Medicare Advantage · Virginia · 2026 plan year
Medicare Advantage in Bristol City, VA
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 2026 Landscape and Star Ratings files, every Medicare Advantage plan available in Bristol City, VA for 2026 is ranked by CMS star rating, with premiums and benefits laid out plainly.
- 42
- Plans available
- 4.5★
- Best plan: Top-rated
- $0
- Lowest premium/mo
- $14.66
- Avg premium/mo
The short answer
Bristol City has 42 Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, the best earns 4.5★ from CMS, 7 reach 4★ or higher, and 13 carry a $0 monthly premium.
- 42
- plans to compare
- 4.5★
- highest CMS rating here
- 13
- $0-premium plans
- 7
- 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 Bristol City, VA
Bristol City, VA (FIPS 51520): 42 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: 18 HMO, 14 HMO POS, 9 Local PPO, 1 PFFS. Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D) range $0 – $74.00 (avg $14.66), with 13 $0-premium plans. 21 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 Bristol City sits on CMS quality
Average CMS star rating across the plans sold in this county, against every county with rated plans
3.57★ Top 83% higher than 17% of 3,121 US counties
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 Bristol City, ranked by CMS rating
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
- Houston, AL 42 plans
- Hempstead, AR 42 plans
- Izard, AR 42 plans
- Stanislaus, CA 42 plans
- Delaware, IA 42 plans
- Fayette, IA 42 plans
Similar average CMS star rating
- Hamilton, IN 3.6★
- Hendricks, IN 3.6★
- Hancock, IN 3.6★
- Big Horn, MT 3.6★
- Saline, IL 3.6★
- Pottawatomie, KS 3.6★
Choosing a plan in this county
Star rating first, then total cost, not the premium alone.
- Shortlist the 4★+ plans above (7 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.
Medicare Advantage Guides
Official Medicare resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Bristol City, VA?
There are 42 Medicare Advantage plans available in Bristol City, VA for the 2026 plan year, including 18 HMO, 14 HMO POS, 9 Local PPO, 1 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 Bristol City?
The highest-rated plan in Bristol City 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 Bristol City?
Monthly plan premiums (Part C + D combined) in Bristol City range from $0 to $74.00, averaging $14.66. 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 Bristol City?
Bristol City has 18 HMO, 14 HMO POS, 9 Local PPO, 1 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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.