Medicare Advantage · New York · 2026 plan year

Medicare Advantage in Onondaga, NY

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 Landscape and Star Ratings files, every Medicare Advantage plan available in Onondaga, NY for 2026 is ranked by CMS star rating, with premiums and benefits laid out plainly.

56
Plans available
4.5★
Best plan: Top-rated
$0
Lowest premium/mo
$36.02
Avg premium/mo
RSS updates for this county

The short answer

Onondaga has 56 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, the best earns 4.5★ from CMS, 11 reach 4★ or higher, and 13 carry a $0 monthly premium.

56
plans to compare
4.5★
highest CMS rating here
13
$0-premium plans
11
plans rated 4★ or higher

Premiums shown are the monthly plan premium (Part C + D). Every enrollee also pays the standard Part B premium (about $202.90/mo in 2026). Confirm any plan's current details on Medicare.gov before enrolling.

What the CMS Plan Finder Shows for Onondaga, NY

Onondaga, NY (FIPS 36067): 56 individual Medicare Advantage plans available (employer-group plans excluded). Highest CMS Star rating: 4.5/5 via SIERRA HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.. Plan-type mix: 22 Local PPO, 17 HMO, 13 HMO POS, 4 PFFS. Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D) range $0 – $127.00 (avg $36.02), with 13 $0-premium plans. 51 of 56 plans include Part D drug coverage. CMS Star Ratings methodology →

How to read these figures

The figures above come from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 2026 plan year file, which CMS publishes each autumn before the October 15 to December 7 open enrollment window. A county premium reflects only the Part C portion that a plan charges. Most enrollees still pay the standard Part B premium of about $202.90 a month on top of it, so a $0 plan is rarely free in practice. The CMS star rating runs from one to five and weights more than 40 measures, including how well a plan manages chronic conditions, how fast it answers member calls, and how members rate their own care. A plan that holds five stars earns a special enrollment period that lets people switch into it at almost any time of year. Premiums alone can mislead a shopper, because a low monthly cost often pairs with a higher deductible or a tighter provider network. Federal rules cap in-network out-of-pocket spending at $9,250 for 2026, which is why two plans with identical premiums can leave very different bills after a hospital stay. Read our methodology for how each value here is sourced and computed.

Where Onondaga sits on CMS quality

Average CMS star rating across the plans sold in this county, against every county with rated plans

3.47★ Top 94% higher than 6% of 3,121 US counties

2.5★–2.75★: 19 US counties (1%). Below this entry. 2.75★–3★: 5 US counties (0%). Below this entry. 3★–3.25★: 31 US counties (1%). Below this entry. 3.25★–3.5★: 164 US counties (5%). This entry sits in this band. 3.5★–3.75★: 1,089 US counties (35%). Above this entry. 3.75★–4★: 1,344 US counties (43%). Above this entry. 4★–4.25★: 351 US counties (11%). Above this entry. 4.25★–4.5★: 37 US counties (1%). Above this entry. 4.5★–4.75★: 3 US counties (0%). Above this entry. 4.75★–5★: 78 US counties (2%). Above this entry. This county 2.5★ 5★ every rated county, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more US counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source CMS Medicare Advantage Star Ratings 2026 · 2026-09-01

All plans in Onondaga, ranked by CMS rating

#PlanInsurerTypePremium/moCMS stars
1Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO-4.5★
2Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO$04.5★
3Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO$50.004.5★
4Sierra Health AND Life Insurance Company, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareLocal PPO$52.804.5★
5Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Co. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareLocal PPO$58.804.5★
6Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO$58.804.5★
7MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareHMO POS-4.0★
8Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$31.004.0★
9Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$58.804.0★
10Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$58.804.0★
11MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareHMO POS$116.004.0★
12American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS-3.5★
13American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS-3.5★
14Excellus Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)Excellus Health Plan, IncLocal PPO-3.5★
15Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS-3.5★
16Excellus Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)Excellus Health Plan, IncLocal PPO$03.5★
17Excellus Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)Excellus Health Plan, IncLocal PPO$03.5★
18Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$03.5★
19MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareLocal PPO$15.003.5★
20VNS Choice (SNP)VNS Health MedicareHMO$25.003.5★
21Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$34.003.5★
22American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS$50.003.5★
23Excellus Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)Excellus Health Plan, IncLocal PPO$53.303.5★
24Excellus Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)Excellus Health Plan, IncLocal PPO$101.303.5★
25American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS$127.003.5★
26NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)WellcareHMO POS-3.0★
27NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO POS-3.0★
28Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO-3.0★
29American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$03.0★
30American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$03.0★
31Aetna Health Inc. (NY) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$03.0★
32Humana Health Company OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)HumanaHMO$03.0★
33NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)WellcareHMO POS$03.0★
34NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO POS$03.0★
35Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$03.0★
36Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$0.903.0★
37Aetna Health Inc. (NY) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$5.903.0★
38Aetna Health Inc. (NY) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$23.103.0★
39Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$32.003.0★
40NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO POS$32.503.0★
41American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$58.803.0★
42American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$58.803.0★
43NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)WellcareHMO$58.803.0★
44NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO$58.803.0★
45NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO$58.803.0★
46Plan 001-Local PPO-N/R
47Plan 003-Local PPO-N/R
48Mount Carmel Health Plan OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)Trinity Health Plan New YorkHMO-N/R
49Mount Carmel Health Plan OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)Trinity Health Plan New YorkHMO$0N/R
50Mount Carmel Health Plan OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)Trinity Health Plan New YorkHMO$0N/R
51Excellus Health Plan Community Care LLC (SNP)Excellus Health Plan Community Care LLCHMO$21.20N/R
52Excellus Health Plan Community Care LLC (SNP)Excellus Health Plan Community Care LLCHMO$49.30N/R
53Icircle Services OF THE Finger Lakes, Inc. (SNP)iCircle Services of the Finger Lakes, IncHMO$58.80N/R
54Visiting Nurse Association OF Central NEW York (SNP)Nascentia Health PlusHMO$58.80N/R
55Visiting Nurse Association OF Central NEW York (SNP)Nascentia Health PlusHMO$58.80N/R
56Visiting Nurse Association OF Central NEW York (SNP)Nascentia Health PlusHMO$58.80N/R

Nationwide counties with similar Medicare Advantage markets

Data-derived peers across the CMS county landscape file: nearest enrollable plan count and nearest county-wide average CMS star rating. Not same-state neighbors or geographic containment.

Similar plan availability

Similar average CMS star rating

Choosing a plan in this county

Star rating first, then total cost, not the premium alone.

  • Shortlist the 4★+ plans above (11 here) - higher-rated plans manage chronic care and member service better. How star ratings work
  • Weigh total cost, not just premium: compare plan details using Medicare.gov before you enroll. Medicare Plan Compare
  • Check that your doctors and drugs are in-network before you enroll, and confirm the plan on Medicare.gov. Choosing a plan

Premiums shown are the monthly plan premium (Part C + D) from the CMS CY2026 Landscape file. Every enrollee also pays the standard Part B premium (about $202.90/mo in 2026). Always confirm current premiums, copays, and networks on Medicare.gov before enrolling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Onondaga, NY?

There are 56 Medicare Advantage plans available in Onondaga, NY for the 2026 plan year, including 22 Local PPO, 17 HMO, 13 HMO POS, 4 PFFS. Counts are individual consumer plans (employer-group / EGHP offerings excluded). Plan availability is determined by CMS and individual insurers.

What is the best-rated Medicare Advantage plan in Onondaga?

The highest-rated plan in Onondaga has a CMS star rating of 4.5 out of 5 - SIERRA HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, INC.. Star ratings reflect quality measures including preventive care, chronic disease management, and member satisfaction.

How much do Medicare Advantage plans cost in Onondaga?

Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D combined) in Onondaga range from $0 to $127.00, averaging $36.02. 13 plans offer a $0 monthly premium. Every enrollee also pays the standard Part B premium (about $202.90/month in 2026) on top of the plan premium. Premiums are from the CMS CY2026 Landscape file; always confirm current details on Medicare.gov.

What types of Medicare Advantage plans are offered in Onondaga?

Onondaga has 22 Local PPO, 17 HMO, 13 HMO POS, 4 PFFS. HMO plans require in-network providers, PPO plans allow out-of-network visits at higher cost, and PFFS plans let you see any Medicare-accepting provider.

Important: PlainMedicare provides CMS data for informational purposes only. This is not medical or insurance advice. Plan availability, premiums, and benefits change annually. Always verify with Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE before enrolling.
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainMedicare