Home › Knowledge › Medicare Advantage
Vedanth Bhartee
Writer · Reviewed by Richard ChanUpdated Jun 12, 2026
12 min read
Medicare Advantage plans in Florida, also known as Part C, must cover all services included in Original Medicare Parts A and B.
Many Florida Medicare Advantage plans include additional benefits like prescription drug coverage, routine dental, and vision care.
Beneficiaries in Florida can only enroll in or switch Medicare Advantage plans during designated enrollment periods, such as the Annual Election Period.
Navigating healthcare options can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to balance your medical needs with a strict budget. Medicare Advantage (also known as Medicare Part C) plans cover all the essential services that Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) provides, while often folding in prescription drug coverage and helpful extra benefits. Because of this comprehensive approach, Medicare Advantage plans have become an increasingly popular choice for those seeking peace of mind without breaking the bank.
If you call Florida home, you have a wealth of options when evaluating Medicare Advantage plans. However, with so many massive insurance companies competing for your attention, cutting through the noise to find the specific providers and plans that genuinely align with your life and health needs is crucial.
Florida boasts a deeply diverse market of Medicare Advantage plans from household-name insurers. To help guide you through this critical decision, we’ll cut straight to the facts—comparing drug coverage, real member experiences, and the availability of plans that respect your wallet. We'll outline hard data for select providers, including those all-important monthly premiums and potential out-of-pocket costs, so you can make an empowered choice.
Before diving into the numbers for Florida's major Medicare Advantage providers, it's vital to understand the yardsticks used to measure a plan's true value:
CMS Star Rating: Published annually by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), this rating objectively measures the quality of health and drug services members receive. Ranging from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent) stars, this overall score weighs up to 40 distinct performance metrics and serves as a highly reliable benchmark when comparing plans.
Monthly Premium: This is the fixed dollar amount you pay out of your own pocket to a provider each month to keep your health coverage active.
In-Network Max Out-of-Pocket Amount: A critical financial safety net, this is the absolute maximum you will be required to pay for covered, in-network services during a specific coverage period (typically one calendar year).
Note: The statistics provided in the charts below are calculated using the most accurate plan data specific to the state of Florida.
National Providers
| Provider Name | Average CMS Star Rating | Median Monthly Premium | Median In-Network Max Out-of-Pocket $ |
| UnitedHealthcare | 3.9★ | $0.00 | $4,900 |
| Humana | 4.2★ | $0.00 | $5,500 |
| Aetna | 3.8★ | $0.00 | $5,000 |
| Wellcare | 3.3★ | $0.00 | $3,900 |
Regional Providers
| Provider Name | Average CMS Star Rating | Median Monthly Premium | Median In-Network Max Out-of-Pocket $ |
| Devoted Health | 5.0★ | $0.00 | $4,850 |
| Optimum HealthCare | 5.0★ | $0.00 | $1,900 |
| Simply Healthcare | 5.0★ | $0.00 | $3,450 |
| Florida Blue | 3.5★ | $0.00 | $5,500 |
| CarePlus | 4.0★ | $0.00 | $3,500 |
Please also note that while some smaller, regional providers may offer 5-star CMS rated plans, they will likely have a limited, much smaller network of physicians than the massive national health insurance providers.
Humana is a massive health insurance company in the United States which offers a diverse range of healthcare insurance and related products, with a heavy emphasis on Medicare.
They service two million members statewide in Florida across three partner communities (Broward County, Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay). Looking at national market share, they are the second largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the United States (17.8%), but they are the undisputed largest in Florida, commanding a massive 32% of the market.
Optimum Healthcare is a health insurance company that focuses entirely on providing Medicare Advantage plans, including Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans.
Optimum currently has over 59,000 members and provides robust service across 24 counties throughout Florida.
Simply Healthcare is a Florida-licensed health maintenance organization established explicitly to meet the needs of Floridians enrolled in government-sponsored healthcare programs.
They are proudly headquartered in Miami and have regional offices in Orlando, Tampa, and Sunrise. They are well-connected with physicians and hospitals statewide and reliably service 11 counties in Florida.
UnitedHealthcare is a ubiquitous national provider of health insurance. They currently lead the fiercely competitive Medicare Advantage market nationally, boasting a 28.5% national market share and serving over 9 million enrollees across the country.
Additionally, they hold the title for the fastest-growing MA plan provider, having expanded by an impressive 12.7% year over year from 2022 to 2026 (the second fastest-growing MA provider was Humana, at 10.1%).
Operating as a major subsidiary of the CVS Health Corporation, Aetna is another formidable national health insurance provider.
As of March 2026, Aetna cemented its status as the third-largest provider of Medicare plans overall (with a 10.6% market share) and emerged as the largest provider of standalone Medicare prescription drug plans (capturing 27.2% of that specific market).
Devoted Health positions itself as an innovative, all-in-one healthcare company tailored exclusively for Medicare beneficiaries. They go beyond merely delivering health insurance—they actively strive to provide seamless, high-quality medical care coordination.
Despite being leaner than the national giants, Devoted Health has meticulously cultivated a very strong, reliable presence in Florida, as it is their longest-served market.
Florida Blue, Florida’s designated Blue Cross Blue Shield company, brings over 75 years of deep experience as a leading health insurer in the state.
The company serves over 5 million healthcare members across the state and is headquartered in Jacksonville, FL. Florida Blue and its affiliated companies serve a staggering 27 million people across 35 states.
CarePlus is another deeply entrenched provider of Medicare-related products for Florida residents. The company is headquartered in Miami and brings over 20 years of dedicated experience, serving roughly 200,000 Floridians across 20 counties statewide.
Wellcare is a sprawling healthcare enterprise offering insurance solutions to Americans from coast to coast. Medicare Advantage remains one of Wellcare’s flagship products, earning them a 4.3% national market share.
By 2026, they also ranked as the second-largest provider of prescription drug plans (PDPs) with a 19.9% market share. Like their massive competitors, Wellcare maintains a formidable presence in Florida, backed by deep, statewide connections to hospitals, services, and physicians.
Selecting the right Medicare Advantage plan—one that truly addresses your specific health realities and financial constraints—is a deeply personal and critical decision. Let’s break down the necessary steps to make this complex process as clear as possible.
From honestly assessing your physical needs to diving into the fine print of plan documents, our objective is to arm you with the factual knowledge needed to confidently navigate your options.
Because every individual's health and financial situation is completely unique, the "best" Medicare Advantage plan is entirely subjective. If you are grappling with specific questions about your personal circumstances, we strongly suggest scheduling a free consultation with a licensed insurance agent.
Furthermore, if you are actively scrutinizing your prescription drug expenses, we highly advise discussing generic alternatives with your doctor. When available, the generic version of a drug will dramatically reduce your costs compared to the brand-name equivalent.

Offered exclusively by Medicare-approved private insurance corporations, Medicare Advantage plans (or Medicare Part C) provide an alternative route for receiving your Medicare benefits.
By law, these plans must deliver all the basic coverage provided by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), while frequently throwing in additional perks. Here is a factual summary of what you can expect a Medicare Advantage plan to cover:
It is imperative to recognize that exact coverage details fluctuate wildly between different Medicare Advantage plans. You must meticulously review official plan documents, specifically the Summary of Benefits, to ensure it meets your real-world needs.
Finally, never forget: enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan does not absolve you from paying your standard Medicare Part B premium, which you must continue to pay alongside any premium charged by your Advantage plan.
Your Initial Enrollment Period triggers when you first become eligible for Medicare, which is generally around your 65th birthday. Later, the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) opens every year from October 15 to December 7, granting you the crucial window to switch, drop, or formally add a Medicare Advantage plan.
Additionally, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, running from January 1 to March 31, allows current enrollees one chance to change their Advantage plan or revert entirely back to Original Medicare.
Life happens, and Special Enrollment Periods can be triggered by major events—such as moving out of your plan's service area, suddenly losing your employer-provided coverage, or qualifying for Medicaid. Staying acutely aware of these rigid deadlines is the only way to maintain control over your Medicare Advantage coverage in Florida.
The choice between a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan and a Medigap (Medicare Supplement) policy is a fundamental fork in the road for your healthcare. Medicare Advantage packages Part A and Part B together, heavily leaning into extras like built-in prescription drug coverage.

These unified plans are highly prized for their affordability and simple, all-in-one administration, even though they demand you stay within a defined network of doctors and hospitals.
Unsurprisingly, Medicare Advantage is exceptionally popular in Florida. As of May 2026, nearly 55% of Florida residents who are eligible for Medicare were enrolled in private Medicare Advantage plans. This figure confidently outpaces the 2026 national average of 51%.
Conversely, Medigap policies function as a financial backstop to Original Medicare, explicitly designed to pay the out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles and 20% coinsurance) that Original Medicare leaves behind. While Medigap grants you the ultimate freedom to see any doctor who accepts Medicare nationwide, it commands significantly higher monthly premiums.
Here is an objective breakdown of how the two stack up:
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Medigap (Medicare Supplement) | |
| Coverage | – Bundled coverage, often includes prescription drugs and extras. – Limited to network providers; may require referrals. | – Comprehensive coverage of out-of-pocket costs. – Greater flexibility in choosing healthcare providers. |
| Costs | – Lower premiums, but potential for higher out-of-pocket costs. | – Higher premiums but lower out-of-pocket costs. |
| Prescription Drugs | – Often includes prescription drug coverage. | – Doesn’t typically include prescription drug coverage. |
| Network Restrictions | – Limited to network providers; may require referrals. | – No network restrictions; can see any doctor accepting Medicare. |
| Administration | – Requires managing multiple aspects (Part A, B, and sometimes D). | – Simplifies administrative processes with a single plan. |
| Flexibility | – May be limited to specific geographic regions or networks. | – Freedom to use healthcare services nationwide. |
| Additional Benefits | – May include extra benefits like dental, vision, and wellness programs. | – Focuses solely on medical costs; no additional benefits. |
| Decision Criteria | – Attractive for those seeking bundled coverage with potentially lower costs. | – Suited for those who prioritize flexibility and are willing to pay higher premiums. |
Ultimately, your decision comes down to what lets you sleep at night: Medicare Advantage offers cost-effective, bundled convenience with strict network rules, while Medigap provides total geographic and provider freedom for a predictably higher monthly price tag.