Choosing the Best Medicare Advantage Plans in MN for 2025

What makes the best Medicare Advantage Plan is different for each person. The process to determining the right Medicare Advantage plan is very individualized and can be specific to Minnesota residents.  What makes a plan the best Medicare Advantage plan for you might be based on the plan’s network of doctors, how a plan covers your medications, the copays and out-of-pocket expenses, the extra benefits like dental and vision, or something else. 

• Network: Every Advantage Plan is going to have a different provider network. Some Advantage plans in MN have very large networks, and some have very small and limiting networks.  It is important to include this in your decision. For example, having the Mayo Clinic in-network is important to a lot of people. Researching plan networks is something our agents do to ensure that your providers will be in-network for your advantage plan.

• National Network: Coverage outside of MN is a major consideration for many of our clients, especially those who snowbird or spend a lot of time outside of MN. Not all Advantage plans have large and flexible national networks, but in MN we do have a few.

• Prescription Drug Formulary (Part D Coverage): Advantage plans all have different prescription drug formularies. A formulary is a list of drugs that the plan covers. Ensuring a plan covers your prescriptions is primary consideration. The differences in drug coverage from one plan to another can be significant.

• Dental, vision and hearing benefits: Some plans offer a good dental benefit, so if you have some dental work coming up for the next year, that may be a factor.

• Some Medicare Advantage plans will have a specified allowance for dental work, while other plans may cover a percentage of particular service (ie 50% coverage for a crown).  Also, some plans require that you use an in-network dentist to get the highest level of benefit, while others may allow you to use any licensed dentist.  

• Medicare Advantage plans can often include an eyewear and vision benefit.   Frequently, the eye exam is covered with a zero copay, and the plan will also have an eyewear benefit for contacts or glasses.  The eyewear benefits vary from plan to plan as to the amount they cover and how the plan pays (or reimburses) for the eyewear. 

• Hearing benefits are also available on many Medicare Advantage plans.  Hearing tests are frequently covered with a zero copay.  Hearing aid benefits can vary depending on the plan and company you select.  Some plans may have a specific copay for a hearing aid, while others may provide an allowance that you can use toward any hearing aids you choose.  Also, some plans may require that you purchase your hearing aids from a specific vendor and others may allow you to get your hearing aids from a variety of hearing aid vendors.  

•  Fitness benefits:  Many plans now offer several fitness benefits including access to fitness clubs, or virtual exercise options.  The fitness club memberships typically provide access to many local facilities and do not require that you go a certain number of visits per month.

•  Medicare Star Ratings.  Medicare rates plans on their health and drug services and provides a star rating from 5 stars = excellent to 1 star = poor.  Star Ratings are based on factors that include:
• Feedback from members about the plan’s services and care
• The number of members who left or stayed in the plan
• The number of complaints Medicare got about the plan
• Data from doctors and hospitals that work with the plan

At MN Health Insurance Network, we recommend using one of our brokers to help you analyze your Medicare Advantage plan options.  We can help you compare plans taking into account all of the above factors. We will do a plan analysis and find you a plan that fits your needs.  The best Medicare Advantage plan is the plan the best fits your specific needs.