There are 43,920 enrollees in Part A and Part B Medicare in Waterloo, Iowa. Of them, 34.9% benefit from a Medicare Advantage plan, while 65% signed up with only Original Medicare.
Several Medicare Advantage plans are available in Waterloo, and a few other options to add to your baseline Medicare.
Medicare plans in Waterloo, Iowa
There are three primary forms of supplemental Medicare in Waterloo, Iowa: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and Medigap plans. Each of them and the less common Medicare Special Needs Plans give enrollees unique insurance benefits they don’t receive with standard Medicare in Iowa.
We’ll examine each Supplemental Medicare option in closer detail below while comparing average prices for the average 70-year-old male in Waterloo.
Medicare Advantage plans
There are roughly 15,300 Medicare Advantage enrollees in Waterloo, IA. Those 15,000+ beneficiaries have a few options to choose from, as Black Hawk County, the area Waterloo calls home, has 19 Medicare Advantage options in Iowa from several providers.
Aetna is one of Waterloo’s most well-known providers. It offers an HMO-POS Medicare Advantage package with a $0 premium and a maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) pay rate of $6,700. Medicare gave this Local PPO plan a 4-star rating.
Health Partners’ Medicare Advantage plan is among the highest regarded in Waterloo. It also offers a $0 premium but a much lower MOOP at $3,900 and a perfect five-star rating, a metric that grades a plan’s effectiveness on a one-to-five scale. It has no limit on covering pre-existing conditions.
Wellmark offers the most affordable Medicare Advantage plan in Waterloo. On top of a $0 premium, their MOOP rate is only $3,600. However, this HMO plan does not qualify for a star rating.
The average cost of Medicare Advantage plans in Waterloo, Iowa
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Star Rating |
| Aetna | $0 | $6,700 | HMO-POS | 4 |
| Wellmark | $0 | $3,600 | HMO | N/A |
| HealthPartners | $0 | $3,900 | LOCAL PPO | 5 |
| $0 | $3,900 | LOCAL PPO | 4 | |
| Humana | $0 | $3,850 | HMO | 4 |
Medicare Supplement plans
Medicare Supplement plans, or Medigap plans, are additional Medicare in Waterloo, Iowa, providing unique insurance benefits. There are ten Iowa Medigap plans, each with individual coverage perks. Since the federal government standardizes Medigap coverage, the coverage range will be the same regardless of your insurance provider.
Plan F is the most common Medigap plan in Waterloo and the country. It offers the most coverage but also costs the most on average. Specifically, you’ll pay anywhere from $122.62 to $413.12 in premiums, depending on where you enroll.
Plan N is another popular option for its cost-effectiveness. Enrollees don’t receive as much coverage as Plan F beneficiaries, but premiums for the former cost as little as $78.52. This plan strikes a good balance between a reduced deductible and less excessive premiums.
Plan G is a middle-ground between Plans F and N. It costs less than Plan F and provides more coverage than Plan N; the average premium costs range from $103.75 to $386.35.
The average cost of Medicare Supplement plans in Waterloo, Iowa
| LETTER PLAN | LOWEST PREMIUM | HIGHEST PREMIUM |
| PLAN A | $92.07 | $336.24 |
| PLAN B | $113.54 | $335.12 |
| PLAN C | $130.90 | $411.62 |
| PLAN D | $102.84 | $241.94 |
| PLAN F | $122.62 | $413.12 |
| PLAN HDF | $32.00 | $122.90 |
| PLAN G | $103.75 | $386.35 |
| PLAN HDG | $32.00 | $85.80 |
| PLAN K | $47.86 | $120.62 |
| PLAN L | $64.33 | $252.62 |
| PLAN M | $93.08 | $242.78 |
| PLAN N | $78.52 | $290.87 |
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
Medicare Part D in Iowa is a unique, stand-alone option for supplemental Medicare in Waterloo, Iowa, that covers prescription medications. Many Part A and Part B enrollees sign up for Part D because most Medicare Advantage plans don’t cover prescriptions, and Part B only ensures a handful.
With a $6.80 monthly premium, Aetna’s Part D plan is one of the most affordable in Waterloo. It has a three-star rating. If your income is over a certain amount, extra charges may exist.
plan has a higher $29.30 premium but is one of only a few options with a deductible as low as $310. It does offer $0 copays on most Tier 1 drugs. Higher tiers will only cost the beneficiary up to 45% of the total cost.
Humana offers Waterloo residents a plan with a $22.70 premium and a $480 deductible. It provides access to many common pharmacies around the state of Iowa, and the program has a four-star rating.
The average cost of Medicare Part D plans in Waterloo, Iowa
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING |
| Aetna | $6.80 | $480 | 3 |
| Wellcare | $10.60 | $480 | 3 |
| Clear Spring | $16.60 | $480 | 2 |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 |
| $29.30 | $310 | 4 |
Special Needs plans
For Waterloo, Iowa, Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNP) are a subset of Medicare Advantage available for enrollees with specialized medical needs. However, not all providers offer SNPs, and aren’t available in all areas.
Humana’s SNP is the only Local PPO option with a $0 premium. It also has a comparatively low MOOP at $3,400. It has dual eligibility, which means it’s open to anyone who qualifies for Medicare and Medicaid.
United Health Care has another Local PPO Special Needs Plan. Its premium is higher than Humana’s at $38.30. However, it has a budget-friendly $1,800 MOOP.
Amerigroup Iowa also has a $0 premium plan. It’s an HMO option with dual eligibility and a $7,550 MOOP rate. It offers additional benefits such as meals and free rides to care facilities.
The average cost of Medicare Special Needs plans in Waterloo, Iowa
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Eligibility |
| Humana | $0 | $3,450 | LOCAL PPO | Dual |
| Amerigroup Iowa | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| Aetna | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| $38.90 | $1,800 | LOCAL PPO | Institutional |
How to sign up for Medicare plans in Waterloo
Waterloo, Iowa, has many supplemental Medicare plan providers, but which one is right for you? We can help you compare every provider and find the best rates and coverage for your needs.
Our team of licensed insurance agents is here to provide you with the information and resources you need to make an informed decision about your health care.
Get started today by calling our team or completing our online rate form to be connected with the best rates in Waterloo, Iowa.
