Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Johnston County, NC for 2027
Every general-audience Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage sold in Johnston 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.
Johnston 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 | 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 |
| 3 | 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★ |
| 4 | 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★ |
| 5 | 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★ |
| 6 | 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★ |
| 7 | 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★ |
| 8 | Blue Medicare Enhanced (HMO-POS)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina · HMO-POS31 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · OTC items $120/yr | $50 | $4,900 | $5,500 | 4★ |
| 9 | 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★ |
| 10 | 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★ |
| 11 | 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★ |
| 12 | 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★ |
| 13 | Blue Medicare Essential Plus (HMO-POS)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina · HMO-POS20 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental | $0 | $7,000 | $7,000 | 4★ |
| 14 | Aetna Medicare Enhanced (PPO)Aetna Medicare · PPO10 of 100 counties · drug deductible $500Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $1,250/yr per ear · OTC items $60/yr | $25 | $6,750 | $7,050 | 4★ |
| 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-0017 (PPO)UnitedHealthcare · PPO36 of 100 counties · drug deductible $685Preventive dental · eyewear $100/yr · hearing aids $700/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 · PPO61 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Dental up to $1,500/yr · OTC items $136/yr | $70 | $6,900 | $7,740 | 4.5★ |
| 19 | 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★ |
| 20 | 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★ |
| 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 | 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★ |
| 23 | Blue Medicare Essential (HMO)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina · HMO80 of 100 counties · drug deductible $700Part B giveback $51/mo | $0−$51 Part B giveback | $9,850 | $9,238 | 4★ |
| 24 | Humana Gold Plus H6622-060 (HMO-POS)Humana · HMO-POS9 of 100 counties · drug deductible $450Dental up to $1,000/yr · eyewear $100/yr | $0 | $9,850 | $9,850 | 4★ |
| 25 | 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★ |
| 26 | 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★ |
| 27 | HumanaChoice H5525-049 (PPO)Humana · PPO46 of 100 counties · drug deductible $450Dental · eyewear $150/yr | $52 | $9,850 | $10,474 | 4★ |
| 28 | 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: 46 in 2026, 36 in 2027.
- $0-premium plans: 34 in 2026, 26 in 2027.
- Median in-network out-of-pocket maximum: $6,525 in 2026, $7,150 in 2027.
- 14,008 people here were in a general-audience Advantage plan in October 2026; 1,232 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), 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 Johnston County for 2027?
28 general-audience plans with drug coverage, 18 of them with a $0 monthly premium, compared with 46 plans and 34 $0-premium plans in 2026. Special Needs Plans aren't counted.
Which plan has the lowest worst-case cost in Johnston 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 Johnston County plans have a Part B giveback?
7 do. The largest is $119 a month off your Part B premium, from Alignment Health Smart 006 (HMO).
How many Johnston County plans have 4 or more stars?
22 of 28, 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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