Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa 2024
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More than 650,000 people in Iowa are signed up for Medicare, placing it in the top 30 U.S. states for Medicare beneficiaries
Medicare is the government health care program for people 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Medicare that offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as cost savings on dental and vision coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they can be cheaper than paying for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan. However, they offer less flexibility because you’ll need to get care from within the plan’s network of providers. Weigh your options to determine what plan best suits your needs.
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Compare the best Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa
What to know about Medicare in Iowa
More than 1 in 5 people in Iowa are 65 and older, and there are a variety of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans in the state
The average monthly premium in 2024 for a Medicare Advantage plan in Iowa is $11.71. (It was $10.38 in 2023.)
There are 70 Medicare Advantage plans available in Iowa in 2024. (This is the same as in 2023.)
All Medicare-eligible people in Iowa have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.
Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awards every Medicare Advantage plan a star rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being a top-rated plan. Below are providers with at least one plan that received top marks in Iowa for the 2024 plan year
5-star plans
The company below offers plans in Iowa that are rated 5 stars out of 5 by CMS:
MediGold.
4.5-star plans
The companies below offer plans in Iowa that are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by CMS:
Align powered by Sanford Health Plan.
Health Alliance Medicare.
HealthPartners UnityPoint Health.
Quartz Medicare Advantage.
This list doesn’t include special needs plans, which restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics, such as having a chronic illness or living in a nursing home.
Medicare resources in Iowa
Iowa Insurance Division: For questions about insurance you’ve bought or insurance provided by an employer.
Iowa Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP): For free guidance or answers about Medicare coverage or eligibility.
Iowa Medicaid Program: For questions about Medicaid eligibility or benefits.
How to choose a Medicare Advantage plan
It’s crucial to ask a few questions as you’re shopping for the right plan. Here’s a quick checklist to help you consider your options:
How much are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred doctor (or doctors) or hospital, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any additional perks, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
You can use Medicare’s plan finding tool to compare plans in your area.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
This roundup includes only insurers that sell Medicare Advantage in Iowa.