How Much Does Humana Medicare Advantage Cost Per Month for Seniors

Humana is one of the largest Medicare Advantage carriers in the country, with 815 plans available across 46 states and Washington D.C. That size means there’s a wide range of costs, coverage levels, and trade-offs — and what a plan costs in one county can be completely different from what it costs in the next. Before you compare any specific plan, these are the things you genuinely need to understand.

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  How much does Humana Medicare Advantage actually cost per month for seniors? Plan premium: $0 to $88+/month depending on plan type and location · Plus Part B premium: $202.90/month (2026, standard rate) · Total monthly baseline: $202.90 to $290+/month before any copays or deductibles · Some Humana Giveback plans rebate up to $102/month of the Part B premium · Actual cost depends on your county — enter your ZIP at humana.com for exact pricing

  Here’s what most articles don’t make clear upfront: there are two different “monthly costs” with any Medicare Advantage plan. The plan premium (sometimes $0, sometimes $18, sometimes $88 or more depending on which specific Humana plan and where you live) is one number. The Medicare Part B premium — currently $202.90 per month in 2026, up from $185 in 2025 — is a separate charge you continue paying regardless of which MA plan you’re in. Some Humana Giveback plans (HMO-POS format) rebate a portion of that Part B premium back to you, potentially reducing your effective monthly cost by up to $102. Most standard Gold Plus HMO plans do not. The industry-wide projected average premium for all Medicare Advantage plans combined in 2026 is $143/month, but Humana’s HMO plans average closer to $3/month — much lower — while their PPO plans carry higher premiums in exchange for network flexibility.
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  Is Humana Medicare Advantage a good plan? Depends on the plan type and your location · Pros: 815 plans available, $0 premium options, extensive dental/vision/hearing add-ons, SilverSneakers fitness access, Part B giveback options · Cons: CMS Star Rating of 3.61 average — below competitors like UnitedHealthcare (4.10) and Aetna (4.19); only 20% of Humana members are in a plan rated 4 stars or above; out-of-pocket maximums can reach $9,250/year on some plans

  Humana is consistently one of the most affordable Medicare Advantage carriers for premiums — and one of the most varied in terms of what you actually get. MoneyGeek gives Humana a 4.4 out of 5 overall score with a perfect 5 for quality, but NerdWallet’s assessment paints a more complicated picture: Humana’s average CMS Star Rating of 3.61 sits below both UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, and the average out-of-pocket maximum across Humana plans is among the highest of any major carrier. Whether it’s a “good” plan is location-dependent. The plan available in Los Angeles may have very different cost limits, drug coverage, and copay structures than a plan with the same name in Tennessee. The only reliable way to know is to enter your specific ZIP code and compare what’s actually available at your address, then check whether your current doctors and prescriptions are covered.
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  What are the disadvantages of Humana Gold Plus? Network restriction is the biggest: you must use in-network providers for all non-emergency care · No coverage for out-of-network doctors except in emergencies · You need a primary care physician referral to see specialists in most cases · Out-of-pocket maximum on Gold Plus plans varies widely — from $1,800 up to $6,800 depending on the specific plan and county · CMS Star Ratings on many Gold Plus HMO plans are 3.0 to 3.5 — below the 4.0 threshold that earns quality bonuses · Drug deductible: up to $615/year on covered tiers

  The network restriction is what catches most seniors off guard with Humana Gold Plus. Because Gold Plus is an HMO, the plan only pays for care from providers who are in Humana’s contracted network — and if your doctor isn’t in that network, you’re paying out of pocket, full stop. This isn’t a minor fine print issue. If you’ve had the same doctor for 20 years and that doctor isn’t in the Humana Gold Plus network, staying with that doctor means paying as if you have no insurance for that visit. Before enrolling in any Gold Plus plan, search Humana’s provider directory at humana.com to confirm every doctor, specialist, and hospital you use is in-network. The out-of-pocket maximum inconsistency is another real issue — seeing “$6,800 maximum” on a plan when a competing plan in the same county has a $2,450 maximum is a meaningful difference for anyone with significant health needs. Plans with the same brand name can vary dramatically by county.
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  Is Humana more expensive than Original Medicare? Monthly premium: often cheaper — many Humana plans charge $0 extra beyond the Part B premium · Annual out-of-pocket: Humana has a cap (Original Medicare does not — catastrophic costs are theoretically unlimited with no ceiling) · For light healthcare users: Original Medicare may cost less overall · For frequent healthcare users: Humana’s out-of-pocket maximum provides protection Original Medicare cannot · Most people on Humana still pay less total than they would with no Medigap coverage

  This comparison only makes sense if you account for the complete picture of Original Medicare costs. Original Medicare covers 80% of most approved services — you pay the other 20% indefinitely, with no cap on what that 20% could total in a bad year. A serious illness or hospitalization with Original Medicare and no supplemental coverage can cost tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket. Humana Medicare Advantage, by contrast, has a hard annual out-of-pocket maximum — as low as $375 on some plans, and no higher than $9,250 in 2026 for in-network care (that’s the federal ceiling). Once you hit that ceiling, covered services cost you nothing for the rest of the year. For seniors who use healthcare regularly or who could face serious health events, that protection from catastrophic cost can be worth more than any premium difference. The honest comparison depends entirely on how much healthcare you’re likely to use.
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  Is Humana a good advantage plan for seniors — specifically? Strong if: you want extra benefits (dental, vision, hearing, OTC card, SilverSneakers) not covered by Original Medicare · Strong if: your doctors are in-network and you prefer coordinated care · Weaker if: you need frequent specialist visits without referrals · Weaker if: you travel often and need out-of-network coverage in multiple states · The Humana Choice PPO is better for travel-heavy seniors than Gold Plus HMO

  Seniors specifically tend to benefit more from Medicare Advantage than younger enrollees because the extra benefits — dental cleanings, vision exams and eyewear, hearing aids, over-the-counter health item allowances, and SilverSneakers gym access — address healthcare gaps that Original Medicare doesn’t touch at all. Original Medicare pays nothing for routine dental, vision, or hearing aids, which are among the highest out-of-pocket costs for seniors specifically. Whether Humana’s specific plans are the right carrier depends on your local plan options and provider network. In markets like Florida, Humana is known for particularly competitive out-of-pocket maximums and rich extra benefits. In markets with fewer Humana providers, the network restriction of the Gold Plus HMO can be more limiting.
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  What is the Humana Gold Plus plan — and is it a Medicare Advantage plan? Yes — Gold Plus is Humana’s branded HMO-type Medicare Advantage plan · Combines Parts A, B, and usually Part D drug coverage into one plan · Often $0 or very low monthly premium · Requires in-network provider use (no out-of-network coverage except emergencies) · Must choose a primary care physician who coordinates all your care · Drug deductible up to $615 on applicable tiers; Part D out-of-pocket cap now $2,100

  Humana Gold Plus is Medicare Advantage — not a supplement and not an addition to Original Medicare. When you enroll in Gold Plus (or any Medicare Advantage plan), Original Medicare effectively steps back and your Humana plan becomes your primary coverage. Gold Plus plans include everything Original Medicare covers under Parts A and B — hospital care, outpatient visits, diagnostics, preventive screenings — plus most plans include Part D prescription drug coverage and additional benefits like dental, vision, and hearing. The HMO structure means your primary care physician manages your care and issues referrals to specialists. Gold Plus plans frequently offer $0 copays for primary care visits, preventive diagnostics, laboratory work, and mammograms, which is a meaningful benefit for seniors who use these services regularly.
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  What is the out-of-pocket maximum for Humana Medicare Advantage? Varies significantly by plan and county · Lowest available in-network: $375/year on some Humana plans · Gold Plus HMO average: $4,856/year in-network · PPO in-network average: $7,200/year (above the national PPO average of $6,266) · Drug costs: separate cap of $2,100/year (once hit, drugs cost $0 for the rest of the year) · Federal ceiling for 2026: $9,250 in-network, higher for combined in/out-of-network · Always verify YOUR specific plan’s MOOP before enrolling

  The out-of-pocket maximum (MOOP) is arguably the most important number to look at when comparing Humana plans — more important than the monthly premium for many seniors. This is the ceiling on what you can spend on covered in-network healthcare in a calendar year. Once you hit it, all covered services cost you nothing until January 1st resets the counter. Humana’s PPO average of $7,200 is actually above the national PPO average — a disadvantage NerdWallet specifically flags. The HMO average of $4,856 is lower. Some specific plans offer dramatically lower ceilings: a Giveback plan in Los Angeles was identified with a $2,450 MOOP. The difference between a $2,450 and a $9,250 MOOP in a year where you need surgery or hospitalization is not abstract — it’s up to $6,800 in real money. Always look at the MOOP before the monthly premium when evaluating any Medicare Advantage plan.
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  What is Humana Choice PPO — and how is it different from Gold Plus? Humana Choice PPO: more flexibility — see any Medicare-approved provider in or out of network · Gold Plus HMO: in-network only (lower cost when in-network) · PPO typically costs more per month · PPO suits: seniors who travel frequently, those with complex specialist needs, those who don’t want a gatekeeper PCP · Gold Plus suits: seniors who prefer coordinated care and want lower premiums if their doctors are in-network

  The core difference between Humana Choice PPO and Gold Plus HMO comes down to one question: how important is the ability to see any doctor without restrictions? With Gold Plus HMO, seeing an out-of-network provider means paying essentially full price, as if you had no insurance for that visit. With Humana Choice PPO, you can see any Medicare-approved provider — even out of network — and the plan still pays a portion of the cost (though less than it would in-network). For seniors who see multiple specialists, who travel seasonally between states, or who have established relationships with particular doctors they’re unwilling to leave, the PPO’s flexibility justifies its higher premium. Humana’s PPO plans earn a 3.86 CMS Star Rating — 0.23 above the national PPO average — which is a relative strength compared to their HMO plans.

These are representative cost ranges based on available 2026 plan data. Your actual plan costs depend on your ZIP code, county, and the specific plan available at your address. Always verify at humana.com or medicare.gov before enrolling.

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