Medicare Advantage Plans in Connecticut

Learn about plan options and how to choose the best Connecticut Medicare Advantage Plan for your needs

Medicare Advantage plans provide people on Medicare with an alternative to Original Medicare, which is provided by the government. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies—as such, the plans can vary widely. Medicare Advantage plans are increasingly popular in the US. In 2023, Medicare Advantage enrollment rose above 50%. In Connecticut, the Medicare Advantage enrollment rate is even higher. 

If you’re considering enrolling in a Connecticut Medicare Advantage plan or looking for the best plan, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, we’ll share important facts about Medicare Advantage in CT, the pros and cons of these plans, and some of the insurance carriers and plan ratings. We’ll finish with a quick guide to help you choose the best Connecticut Medicare Advantage plan for your specific needs. 

Key Takeaways:

• Nine insurance companies provide 41 Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut.

• 63% of Medicare enrollees choose to enroll in a Connecticut Medicare Advantage plan.

• There are no 5-star Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut, but Aetna and Humana carry 4.5-star plans.

• There are pros and cons to Medicare Advantage plans. Understanding these pros and cons is key to comparing and choosing the best Medicare Advantage plans in CT.

• A Medicare Advantage agent can help you compare plans that meet your personal health and financial needs.

Quick facts about Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut

Below are some quick facts about the Medicare Advantage market in Connecticut. Keep in mind that plan availability and enrollment rates vary by county.

• 63% of people on Medicare in Connecticut are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, which is more than the national average.

• There are a total of 41 Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut.

• Depending on which county you live in, you’ll have between 30 and 41 Medicare Advantage plans to choose from.

• Most Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans are either local HMOs or PPOs. There’s one regional PPO plan.

• Below is a list of health insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut:

• Trinity Health Plan of New England

• CarePartners of Connecticut

• ConnectiCare

• Humana

• Cigna

• UnitedHealthcare

• Aetna

• Anthem

• Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield

• Wellcare

Overview of Medicare Advantage

Across the US, just over 50% of people on Medicare are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. Connecticut Medicare Advantage enrollment is even higher, at 63%. Below, you’ll find some key information about Medicare Advantage plans. For a full overview, read our Guide to Medicare Advantage. 

Pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans

Like any type of health insurance, Medicare Advantage comes with pros and cons. Each Medicare Advantage plan is unique, but all Medicare Advantage plans share some of the same positive and negative features. 

Pros of Medicare Advantage plans:

• Extra benefits like dental, vision, hearing, and prescription coverage, fitness benefits, transportation services, and more

• Out-of-pocket maximums

Cons of Medicare Advantage plans:

• Network restrictions

• Prior authorization requirements and denials

• Confusion caused by plan differences and aggressive marketing tactics

When to enroll in Medicare Advantage

Most people enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan when they first get Medicare or during the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. There are some Special Enrollment Periods that may allow you to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan at another time.

There are specific windows of time in which you can change your Medicare Advantage plan:

• The Medicare Open Enrollment Period

• The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period

• 5-star Special Enrollment Period

• Other Special Enrollment Periods

Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut

Each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) assigns Medicare Advantage and Part D plans a rating from one to five. A 1-star rating is considered poor, and a 5-star rating is considered the best.

There are no 5-star plans in Connecticut. There are Humana Medicare Advantage plans with 4.5-star ratings in Connecticut. Aetna also provides plans with 4.5-star ratings. 

How to choose the best Connecticut Medicare Advantage plan

Your health needs and preferences are the most important things to keep in mind when comparing and choosing from the Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut. Consider the following three questions when searching for the best plan for you!

1. Do you have doctors who you prefer to see? 

As we mentioned above, Medicare Advantage plans use provider networks that can limit the doctors you can see. If you have doctors you’ve been seeing for years or who you know and trust, make a note of their names and office locations. A Chapter Medicare agent can help you narrow your plan options down to the Connecticut Medicare Advantage plans that have your doctors in their networks.

2. Do you take prescriptions? 

One of the perks of Medicare Advantage plans is that many of them include Medicare Part D (prescription drug) coverage. This is often one of the most affordable ways to get prescription coverage through Medicare. If you’re looking at Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription coverage, you need to make sure that all of your prescriptions are covered. Each plan will have a different set of covered prescriptions. Covered prescriptions can also cost you different amounts on different plans. We can help you compare your estimated annual costs for your prescriptions quickly! 

If the best Connecticut Medicare Advantage plan for your needs doesn’t include prescription coverage, you should also look at Connecticut’s Medicare Part D plans. 

3. Are there extra benefits you’re excited about? 

Extra benefits, like transportation services, Medicare flex cards, and coverage for hearing aids, make Medicare Advantage plans attractive to enrollees. Think about the different benefits you can get from Medicare Advantage plans and consider which ones are most valuable to you. Each plan will provide different benefits, so going into your search with your list of priorities will help you make the best plan selection more quickly.

When choosing from Connecticut Medicare plans, you should consider Medigap plans and Medicare Advantage plans. Every health plan will have pros and cons, and you should understand how Medicare Advantage compares to Medigap. Whether you need help understanding your options or comparing Connecticut’s Medicare Advantage plans, we’re here to help!  Give us a call at (855) 900-2427 or schedule a time to talk to get Medicare checked off your list today!