Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Buncombe County, NC for 2027
Every general-audience Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage sold in Buncombe 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.
Buncombe County plans, ranked
| # | Plan | Premium / month | In-network max out-of-pocket | Worst-case year | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alignment Health Smart 006 (HMO)Alignment Health Plan · HMO16 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $119/mo · Preventive dental · eyewear $50/yr | $0−$119 Part B giveback | $3,400 | $1,972 | 4.5★ |
| 2 | Humana Gold Plus H1036-335 (HMO-POS)Humana · HMO-POS62 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $1/mo · Dental up to $4,000/yr · eyewear $450/yr | $0−$1 Part B giveback | $3,950 | $3,938 | 4.5★ |
| 3 | Alignment Health AVA 001 (PPO)Alignment Health Plan · PPO16 of 100 counties · drug deductible $0Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $75/yr | $20 | $3,900 | $4,140 | Not rated |
| 4 | Alignment Health Platinum 010 (HMO)Alignment Health Plan · HMO16 of 100 counties · drug deductible $225Dental up to $2,000/yr · eyewear $300/yr · OTC items $480/yr | $0 | $4,300 | $4,300 | 4.5★ |
| 5 | DEVOTED CORE 029 NC (HMO)Devoted Health · HMO18 of 100 counties · drug deductible $650Dental up to $3,750/yr · eyewear $300/yr · OTC items $260/yr | $0 | $4,950 | $4,950 | 4.5★ |
| 6 | Troy Medicare (HMO)Troy Medicare · HMO35 of 100 counties · drug deductible $0Dental up to $2,000/yr · eyewear $200/yr · OTC items $240/yr | $0 | $4,950 | $4,950 | 3★ |
| 7 | DEVOTED CHOICE 005 NC (PPO)Devoted Health · PPO17 of 100 counties · drug deductible $650Dental up to $2,500/yr · eyewear $300/yr · OTC items $200/yr | $0 | $5,300 | $5,300 | 4★ |
| 8 | Blue Medicare Enhanced (HMO-POS)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina · HMO-POS20 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · OTC items $160/yr | $41 | $4,900 | $5,392 | 4★ |
| 9 | Aetna Medicare Value Plus (HMO)Aetna Medicare · HMO92 of 100 counties · drug deductible $400Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $1,250/yr per ear · OTC items $120/yr | $0 | $5,500 | $5,500 | 3.5★ |
| 10 | Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina · HMO-POS19 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental | $0 | $5,900 | $5,900 | 4★ |
| 11 | DEVOTED GIVEBACK EXTRAS 044 NC (HMO)Devoted Health · HMO18 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $70/mo · Dental up to $4,000/yr · eyewear $350/yr · OTC items $660/yr | $0−$70 Part B giveback | $7,150 | $6,310 | 4.5★ |
| 12 | Wellcare Assist Open (PPO)Wellcare · PPO70 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $300/yr · hearing aids $750/yr per ear | $0 | $6,500 | $6,500 | 3★ |
| 13 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-0009 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS17 of 100 counties · drug deductible $595Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $150/yr · hearing aids $1,000/yr | $57 | $5,900 | $6,584 | 4★ |
| 14 | Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS)Wellcare · HMO-POS71 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $4,000/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $750/yr per ear | $0 | $6,700 | $6,700 | 3.5★ |
| 15 | Aetna Medicare Signature Giveback (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO86 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $30/mo · Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $1,250/yr per ear · OTC items $80/yr | $0−$30 Part B giveback | $7,500 | $7,140 | 4★ |
| 16 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS25 of 100 counties · drug deductible $685Preventive dental · hearing aids $1,000/yr | $0 | $7,150 | $7,150 | 4★ |
| 17 | Wellcare Simple Open (PPO)Wellcare · PPO70 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $200/yr · hearing aids $500/yr per ear | $0 | $7,150 | $7,150 | 3★ |
| 18 | Blue Medicare PPO Enhanced (PPO)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina · PPO21 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · OTC items $136/yr | $45 | $6,900 | $7,440 | 4.5★ |
| 19 | DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK 006 NC (PPO)Devoted Health · PPO17 of 100 counties · drug deductible $465Part B giveback $172.80/mo · Dental up to $250/yr · eyewear $200/yr | $0−$172.80 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $7,776 | 4★ |
| 20 | DEVOTED GIVEBACK 030 NC (HMO)Devoted Health · HMO18 of 100 counties · drug deductible $650Part B giveback $171/mo · Dental up to $250/yr · eyewear $200/yr | $0−$171 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $7,798 | 4.5★ |
| 21 | HumanaChoice Giveback H5525-035 (PPO)Humana · PPO86 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $110/mo · Dental · eyewear $150/yr | $0−$110 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $8,530 | 4★ |
| 22 | AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback from UHC NC-13 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS18 of 100 counties · drug deductible $685Part B giveback $51/mo · Dental up to $1,000/yr · hearing aids $1,000/yr | $0−$51 Part B giveback | $9,300 | $8,688 | 4★ |
| 23 | HumanaChoice Giveback H5216-017 (PPO)Humana · PPO37 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $79/mo · Dental · eyewear $100/yr | $0−$79 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $8,902 | 4★ |
| 24 | Humana Gold Plus Giveback H1036-343 (HMO-POS)Humana · HMO-POS76 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $67/mo · Dental · eyewear $150/yr | $0−$67 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $9,046 | 4.5★ |
| 25 | Blue Medicare Essential (HMO)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina · HMO20 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $36/mo | $0−$36 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $9,418 | 4★ |
| 26 | Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO15 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Preventive dental · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $1,250/yr per ear | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 4★ |
| 27 | Humana Gold Plus H1036-137 (HMO-POS)Humana · HMO-POS70 of 100 counties · drug deductible $450Dental up to $2,500/yr · eyewear $350/yr | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 4.5★ |
| 28 | Humana Gold Plus H6622-025 (HMO-POS)Humana · HMO-POS13 of 100 counties · drug deductible $450Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $300/yr | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 4★ |
| 29 | HumanaChoice H7617-122 (PPO)Humana · PPO79 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $500/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $13 | $9,850 | $10,006 | 4.5★ |
| 30 | Humana Gold Plus H6622-026 (HMO-POS)Humana · HMO-POS17 of 100 counties · drug deductible $450Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $13.30 | $9,850 | $10,010 | 4★ |
| 31 | HumanaChoice H5525-070 (PPO)Humana · PPO97 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,250/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $13.30 | $9,850 | $10,010 | 4★ |
| 32 | Humana Gold Choice H8145-004 (PFFS)Humana · PFFS17 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $43 | $9,850 | $10,366 | 4★ |
| 33 | HumanaChoice H5216-211 (PPO)Humana · PPO48 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental · eyewear $100/yr | $67 | $9,850 | $10,654 | 4★ |
| 34 | Humana Full Access (Regional PPO)Humana · Regional PPOAll 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental · eyewear $150/yr | $158 | $9,850 | $11,746 | 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: 49 in 2026, 44 in 2027.
- $0-premium plans: 36 in 2026, 34 in 2027.
- Median in-network out-of-pocket maximum: $6,750 in 2026, $9,275 in 2027.
- 19,179 people here were in a general-audience Advantage plan in October 2026; 453 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: Blue Medicare Medical Only (HMO-POS), Aetna Medicare Eagle (PPO), Wellcare Patriot Giveback Open (PPO), AARP Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx NC-MA02 (HMO-POS), DEVOTED CHOICE MA ONLY 007 NC (PPO), Humana USAA Honor Giveback (PPO), Humana USAA Honor Giveback (PPO), Blue Medicare Freedom+ (PPO), Humana USAA Honor Giveback (Regional PPO), HumanaChoice R0110-004 (Regional PPO).
Questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are in Buncombe County for 2027?
34 general-audience plans with drug coverage, 24 of them with a $0 monthly premium, compared with 49 plans and 36 $0-premium plans in 2026. Special Needs Plans aren't counted.
Which plan has the lowest worst-case cost in Buncombe County?
Alignment Health Smart 006 (HMO) from Alignment Health Plan: $0 a month with an in-network out-of-pocket maximum of $3,400, so at most about $1,972 for the year in premiums and in-network costs.
Do any Buncombe County plans have a Part B giveback?
11 do. The largest is $172.80 a month off your Part B premium, from DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK 006 NC (PPO).
How many Buncombe County plans have 4 or more stars?
27 of 34, 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
Keep going
- All North Carolina Medicare Advantage plans →
- Best Part D plans in North Carolina →
- HMO vs. PPO and star ratings →
Other North Carolina counties
Alamance County · Brunswick County · Cabarrus County · Catawba County · Craven County · Cumberland County · Davidson County · Durham County · Forsyth County · Gaston County · Guilford County · Harnett County · Henderson County · Iredell County · Johnston County · Mecklenburg County · New Hanover County · Onslow County · Orange County · Pitt County · Randolph County · Robeson County · Rowan County · Union County · Wake County · Wayne County