Medicare Advantage plans in Broward & Palm Beach
Broward residents can choose from dozens of Medicare Advantage plans, and most carrier websites show only their own. We compare Advantage plans from more than 20 insurance companies side by side, check your doctors and prescriptions, and show you the real yearly cost, not just the $0 premium.
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How Medicare Advantage (Part C) works
A Medicare Advantage plan is health coverage from a private insurance company approved by Medicare. It replaces Original Medicare as the way you get your Part A hospital and Part B medical benefits. Most plans also include Part D drug coverage; these are called MAPD plans.
- You keep paying your Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026), plus the plan's premium if it has one.
- You use the plan's network of doctors, hospitals and pharmacies.
- You pay copays or coinsurance when you get care, up to a yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
- Many plans add benefits Original Medicare doesn't cover: dental, vision, hearing, fitness memberships, over-the-counter (OTC) allowances and transportation.
- Plans can require prior authorization, meaning the plan approves certain services before you get them.
Medicare Advantage in Broward at a glance
| Compare | Broward |
|---|---|
| People in Medicare Advantage | 247,340 (64.7%) |
| Advantage plans offered (2026) | 85 |
| Average monthly plan premium | $21.14 |
| Average in-network out-of-pocket max | $3,724 |
| Average star rating | 3.94 of 5 |
Sources: CMS State/County Penetration, September 2026; MedicareAdvantage.com, 2026 plans. In Palm Beach, 48.3% of people with Medicare are in Advantage.
Types of Medicare Advantage plans
Deciding between the two most common types? Read Medicare Advantage HMO vs PPO.
| Plan type | How it works | Good fit if |
|---|---|---|
| HMO | Use the network except in emergencies; referrals usually needed for specialists | Your doctors are in the network and you stay local |
| HMO-POS | An HMO that covers some services out of network, at a higher cost | You want HMO pricing with a little flexibility |
| PPO | Go out of network at a higher cost; referrals usually not needed | You see specialists outside the network or travel |
| D-SNP | Special Needs Plan for people with both Medicare and Medicaid | You have Medicaid; often extra benefits and help with costs |
| C-SNP | Special Needs Plan for certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart failure | You have a qualifying condition and want coordinated care |
| I-SNP | Special Needs Plan for people living in a nursing home or needing that level of care | You or a parent live in a facility |
| PFFS and MSA | Less common: private fee-for-service and Medical Savings Account plans | Rarely the best choice in South Florida |
$0 premium vs your real yearly cost
A $0 premium isn't the whole cost. What matters is what you pay when you use care, and the out-of-pocket maximum (MOOP): the most you'd pay in a year for covered services.
- Federal limit for 2026: in-network out-of-pocket costs can't exceed $9,250. For PPOs, the combined in- and out-of-network limit can reach $13,900.
- Broward plans: published averages put the in-network maximum at about $3,700 to $4,700, but individual plans range much higher.
- Drugs are separate: Part D costs have their own cap ($2,100 in 2026, $2,400 in 2027) and don't count toward the MOOP.
Sources: 24/7 Wall St.; MedicareAdvantage.com; Medicare.org.
Example: two $0-premium plans
Plan A has a $3,400 out-of-pocket maximum. Plan B has $7,550. In a healthy year you might pay a few hundred dollars in copays with either. In a year with surgery and a hospital stay, Plan B could cost you $4,150 more.
That's why we compare hospital copays, specialist copays and the maximum, not just the premium.
How to compare Medicare Advantage plans
With dozens of plans in Broward, a checklist keeps the comparison honest. We go through these for every plan on your shortlist:
- Doctors: is your primary care doctor in network, and are your specialists?
- Hospitals: is the hospital you'd go to in an emergency or for surgery covered?
- Prescriptions: is each drug on the formulary, on which tier, and at which pharmacy is it cheapest?
- Copays: primary care, specialist, hospital stay per day, ER, ambulance, lab work and imaging.
- Out-of-pocket maximum: the worst-case yearly cost.
- Extras you'll actually use: dental, vision, hearing, allowances.
- Prior authorization and travel: what needs approval, and what's covered when you're out of the area.
Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement
| Compare | Medicare Advantage | Medicare Supplement |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly premium | Often $0 to low | Higher |
| Costs when you get care | Copays up to a yearly maximum | Little or none |
| Doctors | Plan network | Any that accept Medicare |
| Drug coverage | Usually included | Separate Part D plan |
| Extras | Often dental, vision, hearing | Not included |
| Changing later | Every year in the fall | May require health questions |
Medicare and Medicaid: Dual Special Needs Plans
If you have both Medicare and Florida Medicaid, you're "dual eligible." Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) are built for you: they coordinate both programs, often cost $0, and can include extra benefits beyond a standard plan.
People with Medicaid or Extra Help also get more chances to change plans than the fall enrollment period, through special enrollment periods. Rules changed in recent years, so we check what applies to you before you switch.
How we help you choose
- We list your doctors, hospitals, prescriptions and pharmacy.
- We compare Advantage plans from the companies we represent, plus a Supplement option.
- We show you each plan's total yearly cost in a typical year and a bad year.
- You choose, and we handle the enrollment. Every fall, we review it again.
Extra benefits: what to check
- Dental: the yearly allowance (often $1,000 to $3,500), what's covered (cleanings vs crowns and dentures) and which dentists take it.
- Part B giveback: some plans pay part of your Part B premium, which increases your Social Security check.
- OTC and grocery allowances: some are only for people who qualify under special supplemental benefits (SSBCI).
- Vision and hearing: the allowance for glasses and hearing aids, and the approved providers.
- Transportation and fitness: rides to appointments and gym memberships.
Extras change every year, so we check them again with you every fall. More detail: Medicare Advantage plans with dental coverage.
Networks, hospitals and prior authorization
Before you choose, we confirm your doctors and the hospitals you'd use are in the plan's 2027 network. In Broward that often means Broward Health Medical Center, Holy Cross Health, Memorial Regional Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston or HCA Florida hospitals. In Palm Beach: Boca Raton Regional, Delray Medical Center, HCA Florida JFK, St. Mary's, Good Samaritan or Jupiter Medical Center.
We also explain prior authorization and referrals for the care you actually need, so there are no surprises.
Star ratings
Medicare rates every Advantage plan from 1 to 5 stars on quality and member experience. Plans rated 4 stars or higher are considered top-rated. You can switch into a 5-star plan once during most of the year using a special enrollment period. Stars are one factor; your doctors and costs matter more.
Companies offering Advantage plans in Broward
Plans in Broward come from companies such as Humana, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Devoted Health, Florida Blue, Wellcare, Simply, Freedom Health, Optimum and HealthSpring. We represent more than 20 insurance companies; ask which plans we can offer in your ZIP code.
Common Medicare Advantage mistakes we see
- Choosing on premium alone. A $0 plan with high hospital copays can cost far more in a bad year.
- Checking the doctor, not the specialist. Your cardiologist or oncologist matters as much as your primary care doctor.
- Not pricing drugs at your pharmacy. The same drug can cost more at a non-preferred pharmacy.
- Ignoring the Annual Notice of Change. Plans change every January, even if you don't.
- Assuming you can switch to a Supplement anytime. After your trial period, you may face health questions.
- Forgetting about travel. An HMO may only cover emergencies when you're up north for the summer.
What changed for 2027 in Broward & Palm Beach
Every September your plan sends an Annual Notice of Change (ANOC). Read it: premiums, copays, drug lists (formularies), extra benefits and networks can all change on January 1. For 2027, many plans are trimming extras, so check your ANOC carefully.
| Compare | Broward | Palm Beach |
|---|---|---|
| Advantage plans available (2027) | {{2027 BROWARD MA COUNT}} | {{2027 PB MA COUNT}} |
| $0-premium plans | {{BROWARD $0 COUNT}} | {{PB $0 COUNT}} |
| Plans leaving or ending | {{BROWARD EXITS}} | {{PB EXITS}} |
From the CMS 2027 plan data, updated {{MONTH YEAR}}.
When you can join or switch
- Initial Enrollment Period: 7 months around your 65th birthday.
- Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 – December 7, for coverage starting January 1.
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment: January 1 – March 31, one switch to another Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare.
- Special Enrollment Periods: after a move, losing other coverage, getting Medicaid or Extra Help, or switching into a 5-star plan.
The Supplement question: decide at 65
If you choose Advantage now and want a Medicare Supplement later, outside your first-year trial right you may have to answer health questions and could be declined. Compare Medicare Supplement plans.
Medicare Advantage questions
Is Medicare Advantage the same as Part C?
Yes. Part C is the official name for Medicare Advantage.
Are there $0-premium Medicare Advantage plans in Broward?
Yes, many. You still pay your Part B premium, plus copays when you use care, up to the plan's out-of-pocket maximum.
What is the Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximum for 2026?
Up to $9,250 for in-network care; for PPOs the combined in- and out-of-network limit can reach $13,900. Many Broward plans set lower limits.
Can I keep my doctor if I join a Medicare Advantage plan?
Only if your doctor is in the plan's network, or you choose a PPO and accept higher out-of-network costs. We check before you enroll.
Do Medicare Advantage plans cover dental and vision?
Many do, with yearly limits. We compare what each plan actually covers.
When can I change my Medicare Advantage plan?
October 15 to December 7, and once from January 1 to March 31. Some life events allow changes at other times.
Does it cost anything to use your agency?
No. The plan pays us, and your premium is the same either way. How we get paid.
Talk to a licensed agent. No cost, no pressure.
Tell us how to reach you. A licensed agent from our team calls you back, usually the same business day. We never sell or share your number.
- Licensed in Florida · NPN 18530652
- Plans from more than 20 insurance companies
- We review your plan with you every fall
- English and Haitian Creole