2020 Best States for Medicare | Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans by State

Published Aug. 27, 2020

10,000 American seniors turn 65 every day, and all living Baby Boomers will be at least 65 by the year 2030.

Today, 62.5 million Americans – mostly age 65 and older – are enrolled in Medicare. These tens of millions of people, however, don’t have access to the same Medicare insurance options.

22 million Medicare beneficiaries (34% of all Medicare enrollees) are enrolled in a type of private Medicare plan called a Medicare Advantage plan. Another 20.6 million are enrolled in a stand-alone Medicare prescription drug plan (PDP).

Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MAPDs)
Also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage plans are sold by private insurance companies and replace a beneficiary’s government-provided Original Medicare coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans offer all the same benefits of Original Medicare, and many plans may offer additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as prescription drugs. Only the plans that include prescription drug coverage (which make up around 90% of all Medicare Advantage plans) are included in our report.
Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs)
Also known as Medicare Part D, these plans provide coverage exclusively for retail prescription drugs, which aren’t typically covered by federally-provided Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B).

Beneficiaries can have either a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan, a standalone Part D plan (PDP) or neither, but they cannot have both.

Private Medicare insurance can vary greatly from one state — or even one county or zip code — to the next. Some seniors may live in a utopia of numerous affordable and high-quality plan options, while others may be left in a Medicare desert of high cost plans and scarce selection.

Best States for Medicare: Study Overview

In this report, we determine where Medicare beneficiaries have access to the widest range of quality private Medicare plans at the most affordable prices. To do this, we compared plan data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 50 states across measures of:

Affordability
We factored the weighted average premium, average annual drug deductible and average in-network max out-of-pocket spending limit.
Availability
This includes the number of plans available and the average number of plans per county with consideration for the number of plan enrollees.
Quality
We highlighted the percentage of plans that are ranked four stars or higher based on the Medicare Star Rating system.¹ All Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D drug plans are assigned an annual star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). One-star plans are determined to be lowest quality, and plans rated four stars or higher are considered “top-rated” plans.
Popularity
We calculated the percentage change in enrollment for each plan from 2019 to 2020, including consideration for how this percentage compares to the national average and for the average penetration rate.

Read on for our findings, expert insight on the future of Medicare in America, state-by-state analysis and a full description of our methodology.

Best States for Medicare: Key Findings

Best States for Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MAPD)

Best States for Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MAPD)
State	Overall Rank	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible
Alabama	22	40	$38.89	65%	$301.47
Arizona	5	61	$24.64	37%	$139.03
Arkansas	46	38	$38.74	0	$139.44
California	6	120	$29.44	75%	$184.34
Colorado	42	52	$39.96	36%	$198.08
Connecticut	2	28	$35.57	71%	$163.36
Delaware	1	11	$30.53	45%	$120.46
Florida	4	162	$25.03	64%	$161.82
Georgia	37	64	$33.58	37%	$29.57
Hawaii	17	19	$57.96	78%	$229.30
Idaho	36	50	$42.53	70%	$169.49
Illinois	24	102	$68.90	40%	$107.10
Indiana	23	64	$42.27	59%	$341.11
Iowa	33	44	$51.25	79%	$337.27
Kansas	20	46	$38.59	43%	$232.17
Kentucky	29	49	$43.59	65%	$232.82
Louisiana	9	37	$43.93	70%	$192.39
Maine	39	28	$31.64	64%	$151.09
Maryland	8	23	$53.44	69%	$108.81
Massachusetts	12	44	$57.25	93%	$108.68
Michigan	40	72	$59.13	65%	$289.96
Minnesota	43	71	$76.06	76%	$182.59
Mississippi	30	28	$38.99	50%	$285.03
Missouri	48	60	$39.24	50%	$261.50
Montana	34	13	$55.79	69%	$111.89
Nebraska	13	29	$55.59	51%	$137.62
Nevada	7	34	$51.15	64%	$54.43
New Hampshire	14	31	$36.02	61%	$113.25
New Jersey	44	52	$34.46	71%	$162.20
New Mexico	28	24	$42.23	29%	$225.30
New York	15	134	$48.41	52%	$146.46
North Carolina	47	64	$27.73	67%	$120.75
North Dakota	16	20	$79.32	75%	$97.77
Ohio	41	114	$46.23	70%	$121.95
Oklahoma	26	35	$30.53	28%	$152.82
Oregon	11	76	$56.67	64%	$153.91
Pennsylvania	3	120	$49.41	72%	$213.03
Rhode Island	21	16	$51.43	68%	$80.27
South Carolina	45	63	$22.86	41%	$187.31
South Dakota	32	22	$76.02	72%	$161.72
Tennessee	35	52	$37.76	53%	$198.20
Texas	18	94	$29.70	46%	$193.67
Utah	27	25	$26.24	80%	$107.38
Vermont	25	13	$48.36	69%	$371.79
Virginia	10	74	$32.19	59%	$240.43
Washington	38	102	$53.34	69%	$63.08
West Virginia	19	30	$46.95	30%	$141.45
Wisconsin	49	89	$52.78	89%	$284.03
Wyoming	31	5	$49.99	20%	$212.51

Best States for Stand-Alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDP)

Best States for Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PPD)
State	Overall Rank	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible
Alabama	36	30	$40.08	18%	$342.33
Alaska	4	24	$35.24	16%	$368.54
Arizona	31	31	$53.72	4%	$353.23
Arkansas	50	27	$53.24	6%	$349.26
California	22	32	$42.44	7%	$332.03
Colorado	5	26	$37.10	18%	$335.19
Connecticut	18	25	$46.86	18%	$336.80
Delaware	3	27	$47.53	7%	$361.85
Florida	29	27	$39.65	7%	$341.48
Georgia	47	28	$42.44	7%	$340.00
Hawaii	2	25	$44.86	18%	$362.00
Idaho	10	28	$35.24	14%	$336.07
Illinois	27	28	$42.76	18%	$351.79
Indiana	45	28	$35.24	7%	$340.89
Iowa	28	29	$32.71	7%	$353.28
Kansas	33	28	$35.24	7%	$341.96
Kentucky	25	28	$30.13	19%	$340.89
Louisiana	42	26	$42.03	14%	$357.12
Maine	44	26	$35.24	7%	$337.69
Maryland	14	27	$35.99	7%	$361.85
Massachusetts	9	25	$42.44	16%	$336.80
Michigan	48	30	$46.37	8%	$332.00
Minnesota	30	29	$40.05	19%	$353.28
Mississippi	35	25	$50.53	19%	$357.40
Missouri	32	28	$38.76	14%	$334.29
Montana	21	29	$45.83	7%	$353.28
Nebraska	24	29	$48.72	16%	$353.28
Nevada	1	28	$29.79	23%	$345.54
New Hampshire	11	26	$41.47	18%	$337.69
New Jersey	41	28	$53.72	7%	$343.39
New Mexico	37	26	$51.82	16%	$343.46
New York	38	27	$39.65	8%	$347.04
North Carolina	39	28	$44.08	14%	$344.64
North Dakota	6	29	$42.59	18%	$353.28
Ohio	20	28	$35.24	16%	$345.54
Oklahoma	46	29	$42.59	8%	$352.07
Oregon	19	28	$39.65	7%	$335.00
Pennsylvania	34	31	$37.10	7%	$335.97
Rhode Island	8	25	$35.24	7%	$336.80
South Carolina	23	28	$41.12	14%	$340.89
South Dakota	16	29	$33.24	7%	$353.28
Tennessee	43	30	$45.74	7%	$342.33
Texas	15	30	$35.99	19%	$349.17
Utah	26	28	$46.86	7%	$336.07
Vermont	7	25	$42.44	19%	$336.80
Virginia	49	29	$52.04	7%	$349.31
Washington	12	28	$35.09	17%	$335.00
West Virginia	40	31	$41.12	14%	$335.97
Wisconsin	17	30	$29.79	14%	$327.67
Wyoming	13	29	$41.90	8%	$353.28

Geographic Differences in Medicare Markets

As noted in the maps above, the quality of Medicare’s local markets varies by state and region.

The western portion of the United States is largely considered favorable to shoppers of standalone PDP plans, but doesn’t bode quite as well for MAPD consumers.

The northeast and mid-Atlantic regions are quite the opposite, with many of the country’s best MAPD markets sitting north of the Mason-Dixon line. But those same qualities don’t carry over to that region’s PDP market landscape.

Other regions, such as the south, present mixed results across both types of coverage.

Even many individual states display a large disparity between one type of plan and another. For example, Colorado ranks 5th overall for PDP markets but just 42nd in the MAPD rankings. And on the other end of the spectrum is Virginia, which ranks 10th for MAPD plans but 49th for PDP.

Factors in MAPD Premium Ranges

The cost of a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan can depend on the type of plan, the benefits the plan includes and the company selling the plan. Another factor that can greatly influence MAPD premiums is where a beneficiary lives.

In South Carolina, the average MAPD premium is $22.86 per month. But in North Dakota, the average $79.32.

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The overall affordability of MAPD plans can also vary from one county to another.

Appanoose County, Iowa, has the lowest average MAPD monthly premium in the U.S., at $6.50 per month.
Monterey County, California, conversely, has the highest average MAPD premium, at $140 per month.

How Much Has MAPD Enrollment Increased?

MAPD enrollment has increased tremendously over the last decade. Nowhere is that more evident than in New Hampshire, Vermont, Nebraska and Delaware, which all saw enrollment increases of over 20% from 2019 to 2020.

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MAPD Quality by State

Quality is important to consumers, and in eight states, at least 75% of their MAPD plans score four stars or better for quality measures by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

In Massachusetts, which has the 12th strongest MAPD market overall, a remarkable 93% of plans are rated four stars or higher.

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Expert Analysis

Beginning October 15, millions of American seniors have the opportunity to purchase a private Medicare insurance plan for the first time or switch to a new coverage option during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP). This period, also called the fall Medicare Open Enrollment period, lasts until December 7.

We asked a panel of experts for their insight on what Medicare beneficiaries should keep in mind when they consider changing their Medicare plan or enrolling in a new one for the first time. Here's what they had to say.

What are the most important steps Medicare beneficiaries can take to minimize out-of-pocket health care costs and find good coverage options for their needs?

Rebeka Etheredge, licensed insurance producer in California: First, it’s important to compare several plan options to find the right plan for your needs and your budget. While comparing plans, make sure to check if the plan accepts your current doctor and prescriptions. Second, visiting in-network doctors and pharmacies may help keep your medical and drug costs down. Finally, if you’re unsure if your Medicare plan covers a service, simply ask! It’s so important to understand each service and the cost, before you receive the treatment, so you aren’t stuck with a surprise Medicare bill.

What are some common mistakes that people make when shopping for Medicare coverage, and how can you avoid doing the same?

Christian Worstell, licensed insurance agent in North Carolina: It's not uncommon for people to settle for the first attractive plan they see without making the extra effort to continue shopping. Many people may have access to dozens of plans, but don't take the time to review them all.

I always advise consumers to make a short list of the plans that suit them the best and carefully narrow their choices as they go. You're signing up for a year's worth of coverage, so it's worth the extra time to get it right.

Etheredge: One common mistake Medicare beneficiaries make is remaining in the same plan, year after year, without checking out other plan options. Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug plans might change from year to year. It’s important to know if your current plan is changing or if there’s another option out there that’s a better fit for your needs and budget.

What should Medicare beneficiaries do to prepare for the coming new year?

Worstell: Review your previous year. What type of health care did you utilize? Where did you spend the most money? What types of health conditions do you have or have been warned about by your doctor? It's nearly impossible to predict our health. But the more you can anticipate your future health care needs, the better you can align those needs with your upcoming benefits.

Etheredge: If you are enrolled in a Medicare plan, you should review your Plan Annual Notice of Change (ANOC) every year. Your insurance provider will mail this to you each fall. This document explains any plan changes, such as changes to the benefits, costs or service areas.

How does the coronavirus pandemic and COVID-19 affect Medicare enrollment in 2020?

Worstell: The COVID-19 pandemic is a great reason to review your coverage and identify any gaps that need filling. If we’ve learned anything from 2020, it’s that our health can turn at the drop of a hat, and seniors especially must be proactive about the health coverage benefits they maintain.

Best Counties & Cities for Medicare in Each State

Click on a state from the map below to learn more about the top cities and counties in the state for Medicare and for further analysis on how the state compares to national averages.

Alabama

PDP Rank: 36th
MAPD Rank: 22nd

Plans are generally affordable in Alabama, with the state ranking 16th for MAPD and 21st for PDP affordability measures.

The average weighted premium for MAPD plans is $38.89 per month, and the average PDP premium is $40.08 per month. These are both comfortably under the national averages for each. PDP drug deductibles in Alabama are consistent with the national average, but MAPD annual drug deductibles are notably lower ($120 in Alabama, versus the national average of $177.96).

Alabama has among the highest rates of PDP plans rated four stars or higher for quality, with 18% of drug plans meeting this distinction.¹ Interestingly, state enrollment dips considerably for PDP plans from 2019 to 2020 (-6.5%) while increasing sharply for MAPD plans (10.6%).

Birmingham has a booming market for MAPD plans, with high selection (27 plans) coupled with premiums that are $13 less than the state average and average drug deductibles that are a full $40 below the state average.

The state’s second largest city, Huntsville, is home to MAPD plans with premiums, drug deductibles and plan quality scores that are all better than the state averages. With only 17 available plans, however, Huntsville is on the low end of Alabama cities when it comes to MAPD plan selection.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Alabama
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Blount	21	$26.52	81%	$80.00	1
Lowndes	20	$29.24	80%	$111.25	2
Jefferson	27	$25.54	63%	$80.22	3
St. Clair	22	$26.45	77%	$98.89	4
Mobile	21	$33.29	76%	$115	5

Alaska

PDP Rank: 36th
MAPD Rank: N/A

Alaska does not have MAPD plans available, but the state’s selection of Part D prescription drug plans ranks highly in our report.

The state finished first in the nation for PDP popularity, with the highest increase of 2020 PDP enrollment of any state. 16% of the state’s Medicare drug plans are top-rated plans, which is 4% higher than the national average.

Medicare prescription drug plan beneficiaries in the state pay an average monthly premium of $40.08 for their drug coverage. This dollar amount is right around the national average, as is the average annual deductible of $342.33.

Arizona

PDP Rank: 31st
MAPD Rank: 5th

You could fit the state’s very own Grand Canyon between Arizona’s PDP and MAPD rankings.

Arizona was 5th nationally for MAPD plans, boosted by having the nation’s best MAPD availability with 61 plans overall and an average premium that is $20 less than the national average. Arizona’s only blemish for MAPD plans was that only 37% of the state's plans were rated four stars or higher for quality by the CMS, which is well under the national average of 59% of plans per state.

While the state is home to a reasonably high selection of PDP plans with 31 total plans, the average plan premium is high ($53.72 per month) and quality low (only 4% of plans rated four stars or higher).

Maricopa County is home to two of Arizona’s three largest cities (Phoenix and Mesa) and also home to 41 of the state’s 61 unique MAPD plans. Average MAPD premiums in Maricopa County are less than $18 per month, and drug deductibles are nearly $50 lower than the state average.

Tucson and Pima County have even more affordable MAPD premiums on average, at just $15.74 per month. Fewer plans are offered in Tucson (29) than in Phoenix and Mesa, however, and Tucson's plans feature slightly higher drug deductibles ($130.96).

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Arizona
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Maricopa	21	$17.89	34%	$110.13	1
Pima	20	$15.74	34%	$130.96	2
Pinal	27	$19.02	34%	$134.75	3
Santa Cruz	22	$40.80	38%	$301.50	4
Yavapai	21	$36.50	41%	$285.36	5

Arkansas

PDP Rank: 50th
MAPD Rank: 46th

Arkansas ranked near-last among both MAPD and PDP plan selection. But beneficiaries here should be encouraged by the state’s high score for MAPD popularity, a leading driver of market change. Arkansas saw a 14% increase in MAPD enrollment from 2019 to 2020.

The average monthly premium for the state’s MAPD plans was about $6 below the national average, but unfortunately, none of the 38 MAPD plans available in Arkansas registered a Medicare Star Rating of four stars or higher.

PDP plans in the state are among the most expensive in the nation, with an average premium of more than $53 per month. Just 6% of Arkansas Part D plans were rated four stars or higher by Medicare.

Little Rock’s Pulaski County is home to the highest number of MAPD plans in the state, with 29 total plans. The an average monthly premium for MAPD plans in Little Rock is just $26.65.

MAPD beneficiaries in Fayetteville enjoy even lower average monthly premiums, at around $25 per month, which is $12 below the state average. Average drug deductibles for MAPD plans in Fayetteville are $184 per year ($29 lower than the state average).

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Arkansas
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Crawford	23	$26.65	30%	$195	1
Benton	24	$25.49	29%	$184.74	2
Carroll	28	$23.32	25%	$187.73	3
Sebastian	23	$26.65	30%	$195	4
Washington	24	$25.49	29%	$184.74	5

California

PDP Rank: 22nd
MAPD Rank: 6th

California scored top-10 positions in MAPD availability, affordability and quality, which vaulted it to a 6th overall finish. Large population aside, the state boasted 120 MAPD plans (more than twice the national average) and was one of just seven states to have an average premium of under $30 per month. In terms of quality, three out of every four MAPD plans in the state were ranked four stars or higher by Medicare.

For PDP coverage, the state has plans that are on par with the national averages for premiums and drug deductibles but are hampered by low quality (just 7% of plans were ranked four stars or higher by Medicare).

Beneficiaries in Los Angeles County have the luxury of shopping in a rich MAPD market, where plan selection is high (53 total plans) and the average plan premium is low ($10.78 per month).

San Diego is equally competitive, with 39 available MAPD plans and an average premium ($15.35 per month) and drug deductible ($148.38) that are both well below state and national averages.

Heading north, premiums and drug deductibles also climb in the same direction. The state’s third-largest Medicare plan market, San Jose, has average MAPD plan premiums that are slightly higher than the state average (although still well under the national average) and average drug deductibles that narrowly exceed the national average of $178.

The high cost of living in San Francisco is reflected in its $35 per month average MAPD plan premium, which is well above the state average but still nowhere near the most expensive in California.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in California
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Los Angeles	53	$10.78	72%	$138.60	1
San Bernardino	48	$9.20	72%	$152.22	2
Orange	51	$13.96	69%	$148.98	3
Riverside	46	$9.16	68%	$149.19	4
San Diego	39	$15.35	72%	$148.38	5

Colorado

PDP Rank: 5th
MAPD Rank: 42nd

Colorado has a Jekyll and Hyde Medicare landscape.

Colorado PDP plans scored well in quality (18% of the state’s Part D plans were rated four stars or higher by Medicare) and affordability (average premiums of $37.10 per month and average deductibles of $335.19).

While the state is home to lower-than-average MAPD premiums, Colorado's MAPD selection ranked low in our study for plan quality and popularity. Just 36% of Colorado’s 52 MAPD plans were rated four stars or higher by Medicare, and the state’s MAPD enrollment growth rate from 2019 to 2020 was nearly 4% lower than the national average.

Denver County cracked Colorado’s top 5 counties for MAPD plans, with average plan premiums of less than $29 per month and drug deductibles of just over $100 annually. However, MAPD plan selection and quality in Denver remained below national benchmarks.

El Paso County and Colorado Springs had the second lowest average MAPD premiums in the state, at just $15.72 per month.

That affordability extended to Colorado’s third-largest city of Aurora, which showed MAPD drug deductibles hovering under $100 for the year.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Colorado
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Douglas	40	$32.75	48%	$101.71	1
Jefferson	37	$28.68	41%	$101.82	2
Adams	37	$28.68	54%	$101.82	3
Denver	37	$28.68	41%	$101.82	4
Broomfield	34	$28.53	44%	$97.33	5

Connecticut

PDP Rank: 18th
MAPD Rank: 2nd

Connecticut is one of the top 5 states nationally for both MAPD and PDP plan availability, with 28 MAPD plans and 25 PDP policies from which to choose. The state also ranked 11th in plan quality among both types of plans, including 71% of all MAPD plans garnering at least a four-star rating from Medicare.

However, Connecticut ranked in the bottom half of states in terms of both MAPD and PDP affordability, with PDP premiums and MAPD drug deductibles registering a few dollars higher than the national average.

Bridgeport and Stamford, Connecticut’s two largest cities, are both located in Fairfield County, where MAPD premiums checked in at $42.99 per month and drug deductibles at $200.23, both a bit higher than the statewide average.

Hartford and New Haven Counties topped the list of Connecticut’s best MAPD markets, each with a selection of low-cost and high-quality plans.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Connecticut
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Hartford	27	$41.47	70%	$178.40	1
New Haven	28	$41.06	71%	$186.15	2
Middlesex	24	$42.15	79%	$200.23	3
Tolland	25	$43.79	68%	$163.04	4
Windham	24	$47.47	79%	$180.45	5

Delaware

PDP Rank: 3rd
MAPD Rank: 1st

Delaware can be called “The First State” for more reasons than one, ranking as our best overall state for MAPD plans.

Delaware’s MAPD plans carry an average premium of just $30.53 per month. MAPD plans in the sate also average among the nation’s lowest drug deductibles at just $54.43, or less than one-third of the national average.

Delaware ranked first overall for PDP plan selection, with 27 unique plans spread across the state. Something notable, though: Delaware ranked 2nd in the nation for MAPD plan affordability, but just 44th in PDP affordability.

Delaware’s three counties were tightly contested, with each one displaying identical MAPD premiums and plan selection. The state’s largest city of Wilmington has the most plans and the lowest average monthly premium, but also the lowest percentage of top-rated plans.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Delaware
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Kent	9	$30.25	56%	$61.43	1
Sussex	9	$30.25	56%	$61.43	2
New Castle	11	$30.10	45%	$47.78	3

Florida

PDP Rank: 29th
MAPD Rank: 4th

Measured in sheer volume, Florida boasts the highest number of MAPD plans with 162, with premiums averaging just $25.03 per month. At $108.81, annual drug deductibles for MAPD plans were considerably less than the national average, and the quality of plans was overall higher than the nationwide benchmark.

The Sunshine State ranked near the middle across all PDP categories, although average premiums ($39.65 per month) and average deductibles ($341.48) are both lower than the national average.

Jacksonville beneficiaries can enjoy MAPD premiums that are roughly half the statewide average, although the average annual drug deductibles for MAPD plans are about $10 higher than the national average.

Florida’s next two largest cities, Tampa and Miami, offer some of the best MAPD plan options in the state, with 44 plans available to beneficiaries and average monthly premiums of less than $10.

Sumter County, the county with the oldest average age of residents in America, has a thriving MAPD market. The average monthly MAPD premiums is $16.51, the average drug deductible is just $80.89 and 64% of available MAPD plans are rated four stars or higher for quality by Medicare.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Florida
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Miami-Dade	44	$9.95	57%	$110.95	1
Pasco	42	$9.02	64%	$83.16	2
Pinellas	44	$10.86	66%	$98.63	3
Broward	47	$13.24	57%	$99.89	4
Hillsborough	44	$9.93	64%	$96.13	5

Georgia

PDP Rank: 47th
MAPD Rank: 37th

Georgia’s MAPD plans are rising in popularity, with a nearly 11% enrollment increase from 2019 to 2020.

Just over a third of the MAPD plans in the Peach State were rated four stars or higher for quality by Medicare. Average MAPD premiums came in at just $33.58 per month, or about $11 lower than the national average.

Average PDP premiums and deductibles in Georgia were identical to the national averages, but the state offers a limited selection of PDP plans at just 28 unique plans.

The cluster of counties that make up the Atlanta metro area are all among Georgia’s best for MAPD plans. Average premiums hover around $20 per month and annual drug deductibles largely remain in the $150 to $170 ballpark. However, plan quality lags behind, with roughly two-thirds of plans failing to achieve a four-star rating for quality.

Georgia’s next two largest markets, Augusta and Columbus, displayed similar costs and characteristics.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Georgia
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Clayton	39	$18.91	33%	$153.39	1
DeKalb	41	$18.99	32%	$150.44	2
Gwinnett	39	$20.01	36%	$154.38	3
Fulton	40	$19.47	33%	$151.97	4
Henry	39	$19.71	33%	$168.91	5

Hawaii

PDP Rank: 2nd
MAPD Rank: 17th

Hawaii’s sunshine was reflected in its PDP plans, which ranked second overall thanks to high selection (25 unique plans) and trusted quality.

Despite having 79% of the state’s MAPD plans rated four stars or higher for quality, Hawaii was kept outside of the top 10 due to average premiums ($57.96) and drug deductibles ($240.43) that were both significantly higher than the national average.

Hawaii’s most populated area, Honolulu, also has the richest MAPD market with the highest number of plans coupled with the lowest average costs.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Hawaii
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Honolulu	14	$41.86	71%	$224.58	1
Maui	9	$68.40	78%	$267.50	2
Kauai	8	$50.17	75%	$269.29	3
Hawaii	5	$116.30	60%	$272.50	4

Idaho

PDP Rank: 10th
MAPD Rank: 36th

Idaho measured up as the 6th-most affordable state for PDP plans with an average premium of just $35.24 ($6 under the national average) and deductibles that also measured slightly better than average. Those plans also ranked inside the top 20 in terms of popularity, selection and quality.

The state’s MAPD plans were also more affordable than the national average with premiums and deductibles calculated at $42.53 and $153.91, respectively, but were offset by average out-of-pocket spending limits that were among the highest in the country at $5,487 per year.

Boise’s Ada County ranked second overall across Idaho with premiums that were nearly half the state average and 29 of the 41 available plans ranking four stars or higher for quality.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Idaho
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Canyon	41	$23.56	71%	$138.38	1
Ada	41	$23.56	71%	$138.38	2
Gem	31	$25.83	65%	$128.54	3
Boise	20	$29.75	90%	$157.14	4
Payette	29	$26.44	62%	$121.09	5

Illinois

PDP Rank: 27th
MAPD Rank: 24th

Illinois flashed popular MAPD plans and high-quality PDP options, but was buoyed by pedestrian rankings in most other categories.

At an average of $68.90 per month, the state’s MAPD plans were the fourth-most expensive in the nation. Those costs were partially offset however by average annual drug deductibles that were almost $80 less than the national average of $177.96. Less than half of the state’s 102 plans scored four stars or better for quality measures.

PDP selection was on the low side with just 28 unique plans available while affordability was consistent with national averages and quality was a touch better.

Beneficiaries in Chicago’s Cook County are treated to 46 unique plans that carry average premiums of just $27.23 per month. However, the average drug deductible was above the state average and fewer than one-quarter of those plans scored at least four stars for quality measures.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Illinois
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Monroe	17	$30.50	71%	$68.93	1
St. Clair	27	$32.42	48%	$100.68	2
Madison	27	$32.42	48%	$100.69	3
Cook	46	$27.23	22%	$138.05	4
Jo Daviess	24	$66.17	46%	$65.63	5

Indiana

PDP Rank: 45th
MAPD Rank: 23rd

The Hoosier State ranked 10th and 11th respectively in PDP and MAPD affordability. Both premiums and drug deductibles for both types of plans stayed under the national averages, highlighted by PDP premiums of just $35.24 per month. While plan quality was aligned with national averages, selection remains a bit on the low side.

The low selection can be seen in the state’s biggest market, Indianapolis, where just 23 MAPD plans were made available. But despite the slim pickings, those plans averaged out to just $24.55 per month, well below the state average of $42.27, and nearly three-quarters of them were rated as four stars or higher for quality.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Indiana
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Allen	26	$21.52	73%	$97.95	1
Whitley	25	$22.42	72%	$97.95	2
Huntington	23	$24.46	78%	$107.75	3
De Kalb	20	$22.95	80%	$102.06	4
Kosciusko	20	$26.79	80%	$106.18	5

Iowa

PDP Rank: 28th
MAPD Rank: 33rd

Despite the middling overall rankings, Iowa’s Medicare plans are actually sneaky good.

MAPD plans ranked 4th in quality with nearly 80% of plans being rated four stars or higher. And average drug deductibles were much lower than average at just $113.25 per month. But Iowa was hampered partly by low selection with just 40 unique plans across the state.

PDP plans also flashed some affordability with an average premium of just $32.71, or more than $8 better than the national average. But once again, Iowa was done in by low plan selection with just 28 unique policies.

The city of Des Moines has 15 available plans with premiums averaging just $20 per month and drug deductibles of only $71.92 per year. 12 of the 15 plans are rated four stars or higher for quality.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Iowa
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Clayton	20	$51.96	90%	$60.38	1
Fayette	15	$35.41	87%	$12.50	2
Jackson	18	$56.72	89%	$85.00	3
Des Moines	4	$9.75	100%	$37.50	4
Bremer	10	$22.30	80%	$16.67	5

Kansas

PDP Rank: 33rd
MAPD Rank: 20th

Good marks in affordability and a 4th-place finish in MAPD popularity were offset by low rankings for selection and quality.

Kansas had just 28 PDP and 46 MAPD plans available and both types of policies featured a share of four-star quality plans that was lower than the national average.

Still, both PDP and MAPD costs were better than national averages for premiums and drug deductibles. The state’s MAPD plans, behind an average premium of just $35.24 per month, had the 4th-highest enrollment increase in the country from 2019 to 2020.

Kansas City, located in Wyandotte County, had just 24 MAPD plans available and fewer than half were rated four stars or higher for quality. But those plans were among the most affordable of anywhere in the state with premiums averaging just $21.13 per month and annual drug deductibles for under $60.

Kansas’ second-largest city, Olathe, is also home to the state’s best MAPD market. Johnson County features a robust 32 plans with average premiums that are nearly $8 less than the state average.

Beneficiaries in Topeka enjoy similar monthly premiums but have their choice of just 13 plans.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Kansas
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Johnson	32	$27.87	50%	$68.75	1
Wyandotte	24	$21.13	46%	$59.12	2
Miami	19	$18.27	58%	$77.31	3
Sedgwick	22	$22.61	41%	$104.41	4
Butler	21	$23.75	43%	$110.94	5

Kentucky

PDP Rank: 25th
MAPD Rank: 29th

Kentucky’s PDP plans ranked 2nd for the two things consumers care about the most: quality and affordability.

At 19%, PDP plans in Kentucky had among the highest share of four-star plans for quality. And the $30.13 average monthly premium was a full $11 lower than the national average. But strangely, these plans remain relatively unpopular in Kentucky, with a 5% drop on enrollment from 2019 to 2020.

Among MAPD plans, premiums were steady but drug deductibles were nearly half the national average at just $97.77 per year. The quality of plans was slightly better than average and the state experienced a 15% enrollment increase from the year prior.

Despite being Kentucky’s largest city, Louisville offers just 22 MAPD plans to beneficiaries. But the low selection also comes with low cost, as these plans averaged just $22.62 per month in premiums, which is nearly half the state’s average. And the $73.89 average drug deductible is among the state’s lowest.

Lexington has an identical MAPD market with the same number of available plans to go along with premiums and deductibles that average just a few dollars more.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Kentucky
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Campbell	29	$36.64	52%	$78.00	1
Kenton	29	$36.64	52%	$78.00	2
Boone	29	$36.64	52%	$78.00	3
Jefferson	22	$22.62	55%	$73.89	4
Franklin	21	$22.81	57%	$95.00	5

Louisiana

PDP Rank: 42nd
MAPD Rank: 9th

Louisiana’s lackluster ranking for PDP plans was more than made up for with a strong showing among MAPD’s, highlighted by a 3rd place ranking for popularity with a more than 15% enrollment increase year-over-year. The state’s collection of plans also featured a 70% rate of four star ratings for quality, which is well over the national average. However, drug deductibles were on the higher end of the spectrum at an average of $229.30 per year.

Louisiana’s PDP plans ranked alongside the national average for nearly all categories, but suffered a 4% drop in enrollment from 2019 to 2020.

Louisiana’s largest parishes, home to the cities of New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Metairie and Lafayette, all have comparable MAPD markets with plan selection ranging from 22 to 25, monthly premiums averaging around $30 and drug deductibles typically under $200 per year.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Louisiana
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Jefferson	22	$32.72	59%	$213.06	1
West Baton Rouge	23	$31.23	57%	$184.17	2
Iberville	24	$29.87	54%	$182.37	3
East Baton Rouge	24	$29.00	54%	$182.37	4
Livingston	22	$32.72	59%	$195.00	5

Maine

PDP Rank: 44th
MAPD Rank: 39th

Maine ranked inside the top 10 for both PDP selection and affordability, but was undone by a last place finish for popularity and a near-last ranking for quality.

There are 26 PDP plans across the state that combine for an average monthly premium of just $35.24. But the 7% rate of four-star scores for quality may have contributed to the 7% drop in enrollment from the year prior.

The state’s MAPD plans were a similar story, ranking no worse than 28th for MAPD selection, cost and quality, but held back by a 49th finish for popularity. Premiums average $31.64, which is $10 less than the national average.

Portland’s Cumberland County was kept just outside the top five counties in Maine. Beneficiaries there have their choice of 26 plans and the second-lowest average premiums in the state at just $22.22 per month. But Portland drug deductibles are also the second highest in the state at more than $207 annually and plan quality is slightly below the state average.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Maine
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Androscoggin	27	$23.20	63%	$199.57	1
Waldo	28	$28.80	68%	$190.21	2
Franklin	24	$30.85	67%	$188.00	3
Kennebec	27	$23.71	63%	$199.57	4
Lincoln	25	$29.93	64%	$168.10	5

Maryland

PDP Rank: 14th
MAPD Rank: 8th

Maryland scored well for MAPD availability (6th) and quality (17th) while its PDP plans were highlighted by a 5th place finish for popularity and top-20 rankings for affordability and selection.

Nearly 70% of Maryland’s 23 MAPD plans were rated four stars or higher for quality. But while annual drug deductibles were well below the national average at just $141.45, beneficiaries paid more than most for the $53.44 per month premiums.

PDP plans averaged $35.99 per month, comfortably under the national average. And with 27 PDP plans, Maryland is one of just a handful of states to have more PDP plans than MAPD plans.

Baltimore has just 13 available MAPD plans, which places it on the low end for a city of its size. And the low selection may be partly to blame for premiums coming in a bit higher than the state average at $62 per month.

Columbia, Maryland’s second-largest city, has just eight available plans with premiums totaling $74 per month, placing it among the most expensive in the state.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Maryland
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Carroll	15	$62.07	73%	$186.67	1
Prince George’s	10	$82.33	70%	$126.43	2
Baltimore	13	$62.00	62%	$143.00	3
Frederick	16	$65.47	69%	$168.00	4
Harford	5	$64.75	60%	$93.33	5

Massachusetts

PDP Rank: 9th
MAPD Rank: 12th

Massachusetts showed remarkable consistency in never ranking outside of the top 27 in any category and securing a 1-2 finish for MAPD quality and popularity, respectively, to go along with a 7th-place spot for PDP selection.

41 of the state’s 44 MAPD plans are rated four stars or higher for quality, which is significantly higher than the national average of 59%. All that quality comes at a price though, as both premiums ($57.25) and drug deductibles ($232.17) hovered well above national averages.

Suffolk County and its flagship city of Boston cracked the state’s top five with 31 MAPD plans and a 90% rate of four-star quality scores. However, beneficiaries there pay more than $20 more per month on average than the state as a whole.

Hampden and Worcester counties ranked 1-2 respectively in Massachusetts. Hampden, home to the state’s third-largest city of Springfield, has MAPD premiums that average just $60 per month to go along with its 31-plan lineup. Beneficiaries in the city of Worcester have two more plans from which to choose but average premiums that are $17 higher.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Massachusetts
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Hampden	31	$60.06	90%	$232.14	1
Worcester	33	$77.30	91%	$232.93	2
Essex	35	$78.23	91%	$218.50	3
Plymouth	34	$76.12	91%	$218.50	4
Suffolk	31	$78.97	90%	$233.15	5

Michigan

PDP Rank: 48th
MAPD Rank: 40th

Despite a pair of low overall rankings, Michigan managed to finish inside the top 30 for MAPD selection, quality and popularity along with PDP quality.

There are 26 unique plans available across the state and 65% of all plans are rated four stars or higher for quality. And while Michigan’s average premium of $59.13 is well above the national average, its average drug deductible of just $80.27 is less than half the national average. MAPD enrollment is on the rise, with a more than 16% uptick from 2019.

PDP costs are on par with national averages but quality is a notch better, with 16% of all plans scoring four stars or better.

Detroit’s MAPD beneficiaries have 46 plans at their disposal with average drug deductibles of just $63.90 and three out of every four plans having been rated four stars or higher for quality.

The Grand Rapids county of Kent ranked 7th in the state for MAPD markets with premiums that are $10 below the state average while sharing the same high quality as Detroit.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Michigan
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Oakland	51	$57.94	75%	$72.56	1
Wayne	46	$57.74	74%	$63.90	2
Macomb	46	$57.74	74%	$63.90	3
Genesee	42	$56.30	69%	$71.05	4
Ottawa	31	$45.47	74%	$103.33	5

Minnesota

PDP Rank: 30th
MAPD Rank: 43rd

Minnesota’s PDP plans are high in quality (ranking 4th) but remain low in popularity (41st). MAPD plans may be better than advertised, having ranked 6th for quality and 15th in popularity.

Minnesota has 46 unique MAPD plans, 76% of which are rated four stars or higher for quality. However, at $76.06 per month, the state has the second highest average premiums in the country and its average drug deductible of $301.47 places it among the five highest in the U.S.

Minnesota has PDP costs that are more in line with national averages and with nearly one in five plans being rated four stars or higher, also has one of the best quality plan lineups across the board.

In a unique twist, the larger cities in Minnesota didn’t fare as well as some of the state’s smaller counties. Beneficiaries in Minneapolis-St.Paul cities face average premiums of $78.45 although drug deductibles sit below the state average at $281.97. And in the state’s third-largest market of Rochester, MAPD premiums average a whopping $106.51 with drug deductibles stretching to $326.36.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Minnesota
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Mille Lacs	37	$93.33	89%	$315.00	1
Meeker	34	$98.55	88%	$315.25	2
McLeod	34	$99.45	88%	$315.25	3
St. Louis	38	$98.76	84%	$310.65	4
Aitkin	38	$98.76	84%	$310.65	5

Mississippi

PDP Rank: 35th
MAPD Rank: 30th

Mississippi’s MAPD ranking was saved by a 3rd-place finish for affordability while a 5th-place ranking for quality helped salvage the state’s PDP score.

Mississippi has the second-highest average MAPD drug deductible in the U.S. at $341.11 per year. However, premiums remain about $5 below the national average at just $38.99 per month. And the high drug decuctibles don’t seem to be scaring away customers as the state had one of the highest year-over-year enrollment increases at more than 19%.

PDP drug deductibles are far closer to the national average at $357.40 but premiums sit about $9 more expensive on average. The price can be justified in the quality, with one in five plans being rated four stars or higher.

The state’s largest city of Jackson also has the highest number of MAPD options with 19 to go along with premiums that average under $24 per month.

In Harrison County and the city of Gulfport, the 13 available plans average $32.01 per month.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Mississippi
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Hancock	14	$29.55	36%	$272.50	1
Pearl River	12	$28.19	42%	$248.75	2
George	13	$24.18	38%	$265.56	3
Stone	13	$24.18	38%	$265.56	4
Hinds	19	$23.73	26%	$307.86	5

Missouri

PDP Rank: 32nd
MAPD Rank: 48th

Missouri displayed PDP plans that scored better than the median for quality and cost, but the state’s MAPD plans cracked the top 40 in just one category (36th in quality).

Both PDP premiums ($38.76) and drug deductibles ($334.29) sit below national averages, but the 25 unique plans across the state place Missouri near the bottom in terms of selection.

MAPD premiums ($39.24) and drug deductibles ($107.10) were also comfortably below national averages.

Kansas City residents have a wide selection of MAPD plans whether they’re in Jackson County (28 plans), Cass (25), Clay (26) or Platte (26). And average premiums in these markets range from just $20 to $23 per month.

In St. Louis, there’s 26 plans to come by with premiums averaging $26.31 and drug deductibles of just $79.13, which helped vault the Gateway to the West inside the state’s top five.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Missouri
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Jefferson	25	$27.36	60%	$75.91	1
St. Charles	25	$27.36	60%	$75.91	2
St. Louis	26	$26.31	58%	$79.13	3
St. Louis City	26	$26.31	58%	$79.13	4
Webster	27	$13.81	44%	$81.30	5

Montana

PDP Rank: 21st
MAPD Rank: 34th

Montana’s 3rd-place ranking for PDP popularity was overshadowed by its 41st-place finish for affordability and 39th-place finish for quality. MAPD plans were more consistent, ranking between 18th and 24th for affordability, quality and popularity.

Only two states have fewer MAPD plans than Montana’s 13. Low selection often leads to high cost, which is evident in the $55.79 average premiums and $371.19 drug deductibles, both of which are well above national averages and the average drug deductible in Montana is the highest in the U.S.

PDP costs in Montana are a shade above national averages. And while quality of plans remains low overall, the state offers 29 unique plans, which is more than several other states with much higher populations.

Billings doesn’t register any MAPD data, but the second-largest city of Missoula has six plans, five of which are rated four stars or higher for quality.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Montana
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Yellowstone	8	$41.86	88%	$368.00	1
Stillwater	4	$37.33	75%	$337.50	2
Fergus	4	$37.33	75%	$337.50	3
Sanders	4	$37.33	75%	$337.50	4
Mineral	4	$37.33	75%	$337.50	5

Nebraska

PDP Rank: 24th
MAPD Rank: 13th

Behind a 7th-place ranking for affordability and a 13th-place finish for selection, Nebraska’s MAPD plans may have cracked the top 10 overall if not for the state’s low performance in quality and overall enrollment. Nebraska’s PDP plans ranked no higher than 17th (quality) in any category.

Nebraska’s MAPD drug deductibles are a good $25 below the national average at just $152.82 per year. And while participation is on the lower end, the 22% enrollment increase from 2019 to 2020 was the second highest in the U.S.

PDP plans saw the opposite trend, with a decrease in enrollment rates from last year. But with 16% of PDP plans scoring four stars or better, Nebraska sports a quality lineup for those who want it.

In Douglas County you’ll find Omaha, and you’ll also find a rich MAPD market with 18 plans (second most in the state) with the state’s lowest average premiums of just $17.39.

In Lincoln, beneficiaries have 16 plans with premiums averaging $37.13 ($18 under the state average).

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Nebraska
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Dakota	8	$35.25	38%	$74.17	1
Nance	10	$67.00	60%	$73.75	2
Douglas	18	$17.39	33%	$135.29	3
Hall	14	$51.07	50%	$143.13	4
Adams	12	$50.92	58%	$121.43	5

Nevada

PDP Rank: 1st
MAPD Rank: 7th

Nevada was our overall winner for PDP plans, securing the top spot behind a 1st-place finish for quality and top-10 marks in both selection and cost and ranking no worse than 16th in any category. The state’s strong finish for MAPD plans included finishing 7th in availability.

With 28 available plans, average premiums of $29.79 and the highest rate of four star plans (more than 23%), Nevada’s PDP beneficiaries have it good.

MAPD plans in the state don’t share quite the same affordability, clocking in at an average of $51.15. Although drug deductibles are well under the national average at just $107.38 and selection (34 unique plans) and quality (64% being four stars or better) are both solid.

MAPD plans in Las Vegas and Henderson are the most affordable ($13.67) and plentiful (26 plans) of anywhere in the state.

Reno trails only slightly behind with 16 plans averaging $23.31 in premiums.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Nevada
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Nye	20	$15.72	80%	$94.17	1
Clark	26	$13.67	62%	$106.88	2
Washoe	16	$23.31	63%	$133.85	3
Carson City	10	$33.11	60%	$31.25	4
Storey	5	$18.25	40%	$62.50	5

New Hampshire

PDP Rank: 11th
MAPD Rank: 14th

New Hampshire offers a nice selection of plans, ranking 5th for PDP and 9th for MAPD availability. The state’s PDP plans also finished 12th for quality.

The state has 26 PDP plans and 31 MAPD options. PDP costs align with national averages while MAPD plans in the state feature lower premiums ($36.02) coupled with higher drug deductibles ($225.30). MAPD plans also are slightly above average in overall quality and saw a 21% enrollment increase from 2019.

Like many states, New Hampshire’s largest cities of Manchester and Nashua show the most fertile markets for MAPD plans with 31 unique selections that average just $32.37 per month.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in New Hampshire
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Hillsborough	31	$32.37	61%	$222.93	1
Belknap	22	$38.05	77%	$217.25	2
Merrimack	25	$35.10	72%	$235.00	3
Strafford	29	$32.92	62%	$216.30	4
Sullivan	22	$35.32	62%	$217.25	5

New Jersey

PDP Rank: 41st
MAPD Rank: 44th

New Jersey’s plans fared well for PDP availability (11th) and MAPD quality (12th), but were hampered by high cost.

The 28 different PDP plans feature premiums that are $12 higher than the national average at $53.72 per month and include one of the lowest rates of four star quality scores.

MAPD premiums fare much better at $34.46, or $10 below the national average but were hurt by high drug deductibles ($232.82). The state does have a favorable selection with 52 plans overall including 37 rated four stars or higher.

MAPD plans in Newark are affordable from a premium perspective (averaging $28.64 per month) but light on selection (just 21 different plans).

In Jersey City’s Hudson County, 27 plans make up premiums averaging $28.89 and in Paterson, 25 plans combine for premiums of $38.60.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in New Jersey
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Burlington	26	$34.09	73%	$196.96	1
Morris	32	$41.01	75%	$233.93	2
Hunterdon	22	$40.43	91%	$244.47	3
Warren	23	$36.46	87%	$244.47	4
Mercer	25	$31.10	68%	$217.27	5

New Mexico

PDP Rank: 37th
MAPD Rank: 28th

An 11th-place ranking in MAPD selection was offset by the high cost and low quality of those plans. Meanwhile, New Mexico’s PDP plans ranked in the top 20 for both such categories.

The state’s 24 MAPD plans are consistent with the national average for premium cost but total $285.03 in drug deductibles and with just 29% of plans being rated four stars or higher, New Mexico comes up short for MAPD quality.

PDP plans on the other hand measured higher than the national average for quality while remaining aligned with national averages for cost.

Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, the state’s first- and third-largest markets respectively, each display 21 MAPD plans with average premiums of $33.03. Although New Mexico’s larger markets feature drug deductibles that are lower than the state average, deductibles remain high across the state when compared to the national average.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in New Mexico
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Valencia	21	$33.03	29%	$256.25	1
Bernalillo	21	$33.03	29%	$256.25	2
San Miguel	13	$36.90	46%	$230.56	3
Sandoval	21	$33.03	29%	$256.25	4
Torrance	18	$37.62	33%	$243.46	5

New York

PDP Rank: 38th
MAPD Rank: 15th

New York’s MAPD plans are both affordable (9th) and popular (11th), but the state’s PDP plans failed to crack the top 20 for any category.

The Big Apple has big plan selection, with 134 MAPD options to go along with 27 PDP plans. Somewhat surprisingly, Medicare plans remain quite affordable with PDP plans registering a couple dollars less than the national average for premiums and MAPD plans sitting just a few dollars more. Quality was a notch lower than national averages for both types of plans however.

None of New York City’s five boroughs fared particularly well when compared to the rest of the state’s MAPD markets, although Queens and Bronx feature average premiums that are lower than both state and national averages with 50 and 44 available plans, respectively.

Erie County’s Buffalo market features 43 plans and drug deductibles of $148.68, well below state and even national averages. Beneficiaires in Rochester can expect to pay a little more with average premiums of around $65 and drug deductibles approaching $200 annually.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in New York
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Madison	37	$47.00	78%	$111.79	1
Broome	47	$38.47	62%	$138.06	2
Oneida	45	$39.51	64%	$123.24	3
Erie	43	$58.73	67%	$148.68	4
Herkimer	40	$46.75	73%	$112.33	5

North Carolina

PDP Rank: 39th
MAPD Rank: 47th

North Carolina shows some respectable plan quality, having ranked just inside the top 25 for both plan types. But the state ranked outside of the top 40 in five of the remaining six categories.

PDP plan costs are about average and MAPD plans are remarkably affordable, averaging $27.73 in premiums and $161.72 in annual drug deductibles. Quality is higher than the national average for both types of plans and MAPD enrollment saw a healthy 12% increase from 2019.

Residents of Charlotte get to choose from 26 MAPD plans that average slightly less than the already low state average along with drug deductibles of just $138.42.

In Raleigh, premiums and drug deductibles are low ($19.53 and $113.85 respectively) but so too is selection (just 18 plans).

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in North Carolina
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Guilford	25	$16.00	72%	$116.58	1
Davidson	23	$19.59	74%	$127.35	2
Forsyth	23	$19.59	70%	$120.28	3
Randolph	20	$18.68	75%	$147.67	4
Rockingham	20	$18.68	75%	$147.67	5

North Dakota

PDP Rank: 6th
MAPD Rank: 16th

North Dakota’s PDP plans measured 4th in popularity and were steady enough elsewhere to secure a top 10 overall ranking. And the state’s MAPD plans locked up three top-20 finishes including 8th place for plan quality.

At nearly 2%, the PDP enrollment increase from 2019 to 2020 was among the higher rates in the country and those beneficiaries are joining a lineup that features 17% of its plans having been rated four stars or higher for quality.

MAPD plans in North Dakota are pricey however, with average premiums of $79.32 and deductibles nearly twice the national average at $337.27.

Fargo has some of the state’s best selection with 19 MAPD plans while Burleigh, North Dakota’s second-biggest city, sports 20. But both markets are plagued by the state’s high premiums and drug deductibles.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in North Dakota
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Stutsman	16	$88.57	94%	$341.43	1
Richland	16	$88.57	94%	$341.43	2
Morton	19	$79.19	79%	$337.50	3
Kidder	11	$107.85	91%	$335.00	4
Cass	19	$79.19	79%	$337.50	5

Ohio

PDP Rank: 20th
MAPD Rank: 41st

Ohio’s PDP plans earned high marks for affordability (12th) and quality (18th). MAPD plans were kept lower on the board because of low plan density, despite decent positioning for quality (14th), popularity (19th) and affordability (14th).

While PDP drug deductibles were nearly spot-on with the national average, premiums stayed almost $6 below and plan quality was high.

Ohio was one of just seven states to top 100 MAPD plans (114 total) and 70% of those saw quality ratings of four stars or higher.

Columbus residents face MAPD premiums that areslightly above the state average at $53.50 but also enjoy some of the best selection with 44 available plans, 72% of which are rated four stars or higher for quality.

The landscape is even better in Cleveland, where 57 plans combine for average premiums of $43.06, drug deductibles of $102.20 and an equal percentage of four-star plans.

Those numbers were nearly identical in Cincinnati save for a four-star rating of just 57%, which places it near the national average.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Ohio
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Summit	63	$42.72	71%	$98.61	1
Medina	62	$41.63	71%	$106.39	2
Trumball	63	$43.89	62%	$106.36	3
Mahoning	62	$43.40	61%	$107.59	4
Stark	53	$49.09	74%	$109.22	5

Oklahoma

PDP Rank: 46th
MAPD Rank: 26th

MAPD plans ranked 12th in selection but were mired by low scores for both quality and popularity. PDP plans ranked between 30 and 39 for all four categories.

The state’s 35 MAPD plans average a comfortable $30.53 in premiums and $198.20 in drug deductibles, but just over one in four plans scored at least four stars for quality.

PDP plans suffered the same fate in terms of quality, but the 29 unique plans offers a chance to shop around.

Oklahoma County, which makes up a bulk of Oklahoma City, ranked among the state’s top 3 MAPD markets with $26.19 premiums and $187.19 drug deductibles among its 20 plans.

Tulsa County took home the state’s top spot with 26 plans that saw premiums of $25.38 and drug deductibles of $138.75, but a low percentage of plans with four-star quality ratings.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Oklahoma
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Tulsa	26	$25.38	27%	$138.75	1
Creek	24	$21.15	25%	$135.79	2
Oklahoma	20	$26.15	40%	$187.19	3
Wagoner	25	$26.59	20%	$146.05	4
Canadian	20	$25.40	40%	$190.31	5

Oregon

PDP Rank: 19th
MAPD Rank: 11th

Oregon’s MAPD ranking was boosted by a large selection of affordable plans, something every consumer can appreciate. PDP plans displayed the same characteristics, but were slowed a bit by quality concerns.

The 76 MAPD plans across the state carry an average drug deductible of just $169.49 and scored slightly better than average in terms of quality.

PDP plans had both premiums ($39.65) and deductibles ($335.00) that were below nationwide benchmarks but did not share the same level of quality as their MAPD counterparts.

Portland’s Multnomah County boasts 35 MAPD plans and tied with Clackamas and Washington counties among Oregon’s best. Eugene and Salem, Oregon’s next largest cities, also finished among the top five. Eugene has low average premiums ($46.59) while Salem is highlighted by a 74% clip of four-star quality ratings.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Oregon
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Clackamas	35	$51.69	69%	$140.54	1
Multnomah	35	$51.69	69%	$140.54	2
Washington	35	$51.69	69%	$140.54	3
Lane	29	$46.59	69%	$170.00	4
Marion	23	$69.57	74%	$139.17	5

Pennsylvania

PDP Rank: 34th
MAPD Rank: 3rd

Pennsylvania’s MAPD plans ranked inside the top 10 for selection, affordability and quality, which are the three pillars of almost any shopping experience. However, while the state’s PDP plans remained reasonably affordable, the quality and selection just wasn’t quite there.

The Keystone State’s third overall finish for MAPD plans was aided by its 87 plans averaging four stars or higher for quality (and 120 plans in all). And while premiums hovered a few dollars above the national average, Pennsylvania has the lowest average drug deductibles for MAPD plans at just $29.57 per year.

Although county distribution is somewhat skewed, Pennsylvania does have the second-highest number of unique PDP plans and average premiums that are $4 less than the national average.

Although none of Philadelphia’s five counties cracked the top five, beneficiaries there can expect anywhere from 43 to 62 MAPD plans at their disposal with premiums as low as $55 (Chester) and drug deductibles no higher than $54.

In Pittsburgh, drug deductibles are just $20.76 on average while premiums are slightly higher at $67.31.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Pennsylvania
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Lancaster	61	$50.57	74%	$33.04	1
Dauphin	56	$49.84	73%	$35.85	2
Westmoreland	42	$64.89	88%	$20.15	3
Lebanon	56	$51.96	75%	$39.79	4
Lawrence	42	$66.17	88%	$12.50	5

Rhode Island

PDP Rank: 8th
MAPD Rank: 21st

High marks for affordability and selection vaulted Rhode Island up the PDP rankings, but questionable plan quality kept it from contending for the top spot. MAPD scores were very steady and highlighted by a 6th-place finish for popularity.

The 25 unique PDP plans is generous given the low population, and both premiums and deductibles stayed at least $5 under the national average.

The 16 MAPD plans were outnumbered but shared the same low drug deductibles. And while plan quality is high, so too are premiums ($51.43).

All five of Rhode Island’s counties display the same MAPD options and costs.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Rhode Island
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Providence	16	$58.07	69%	$63.08	1
Kent	16	$58.07	69%	$63.08	2
Bristol	16	$58.07	69%	$63.08	3
Washington	16	$58.07	69%	$63.08	4
Newport	16	$58.07	69%	$63.08	5

South Carolina

PDP Rank: 23rd
MAPD Rank: 45th

South Carolina’s PDP plans were remarkably consistent, having ranked between 20th and 26th in all four categories. MAPD plans were just as steady, albeit in the opposite direction: The state ranked between 40th and 46th in each of the four categories for those plans.

At $41.12 and $340.89, South Carolina was right in line with national averages for PDP premiums and deductibles respectively. The state featured the lowest MAPD premiums in the country at $22.86 per month, but were undone by equally low quality.

South Carolina’s low MAPD premiums are visible in the bigger markets of Charleston and Columbia, where beneficiaries are treated to premiums that average less than $18 per month. Charleston also has some of the state’s highest quality plans.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in South Carolina
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Spartanburg	37	$14.34	32%	$132.76	1
Pickens	37	$13.22	32%	$143.57	2
Cherokee	31	$14.14	39%	$135.22	3
Greenville	43	$19.21	28%	$161.71	4
Union	29	$14.01	34%	$133.64	5

South Dakota

PDP Rank: 16th
MAPD Rank: 32nd

Top-10 rankings in PDP affordability and popularity were overshadowed by low quality. The MAPD side was just the opposite: South Dakota ranked 9th for plan quality but no better than 19th for any other category.

South Dakota’s PDP plans carry an average premium of just $33.24, placing it well below the national average. Quality was on the low side, but that didn’t prevent South Dakota from becoming one of just 16 states to experience an increase in enrollment from 2019 to 2020.

Meanwhile, the state saw a 10% enrollment increase in MAPD plans, thanks in part to having 72% of all plans being rated four stars or higher for quality and despite the high premiums ($76.02) and drug deductibles ($289.96).

Sioux Falls has MAPD premiums that are about $10 cheaper than the state average and drug deductibles that are almost $80 less. And the 21 available plans and 76% rate of four-star plan ratings for quality helped Minnehaha to a second-place finish overall.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in South Dakota
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Lincoln	20	$67.92	75%	$199.09	1
Minnehaha	21	$66.43	76%	$211.67	2
Union	20	$74.03	75%	$234.09	3
Codington	15	$92.18	93%	$340.00	4
Clay	18	$75.91	78%	$226.67	5

Tennessee

PDP Rank: 43rd
MAPD Rank: 35th

Tennessee’s MAPD plans are affordable if nothing else, having ranked 17th for that category. But although affordable, the state’s selection of plans remains low. On the PDP side, Tennessee never cracked the top 30 in any category.

MAPD plans average $37.76 per month and $121.95 per year in drug deductibles. Those are both better than national averages, but the selection and quality of those plans are not.

PDP plans are average in terms of cost, but only a couple of the state’s 30 PDP plans scored at least four stars for quality.

MAPD beneficiaries in Nashville get to choose from 35 MAPD plans that average only $27.23 in premiums and $84.03 in annual drug deductibles, both of which are among the lowest in the state.

Those in Memphis are not any worse off, with 31 plans averaging $24.10 per month and $131.48 in drug deductibles. Quality does take a hit in these bigger markets however, as both Nashville and Memphis average less than 50% for four-star quality ratings.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Tennessee
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Hawkins	14	$32.51	71%	$73.75	1
Bradley	24	$34.43	71%	$102.75	2
Union	21	$35.35	67%	$109.12	3
Greene	15	$30.09	67%	$73.75	4
Sullivan	17	$27.86	59%	$94.29	5

Texas

PDP Rank: 15th
MAPD Rank: 18th

Despite ranking dead last in PDP availability, Texas scratched out a 15th overall ranking behind strong quality and affordability. MAPD plans were just as affordable, but lacked the quality displayed by the PDP plans.

PDP deductibles are about $5 higher than average while monthly premiums are under the national average by the same amount. Texas had one of the highest rates of PDP plans rating four stars or higher for quality, with close to one in five plans having met that mark.

MAPD plans are quite affordable at just $29.70 per month, although drug deductibles were a bit higher than average at $198.08 and four star quality scores were less than 50%.

The biggest city in Texas is Houston, and that’s also where you’ll find the largest selection of MAPD plans with 44. But just to show that not everything in Texas is bigger, average premiums in Harris County are no more than $23.41 per month and even the annual drug deductible stayed under the national average.

San Antonio sports even more affordable coverage with $16.22 premiums spread amongst its 33 plans.

In Dallas, you’ll find even more luck with 39 plans totaling $24.87 in premiums and just $155.94 in drug deductibles. Austin has average premiums of $18.70, among the lowest in all of Texas, but high drug deductibles ($256.18) and only 21 plans from which to choose.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Texas
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Harris	44	$23.41	36%	$170.43	1
Tarrant	37	$26.25	35%	$149.67	2
Collin	41	$30.63	41%	$155.76	3
Dallas	39	$24.87	33%	$155.94	4
El Paso	29	$14.71	24%	$165.00	5

Utah

PDP Rank: 26th
MAPD Rank: 27th

Utah ranked 3rd for MAPD quality, but affordability was a concern. PDP plans remained popular (12th) despite ranking in the bottom third for both affordability and quality.

80% of Utah’s MAPD plans are rated four stars or higher for quality, but there are only 25 total plans to begin with. And the $26.24 premiums are offset by drug deductibles averaging $182.59.

PDP quality is low, but unique 28 plans gives shoppers plenty of options.

Salt Lake County, home to Utah’s two biggest cities of Salt Lake City and West Valley City, provides beneficiaries with 19 MAPD plans averaging $24.23 in premiums and $174.00 in drug deductibles while nearly four out of every five plans are rated four stars or higher for quality.

Beneficiaries in neighboring Utah County are afforded the same options and costs.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Utah
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Salt Lake	19	$24.23	79%	$174.00	1
Utah	19	$24.23	79%	$174.00	2
Weber	19	$25.62	79%	$174.00	3
Davis	19	$25.62	79%	$174.00	4
Cache	10	$19.68	70%	$207.50	5

Vermont

PDP Rank: 7th
MAPD Rank: 25th

Vermont has a wide selection of high-quality PDP plans. MAPD plans were also found to be generally affordable and above average in quality, but without the same generous selection.

With 25 PDP plans, Vermont is on the same selection map as many states with far higher populations. And the average prices coupled with high quality make for a competitive market.

Vermont’s MAPD choices are not as plentiful, with just 13 plans in the lineup. And those options don’t vary much from one county to the next, as each of Vermont’s top five counties display 11 plans with identical costs and quality. These include the two biggest markets of Burlington and South Burlington.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Vermont
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Addison	11	$54.53	82%	$160.50	1
Windsor	11	$54.53	82%	$160.50	2
Bennington	11	$54.53	82%	$160.50	3
Windham	11	$54.53	82%	$160.50	4
Chittenden	11	$54.53	82%	$160.50	5

Virginia

PDP Rank: 49th
MAPD Rank: 10th

Virginia had the 4th-best MAPD selection with 74 total plans available to its population. However, the state ranked 48th for PDP plan selection and beat only Alaska in the overall category.

The only real drawback to Virginia’s MAPD plans are the drug deductibles that cost $10 more than the national average. Premiums are $12 cheaper, quality is on par and selection is wide.

PDP plans have some catching up to do though with costs that are above national averages for both premiums and deductibles and quality that is among the lowest in the nation.

In Virginia Beach, the 18 MAPD plans average $24.68 with drug deductibles pushing $200 a year, figures that are replicated in nearby Norfolk.

Chesapeake has 20 plans with premiums of $23.87 and deductibles that are more in tune with the national average.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Virginia
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Scott	9	$34.66	100%	$100.63	1
Norton City	9	$34.66	100%	$100.63	2
Lee	11	$35.54	82%	$137.78	3
Dickenson	11	$35.54	82%	$137.78	4
Wise	13	$31.73	85%	$181.82	5

Washington

PDP Rank: 12th
MAPD Rank: 38th

Washington ranked no worse than 22nd for any PDP category and was highlighted by a 4th-place finish for affordability. The state had the 8th-most popular MAPD market, despite ranking in the bottom half for both distribution and affordability.

PDP premiums clock in at $35.09 while deductibles stay under the national average and quality comes in on the high side.

102 different MAPD plans make for plenty of selection, but much of it is concentrated in select markets and premiums average north of $53 per month.

Seattle doesn’t register any MAPD data, but nearby Tacoma provides shoppers with 43 plan options and premiums that stay under the state average.

Spokane features some of the most affordable plans with $33.30 premiums and deductibles of $135.71.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Washington
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Clark	34	$47.38	79%	$138.33	1
Snohomish	43	$47.17	60%	$145.51	2
Spokane	27	$33.30	74%	$135.71	3
Pierce	43	$49.12	60%	$138.72	4
King	41	$48.03	59%	$135.83	5

West Virginia

PDP Rank: 40th
MAPD Rank: 19th

MAPD plans in West Virginia were found to be both plentiful and popular, but held up because of suspect quality. PDP plans strangely suffered in popularity, despite ranking in the top half for quality, affordability and selection.

MAPD drug deductibles were more than $50 under the national average, but fewer than one in three plans rated at least four stars for quality.

West Virginia’s 31 unique PDP plans are second only to California’s 32. But another area where West Virginia ranked second was in the 6.5% decrease in PDP enrollment from 2019 to 2020.

Charleston features a high number of MAPD plans with 23 and drug deductibles that are even lower than the state’s already low average at just $103.68 per year.

Huntington offers 22 plans with drug deductibles around $109. But not even the biggest markets in West Virginia are immune from the state’s low overall quality of plans.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in West Virginia
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Boone	19	$37.02	32%	$131.33	1
Lincoln	19	$32.28	32%	$80.63	2
Kanawha	23	$41.45	26%	$103.68	3
Putnam	22	$42.20	27%	$109.44	4
Marshall	21	$44.68	24%	$133.24	5

Wisconsin

PDP Rank: 17th
MAPD Rank: 49th

Wisconsin ranked 1st for PDP affordability with a weighted average premium of just $29.79 per month. However, the state failed to rank in the top 25 for any other PDP category. Wisconsin displayed some bizarre scoring for MAPD plans by ranking 2nd for quality but nearly last in all other metrics.

MAPD plans here average $52.78 in premiums and $261.50 in drug deductibles. But the tradeoff is that nearly 90% of the state’s 89 plans average four stars or better for quality.

Milwaukee has 25 MAPD plans with low premiums ($25.38) but high drug deductibles ($277.06).

The Madison market features 30 plans and high quality across the board, but premiums are well above the state average at $75.36 per month.

The best MAPD market in Wisconsin belongs to Green Bay, where 35 plans combine for average premiums of under $49 and 83% of all plans average four stars or higher in quality.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Wisconsin
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Brown	35	$48.66	83%	$258.65	1
Outagamie	31	$43.78	81%	$263.18	2
Waukesha	33	$34.07	79%	$253.18	3
Oconto	30	$53.20	83%	$272.86	4
Winnebago	29	$47.03	79%	$264.05	5

Wyoming

PDP Rank: 13th
MAPD Rank: 31st

Wyoming loves its private Medicare insurance, having ranked 1-2 in popularity for MAPD and PDP, respectively. And those beneficiaries have plenty to choose from with the state finishing inside the top 20 for distribution of both types of plans.

But despite the steady concentration, there are only five MAPD plans in all, and drug deductibles are among the highest in the country at $284.03.

With 29 PDP plans though, Wyoming’s selection could be competitive anywhere. Costs are consistent with the national average, but just two plans are rated four stars or higher for quality.

With only five unique MAPD plans across the state, even Wyoming’s biggest cities have limited selection. Cheyenne has one plan, while Casper and Laramie have three apiece with costs remaining largely consistent across the board.

Top 5 Counties for MAPD Plans in Wyoming
County	# Plans Available	Average Premium	Percent of Plans Rated 4 Stars or Higher	Average Drug Deductible	Overall Rank
Uinta	3	$50.50	33%	$150.00	1
Albany	3	$52.00	N/A	$295.00	2
Weston	3	$52.00	N/A	$295.00	3
Fremont	3	$52.00	N/A	$295.00	4
Natrona	3	$52.00	N/A	$295.00	5

Methodology

This project used data provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The following files were used for analysis:

- 2020 MA Landscape Source Files (v10 15 19)

- 2020 PDP Landscape Source Files (v10 15 19)

- MA Enrollment by State/County/Contract

- PDP Enrollment by State/County/Contract

- MA State/County Penetration

- PDP State/County Penetration

State rankings were determined by four metrics: Affordability, Availability, Popularity, and Quality. Each metric was ranked according to a 100 point scale. Better performing states had higher point totals, and worse performing states had lower point totals. To calculate the final state ranking, the final point values for each of the 4 metrics were added together.

To calculate the affordability score, three weighted variables were used: average annual drug deductible, average monthly premium and average max in-network out-of-pocket spending amount. All three variables were weighted to May 2020 figures. All three point values were averaged and weighted by 0.4. Affordability was weighted heavier than the other three metrics because of the importance of cost considerations for many seniors on fixed incomes and because of the wide variance in plan costs nationwide.

To calculate the availability score, the following calculation was used: total number of available plans per state/total number of counties with MA or PDP plans = total number of available plans per county. This point value was weighted by 0.2.

To calculate the popularity score, two variables were used: percent change in enrollment from 2019 to 2020 and average penetration per state. To calculate the percent change in enrollment, the following calculation was used: (2020 enrollment-2019 enrollment)/(2019 enrollment)*100. Both point values were averaged and weighted by 0.2.

To calculate the quality score, we determined the percentage of total MA or PDP plans in each state that are rated four stars or higher. This point value was weighted by 0.2.

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Research and reports

Our research reports analyze a number of issues important to seniors, from health perceptions, medical communication, health habits, and more.

The Best States for Medicare in 2020

Evaluating Medicare plan options in each state

Best States for Medicare: Study Overview

Best States for Medicare: Key Findings

Best States for Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plans (MAPD)

Best States for Stand-Alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDP)

Geographic Differences in Medicare Markets

Factors in MAPD Premium Ranges

How Much Has MAPD Enrollment Increased?

MAPD Quality by State

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