Medicare Advantage plans make up a massive portion of coverage chosen by Colorado Medicare beneficiaries. Over 400,000 Coloradans on Medicare elect to enroll in Medicare Part C. In Denver, over 50% of Medicare-eligible people are on Medicare Advantage.
How Medicare Advantage plans work in Colorado
Medicare Advantage plans are also called Medicare Part C. Essentially, they take over from Medicare and administer your Medicare benefits.
These plans are required to have coverage at least as good as Original Medicare. Often, these plans include drug coverage and additional benefits that Medicare doesn’t offer.
They are administered by private companies such as Humana or Wellcare, which are in charge of your health care. These network-based plans are affordable all-in-one options and usually cost less than other supplemental options.
Since private healthcare companies control them, the benefits can vary significantly. Reviewing the benefits thoroughly to ensure you enroll in the best plan is essential.
Most of Colorado is rural, limiting the number of Medicare Advantage options available statewide. In the more populated counties, many Medicare Advantage options are available. In Boulder, for example, there are 34 plan options available.
Medicare Advantage plans offered in Colorado
Unlike Medicare Supplements and Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans aren’t standardized. The plan’s benefits and copays can vary depending on your chosen company and area.
The information in the charts below is based on one zip code in Colorado, and not all options shown are available in all areas of the State. The coverage could be different depending on the zip code.
Below we will show you the Colorado Medicare Advantage options with a zero-dollar premium. After that, we’ll go over plans with a zero-dollar drug deductible. Next, we’ll talk about plans that have 5-star ratings and plans that will reduce how much you pay for your Medicare Part B premium.
Finally, we’ll discuss some common additional benefits of Medicare Part C plans and how to enroll in a Colorado Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage plans with a zero-dollar premium in Colorado
Zero-dollar premiums are common with Medicare Advantage plans. It’s important to remember that everything is give and take. If you have a plan with a zero premium, the copays and costs when using the plan could be a little higher.
Humana is one of the most common names in Medicare Part C. They have plans in nearly every city nationwide. They’re one of the leaders of zero-premium plans in the nation.
is another huge name when it comes to Medicare. They’re backed by and one of the largest Medicare insurers in the country.
CVS owns Aetna. They are one of the most well-known insurers in Medicare. With CVS as their parent company, they have plenty of financial backing and insight from the pharmacy networks.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | PLAN TYPE | STAR RATINGS |
| Humana | $0 | $4,400 | LOCAL PPO | 4 |
| $0 | $4,900 | HMO | 4 | |
| Aetna | $0 | $4,900 | HMO-POS | 3 |
| Bright Health | $0 | $3,500 | HMO | 3 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $0 | $4,200 | HMO | 5 |
Medicare Advantage plans with a zero-dollar drug deductible in Colorado
When it comes to drug deductibles come in all shapes and sizes. Some plans have them, and some don’t. Others even have deductibles that only apply to certain drug tiers.
Unsurprisingly, the top three are Humana, , and Aetna. They have some of the most significant market shares of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in their plans nationwide.
Bright Health is a smaller Medicare Advantage company, and they are relatively new. But they have some solid plans in Colorado.
Kaiser is a well-known company. They focus more on group healthcare but have Medicare Advantage plans in certain states. They have a very tight network.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | PLAN TYPE | STAR RATINGS |
| Humana | $0 | $4,900 | HMO | 4 |
| $0 | $4,400 | HMO | 4 | |
| Aetna | $0 | $4,900 | HMO-POS | 3 |
| Bright Health | $0 | $3,500 | HMO | 3 |
| Kaiser Permanente | $0 | $4,200 | HMO | 5 |
Plans with a 5-star rating in Colorado
Star ratings determine how strong a particular plan is. If you have a 5-star rated plan in your area, you can move to that plan outside the regular enrollment periods. They have a Special Enrollment Period from December 8 to October 14 annually.
Kaiser is the only company with a 5-star rating in this zip code.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | PLAN TYPE | STAR RATINGS |
| Kaiser Permanente | $0 | $4,200 | HMO | 5 |
Plans with a Part B reduction in Colorado
As mentioned before, Medicare Advantage plans vary depending on the zip code. Plans that reduce your Medicare Part B premium are called giveback plans.
They work by lowering the amount deducted from your Social Security by an amount outlined by your chosen plan. The amount is not standard between plans, so it will also vary.
Bright Health has a 3-star rated giveback plan. Their plan gives the most back in the area shown.
Aetna gives the second-highest giveback in this area. Their plan gives back $55 a month but has the highest maximum out-of-pocket.
and Humana have givebacks that reduce your monthly Medicare Part B cost by $50. plan has the lowest maximum out-of-pocket in this area at only $3400.
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | PART B REDUCTION | STAR RATINGS |
| Humana | $0 | $4,400 | $50.00 | 4 |
| $0 | $3,400 | $50.00 | 4 | |
| Aetna | $0 | $5,000 | $55.00 | 3 |
| Bright Health | $0 | $5,400 | $75.00 | 3 |
| Cigna | $0 | $5,900 | $30.00 | 3 |
Ancillary/DVH
One of the largest benefits of a Medicare Advantage is the additional available benefits that Medicare doesn’t cover. Many Medicare Part C plans include dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
In addition, some have gym memberships, over-the-counter allowances, food allowances, and some even help with utilities. These benefits will vary, so review the plan benefits if you’re looking for a particular benefit.
Colorado cities with supplemental Medicare estimated premiums
Supplemental Medicare has different projected premiums that depend on many factors. The following is for the most populated areas in Colorado so you can compare:
FAQs
Does Medicare have a Medicare Advantage plan?
Yes! Colorado has Medicare Part C plans but is a very rural state. Medicare Advantage plans aren’t available in all areas.
Is Humana Medicare available in Colorado?
Humana offers both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans in Colorado. Plan offerings and pricing can be different depending on where you live. Contact a licensed broker to review the options in your area.
Is Medicare free in Colorado?
Most people will receive Medicare Part A without a premium. Medicare Part B will require a premium for most people. There are programs for low-income beneficiaries to pay for their part B premium. In addition, some Medicare Advantage plans can lower your Part B premium,
How to get help enrolling in a Colorado Advantage plan
We understand that Medicare can be a little confusing. Fortunately, we’re here to help. We have licensed brokers that are experts in all things Medicare.
Not only can we help you with your enrollment process. We’ll also educate you on all of your options. Go through your needs and wants. We work for you.
We aim to help ensure you have the best plan for your needs. We’re only one call away; you can fill out our online request form.
