Medicare Advantage Plans in Florida: 2026 Top Picks & Costs

Medicare Advantage plans in Florida serve more than 5 million beneficiaries, making the state the second-largest Medicare market in the United States after California, according to NerdWallet's Florida market analysis. The 2026 plan year brings significant changes to the Florida Medicare Advantage landscape. UnitedHealthcare reduced its service area by 109 counties nationally, Humana exited 194 counties bringing its coverage to 85% of U.S. counties (down from 89%), and Aetna pulled back in 100 counties. AvMed, a longtime Florida regional carrier, exited the state market entirely for 2026. Despite these contractions, Florida beneficiaries still have access to 25+ Medicare Advantage carriers including CarePlus, Humana, Aetna, Florida Blue, HealthSpring (the new name for Cigna Medicare Advantage), AARP/UnitedHealthcare, Freedom Health, Wellcare, Devoted Health, Simply Healthcare, Optimum HealthCare, HealthSun, and Molina Healthcare.

This guide explains Medicare Advantage plans available in Florida for 2026, the top-rated carriers, what changed this year, and how to choose the right plan. Information comes from CMS, state insurance commissioners, J.D. Power 2025 rankings, and Florida market analyses.

Why Florida is the country's most competitive Medicare Advantage market

Florida's outsized senior population creates intense competition among Medicare Advantage carriers. The state has the highest percentage of residents over age 65 in the country, with about 21% of Florida's population aged 65+ compared to the national average of 16.8%. This concentration brings every major national carrier into the market alongside strong regional players that built businesses serving Florida retirees.

The 2026 carrier landscape reflects this competition. Humana operates extensively through both its core Humana plans and its CarePlus subsidiary, which focuses specifically on Florida and Puerto Rico markets. CarePlus operates as a Humana company but markets under its own brand and offers HMO plans with strong Florida-specific network relationships. Aetna's CVS Health backing provides pharmacy integration valuable for retirees managing multiple medications. Florida Blue (the BCBS plan for Florida) leverages its Blue Cross brand and broad provider relationships built over decades. AARP/UnitedHealthcare brings brand familiarity for retirees who already trust the AARP name.

Regional carriers also hold meaningful market share. Freedom Health ranked #1 in Florida by J.D. Power 2025 customer satisfaction surveys with a score of 640. Simply Healthcare, Optimum HealthCare, and HealthSun all have significant Florida presence. Devoted Health has expanded aggressively in Florida markets, particularly through chronic condition special needs plans.

For broader Medicare Advantage context, see our What Is Medicare Part C and Medicare vs Medicare Advantage guides.

The 2026 changes that affected Florida beneficiaries

Florida beneficiaries felt the national Medicare Advantage market pullback acutely in 2026. AvMed's complete exit displaced approximately 35,000 Florida members who had to find new coverage. Some were auto-transitioned to other plans owned by the same parent company; others received notification that they needed to actively select a new plan or default to Original Medicare.

The Humana service area reduction was particularly impactful in Florida because Humana is the state's largest Medicare Advantage carrier. Several rural Florida counties lost Humana plan availability or saw plan offerings reduced. Members in affected counties received notifications during October 2025 ahead of the Annual Enrollment Period. Many switched to Aetna, Florida Blue, or AARP/UnitedHealthcare plans in their area, while others chose to return to Original Medicare and add a Medicare Supplement plan.

Network changes also matter significantly. Many Florida hospitals and physicians changed their participation in 2026 plans, including some Mayo Clinic Florida facilities that went out-of-network with certain UnitedHealthcare and Humana plans. The new Special Enrollment Period that CMS created for 2026 specifically helps members who discovered after enrollment that their providers weren't actually in the plan's network despite directory listings.

Top Medicare Advantage carriers in Florida for 2026

Humana remains Florida's largest Medicare Advantage carrier despite the service area reduction. The company's projected 25% national growth in 2026 includes substantial Florida enrollment. Humana plans typically include extensive dental and vision benefits, the SilverSneakers fitness program, and access to CenterWell primary care clinics where available. About 45% of Humana members are in 4+ Star contracts for 2026, up from 25% in 2025.

CarePlus operates as Humana's Florida-focused subsidiary with HMO plans in 21 Florida counties for 2026. CarePlus often offers richer supplemental benefits than core Humana plans in the same areas because the company's narrower geographic focus allows more competitive pricing. Members typically appreciate the strong relationships CarePlus has built with Florida-based providers.

Aetna maintains broad Florida coverage with HMO and PPO plans. The integration with CVS Health pharmacies appeals to members who regularly fill prescriptions there. Aetna's CMS quality ratings for 2026 are above the industry average. The carrier was ranked second in Florida by J.D. Power 2025 with a score of 640, second only to Freedom Health.

Florida Blue's PPO plans score particularly well on member experience measures and nearly all Florida Blue Medicare Advantage plans have $0 premiums. The Blue Cross brand recognition appeals to many Florida retirees who had Blue Cross coverage during their working years. The PPO structure offers more provider flexibility than typical HMO plans, including out-of-network coverage at higher cost-sharing.

AARP/UnitedHealthcare plans are widely available across Florida with both HMO and PPO options. The Renew Active fitness program comes included in many plans, providing gym memberships at thousands of locations nationwide. UnitedHealthcare's CMS quality ratings vary by specific plan and county in Florida.

HealthSpring (formerly Cigna Medicare Advantage) features comprehensive dental coverage in nearly all 2026 plans, with above-average service variety covering more than nine comprehensive services on average. Nearly 8 in 10 HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans have $0 premiums. Many plans include extras like transportation and meal delivery after hospital stays.

Freedom Health, despite being smaller than national carriers, ranked first in Florida by J.D. Power 2025 satisfaction surveys. Its plans are concentrated in specific Florida counties and tend to have strong local provider relationships.

Florida Medicare Advantage costs in 2026

Like the broader Medicare Advantage market, Florida plans operate on a tiered cost structure. All members continue paying the standard Part B premium of $202.90 monthly. Beyond that, monthly plan premiums vary by carrier and benefit level. The majority of Florida MA plans offer $0 monthly plan premiums in 2026, though premium plans with richer benefits can charge $30-$200 monthly.

Plan deductibles vary significantly. Most Florida HMO plans have $0 medical deductibles for in-network care. PPO plans sometimes have $300-$500 annual deductibles for in-network services. Out-of-network deductibles on PPO plans can range from $750 to $2,000.

Copays for primary care visits typically range from $0 to $15 in-network. Specialist copays usually run $25 to $50. Emergency room copays typically range from $90 to $120, with the copay waived if you're admitted to the hospital. The annual out-of-pocket maximum for 2026 cannot exceed $8,850 in-network per CMS regulations, with most Florida plans setting their maximums between $4,000 and $7,500.

Part D drug coverage is included in most Medicare Advantage plans in Florida. Drug copays follow each plan's formulary tiers. The 2026 Inflation Reduction Act caps annual out-of-pocket drug spending at $2,100 for all Part D enrollees, and the $35 monthly insulin cap continues.

For Medicare Supplement alternatives in Florida, our state-specific Medigap guide covers Plan G premium examples from $327 to $449 monthly depending on carrier.

How to choose a Florida Medicare Advantage plan

The most important step before enrolling in any Florida Medicare Advantage plan is verifying your specific doctors and hospitals are in the plan's network. Provider directory accuracy has been a documented issue, with some 2026 enrollees discovering after the fact that listed providers weren't actually participating in their plan. The new Special Enrollment Period allows changes when this happens, but verifying upfront prevents the disruption entirely.

Verify your prescription drugs are covered on the plan's formulary at acceptable cost tiers. A medication on Tier 1 of one plan may be Tier 3 or non-formulary on another plan, affecting your out-of-pocket costs by hundreds of dollars annually. The Medicare.gov Plan Finder lets you enter your specific medications to compare costs across plans.

Review the supplemental benefits package carefully. Dental, vision, and hearing benefits vary substantially across Florida plans. If you wear glasses or need hearing aids, look for plans with annual eyewear allowances of $200+ and hearing aid coverage. If you have ongoing dental needs, look for plans with comprehensive coverage and annual maximums of at least $2,000.

Star ratings matter. Plans rated 4+ Stars by CMS receive Quality Bonus Payments that fund enhanced member benefits. Among 2026 Florida Medicare Advantage plans, 62% of members are enrolled in plans rated 4+ Stars. Higher-rated plans generally provide better customer service, more accurate provider directories, and faster claims processing.

For year-round assistance, the Florida SHINE program (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling to all Florida residents.