2026 Medicare Advantage Plans in Essex County, MA
Last update: . Enrollment data updated: May 2, 2026
In Essex County, MA, there are 39 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2026. Of these, 19 offer a $0 monthly premium, and about 72% are rated 4 stars or higher based on CMS quality ratings.
Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are not included in the figures shown above. View Special Needs Plans in Essex County, MA. Or explore all Medicare Options available in Essex County, MA.
Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans allow access to both in-network and out-of-network providers. Out-of-network care usually costs more, but PPOs offer greater flexibility in choosing doctors and hospitals.
- Total PPO Plans 16
- Average Monthly Premium $63.13/mo
- Total PPO Enrollment 18,778
- $0 Premium PPO Plans 9
- Average MOOP $5,675
- Top PPO by Enrollment AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC MA-0006 (PPO) — 3,732 enrollees
- PPO Plans Without Drug Coverage 3
What is the total number of PPO plans offered in Essex?
There are 16 PPO plans in 2026, covering 18,778 beneficiaries.
How much do PPO plans cost in Essex?
The average PPO premium in Essex is $63.13 per month, with 9 plans offering $0 premiums.
What is the most popular PPO plan in Essex?
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC MA-0006 (PPO) is the top PPO in Essex, with 3,732 enrollees.
What is the number of PPO plans without Part D coverage in Essex?
There are 3 PPO plans in Essex without prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
HMO plans typically require members to use in-network providers and facilities, except in emergencies. In return, HMOs often offer lower monthly premiums and reduced cost-sharing.
- Total HMO Plans
- 14
- Average Monthly Premium
- $92.57/mo
- Total HMO Enrollment
- 13,338
- $0 Premium HMO Plans
- 6
- Average MOOP
- $4,554
- Top HMO by Enrollment
- Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Smart Saver Rx (HMO) — 7,041 enrollees
- HMO Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 4
What is the average monthly premium for HMO plans?
HMO plans in Essex cost $92.57 per month on average.
Which HMO plan is most popular in Essex?
The most popular HMO plan in Essex is Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Smart Saver Rx (HMO), with 7,041 enrollees.
How many HMO plans in Essex do not include drug coverage?
There are 4 HMO plans in Essex without prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Plans
HMO Point-of-Service (HMO-POS) plans combine HMO network rules with limited out-of-network access. Care outside the network typically costs more, but HMO-POS plans provide added flexibility compared with standard HMOs.
| Health Plan Name | CMS Rating* | Premium Per Mo | MOOP | PDP Ded. | CMS Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erickson Advantage Freedom | $89 | $4,900 | $355 | H5652-006-0 | |
| Erickson Advantage Liberty | $14 | $6,750 | $600 | H5652-008-0 | |
| Erickson Advantage Liberty no Rx | $0 | $6,750 | N/A | H5652-002-0 | |
| Erickson Advantage Signature | $182 | $2,900 | $270 | H5652-001-0 | |
| Medicare HMO Blue FlexRx | $118 | $4,100 | $260 | H2261-023-1 | |
| Medicare HMO Blue SaverRx | $0 | $9,200 | $0 | H2261-024-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC MA-0003 | $0 | $6,700 | $520 | H5253-157-2 | |
| Aetna Medicare Signature | $0 | $6,750 | $615 | H5793-018-0 | |
| Mass General Brigham Advantage Secure | $62 | $3,350 | $350 | H6847-001-0 |
What is the leading HMO-POS plan in Essex?
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC MA-0003 (HMO-POS) is the top HMO-POS in Essex, with 5,733 enrollees.
What is the number of HMO-POS plans without Part D coverage in Essex?
1 HMO-POS plans in Essex do not include prescription drug coverage.
The table below shows CMS star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans in Essex County, MA for 2026.
| Rating Category | Number of Plans | Percent of Plans |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Stars | 4 | 10% |
| 4 Stars (includes 5 Stars) | 28 | 72% |
| 3 Stars | 11 | 28% |
| Below 3 Stars | 0 | 0% |
| Not Rated | 0 | 0% |
| Average Rating | 4.09 | |
* Medicare Advantage star ratings are determined by CMS each year using a standardized 5-star rating system.
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files — Last accessed May 2, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance Data — Last accessed May 2, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage & Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed May 2, 2026
County-level figures shown on this page, including plan counts, enrollment totals, averages, and percentage distributions, reflect standard Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans only and are derived from CMS datasets using a standardized aggregation methodology.
Data sources and methodology documentation .
- Medicare.gov, "Compare types of Medicare Advantage Plans" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- Medicare.gov, "Your coverage options" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- Medicare.gov, "Joining a plan" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
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