Information about Medicare Advantage Plans in Missouri

Quick links:

• Average 2019 Costs
• Eligibility & Enrollment
• Finding Top-Rated Plans
• List of Plans Available
  • Plans by Carrier
  • Plans by County
  • Plans by Type
• Local Resources

35 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in Missouri were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan in 2019.¹

There are 1,350 different Missouri Medicare Advantage plans in 2019.¹

A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the availability, benefits and costs of Medicare Advantage plans in your area of Missouri, because not every plan is available in every county.

Average costs of Medicare Advantage in Missouri

The average Medicare Advantage plan premium in Missouri in 2019 was $7 per month.

That average was affected by the 549 available 2019 plans that feature $0 monthly premiums.

• Average monthly premium cost in 2019 (weighted): $7
• Average in-network out-of-pocket spending limit: $3,837
• Average deductible in 2019 (weighted): $23.50¹

Out-of-pocket costs, premiums, deductibles and other costs may vary depending on where you live and the Medicare Advantage plan you have.

You can view the 2019 average Missouri Medicare Advantage plan monthly premiums listed by county below in this guide.

A licensed insurance agent can help you compare Medicare Advantage plan costs in your area.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Medicare Eligibility & Enrollment in MO

Before you can sign up for a Medicare Advantage in Missouri, you must first enroll in Original Medicare (Part A and Part B).

You must meet the following requirements in order to enroll in Medicare at age 65:

• You must be a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident who has lived in the U.S. for five continuous years.
  
  
• You or your spouse must have worked long enough to be eligible for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits.
  
  
• You or your spouse must be government employees or retirees who have not paid into Social Security but have paid Medicare payroll taxes.

You may also be eligible for Medicare benefits under 65 if:

• You have been receiving Social Security disability benefits or certain Railroad Retirement Board disability benefits for at least 24 months.
  
  
• You have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease).
  
  
• You have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), and you or your spouse have paid Social Security taxes for a certain length of time.

It’s important to note that if you have ESRD, you may not qualify for most Medicare Advantage plans. If you have ESRD, you may be able to enroll in a Missouri Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP) that is specifically designed to help meet your health care needs.

How to sign up for a Medicare Advantage Plan in Missouri

The first time you may be able to enroll in a Missouri Medicare Part C plan is during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).

Your seven-month Medicare IEP begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month of your birthday and extends for three additional months thereafter.

Additional times at which you may sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan include:

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31

If you're already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may switch to a new Medicare Advantage plan or drop your current Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

This period lasts from Jan. 1 to March 31 each year.

If you return to Original Medicare during this period, you may also be able to join a Medicare standalone prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D).

Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7

Medicare AEP lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 every year. During AEP, you may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another.

You may also disenroll from your current Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.

During AEP, you may also join, switch or drop a Medicare Part D plan. 

Medicare Special Enrollment Periods (SEP)

You may potentially be granted a Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP) at any time throughout the year, but only if you meet a specific qualifying circumstance.

A licensed insurance agent can help you find out if you qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Top-rated Medicare Advantage Plans in Missouri 2020

Every year, star ratings are issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that rate Medicare Advantage plans using a system of one to five stars.²

In order for any Medicare Advantage plan to be considered a top-rated plan, it must have four or more stars out of five stars.

In 2019, there are 522 top-rated 2019 Medicare Advantage plans in Missouri that are rated four stars or higher.

Medicare Advantage plans are rated in the following five categories:

• Preventive care and health maintenance (screenings, tests, vaccines, etc.)
• Management of chronic conditions
• Member experiences and ratings of the plan
• Member complaints, problems receiving services and member retention
• Customer service

The information for the star ratings is gathered from information that is submitted to Medicare, Medicare’s regular monitoring activities and member surveys.

List of Medicare Advantage Plans Available in Missouri in 2020

To view a list of plans offered in your area within Missouri, use our plan comparison tool.

Or call 1-800-557-6059 1-800-557-6059 TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans in Missouri

A number of different insurance carriers may offer Medicare Advantage plans in Missouri.

Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans that may be unique to the plan area they serve, so the availability of plans near you may be different than other areas of the state.

Call to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can help you compare the Medicare Advantage plans that are sold by insurance companies in your area.

You can also use the following information to help you decide on the Medicare Advantage plan that fits your needs:

• The Medicare Star Ratings can give you an idea of a plan’s overall quality.
  
  
• Agencies like A.M. Best, Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s can provide information about an insurance company’s credit rating and financial standing.

• You can read through Medicare Advantage plan reviews and testimonials from customers.

Missouri Medicare Advantage plans by county

Learn more about Medicare Advantage plans in some of Missouri's most populous counties.

• Jackson County Medicare Advantage plans
• St. Louis County Medicare Advantage plans

The chart below provides some more costs and enrollment information about 2019 Missouri Medicare Advantage plans by county.¹

• St. Louis County had the most available Medicare Advantage plans in 2019, including 16 top-rated plans that had four stars or higher.
  
  
• Jackson County had the most $0 premium plans in Missouri in 2019, with 13 such plans.

MO Medicare Advantage enrollees by plan type

The chart below illustrates the percentage of 2019 Missouri Medicare Advantage enrollees that are enrolled in each primary type of Medicare Advantage plan.¹

The major types of Medicare Advantage plans include:

• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
  
• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
• Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS)
• Special Needs Plan (SNP)

Not all of these types of plans may be available in your area.

A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the types of 2019 Missouri Medicare Advantage plans that are available where you live.

Local health insurance resources in Missouri

• Community Leaders Assisting the Insured of Missouri is a non-profit organization that provides free and unbiased information to people with Medicare insurance in an effort to help them get the most out of their benefits. CLAIM can be contacted at 800-390-3330 or 573-817-8320.
  
  
• You can also explore more information about the insurance industry in Missouri by visiting the state’s Department of Insurance website.
  
  
• Missouri Prescription Drug Assistance Programs
  The state of Missouri has a number of programs designed to help with the cost of prescription drugs. There are programs for both Medicare beneficiaries and non-Medicare beneficiaries alike that can cover the cost of premiums and cost-sharing or even lower the cost of the drugs themselves.

¹ MedicareAdvantage.com's The Best States for Medicare in 2021 report. (Oct. 27, 2020).

² Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5- star rating system.