Editor's note: This article was updated to include offerings from UnitedHealthcare, Cigna and WellCare.
As the calendar turns to October, the health insurance industry is gearing up for Medicare's annual enrollment period.
The sign-up window begins on Oct. 15 and runs through Dec. 7. Members who enroll within this window will have coverage that begins Jan. 1, 2025.
During this period, seniors will be able to choose between the traditional Medicare program, as administered by the federal government, or the privately run Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Standalone Part D prescription drug coverage and additional supplemental benefits will also be available.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said late last week that MA is expected to grow again next year, projecting enrollment to be at least 35.7 million or 51% of the total Medicare market.
Premiums in MA are also set to decline on average by $1.23 to $17, with 60% of enrollees in plans with $0 premiums.
The agency touted the stability of the market, even as major payers have faced notable headwinds, including a spike in utilization and payment cuts they say threaten benefits.
With that backdrop, here's a look at what some of the large insurers will have available for the upcoming AEP.
UnitedHealthcare
The nation's largest MA carrier is adding 140 new plans to its roster for 2025, and its lineup will reach 96% of Medicare eligibles. This includes growing the footprint of its dual special needs plans to reach 135,000 additional people, with plans available to 93% of dual eligibles.
Benefits across its DSNPs include credits to put toward over-the-counter products and healthy food; $0 copayments for virtual care and mental health visits; and rewards for making an annual wellness visit, physical activity and other health-related behaviors.
UnitedHealthcare is also building out the reach of its chronic condition special needs plans, nearly doubling their footprint to reach 70% of this market. These plans also offer stipends for healthy food and OTC products, as well as $0 products to treat diabetes from its Optum Home Delivery Pharmacy and coverage for diabetic shoes and foot care.
CSNPs also include a $25 out-of-pocket cost for a month's supply of insulin, UnitedHealthcare said.
Beyond the special needs plans, UHC is offering new plans that put a focus on certain medical or additional benefits, as well as plans that include a credit members can use to bring down or eliminate the cost of services covered under Medicare Part A and Part B.
Many plans across categories offer $0 copayments on dental, vision or hearing visits along with physical exams, lab work and preventive care.
"Despite a dynamic regulatory environment, Medicare Advantage remains the most valuable coverage – offering better access, better health outcomes, lower cost coverage and higher consumer satisfaction than fee-for-service Medicare and other alternatives,” said Tim Noel, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement, in a press release. “And UnitedHealthcare is best positioned to guide consumers through the changes, with reliable plans focused on the benefits that matter most."
Humana
For 2025, Humana will make plans available across 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, a footprint that covers 89% of U.S. counties. It will offer 793 plans in total across the country.
The insurer will grow its HMO plans into 12 counties and PPO plans into 17 new counties. Some plans will be available in new states for the first time; dual special needs plans, for example, will expand into North Dakota.
Chronic condition special needs plans will be expanded to Arizona, Minnesota and New Mexico, Humana said.
Humana's Full Access PPO plans are popular choices, the insurer said, so it's expanding the footprint for these plans to 20 states in 2025. Those who select these plans can see any doctor that accepts Medicare at the same copayment, even if they're out-of-network or the patient does not have a referral.
Humana also said it is rolling out new benefit offerings in response to consumer demand. For example, people enrolled in any plan with a vision benefit will be able to get a new pair of glasses each year. Humana will also have plans with broad dental coverage available in nearly every county it will reach for 2025.
Each of Humana's MA and Part D members can use CenterWell Pharmacy, which offers home delivery for prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
“Our members want benefits that work for their lives, which is why we don’t view Medicare Advantage as a one-size-fits-all option,” said George Renaudin, Humana’s President of Medicare and Medicaid, in a press release. “Our members have told us what benefits really matter to them. We listened and created affordable health plans that offer high-quality care and align with what they want and need.”
Aetna
CVS Health's Aetna unit will add 76 counties to its MA footprint for 2025, offering plans across 44 states and the District of Columbia. The insurer said these new markets will reach an additional 662,000 Medicare eligibles.
Aetna said it projects that 83% of Medicare beneficiaries would be able to enroll in one of its MA plans with a $0 premium. The insurer also said it will now offer dual special needs plans (DSNPs) in Oklahoma and chronic condition special needs plans in three markets in Illinois and Pennsylvania—Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
Each of Aetna's DSNPs include the insurer's Extra Benefits Card, which members can use for healthy foods, over-the-counter products and other health-related items. Aetna said the Extra Benefits Card, new for 2025, combines the existing Aetna Medicare Payment Card and the Aetna Medicare Extra Benefits Card into one offering.
CSNPs also have the benefits card, as well as tailored offerings for people with diabetes, chronic heart failure and cardiovascular disease. Aetna said it is working on collaborating with sister company Oak Street Health along with other specialized providers to treat these chronic needs. CSNPs offer $0 copayments for primary care as well as $0 visits to certain specialists to treat chronic conditions.
Across its full MA plan lineup, Aetna said that each of its plans include dental coverage, along with plans that offer an allowance for dentures, crowns or other key services. Every MA plan also includes $0 routine eye and hearing exams.
“For 2025, our continued focus is ensuring members have the peace of mind that comes with access to reliable, affordable health care when and where they need it,” said Anand Shukla, president of Aetna Medicare, in the press release. “Our plans are backed by our excellent customer service, deep experience and steadfast commitment to serving members at every stage of their health journey.”
Elevance Health
Elevance Health said it will offer MA plans across 23 states and Puerto Rico for 2025, including 99 additional counties in its footprint.
The insurer said 9 in 10 of its plans feature a $0 premium and nearly all offer $0 visits to primary care providers. The company has put a focus on affordability across its MA plans, and that extends to prescription drugs, with many plans having $0 copayments for tier 1 and tier 2 medications.
Supplemental benefits range from prepaid benefits cards, which members can use to buy healthy food, pay for utility bills and secure needed over-the-counter products, to transportation coverage to help patients get to doctors' visits and other medical appointments.
Many plans also include dental, hearing and vision allowances that members can use to cover out-of-pocket costs for those services. Some of its plans will also offer coverage for Silver Sneakers and Active Fitness, covering the cost of lessons and clinics as well as access fees.
Elevance Health is also centering key digital programs that reach members where they are. The Member Connect program, for example, matches members who are living alone and managing certain conditions with Elevance associates who reach out to them proactively. Program participants have seen an 8% decrease in hospital admissions and a 43% decrease in emergency room visits, according to the company.
Elevance's customer app, Sydney Health, also allows members to easily access details about their benefits, manage prescriptions and find in-network providers.
"Through our whole health approach, we support members and empower them on their healthcare journey with programs and resources that help them understand and use their benefits," said Aimée Dailey, president of Medicare for Elevance Health, in the press release. "We are proud to build on these efforts in 2025, with a continued commitment to ensuring members have access to plans with benefits that support optimal health and well-being.”
Cigna
Cigna Healthcare 's Medicare Advantage footprint will reach 29 states and the District of Columbia for 2025, the insurer announced.
A new offering for the coming year is what Cigna is calling a "living needs allowance" in many of its dual special needs plans. Members can use this stipend for a variety of purchases, including healthy food, transportation or gasoline, utilities or cleaning supplies.
The benefit is wrapped into Cigna's Healthy Today flex card, which also connects members to other benefit options, rewards and incentives, which the insurer said can be spent at about 65,000 retail stores.
In addition, Cigna said a number of plans will include incentives of up to $200 for members who undergo critical health screenings or log certain healthy behaviors. For people in its HMO plans, the value of these incentives has doubled from the 2024 offering, according to the announcement.
Cigna will have a $0 premium MA plan available in most of the markets it serves, and all plans include dental, vision and hearing coverage. Certain plans will also provide fitness benefits or transportation to key medical appointments.
Digital options include virtual care available for urgent care, behavioral health, dermatology and speech therapy. Members can also use an online tool for advanced care planning if needed, Cigna said.
"Medicare customers count on us for high-quality, reliable health and wellness benefits," said Chris DeRosa, president of the U.S. Government business at Cigna Healthcare, in the press release. "Medicare shoppers can expect to see a wide range of choices from Cigna Healthcare so they can choose a plan that best suits their unique health and lifestyle needs with benefits they value most."
Wellcare (Centene)
Centene's Wellcare division will add Iowa to its Medicare Advantage footprint for 2025, offering plans across 32 states.
Over the summer, the insurer revealed that it will trim back its geographic reach in MA by exiting Alabama, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Vermont in 2025. However, it will continue to offer standalone prescription drug coverage in these states.
Even withe the smaller footprint, Wellcare said it expects its plans to reach 77% of eligible seniors in the 32 states.
A new offering for its 2025 plans is access to Twill by Dario, which provides around-the-clock supports for social and behavioral needs. Members can connect to peer-to-peer coaching, self-guided behavioral health options and other health plan resources from Centene.
In addition, members can use the Wellcare Spendables Card, which includes preloaded funds members can use to make purchases at more than 66,000 retail locations across the country. While the benefit varies between plans, the funds can potentially be used for groceries, rent, utilities and gasoline.
New for the 2025 iteration of the program, Wellcare said, is that members can use the card on home improvement and safety items.
All plans include $0 copayments for primary care and specialist copays are $35 or less. Members also have routine dental, glasses and fitness across all plans.
“We have worked hard to build a robust product portfolio that offers outstanding plans to support our members’ entire well-being,” said Wellcare CEO Michael Carson in the press release. “Wellcare remains focused on meeting the needs of the most vulnerable beneficiaries in our footprint through our strong dual-eligible products, and we continue to invest in services across the organization to provide high-quality care and the best experience possible.”