Humana vs. UnitedHealthcare: Medicare Plans

Humana and UnitedHealthcare (UHC) are big names in the Medicare world. They both offer Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Supplement (Medigap), and Medicare Part D plans.

Based on my experience, here’s what I think in a nutshell:

Humana typically offers lower Medigap premiums compared to UnitedHealthcare, depending on your state.

UnitedHealthcare provides access to a broader network of Medicare Advantage healthcare providers than Humana.

In this article, I’ll be comparing the two providers and looking at how they measure up when it comes to:

• What plans they offer
• Premiums and other out-of-pocket costs
• Financial ratings and what members think

Let’s dive in and begin with overviews of Humana and UHC.

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Humana Medicare Plan Highlights

Pros:

• Plans are available in 50 states
• Approximately 5.8 million Medicare Advantage plan (MAPD) members
• Offers a USAA Honor plan for veterans
• SilverSneakers fitness program
• Several Part D plans, with a low-cost Walmart Value Rx option
• Dental, vision, hearing, and alternative care
• 7% household discount on Medigap plans
• CMS Star Rating average of 3.63

Cons:

• Customer satisfaction scores are notably low in certain areas
• Premiums are not the most competitive compared to other leading providers
• Out-of-pocket maximums are relatively high

My Opinion:

Humana received above-average Medicare Advantage member experience scores compared to other major providers, which I consider valuable in a provider.

If you’re considering a Medigap plan and the UHC premiums are too high for your budget, Humana has some more affordable Medigap plan offerings depending on which state you live in – however, they may not always be the cheapest. 

I also recommend looking at other providers that may offer even lower premiums, such as Allstate, ACE, and Aflac, before making your final decision.

• Helpful tip about Medigap:

  All Medigap plan benefits are standardized – meaning they’re the same no matter which insurance provider you choose.  The only difference between providers is their premium amounts and the extra benefits they may offer.

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UHC Medicare Plan Highlights

Pros:

• Plans available in 50 states
• Largest Medicare Advantage provider with approximately 25% of the entire market
• Offers a Patriot Plan for veterans
• Renew Active program with gym and online fitness options
• Multiple Part D options with partnerships for prescription savings
• Healthy food allowance, HouseCall home health program, and $0 copays for virtual visits
• CMS Star Rating average of 3.82

Cons:

• Customers can sometimes feel overwhelmed by the company’s size and numerous affiliates
• Premiums can be a lot higher in some areas
• The member experience ratings aren’t the best

My Opinion:

If you live in Florida, Michigan, California, Illinois, or Arizona, UnitedHealthcare offers some of the most competitive premium rates on Medigap plans.

UHC may have higher Medigap premiums in other states, but it’s still a reliable, established company with years of experience in the Medicare market and the largest provider network for Medicare Advantage.

Now, we’ll start to focus on the significant differences between these two providers.

Humana vs. UHC: Medicare Plans Offered

Medicare Advantage

Humana offers various Medicare Advantage plans, including HMO, PPO, and PFFS options. Its USAA Honor plan is designed for veterans, and it also includes the SilverSneakers fitness program, which offers free gym access and virtual classes—a great fit for wellness-focused members.

UnitedHealthcare provides a similar range, with HMO, PPO, and HMO-POS plans. Their Patriot plan is designed for veterans and those with separate drug coverage. UnitedHealthcare’s Renew Active program also promotes fitness with access to gyms, online workouts, and local events.

Medicare Supplement (Medigap)

Humana’s Medigap options cover popular plans like A, B, C, D, F, G, and N, offering expanded coverage for costs beyond traditional Medicare. They also provide a household discount in some states.

UnitedHealthcare’s Medigap plan offerings are comprehensive, including nine standardized plans (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, and N) and an electronic funds transfer discount.

Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)

Humana has three Part D plans: Walmart Value Rx, Basic Rx, and Premier Rx. The Walmart Value Rx plan offers a low-cost option with no deductible on tier 1 and 2 drugs, while the Premier Rx covers all tiers with a $0 deductible for tiers 1 and 2.

UnitedHealthcare’s Part D options include two national and two regional plans, with monthly premiums ranging from $31 to $124. They waive deductibles for many lower-tier drugs, partner with Walgreens for discounts, and offer mail-order services through OptumRx.

Humana vs. UHC: Medigap Plan Costs

We compared premium costs of popular Humana and UHC Medigap plans in different states for your review:

• Florida:

  Medigap Plan	Humana	UHC
  G	$225.50	$215.16
  F	$317.39	$263.12
  N	$169.16	$183.91
  A	$206.32	$185.70
  Sample quotes are for a 65 y/o nonsmoking male in FL zip code 32503.

• Georgia:

  Medigap Plan	Humana	UHC
  G	$188.38	$173.00
  F	$231.84	$287.75
  N	$142.50	$154.00
  A	$186.50	$154.25
  Sample quotes are for a 65 y/o nonsmoking male in GA zip code 30127.

• Illinois:

  Medigap Plan	Humana	UHC
  G	$159.66	$166.51
  F	$193.96	$216.99
  N	$140.41	$154.77
  A	$158.06	$116.18
  Sample quotes are for a 65 y/o nonsmoking male in IL zip code 60096.

• Texas:

  Medigap Plan	Humana	UHC
  G	$167.89	$176.12
  F	$205.68	$231.47
  N	$131.74	$150.95
  A	$167.73	$374.67
  Sample quotes are for a 65 y/o nonsmoking male in TX zip code 76092.

Medigap Premium Analysis

In summary, our research shows that on average:

• UHC premiums are 7.7% lower than Humana in Florida
• UHC premiums are 2.5% lower than Humana in Georgia
• Humana premiums are 0.3% lower than UHC in Illinois
• Humana premiums are 28% lower than UHC in Texas

As I said earlier, UHC offers more competitive premiums in states like Florida, Michigan, California, Illinois, and Arizona. However, Humana generally provides more affordable premium options in most other states.

Humana vs. UHC: Ratings + Customer Satisfaction

Here’s a quick breakdown of how these two companies stack up in terms of ratings and member satisfaction:

Criteria	Humana	UnitedHealthcare
Average CMS Star Rating (2025)	3.63 (a slight decrease from previous years)	3.82 (above industry average)
Affordability	Noted for affordable deductibles	A broad range of competitive options
Member Satisfaction	Slight decline in satisfaction in some regions	Steady but average satisfaction scores
Financial Stability	Strong, though no specific AM Best rating was noted	A+ rating from AM Best, indicating high stability
Network Size	Extensive network coverage in 49 states	Largest provider network in the U.S.

This chart shows that both companies maintain solid, though mostly average, ratings.

My Final Thoughts

Humana and UnitedHealthcare are both great Medicare options, with only a few small differences between their plans.

UnitedHealthcare is the right choice if you’re looking for the biggest, most established Medicare Supplement provider.

But if Humana has lower premiums in your state, it might be the better fit for your budget.

When deciding between the two, think about what matters most to you—premiums, extra benefits, drug coverage, or whether your doctor is in the plan’s network.

If you have questions or need help picking the right plan or company, feel free to call us directly. We’d be happy to do a personalized needs analysis and help you find the best option.

Sources: UHC Medicare Plan Info  |  Humana Medicare Plans  |  Medicare.gov

FAQs

• Do Humana and UnitedHealthcare offer $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans?

  Yes, both providers offer a significant portion of plans with $0 monthly premiums. Nearly 49% of Humana plans have no premium, while 61% of UnitedHealthcare plans are premium-free.

• Which company has higher customer satisfaction?

  UnitedHealthcare has a slight edge in CMS Star Ratings, with an average of 3.82 versus Humana’s 3.63.

• Do Humana and UnitedHealthcare cover dental, vision, and hearing services?

  Yes, both companies include options for dental, vision, and hearing services in many of their Medicare Advantage plans.