Medicare Advantage · Texas · 2026 plan year

Medicare Advantage in Starr, TX

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

42
Plans available
5.0★
Best plan: Top-rated
$0
Lowest premium/mo
$6.20
Avg premium/mo
RSS updates for this county

The short answer

Starr has 42 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, the best earns 5.0★ from CMS, 23 reach 4★ or higher, and 23 carry a $0 monthly premium.

42
plans to compare
5.0★
highest CMS rating here
23
$0-premium plans
23
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 Starr, TX

Starr, TX (FIPS 48427): 42 individual Medicare Advantage plans available (employer-group plans excluded). Highest CMS Star rating: 5.0/5 via TEXAS INDEPENDENCE HEALTH PLAN, INC.. Plan-type mix: 20 HMO, 13 Local PPO, 9 HMO POS. Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D) range $0 – $110.00 (avg $6.20), with 23 $0-premium plans. 42 of 42 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 Starr sits on CMS quality

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

3.99★ Top 15% higher than 85% 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%). Below this entry. 3.75★–4★: 1,344 US counties (43%). This entry sits in this band. 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 Starr, ranked by CMS rating

#PlanInsurerTypePremium/moCMS stars
1Texas Independence Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)Texas Independence Health PlanHMO$4.805.0★
2Texas Independence Health Plan, Inc. (SNP)Texas Independence Health PlanHMO$4.805.0★
3Physicians Health Choice OF Texas, LLC (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS-4.5★
4Emphesys Insurance Company (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO-4.5★
5Physicians Health Choice OF Texas, LLC (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$04.5★
6Physicians Health Choice OF Texas, LLC (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$04.5★
7Physicians Health Choice OF Texas, LLC (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$04.5★
8Physicians Health Choice OF Texas, LLC (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$04.5★
9Emphesys Insurance Company (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$04.5★
10Prominence Healthfirst OF Texas (SNP)Prominence Health PlanHMO$04.5★
11Prominence Healthfirst OF Texas (SNP)Prominence Health PlanHMO$04.5★
12Prominence Healthfirst OF Texas (SNP)Prominence Health PlanHMO$04.5★
13Prominence Healthfirst OF Texas (SNP)Prominence Health PlanHMO$04.5★
14Prominence Healthfirst OF Texas (SNP)Prominence Health PlanHMO$04.5★
15Prominence Healthfirst OF Texas (SNP)Prominence Health PlanHMO$04.5★
16Prominence Healthfirst OF Texas (SNP)Prominence Health PlanHMO$4.204.5★
17Physicians Health Choice OF Texas, LLC (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$24.004.5★
18Aetna Health Inc. (TX) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$04.0★
19Aetna Health Inc. (TX) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$04.0★
20Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Co. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$04.0★
21Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Co. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$04.0★
22Unitedhealthcare Community Plan OF Texas, L.L.C. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareHMO POS$0.404.0★
23Aetna Health Inc. (TX) (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$4.604.0★
24Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Co. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareLocal PPO-3.5★
25Aetna Health AND Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO-3.5★
26Humana Insurance Company (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO-3.5★
27Humana Insurance Company (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO-3.5★
28Superior Healthplan, Inc. (SNP)Wellcare By AllwellHMO-3.5★
29Humana Insurance Company OF Kentucky (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$03.5★
30Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Co. (SNP)UnitedHealthcareLocal PPO$03.5★
31Humana Insurance Company (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$03.5★
32Humana Insurance Company (SNP)HumanaLocal PPO$03.5★
33Superior Healthplan, Inc. (SNP)Wellcare By AllwellHMO$03.5★
34Wellcare National Health Insurance Company (SNP)WellcareLocal PPO$03.5★
35Molina Healthcare OF Texas, Inc. (SNP)Molina Healthcare of Texas, Inc.HMO$03.5★
36Aetna Better Health OF Texas Inc. (SNP)Aetna MedicareHMO$03.5★
37Superior Healthplan, Inc. (SNP)Wellcare By AllwellHMO$4.803.5★
38Superior Healthplan, Inc. (SNP)Wellcare By AllwellHMO$4.803.5★
39Superior Healthplan, Inc. (SNP)Wellcare By AllwellHMO$4.803.5★
40Superior Healthplan, Inc. (SNP)Wellcare By AllwellHMO$4.803.5★
41Aetna Health AND Life Insurance Company (SNP)Aetna MedicareLocal PPO$45.003.5★
42Health Care Service Corporation (SNP)Blue Cross and Blue Shield of IL, NM, OK, TXLocal PPO$110.003.0★

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 (23 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 Starr, TX?

There are 42 Medicare Advantage plans available in Starr, TX for the 2026 plan year, including 20 HMO, 13 Local PPO, 9 HMO POS. 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 Starr?

The highest-rated plan in Starr has a CMS star rating of 5.0 out of 5 - TEXAS INDEPENDENCE HEALTH PLAN, INC.. Star ratings reflect quality measures including preventive care, chronic disease management, and member satisfaction.

How much do Medicare Advantage plans cost in Starr?

Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D combined) in Starr range from $0 to $110.00, averaging $6.20. 23 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 Starr?

Starr has 20 HMO, 13 Local PPO, 9 HMO POS. 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