2026 Medicare Advantage Plans in Buncombe County, NC
Last update: . Enrollment data updated: June 13, 2026
For 2026, Buncombe County, NC includes 49 Medicare Advantage plans. Enrollment across these plans totals approximately 19,222, with 36 $0 premium options and 53% rated 4 stars or higher.
This page and its statistics exclude Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Special Needs Plans in Buncombe County, NC are summarized separately. Visit Medicare Options in Buncombe County, NC to see more options.
Medicare Advantage PPO Plans
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans allow members to choose care from both in-network and out-of-network providers. Out-of-network care usually costs more, but PPOs offer greater flexibility in how members access care.
- Total PPO Plans
- 26
- Average Monthly Premium
- $20.23/mo
- Total PPO Enrollment
- 6,078
- $0 Premium PPO Plans
- 19
- Average MOOP
- $7,519
- Top PPO by Enrollment
- Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) — 1,296 enrollees
- PPO Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 8
- What is the average monthly premium for PPO plans in Buncombe?
- PPO plans in Buncombe cost $20.23 per month on average.
- Which PPO plan has the highest enrollment in Buncombe?
- The most popular PPO plan in Buncombe is Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO), with 1,296 enrollees.
- How many PPO plans in Buncombe do not include prescription drug coverage?
- 8 PPO plans in Buncombe do not include prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans are built around a defined network of doctors and hospitals. Care is generally covered only within the network, except in emergencies, but this structure often results in lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs.
| Plan Name | CMS Stars* | Premium/Mo | MOOP | Rx Ded. | CMS 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 | H3449-027-1 | |
| 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 | |
| Troy Medicare | $0 | $3,950 | $0 | H4676-001-0 |
What is the total number of HMO plans offered in Buncombe?
There are 10 HMO plans in 2026, covering 1,246 enrollees.
How much do HMO plans cost in Buncombe?
The average HMO premium in Buncombe is $4.32 per month, with 8 plans offering $0 premiums.
What is the top HMO by enrollment in Buncombe?
Alignment Health Platinum (HMO) is the top HMO in Buncombe, with 380 enrollees.
What is the number of HMO plans without Part D coverage in Buncombe?
1 HMO plans in Buncombe do not include prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage HMO-POS Plans
HMO-POS plans are structured like HMOs, requiring in-network care for the lowest costs, while allowing limited out-of-network access at higher cost. This provides added flexibility compared with standard HMO plans.
- Total HMO-POS Plans
- 12
- Average Monthly Premium
- $9.40/mo
- Total HMO-POS Enrollment
- 11,728
- $0 Premium HMO-POS Plans
- 9
- Average MOOP
- $6,163
- Top HMO-POS by Enrollment
- Humana Gold Plus H1036-335 (HMO-POS) — 3,930 enrollees
- HMO-POS Plans Without Drug Coverage
- 2
| Plan Name | CMS Stars* | Premium/Mo | MOOP | Rx Ded. | CMS 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 | $30 | $4,200 | $100 | H3449-024-1 | |
| Blue Medicare Essential Plus | $0 | $4,900 | $615 | H3449-023-1 | |
| 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 average monthly premium for HMO-POS plans?
HMO-POS plans in Buncombe cost $9.40 per month on average.
Which HMO-POS plan is most popular in Buncombe?
The most popular HMO-POS plan in Buncombe is Humana Gold Plus H1036-335 (HMO-POS), with 3,930 enrollees.
How many HMO-POS plans in Buncombe do not include drug coverage?
There are 2 HMO-POS plans in Buncombe without prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Advantage PFFS Plans
Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans allow members to visit any Medicare-approved provider that accepts the plan’s payment terms. This provides flexibility in choosing doctors and hospitals, but provider acceptance should be confirmed before receiving care.
- Total PFFS Plans 1
- Average Monthly Premium $7.00/mo
- Total PFFS Enrollment 170
- $0 Premium PFFS Plans 0
- Average MOOP $7,550
- Top PFFS by Enrollment Humana Gold Choice H8145-004 (PFFS) — 170 enrollees
- PFFS Plans Without Drug Coverage 0
| Plan Name | CMS Stars* | Premium/Mo | MOOP | Rx Ded. | CMS ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humana Gold Choice H8145-004 | $7 | $7,550 | $615 | H8145-004-0 |
What is the top PFFS plan in Buncombe?
Humana Gold Choice H8145-004 (PFFS) is the top PFFS in Buncombe, with 170 enrollees.
What is the number of PFFS plans without Part D coverage in Buncombe?
0 PFFS plans in Buncombe do not include prescription drug coverage.
CMS quality ratings for Medicare Advantage plans in Buncombe County, NC (2026) are summarized below.
| Rating Category | Number of Plans | Percent of Plans |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Stars | 3 | 7% |
| 4 Stars (includes 5 Stars) | 24 | 53% |
| 3 Stars | 21 | 47% |
| Below 3 Stars | 0 | 0% |
| Not Rated | 4 | 8% |
| Average Rating | 3.89 | |
* CMS assigns Medicare Advantage star ratings annually based on plan quality and performance measures.
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage Landscape Source Files — Last accessed June 13, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Part C & D Performance Data — Last accessed June 13, 2026
- CMS.gov, Medicare Advantage & Part D Contract and Enrollment Data — Last accessed June 13, 2026
All plan counts, enrollment totals, averages, and percentage distributions are calculated at the county level using CMS data and include standard Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) plans only, based on a consistent aggregation methodology.
Data sources and methodology documentation .
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- Medicare.gov, "Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
- NCOA.org, "5 Steps to Choosing the Right Medicare Plan for You" — Last accessed 25 May, 2025
MedicarePlans.com is an independent informational resource and has no affiliation with, or endorsement from, the U.S. Government or the federal Medicare program.
Data provenance is documented in accordance 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.