Medicare Advantage Plans Minnesota 2027

In Minnesota, regional and nonprofit health plans are major players, with national insurers present in some counties. A lot of Minnesota plans charge a monthly premium, which explains why the state’s average sits so far above the national number.

A Humana Medicare Advantage plan in Minnesota ends December 31, 2026. If you have one, a non-renewal letter should have reached you in early October, and you have a Special Enrollment Period plus, generally, a guaranteed issue right to purchase certain Medigap policies.

Source: company announcements and CMS 2027 landscape data reported by Becker’s on October 1, 2026. For 2027, Wellmark, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi are exiting Medicare Advantage as well.

Paying a premium does not automatically make a plan a worse value. Some plans that charge a premium have lower copays and out-of-pocket maximums. Look at the total cost for the year, including what you would owe in a year when you need a lot of care.

Along with Massachusetts and Wisconsin, Minnesota is one of three states that standardize Medigap their own way. Rather than Plans A through N, Minnesota has a Basic plan and an Extended Basic plan, along with optional riders insurers can add, such as coverage for Part B excess charges or the Part A deductible. Because benefits are standardized within Minnesota, a given plan covers the same things no matter which insurer sells it.

Medicare Advantage, sometimes called Part C, lets you receive your Medicare benefits through a Medicare-approved private insurer. These plans cover everything Original Medicare Part A and Part B cover, with the exception of hospice care, which Original Medicare continues to pay for. Most also bundle Part D drug coverage, and many may tack on extras like routine dental, vision and hearing benefits.

The trade-off is that Medicare Advantage plans generally rely on doctor and hospital networks and may call for referrals or prior authorization for certain services. Each Medicare Advantage plan sets a yearly out-of-pocket maximum for covered medical care, something Original Medicare lacks. You still pay your Part B premium, along with the plan’s premium if there is one.

For those who prefer Original Medicare, a Minnesota Medigap policy pays some or all of what Medicare does not and lets you use any provider in the U.S. that takes Medicare. Minnesota sets its own standardized plans: a Basic plan, an Extended Basic plan, and optional riders that insurers can add.

If you keep Original Medicare in Minnesota, add a standalone Part D plan. Compare plans with your exact drugs and pharmacies using the 2027 Part D plan finder.

Which method applies depends on the insurer and the state. Before buying, find out how a policy is priced, not only what it costs now.

In certain situations, federal law also grants guaranteed issue rights, generally within 63 days of other coverage ending:

In 2027, a standalone Part D plan can have a deductible of no more than $700 and an out-of-pocket cap of $2,400. Buy it with Medigap to avoid a late enrollment penalty that lasts for life.

Minnesota premiums are high, so some former Humana members discover that Original Medicare plus a Minnesota Medigap policy and a Part D plan costs less than expected next to the Medicare Advantage options that remain. Price out both routes before deciding.

Each fall, Medicare gives every Medicare Advantage and Part D plan a rating of 1 to 5 stars, based on factors such as preventive care, how well chronic conditions are managed, member complaints, customer service and accuracy of drug pricing. You can see the ratings in Medicare Plan Finder.

For Minnesota, treat the Medigap row as the Basic or Extended Basic plan instead of Plan G. The tradeoff does not change: you pay a higher premium for any-doctor freedom and predictable costs.

A drug you take may not be on a plan’s 2027 formulary, or it may come with a rule such as prior authorization. Even then, you have options:

See steps to appeal a Medicare Part D denial.

A non-renewal notice should have reached you in early October if your plan won’t be available in your county for 2027. Coverage doesn’t end immediately; it runs through December 31, 2026, which gives you time to decide.

Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are Medicare Advantage plans designed for particular groups. Their benefits, networks and drug lists are shaped around the members they serve, and many come with care coordinators. In 2027, SNPs are one of the few places large insurers are adding plans, even while cutting PPOs.

When you turn 65 in 2027, you get a seven-month Initial Enrollment Period: the three months before your birthday month, the birthday month itself and the three months that follow. If you sign up in the first three months, coverage begins on the first day of your birthday month.

When your income and savings are limited, two programs can greatly lower your Medicare costs:

If you qualify for both Medicare and full Medicaid, you may also be able to join a Dual Special Needs Plan. See help for low-income Part D beneficiaries.

The Senior LinkAge Line, the State Health Insurance Assistance Program in Minnesota, provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling. You can also reach 1-800-MEDICARE at any time or compare plans at no cost with a licensed agent.

Gather your Medicare card, a list of your drugs and doses, your doctors and your preferred pharmacies before you call. That way a long conversation becomes a quick one.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Medica and HealthPartners are all pulling back or restructuring Medicare Advantage for 2027, Humana is leaving Minnesota, and hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans need to find new coverage.

Source: HealthPartners 2027 notice and KSTP, October 1, 2026.