efforts to keep improving.

In its September 2023 ratings of Humana plans, the NCQA awarded ratings between 2.5 and 4.0 stars. About 15% of the rated plans received a 4.0, and the rest received a 3.5 or lower. Three plans received a 2.5 rating: Humana Health Plan of California, Humana Insurance Company in Oklahoma and Humana Medical Plan of Michigan [0]

NCQA . Health Plans. Accessed Jun 28, 2024.

Humana Medicare Advantage service area

Humana offers Medicare Advantage plans in 49 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and Medicare prescription drug plans in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Humana Medicare Advantage plans are available in 94% of U.S. counties.

For the 2024 plan year, Humana expanded its HMO offerings into 140 new counties and introduced local PPO plans in 80 new counties. The company also expanded D-SNPs into 116 new counties.

Humana is the second-largest for-profit Medicare Advantage provider, adding 412,000 new Medicare Advantage members for the 2024 plan year, according to health care analytics firm The Chartis Group [0]

. More than 5.9 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan.

About Humana

Humana is a health insurance company headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. Its insurance offerings include Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare prescription drug plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance, Medicaid coverage and dental and vision plans. In February 2023, Humana announced that it would no longer offer employer-based health plans.

Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other Humana Medicare offerings:

Are Medicare and Humana Medicare Advantage the same?

Original Medicare is federal government-provided health insurance for people 65 and older and those under 65 with certain conditions or disabilities. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Original Medicare, provided by private insurance companies like Humana, that provides the same coverage as Original Medicare, and usually prescription drug coverage.

Frequently asked questions Is Humana Gold Plus a Medicare Advantage plan?

Yes, Humana Gold Plus is an HMO Medicare Advantage plan offered in nearly all states that Humana operates in. Because it’s a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan, you’ll need to choose a primary care physician within the Humana network who can provide referrals to see specialists.

Is HumanaChoice PPO a Medicare Advantage plan?

Yes, HumanaChoice PPO is a Medicare Advantage plan offered in every state Humana operates in. Because it’s a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan, you can see any Medicare-approved medical provider who accepts the plan, although you’ll typically pay more if they’re not in Humana’s network.

Is Humana Gold Plus a Medicare Advantage plan?

Yes, Humana Gold Plus is an HMO Medicare Advantage plan offered in nearly all states that Humana operates in. Because it’s a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan, you’ll need to choose a primary care physician within the Humana network who can provide referrals to see specialists.

Is HumanaChoice PPO a Medicare Advantage plan?

Yes, HumanaChoice PPO is a Medicare Advantage plan offered in every state Humana operates in. Because it’s a preferred provider organization (PPO) plan, you can see any Medicare-approved medical provider who accepts the plan, although you’ll typically pay more if they’re not in Humana’s network.

Compare Medicare Advantage providers

Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.

Find the right Medicare Advantage plan

It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself . Here are some questions to consider asking:

What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?

Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.

Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?

Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?

Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?

If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).

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Kate Ashford is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and personal finance writer at NerdWallet specializing in Medicare and retirement topics. See full bio.

Medicare Advantage review methodology

The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.

NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.

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