Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Erie County, NY for 2027
Every general-audience Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage sold in Erie County, ranked by what it could cost you in a bad year: 12 months of premiums, less any Part B giveback, plus the in-network out-of-pocket maximum.
Erie County plans, ranked
| # | Plan | Premium / month | In-network max out-of-pocket | Worst-case year | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO-POS)Aetna Medicare · HMO-POS5 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $750/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $0 | $7,150 | $7,150 | 3★ |
| 2 | Community Blue Medicare HMO Signature (HMO)Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue Shield · HMO2 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $100/yr · OTC items $100/yr | $0 | $7,150 | $7,150 | 4★ |
| 3 | Univera SeniorChoice Secure (HMO-POS)Excellus Health Plan, Inc · HMO-POS8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $250Dental up to $500/yr | $104.70 | $6,000 | $7,256 | 4★ |
| 4 | Community Blue Medicare HMO Distinct (HMO)Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue Shield · HMO2 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $200/yr · OTC items $180/yr | $68 | $6,750 | $7,566 | 4★ |
| 5 | Univera SeniorChoice Value Plus (HMO-POS)Excellus Health Plan, Inc · HMO-POS8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $295Dental up to $500/yr | $93.30 | $6,700 | $7,820 | 4★ |
| 6 | Community Blue Medicare HMO 651 (HMO)Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue Shield · HMO2 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $2,000/yr · eyewear $200/yr · OTC items $160/yr | $118 | $6,700 | $8,116 | 4★ |
| 7 | Univera SeniorChoice Advanced (HMO-POS)Excellus Health Plan, Inc · HMO-POS8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $300Dental up to $500/yr | $75.40 | $7,500 | $8,405 | 4★ |
| 8 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NY-0007 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $685Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $75/yr · hearing aids $700/yr | $0 | $9,300 | $9,300 | 3.5★ |
| 9 | Independent Health's Encompass 65 RED 044 (HMO)Independent Health · HMO8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $510Dental up to $2,000/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $250/yr per ear | $110 | $8,000 | $9,320 | 4.5★ |
| 10 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NY-0019 (PPO)UnitedHealthcare · PPO8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $685Preventive dental · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $700/yr | $39 | $8,900 | $9,368 | 3★ |
| 11 | Wellcare Giveback Open (PPO)Wellcare · PPO48 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $37/mo · Dental | $0−$37 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $9,406 | 3★ |
| 12 | Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO4 of 62 counties · drug deductible $400Preventive dental · eyewear $100/yr | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 4★ |
| 13 | Univera SeniorChoice Basic (HMO)Excellus Health Plan, Inc · HMO8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $500/yr | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 4★ |
| 14 | Wellcare Assist Open (PPO)Wellcare · PPO48 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $500/yr per ear | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 3★ |
| 15 | Wellcare Fidelis Assist (HMO-POS)Wellcare · HMO-POS58 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $350/yr per ear | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 3★ |
| 16 | Wellcare Fidelis Simple (HMO-POS)Wellcare · HMO-POS58 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 3★ |
| 17 | Wellcare Simple Open (PPO)Wellcare · PPO48 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental · hearing aids $750/yr per ear | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 3★ |
| 18 | HumanaChoice H5970-029 (PPO)Humana · PPO45 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $200/yr | $65 | $9,250 | $10,030 | 3★ |
| 19 | MVP Medicare Preferred Gold with Part D (HMO-POS)MVP HEALTH CARE · HMO-POS11 of 62 counties · drug deductible $400Dental up to $300/yr · eyewear $175/yr · OTC items $100/yr | $277 | $6,800 | $10,124 | 3.5★ |
| 20 | VNS Health EasyCare (HMO)VNS Health Medicare · HMO20 of 62 counties · drug deductible $650Dental up to $2,500/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $167/yr per ear · OTC items $200/yr | $25 | $9,850 | $10,150 | 4★ |
| 21 | Aetna Medicare Elite (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO5 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $250/yr | $35 | $9,850 | $10,270 | 4★ |
| 22 | Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO4 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $2,000/yr · eyewear $250/yr | $41 | $9,850 | $10,342 | 4★ |
| 23 | Independent Health's Encompass 65 RED 045 (HMO)Independent Health · HMO8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $375Dental up to $2,000/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $250/yr per ear | $286 | $7,000 | $10,432 | 4.5★ |
| 24 | Independent Health's Encompass 65 RED 042 (HMO)Independent Health · HMO8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $550Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $250/yr per ear | $49 | $9,850 | $10,438 | 4.5★ |
| 25 | Independent Health's Medicare Passport Connect (PPO)Independent Health · PPO8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $200/yr | $81 | $9,850 | $10,822 | 4.5★ |
| 26 | Community Blue Medicare HMO Standard (HMO)Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue Shield · HMO8 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Preventive dental · eyewear $100/yr | $368 | $7,150 | $11,566 | 4★ |
| 27 | MVP Medicare WellValue with Part D (HMO-POS)MVP HEALTH CARE · HMO-POS11 of 62 counties · drug deductible $700Preventive dental · eyewear $150/yr | $217 | $9,850 | $12,454 | 3.5★ |
Worst-case year = 12 × (monthly plan premium − any Part B giveback) + in-network maximum out-of-pocket. The giveback is money back on the Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), which is otherwise the same for everyone, so a large one can push the worst-case year below $0; drug costs are capped separately at $2,400 in 2027. Other extras are the yearly maximums each plan filed with CMS and don’t change the order. Methodology
What changed since 2026
- Plans with drug coverage: 46 in 2026, 36 in 2027.
- $0-premium plans: 24 in 2026, 19 in 2027.
- Median in-network out-of-pocket maximum: $7,100 in 2026, $8,450 in 2027.
- 100,695 people here were in a general-audience Advantage plan in October 2026; 9,264 of them are in a plan that ends or leaves the county for 2027 and must choose again.
From our 2026 vs. 2027 Medicare Advantage study (CMS landscape, enrollment and crosswalk files).
Before you enroll, check that your doctors are in the plan’s network and how it covers your drugs in the Medicare Plan Finder. Weighing Advantage against Original Medicare with a Medigap plan? Run the county calculator.
Also sold here without drug coverage: Humana USAA Honor Giveback (PPO), AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx NY-MA3 (HMO-POS), Independent Health's Encompass 65 (HMO), Freedom Valor (PPO), Univera Medicare Freedom (HMO-POS), Senior Blue 601 (HMO), MVP Medicare Preferred Gold without Part D (HMO-POS), Aetna Medicare Eagle Giveback (PPO), Wellcare Fidelis Patriot Simple (HMO-POS).
Questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are in Erie County for 2027?
27 general-audience plans with drug coverage, 10 of them with a $0 monthly premium, compared with 46 plans and 24 $0-premium plans in 2026. Special Needs Plans aren't counted.
Which plan has the lowest worst-case cost in Erie County?
Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO-POS) from Aetna Medicare: $0 a month with an in-network out-of-pocket maximum of $7,150, so at most about $7,150 for the year in premiums and in-network costs.
Do any Erie County plans have a Part B giveback?
1 do. The largest is $37 a month off your Part B premium, from Wellcare Giveback Open (PPO).
How many Erie County plans have 4 or more stars?
16 of 27, based on CMS's 2027 ratings of the contract behind each plan.
Sources
- CMS, CY 2027 Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Landscape (CY2027_Landscape_202609.csv), from cms.gov; extra benefits (Part B giveback, dental, eyewear, hearing aids, over-the-counter allowance) from the CMS CY 2027 Plan Benefit Package files, cms.gov, yearly amounts as each plan filed them; star ratings from the CMS 2027 Star Ratings Data Tables (October 8, 2026), cms.gov. Ratings are per contract, so plans under the same contract share one rating. General-audience plans only: Special Needs Plans, Cost plans and employer group plans are not ranked.
- County population: 2020 Census, via the USDA Rural-Urban Continuum Codes (2023).
Educational information, not a recommendation to join any plan. We are not an insurance agent or broker, and we are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. · Advertiser disclosure
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