Humana Medicare Advantage Plans Review

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Medicare rating: 4 stars A.M. Best financial strength rating: A- Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating: A+ National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) rating: 2.5 to 4.5 stars Consumer Affairs rating: 4 J.D. Power ranking: 2 out of 10

Quick Humana Medicare Advantage Plans review: Humana, one of the leading health insurance companies in the United States, offers a variety of Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C), including health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organizations (PPOs), special needs plan (SNPs), and Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans. Plan availability may vary by region.

Humana is a highly sought-after health insurance company with considerable experience in the private sector. The company works with Medicare enrollees in all 50 states, providing supplemental or Part C coverage to nearly 8.4 million seniors.

In some areas, Humana may only offer a prescription Part D plan designed to supplement Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage Plans that don’t include drug coverage. In other regions, Humana may provide a complete Part C solution with prescription coverage included in medical benefits. Before selecting a Humana plan, look at the available options and the out-of-pocket costs that you might face with each type of coverage.

Pros and cons of Humana Medicare Advantage Plans

What we like about Humana Medicare Advantage Plans: The drawbacks of Humana Medicare Advantage Plans:
  • Choices and costs may be confusing
  • Noncontracted providers can refuse to treat you unless it’s an emergency

What Do Humana Medicare Advantage Plans Cover?

All Medicare Advantage Plans, including those offered by Humana, must provide the same minimum coverage level as Original Medicare. Humana Advantage Plans may include extra coverage for:

  • Dental
  • Hearing
  • Vision care

As part of your plan benefits, Humana Health and Wellness programs may pay for ancillary services, such as a gym membership or consultation with dieticians.

Humana Medicare Advantage Plan Options

Humana’s Medicare Advantage Plans vary among states and counties within those states. The provider supports four plan types: HMOs, PPOs, PFFS plans, and SNPs, but these are subject to area availability. You may only qualify for an SNP if your diagnosis matches the list of required conditions.

Humana has robust telemedicine services and the company has waived out-of-pocket costs for all visits to its in-network provider, MDLIVE. This applies to online and phone consults for physical and behavioral health matters.

HMOs are typically the most affordable option, but many limit your ability to select the doctors and health care providers of your choice. With Humana HMO, SNP, and PFFS plans, primary care visits are often free or very low-cost while PPOs tend to have higher copays on doctor visits and lower copays for emergencies. Look at some of the most popular options available for each of these types of plans.

Plan name Monthly premium Annual deductible Office visits Annual maximum out-of-pocket cost
Humana Gold Plus HMO $0 $0 $0 $3,200
Humana Gold Plus SNP-DE $27 $0/$505 for Rx $0 $3,400
HumanaChoice Florida PPO $0 $0/$150 for Rx $5 primary/$40 specialist $4,900 in-network/$8,900 out-of-network
Humana Gold Choice PFFS $101 $0/$200 for Rx $5 primary/$40 specialist $6,700

*Based on pricing in Orlando.

Humana Medicare Advantage Plans Reviews and Ratings

Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. See how Medicare, A.M. Best, the BBB, and others rate Humana Medicare Advantage plans.

Medicare rating: 4 stars Humana has a 4-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for nearly all of its Medicare Advantage Plan contracts.
A.M. Best financial strength rating: A- A.M. Best is a credit rating agency specializing in the insurance industry. In September 2022, A.M. Best affirmed its Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) for Humana.

An A- rating indicates stability to meet ongoing obligations.

BBB rating: A+ Humana has an A+ rating from the BBB. Although the carrier has had more than 60 complaints in the past year, very few issues were related to its Medicare coverage or Advantage Plans.
NCQA rating: 1.5 to 4.5 stars According to the NCQA, satisfaction ratings for Medicare plans issued by all Humana divisions range from 2.5 to 4.5 stars, with most plans receiving at least a 3.0 consumer satisfaction score.
Consumer Affairs rating: 4 Consumer Affairs gave Humana a high rating of 4 stars with more than 500 consumer ratings. Beneficiaries appreciate the carrier’s extensive doctor network and benefits including dental, vision, and hearing coverage..
J.D. Power ranking: 4 out of 10 In its 2021 U.S. Medicare Advantage Study, J.D. Power measured Humana Medicare Advantage Plan satisfaction based on coverage and benefits, provider choice, cost, customer service, information and communication, and billing and payment. With 806 points out of 1,000, Humana came in third out of the top 10 Medicare Advantage providers.
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Medicare consultant, AAPC National Advisory Board

Caren Lampitoc has worked in health care since 1982, beginning her career as a surgical technologist with the United States Navy. As a Navy hospital corpsman, she gained clinical experience in the operating room and surgical clinics. She then transitioned to the civilian world, studying at Montgomery College and working in doctors’ offices in various subspecialties as well as auditing and risk adjustment.

Lampitoc became a medical coder in 1999 and has served as an instructor and national speaker since 2006. She served on the AAPC National Advisory Board from 2015 to 2018, and her professional certifications included Certified Professional Coder/Physician, Certified Medical Auditor, and Certified Professional Biller.

Her passion is education and training as well as helping providers understand proper documentation and coding. Understanding Medicare policy is always part of the education for providers. Moving into her current position as a Medicare consultant brought her career full circle from clinical service to the office and now to the payer.

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