Medicare Advantage · New York · 2026 plan year

Medicare Advantage in Schenectady, NY

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

62
Plans available
4.5★
Best plan: Top-rated
$0
Lowest premium/mo
$45.00
Avg premium/mo
RSS updates for this county

The short answer

Schenectady has 62 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, the best earns 4.5★ from CMS, 20 reach 4★ or higher, and 14 carry a $0 monthly premium.

62
plans to compare
4.5★
highest CMS rating here
14
$0-premium plans
20
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 Schenectady, NY

Schenectady, NY (FIPS 36093): 62 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: 25 HMO, 19 Local PPO, 14 HMO POS, 4 PFFS. Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D) range $0 – $220.00 (avg $45.00), with 14 $0-premium plans. 60 of 62 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 Schenectady sits on CMS quality

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

3.59★ Top 80% higher than 20% 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%). Below this entry. 3.5★–3.75★: 1,089 US counties (35%). This entry sits in this band. 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 Schenectady, ranked by CMS rating

#PlanInsurerTypePremium/moCMS stars
1Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)CDPHP Medicare AdvantageHMO-4.5★
2Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO-4.5★
3Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)CDPHP Medicare AdvantageHMO$04.5★
4Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO$04.5★
5Sierra Health AND Life Insurance Company, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareLocal PPO$52.804.5★
6Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Co. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareLocal PPO$58.804.5★
7Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO$58.804.5★
8Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)CDPHP Medicare AdvantageHMO$100.004.5★
9Aetna Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO$109.004.5★
10Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)CDPHP Medicare AdvantageHMO$135.004.5★
11Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc. (SNP)Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue SLocal PPO$220.004.5★
12MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareHMO POS-4.0★
13Health Insurance Plan OF Greater NEW York (SNP)EmblemHealthHMO POS$04.0★
14Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$31.004.0★
15MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareHMO$54.604.0★
16MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareHMO$58.804.0★
17Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$58.804.0★
18Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$58.804.0★
19Highmark Western and Northeastern New York Inc. (SNP)Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or Highmark Blue SHMO$104.004.0★
20MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareHMO POS$116.004.0★
21American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS-3.5★
22American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS-3.5★
23Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS-3.5★
24Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$03.5★
25Unitedhealthcare OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$03.5★
26MVP Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)MVP Health CareLocal PPO$15.003.5★
27VNS Choice (SNP)VNS Health MedicareHMO$25.003.5★
28Hamaspik, Inc. (SNP)Hamaspik, Inc.HMO$34.503.5★
29Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Co. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareLocal PPO$48.003.5★
30American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS$50.003.5★
31VNS Choice (SNP)VNS Health MedicareHMO$51.603.5★
32VNS Choice (SNP)VNS Health MedicareHMO$58.803.5★
33American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcarePFFS$127.003.5★
34NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)WellcareHMO POS-3.0★
35NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO POS-3.0★
36Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO-3.0★
37American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$03.0★
38American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$03.0★
39Aetna Health Inc. (NY) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$03.0★
40Humana Health Company OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)HumanaHMO$03.0★
41NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)WellcareHMO POS$03.0★
42NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO POS$03.0★
43Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$03.0★
44Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$0.903.0★
45Aetna Health Inc. (NY) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$5.903.0★
46Aetna Health Inc. (NY) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$23.103.0★
47Humana Insurance Company OF NEW York (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$32.003.0★
48NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO POS$32.503.0★
49American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$58.803.0★
50American Progressive Life & Hlth INS Company OF NY (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$58.803.0★
51NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)WellcareHMO$58.803.0★
52NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO$58.803.0★
53NEW York Quality Healthcare Corporation (SNP)Wellcare By Fidelis CareHMO$58.803.0★
54Health Insurance Plan OF Greater NEW York (SNP)EmblemHealthHMO$58.803.0★
55Plan 001-Local PPO-N/R
56Plan 002-Local PPO-N/R
57Mount Carmel Health Plan OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)Trinity Health Plan New YorkHMO-N/R
58Mount Carmel Health Plan OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)Trinity Health Plan New YorkHMO$0N/R
59Mount Carmel Health Plan OF NEW York, Inc. (SNP)Trinity Health Plan New YorkHMO$0N/R
60Visiting Nurse Association OF Central NEW York (SNP)Nascentia Health PlusHMO$58.80N/R
61Visiting Nurse Association OF Central NEW York (SNP)Nascentia Health PlusHMO$58.80N/R
62Visiting 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 (20 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 Schenectady, NY?

There are 62 Medicare Advantage plans available in Schenectady, NY for the 2026 plan year, including 25 HMO, 19 Local PPO, 14 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 Schenectady?

The highest-rated plan in Schenectady 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 Schenectady?

Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D combined) in Schenectady range from $0 to $220.00, averaging $45.00. 14 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 Schenectady?

Schenectady has 25 HMO, 19 Local PPO, 14 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