What's the Best $0 Medicare Advantage Plan?
Compare Medicare Plans in Your Area
Best $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans
To choose the best $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans, ValuePenguin's Medicare experts reviewed each company's overall rating on Medicare.gov, the availability of $0 plans, how many $0 plans are offered and the average drug deductible and out-of-pocket maximum for the $0 plans. We also reviewed J.D. Power's Medicare Advantage study to measure customer satisfaction.
Best overall $0 Medicare Advantage plans: Kaiser Permanente
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Overall rating
- $0 plan availability: 8 states and Washington, D.C.
Kaiser Permanente sells highly-rated $0 Medicare Advantage plans.
Pros
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Good customer service
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Cheap prescription drugs
Cons
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Only available in eight states and D.C.
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Limits you to certain doctors
Kaiser Permanente has excellent customer service and plan quality, which makes it the best option for $0 Medicare Advantage plans. About half of all the Medicare Advantage plans that Kaiser Permanente sells have no monthly rate, so you'll usually have several $0 options to choose from.
Kaiser Permanente is also a good option if you take prescription medications. Kaiser's $0 Medicare Advantage plans tend to have low deductibles for medications, averaging just $4. That means you only have to pay the first $4 each year for your prescriptions, as long as they're covered. After that, your plan will pay for the full cost.
Your drug deductible varies depending on where you live and what plan you choose. Kaiser's $0 plans in Washington State have the highest average drug deductible at $33, which is still very low. In other states, like California and Georgia, Kaiser Permanente's $0 Medicare Advantage plans have no drug deductible. That means your plan covers your medications right away.
But Kaiser Permanente isn't an option for everyone. It only sells plans in eight states and Washington, D.C. And because Kaiser Permanente also owns medical offices, most of its plans require you to use Kaiser doctors and hospitals. If you want the freedom to see whatever doctor you want, Humana is a better option.
Kaiser’s Medicare Advantage plans, including its $0 plans, are only available in eight states and Washington, D.C.
- California
- Colorado
- Georgia
- Maryland
- Oregon
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
Best $0 plans with extra perks: AARP/UnitedHealthcare (AARP/UHC)
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Overall rating
- $0 plan availability: 47 states and Washington, D.C.
AARP/UHC's free Medicare Advantage plans come with impressive perks.
Pros
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Great extra benefits
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Lots of $0 plans to choose from
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Available almost everywhere
Cons
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Satisfaction depends on where you live
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Total health care costs can be high
More than 60% of AARP/UnitedHealthcare's Medicare Advantage plans have no monthly rate, and they come with impressive perks. For example, many plans come with $0 virtual doctor visits, money to spend on things like vitamins and cold medicine, and dental, hearing and vision coverage.
You can even have a nurse practitioner come to your house to do a preventive care visit through the UnitedHealthcare HouseCalls program. And you don't have to join AARP to buy a plan. AARP/UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans are open to anyone who qualifies for Medicare.
But AARP/UnitedHealthcare doesn't always have the best customer service. In many states, like Florida, Georgia and Illinois, its plans are ranked highly for customer satisfaction. But in others, like California, Ohio and Pennsylvania, UnitedHealthcare ranked below average for customer service. Before you buy a plan, it might be helpful to talk to current members in your area to see if they like the company.
AARP/UnitedHealthcare sells $0 Medicare Advantage plans in 47 states and Washington, D.C.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Most flexible coverage for a $0 plan: Humana
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Overall rating
- $0 plan availability: 45 states and Washington, D.C.
Humana sells more $0 PPO plans than any other major company.
Pros
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$0 PPO plans let you see any doctor
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Available almost everywhere
Cons
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Medical costs can be high
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Customer service is usually below average
If you want a Medicare Advantage plan that lets you see any doctor, Humana is a great option. Almost seven in 10 of Humana's $0 plans are PPOs, which give you the flexibility to see any doctor and still have some coverage.
PPO plans also let you see specialists without a referral. This can make it easier and faster to get medical care, especially if you need to see specialists often. Humana sells nearly 5,000 $0 PPO plans, the most of any major Medicare Advantage company.
Because they give you more flexibility with where to get medical care, PPO plans are usually more expensive than other types of plans. That makes Humana's $0 PPO plans a great value.
But a Humana plan can require you to pay a lot of your medical bills yourself. On average, Humana's $0 Medicare Advantage plans have a $7,162 out-of-pocket maximum. That's the most you'll pay toward your medical bills in a year before your plan starts paying your costs in full.
And Humana generally doesn't have the best customer service. The company's Medicare Advantage plans were listed as having below-average satisfaction in eight of the 10 states surveyed by J.D. Power. Before you buy a Humana plan, it could be worthwhile to look into the company's service in your area.
Humana sells $0 Medicare Advantage plans in 45 states and Washington, D.C. You can get a $0 PPO plan in each of these states except Maryland.
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
How can Medicare Advantage plans cost $0?
Almost everyone in the U.S. pays into the government's Medicare program. For most people, this includes paying Medicare taxes while working to fund Medicare Part A, and then paying each month for Medicare Part B when you're enrolled in Medicare.
Then, the government Medicare program gives money to insurance companies based on how many people are enrolled in their Medicare Advantage plans. When you see a $0 plan, that means that the government gives that company enough money to completely pay the monthly cost of that plan. That means you don't have to pay an extra monthly rate for that plan; you just have to pay for Medicare Part B, which is $185 per month in 2025.
You're still responsible for paying your medical bills until you hit your deductible, after which you may have to pay a fixed cost or a percentage of your medical bill until you get to your out-of-pocket maximum.
When is it worth it to upgrade to a more expensive Medicare Advantage plan?
It's usually a good idea to buy a more expensive Medicare Advantage plan if you need lots of medical care.
For example, if you take several medications, expect to need surgery in the coming year, manage a chronic condition or need expensive treatments, a $0 Medicare Advantage plan might not be the right choice.
You can check if it's worth it to upgrade by comparing the extra cost for a plan against the potential savings you're likely to get from the extra benefits. Remember to consider all types of coverage, including medical care, prescriptions, dental, vision and hearing.
But there are some $0 Medicare Advantage plans that offer very good coverage. Just because a plan is free each month doesn't mean the coverage is worse than a more expensive plan. The best way to compare Medicare Advantage plans is to look at more than just the monthly rate. Review the deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, list of covered medications and extra perks, too, to make sure the plan fits your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Are there zero-premium Medicare Advantage plans?
Yes, almost every Medicare Advantage company sells at least one $0 premium plan in 2025. Most people have access to at least one $0 Medicare Advantage plan. Before you buy a plan with no monthly rate, review your options and make sure the coverage works for you.
How easy is it to get a free Medicare Advantage plan?
Free Medicare Advantage plans are widely available, and these $0 plans are offered by 94% of Medicare Advantage companies in 2025. Free plans are also popular, and about two-thirds of Medicare Advantage plans have $0 monthly rates.
Are $0 Medicare Advantage plans a good deal?
Yes, free Medicare Advantage plans can be a good deal because they help you keep your monthly costs low while providing a bundle of coverage that often includes prescriptions, dental and vision care. However, $0 plans are best for people who are in good health. If you have a chronic sickness or disability, you'll probably save money with a more expensive plan that has better benefits.
Which insurance company has the best free Medicare Advantage plans?
Kaiser Permanente sells the best $0 Medicare Advantage plans, but you can only get them in eight states and Washington, D.C. UnitedHealthcare and Humana are also good options, and their plans are more widely available than Kaiser's plans.
Sources and methodology
Medicare Advantage rates and star ratings for 2025 are from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Average plan benefits and ratings only include $0 Medicare Advantage plans and exclude PACE plans, special needs plans, Part B-only plans, employer-sponsored plans, Medicare-Medicaid plans and sanctioned plans. Other sources include Medicare.gov, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and KFF.
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Availability of benefits and plans varies by carrier and location and may be limited to certain times of the year, unless you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 73 organizations that offer 5,110 products in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options.
These numbers provided are not specific to your area, but rather represent the number of organizations and the number of products available on a national basis. We will connect you with licensed insurance agents who can provide information about the number of organizations they represent and the number of products they offer in your service area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Limitations and exclusions may apply.
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Medicare supplement insurance is available to people age 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or end stage renal disease.
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits are offered by these carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Anthem Blue Cross, Aspire Health Plan, Cigna Healthcare, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, Florida Blue Medicare, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Healthy Blue, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Simply, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare and WellPoint.
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