Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Catawba County, NC for 2027
Every general-audience Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage sold in Catawba 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.
Catawba County plans, ranked
| # | Plan | Premium / month | In-network max out-of-pocket | Worst-case year | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HealthSpring Preferred (HMO)HealthSpring · HMO11 of 100 counties · drug deductible $400Part B giveback $5/mo · Dental up to $1,650/yr · eyewear $150/yr · OTC items $80/yr | $0−$5 Part B giveback | $3,900 | $3,840 | 3★ |
| 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 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-15 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS42 of 100 counties · drug deductible $685Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $75/yr · hearing aids $700/yr | $0 | $4,450 | $4,450 | 4★ |
| 4 | HealthSpring Preferred Savings (HMO)HealthSpring · HMO11 of 100 counties · drug deductible $600Part B giveback $179/mo · Dental up to $700/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $0−$179 Part B giveback | $6,750 | $4,602 | 3★ |
| 5 | DEVOTED CORE 037 NC (HMO)Devoted Health · HMO14 of 100 counties · drug deductible $650Dental up to $4,000/yr · eyewear $300/yr · OTC items $200/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 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-0016 (PPO)UnitedHealthcare · PPO36 of 100 counties · drug deductible $595Dental up to $2,000/yr · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $700/yr | $53 | $4,450 | $5,086 | 4★ |
| 8 | Aetna Medicare Prime (HMO)Aetna Medicare · HMO9 of 100 counties · drug deductible $500Dental up to $1,500/yr · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $1,250/yr per ear · OTC items $60/yr | $0 | $5,200 | $5,200 | 3.5★ |
| 9 | 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★ |
| 10 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-0021 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS30 of 100 counties · drug deductible $595Dental up to $3,000/yr · eyewear $150/yr · hearing aids $700/yr | $42 | $4,900 | $5,404 | 4★ |
| 11 | 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★ |
| 12 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-0022 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS30 of 100 counties · drug deductible $685Dental up to $1,250/yr · eyewear $75/yr · hearing aids $700/yr | $0 | $5,900 | $5,900 | 4★ |
| 13 | Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO29 of 100 counties · drug deductible $500Dental up to $1,250/yr · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $1,250/yr per ear · OTC items $100/yr | $0 | $5,900 | $5,900 | 4★ |
| 14 | Aetna Medicare Signature Extra (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO17 of 100 counties · drug deductible $500Dental up to $1,750/yr · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $1,250/yr per ear · OTC items $80/yr | $0 | $5,900 | $5,900 | 4★ |
| 15 | 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★ |
| 16 | DEVOTED CHOICE 001 NC (PPO)Devoted Health · PPO13 of 100 counties · drug deductible $461Dental up to $3,000/yr · eyewear $300/yr · OTC items $200/yr | $0 | $6,150 | $6,150 | 4★ |
| 17 | DEVOTED GIVEBACK EXTRAS 039 NC (HMO)Devoted Health · HMO14 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $70/mo · Dental up to $4,250/yr · eyewear $350/yr · OTC items $600/yr | $0−$70 Part B giveback | $7,050 | $6,210 | 4.5★ |
| 18 | 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★ |
| 19 | 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★ |
| 20 | DEVOTED CHOICE GIVEBACK 002 NC (PPO)Devoted Health · PPO13 of 100 counties · drug deductible $461Part B giveback $184.70/mo · Dental up to $250/yr · eyewear $200/yr · OTC items $96/yr | $0−$184.70 Part B giveback | $9,250 | $7,034 | 4★ |
| 21 | HealthSpring True Choice (PPO)HealthSpring · PPO11 of 100 counties · drug deductible $500Dental up to $800/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $0 | $7,100 | $7,100 | 3★ |
| 22 | 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★ |
| 23 | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-0017 (PPO)UnitedHealthcare · PPO36 of 100 counties · drug deductible $685Preventive dental · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $700/yr | $0 | $7,150 | $7,150 | 4★ |
| 24 | 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★ |
| 25 | 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★ |
| 26 | DEVOTED GIVEBACK 012 NC (HMO)Devoted Health · HMO14 of 100 counties · drug deductible $461Part B giveback $195/mo · Dental up to $500/yr · eyewear $200/yr · OTC items $96/yr | $0−$195 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $7,510 | 4.5★ |
| 27 | Humana Gold Plus Giveback H1036-318 (HMO-POS)Humana · HMO-POS40 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $118/mo · Dental · eyewear $100/yr | $0−$118 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $8,434 | 4.5★ |
| 28 | AARP Medicare Advantage Giveback from UHC NC-14 (HMO-POS)UnitedHealthcare · HMO-POS20 of 100 counties · drug deductible $685Part B giveback $84/mo · Preventive dental · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $1,000/yr | $0−$84 Part B giveback | $9,500 | $8,492 | 4★ |
| 29 | 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★ |
| 30 | 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★ |
| 31 | 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★ |
| 32 | 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★ |
| 33 | 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★ |
| 34 | 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★ |
| 35 | 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★ |
| 36 | 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★ |
| 37 | HumanaChoice H5216-211 (PPO)Humana · PPO48 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental · eyewear $100/yr | $67 | $9,850 | $10,654 | 4★ |
| 38 | 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: 50 in 2026, 49 in 2027.
- $0-premium plans: 38 in 2026, 40 in 2027.
- Median in-network out-of-pocket maximum: $6,750 in 2026, $7,150 in 2027.
- 16,999 people here were in a general-audience Advantage plan in October 2026; 270 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), HealthSpring Courage (HMO), 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 Catawba County for 2027?
38 general-audience plans with drug coverage, 29 of them with a $0 monthly premium, compared with 50 plans and 38 $0-premium plans in 2026. Special Needs Plans aren't counted.
Which plan has the lowest worst-case cost in Catawba County?
HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) from HealthSpring: $0 a month with an in-network out-of-pocket maximum of $3,900, so at most about $3,840 for the year in premiums and in-network costs.
Do any Catawba County plans have a Part B giveback?
13 do. The largest is $195 a month off your Part B premium, from DEVOTED GIVEBACK 012 NC (HMO).
How many Catawba County plans have 4 or more stars?
28 of 38, 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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