2026 Medicare Advantage Plans in Avery County, NC
Last update: . Enrollment data updated: May 2, 2026
In Avery County, NC, there are 49 Medicare Advantage plans available for 2026. Of these, 35 offer a $0 monthly premium, and about 56% 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 Avery County, NC. Or explore all Medicare Options available in Avery County, NC.
Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans allow members to use both in-network and out-of-network providers. Out-of-network care typically costs more, but PPOs offer greater flexibility in how care is accessed.
What is the total number of PPO plans offered in Avery?
Avery County has 27 PPO plans for 2026, with 335 enrolled.
How much do PPO plans cost in Avery?
The typical PPO premium in Avery is $20.93, and 19 plans have no monthly premium.
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
- 9
- Average Monthly Premium
- $4.80/mo
- Total HMO Enrollment
- 118
- $0 Premium HMO Plans
- 7
- Average MOOP
- $5,311
- Top HMO by Enrollment
- Blue Medicare Essential (HMO) — 78 enrollees
- HMO Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 1
| Health Plan Name | CMS Rating* | Premium Per Mo | MOOP | PDP Ded. | CMS Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alignment Health Platinum | $0 | $3,900 | $0 | H5296-003-0 | |
| Alignment Health Platinum Select | $0 | $5,900 | $225 | H5296-010-0 | |
| Alignment Health smartHMO | $0 | $3,400 | $615 | H5296-006-0 | |
| Aetna Medicare Value Plus | $32 | $5,500 | $615 | H3146-006-0 | |
| Blue Medicare Essential | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H3449-027-2 | |
| HealthSpring Courage | $0 | $6,750 | N/A | H9725-005-0 | |
| HealthSpring Preferred | $0 | $3,500 | $295 | H9725-009-2 | |
| HealthSpring Preferred Plus | $11 | $3,200 | $200 | H9725-017-2 | |
| HealthSpring Preferred Savings | $0 | $6,400 | $0 | H9725-015-2 |
- What is the average monthly premium for HMO plans?
- HMO plans in Avery cost $4.80 per month on average.
- Which HMO plan is most popular in Avery?
- The most popular HMO plan in Avery is Blue Medicare Essential (HMO), with 78 enrollees.
- How many HMO plans in Avery do not include drug coverage?
- There are 1 HMO plans in Avery without prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Plans
HMO Point-of-Service (HMO-POS) plans combine HMO network requirements with limited out-of-network access. Care outside the network typically costs more, but HMO-POS plans provide added flexibility compared with standard HMOs.
- Total HMO-POS Plans 12
- Average Monthly Premium $10.82/mo
- Total HMO-POS Enrollment 866
- $0 Premium HMO-POS Plans 9
- Average MOOP $6,375
- Top HMO-POS by Enrollment AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) — 257 enrollees
- HMO-POS Plans Without Drug Coverage 2
| Health Plan Name | CMS Rating* | Premium Per Mo | MOOP | PDP Ded. | CMS Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humana Gold Plus H1036-335 | $0 | $3,950 | $250 | H1036-335-2 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-0008 | $0 | $6,700 | $520 | H5253-079-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-0009 | $48 | $5,400 | $440 | H5253-080-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 | $0 | $5,400 | $520 | H5253-185-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback from UHC NC-13 | $0 | $8,900 | $600 | H5253-105-0 | |
| AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx NC-MA02 | $0 | $7,900 | N/A | H5253-040-0 | |
| Blue Medicare Enhanced | $47 | $4,200 | $100 | H3449-024-3 | |
| Blue Medicare Essential Plus | $0 | $7,450 | $615 | H3449-023-5 | |
| Blue Medicare Medical Only | $0 | $3,900 | N/A | H3449-012-0 | |
| Humana Gold Plus H6622-025 | $0 | $9,250 | $350 | H6622-025-0 | |
| Humana Gold Plus H6622-026 | $35 | $9,250 | $350 | H6622-026-0 | |
| Wellcare Simple | $0 | $4,200 | $615 | H4073-001-0 |
What is the total number of HMO-POS plans in Avery?
There are 12 HMO-POS plans in 2026, covering 866 enrollees.
How much do HMO-POS plans cost in Avery?
The average HMO-POS premium in Avery is $10.82 per month, with 9 plans offering $0 premiums.
What is the leading HMO-POS plan in Avery?
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) is the top HMO-POS in Avery, with 257 enrollees.
What is the number of HMO-POS plans without Part D coverage in Avery?
2 HMO-POS plans in Avery do not include prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage PFFS Plans
PFFS plans allow members to visit any Medicare-approved provider who accepts the plan’s payment terms. This offers broader choice than network-based plans, but coverage depends on provider participation, so acceptance should be confirmed in advance.
- Total PFFS Plans
- 1
- Average Monthly Premium
- $7.00/mo
- Total PFFS Enrollment
- 14
- $0 Premium PFFS Plans
- 0
- Average MOOP
- $7,550
- Top PFFS by Enrollment
- Humana Gold Choice H8145-004 (PFFS) — 14 enrollees
- PFFS Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 0
| Health Plan Name | CMS Rating* | Premium Per Mo | MOOP | PDP Ded. | CMS Plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humana Gold Choice H8145-004 | $7 | $7,550 | $615 | H8145-004-0 |
What is the average monthly premium for PFFS plans?
PFFS plans in Avery cost $7.00 per month on average.
Which PFFS plan is most popular in Avery?
The most popular PFFS plan in Avery is Humana Gold Choice H8145-004 (PFFS), with 14 enrollees.
How many PFFS plans in Avery do not include drug coverage?
There are 0 PFFS plans in Avery without prescription drug coverage.
The table below shows CMS star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans in Avery County, NC for 2026.
| Rating Category | Number of Plans | Percent of Plans |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Stars | 3 | 7% |
| 4 Stars (includes 5 Stars) | 25 | 56% |
| 3 Stars | 20 | 44% |
| Below 3 Stars | 0 | 0% |
| Not Rated | 4 | 8% |
| Average Rating | 3.92 | |
* 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
This page presents county-level Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) data, including plan counts, enrollment totals, averages, and percentage distributions, derived from CMS datasets using a standardized aggregation approach.
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
- AARP.org, "The Big Choice: Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
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Data provenance documentation is maintained in alignment with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Provenance standard .
Page content independently curated and maintained by David W. Bynon, Editorial Steward, using a standardized, data-driven methodology for accurate, non-commercial Medicare plan interpretation and resolution.