Best Cheap Medicare Advantage Plans in North Carolina (2024)
Cigna has the best cheap Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina.
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But Humana's plans are best overall. The cheapest companies in the state are Alignment Health Plan, Experience Health and Troy Medicare, which only offer $0 plans.
How we chose these Medicare plans: Recommendations for North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans are based on both average cost and insurance company quality. Plans were only considered if they include prescription drug coverage. When there was a tie, plan benefits such as deductibles were used to differentiate.
Compare North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans
In North Carolina, it costs an average of $16 per month for a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage.
That's 41% cheaper than the nationwide average of $27 per month. Plus, most residents have access to $0 Medicare Advantage plans. This means you have options for cheap coverage where there is no additional cost on top of the standardized rate for Medicare Part B.
In North Carolina, Humana and Cigna are the best-rated companies that operate statewide. These customers are satisfied with their coverage, and the companies have good customer service.
Wellcare has the worst-rated Medicare Advantage plans with widespread availability in North Carolina.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rates Medicare Advantage plans on a scale from one to five with five-star plans being rated as "excellent." Star ratings measure plan quality by looking at factors such as customer satisfaction and access to care.
North Carolina Medicare Advantage companies
Monthly cost | Star rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Alignment | $0 | 4.5 |
| Experience Health | $0 | 4.5 |
| Troy | $0 | 2.5 |
| Aetna | $3 | 4.0 |
| Cigna | $6 | 4.1 |
Average cost is based on Medicare Advantage plans offered in North Carolina, while star ratings represent the national average for each company.
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Best overall Medicare Advantage plans: Humana
Humana has the highest quality Medicare Advantage plans that are also widely available in North Carolina.
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Star rating
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Monthly rate
$27 ?
Why it's great
Humana has the highest quality plans that are also available in most of North Carolina.
Humana offers a widely available five-star plan, listed as H1036 233. On average, Humana's plans are more expensive than the statewide average in North Carolina. However, Humana offers a large number of $0 plans, which may appeal to budget-conscious shoppers.
Humana gets 36% fewer complaints than the average insurance company of a similar size.
Humana is one of only two Medicare Advantage companies to offer five-star rated plans. Only 3% of all Medicare Advantage plans have a five-star rating for 2024. While UnitedHealthcare also offers two five-star rated plans, they're available in only a small part of the state.
Medicare Advantage customers have generally rated Humana as above average when it comes to customer satisfaction, according to a recent J.D. Power survey.
With Humana, you can choose from a range of HMO and PPO plans. HMO plans cost less but restrict you to a network of doctors. PPOs let you go outside your network, but they typically cost more.
Many Humana Medicare Advantage plans come with extra benefits like vision, dental, SilverSneakers and other wellness programs.
Consider how much it would cost to pay for these services separately when shopping for Medicare Advantage plans.
Best cheap Medicare Advantage: Cigna
Cigna offers the cheapest high-quality plans in North Carolina that are also widespread.
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Star rating
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Monthly rate
$6 ?
Why it's great Cigna's plans cost just $6 on average and have high customer satisfaction levels.
With Cigna, you'll save money both on your monthly rate and on your out-of-pocket costs, like your deductible, copay and coinsurance.
The average cost of a Cigna Medicare Advantage plan is just $6. That's roughly 63% cheaper than the state average. In addition, its average out-of-pocket maximum is 16% below the North Carolina average.
Cigna offers a variety of low-cost and free Medicare Advantage plans with a 4.1 average star rating. Medicare Advantage customers also ranked Cigna as having above-average service and quality, according to the latest J.D. Power survey.
Cigna gets slightly more complaints than an average insurance company its size. However, it's important to note that this includes everything sold by the company, not just Medicare Advantage plans.
Cigna stands out for the fact that most people in North Carolina can get it. This sets it apart from other affordable Medicare Advantage companies like Alignment Health Plan, Experience Health and Troy Medicare, which are only available in certain parts of the state.
Best zero-dollar Medicare Advantage: Alignment
Alignment has the best zero-dollar Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina.
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Star rating
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Monthly rate
$0 ?
Why it's great Every plan offered by Alignment Health Plan is $0 per month.
All of Alignment's Medicare Advantage plans cost $0 per month. With an average rating of 4.5 stars, it's one of the best cheap Medicare Advantage companies in North Carolina.
Even though plans are good, there are some trade-offs compared to the top-ranking companies in the state. For example, the number of in-network doctors is much smaller, and it's not available in all parts of North Carolina.
Alignment is a startup insurance company that pitches itself as having a "concierge" type experience where doctors, hospitals and doctors are on the same page to coordinate a patient's total care experience.
As an Alignment member, you can access a personal concierge team to help you with health care-related tasks, such as setting appointments, discussing your benefits and scheduling transportation to and from appointments.
All Medicare Advantage plans from Alignment Health Plan cost $0 per month. Many Alignment Medicare Advantage plans also offer $0 copays for primary care appointments, telehealth visits, vision care and gym memberships.
Alignment plans have an average out-of-pocket maximum of $3,099 per year. That's 45% below the North Carolina state average. It's important to pay attention to both your monthly rate and your out-of-pocket costs. A high out-of-pocket maximum can turn a $0 plan into a bad deal if you have a serious or ongoing illness.
How to sign up for Medicare in North Carolina
- Determine if you're eligible: Medicare eligibility in North Carolina is the same as in the rest of the country. You're eligible for Medicare when you turn 65 or if you qualify through a disability.
- Apply for Original Medicare: Initial enrollment starts by applying for Medicare benefits through the Social Security Administration. This process will confirm your eligibility, after which you'll receive your Medicare card.
- Choose your plan: Whether you choose to bundle your coverage with Medicare Advantage or you want to add on coverage on top of Original Medicare, the next step is to choose from the plans offered by private insurance companies operating in North Carolina.
- Compare costs: Remember that comparing your total costs for the year can help you find the best deal for your current medical needs. Medicare Advantage plans have open enrollment every year from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7, allowing you to change your coverage each year.
- Use local resources: In North Carolina, the Seniorsʼ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) offers free, independent Medicare counseling to answer your questions and help you navigate the Medicare enrollment process.
North Carolina Medicare enrollment statistics
- Medicare enrollees in North Carolina: 2.2 million
- Number of Medicare Advantage companies operating in North Carolina: 12
- Average monthly cost of Medicare Advantage in North Carolina: $16
- Average monthly cost of Medicare Part D in North Carolina: $62
Frequently asked questions
Does North Carolina have Medicare?
Yes, NC has Medicare because it is a national program that offers health insurance to seniors and those who have a qualifying disability or medical condition. Medicare Advantage plans are offered in every North Carolina county.
How much does Medicare Part B cost in North Carolina?
The cost of Medicare Part B changes each year, and the standard rate is currently $174.70 per month. Note that if you earn more than $103,000, you'll pay more for Medicare Part B. Costs can extend up to $594 per month depending on your income bracket .
How much does Medicare Advantage cost in North Carolina?
A Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage costs an average of $16 per month in North Carolina. That's cheaper than the national average, and most residents have options for plans that cost $0 per month.
Does Medicaid automatically renew in North Carolina?
Medicaid does not automatically renew in North Carolina. If you are enrolled in Medicaid, you must renew your coverage every year.
Make sure your local Department of Social Services (DSS) has an up-to-date address on file since you should receive a letter in the mail informing you when it's time to renew. You can process your renewal over the phone, by mail, online or in person.
Does Medicare cover dental in North Carolina?
Most Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina cover routine dental care.
There are also some plans available that cover comprehensive dental, including extractions, periodontics and dentures.
What is the income limit for Medicare in North Carolina?
The Medicare program does not have an income limit for eligibility. Instead, residents can enroll at age 65 or if they have a qualifying disability. However, you can have dual enrollment if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. To qualify for Medicaid in North Carolina, an individual must earn less than $20,120 per year, or a family of four must earn less than $41,400.
Methodology and sources
Data on Medicare plans was sourced from the public use files from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Our analysis of North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans only includes plans that have prescription drug coverage and excludes Special Needs Plans (SNPs), Medicare-Medicaid plans and employer group plans. Comparisons were made by cost, coverage and quality.
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Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
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