Jeffrey Wade
When it comes to Medicare insurance, Aetna and Humana are two of the biggest providers of Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, and Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (also called Medigap). Both companies offer similar services, but there are some differences in pricing, availability, and customer satisfaction. So, which is better for Medicare insurance?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medicare Part A and Part B | Same level of coverage and price, regardless of the company |
| Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Part D plans | Companies can charge different prices and cover different services |
| Medicare Part D prescription drug plans | Aetna's pricing is more affordable |
| Medicare Advantage market share | Humana has a larger share in terms of enrollment rates and plan availability |
| Medicare Advantage footprint | Humana has the largest footprint with plans available in 90% of all counties in the U.S. |
| Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans (SNP) | Both companies offer SNP plans |
| Customer satisfaction ratings | Both carriers rank below average on customer satisfaction overall |
| Medicare Advantage plan changes | Both companies are exiting markets and reducing benefits |
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What You'll Learn
Medicare Part A and Part B
Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone aged 65 or older and some people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions. Medicare Part A and Part B are included in Original Medicare.
Medicare Part A
Medicare Part A is hospital insurance. It helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care. Most people get Part A for free, but some have to pay a premium for this coverage. To be eligible for premium-free Part A, an individual must be entitled to receive Medicare based on their own earnings or those of a spouse, parent, or child. To receive premium-free Part A, the worker must have a specified number of quarters of coverage (QCs) and file an application for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits. The exact number of QCs required is dependent on whether the person is filing for Part A on the basis of age, disability, or End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Individuals who are receiving monthly Social Security or RRB benefits at least four months before turning 65 do not need to file a separate application to become entitled to premium-free Part A. In this case, the individual will get Part A automatically at age 65.
Medicare Part B
Medicare Part B is medical insurance. It is typically purchased alongside Part A, and those who pay a premium for Part A must also be enrolled in Part B. Part B helps cover the costs of outpatient care, medical equipment, doctor visits, and other services not covered by Part A.
Aetna vs. Humana for Medicare Part A and Part B
Aetna and Humana are two of the nation's leading providers of Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans, which include Medicare Part A and Part B health benefits. Both companies sell Medicare Advantage plans nationwide, but Humana has the largest Medicare Advantage footprint of any insurance company, with plans available in 90% of all counties in the US. 18% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were members of a Humana Medicare plan in 2024, while Aetna (CVS Health) plan members accounted for 12%. Humana offers one more type of Medigap plan than Aetna, and both companies offer similar Medicare Part D options, although Aetna's pricing is a bit more affordable.
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Medicare Advantage Plans
When it comes to Medicare Advantage Plans, both Aetna and Humana are providers of such plans. However, there are differences in what they offer.
Aetna's Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer a comprehensive approach to health, with benefits and services that focus on your overall health. Aetna offers a range of plans, including Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. With the HMO plans, you choose a primary care provider within a network of Aetna Medicare HMO providers and hospitals to coordinate your care. The HMO-POS plans, a subset of HMO plans, allow you to visit licensed dental providers in or out of their network for routine dental care. On the other hand, PPO plans allow you to visit Medicare-approved providers in or out of their network who accept Aetna plan terms, giving you more freedom to choose. Aetna also offers targeted Special Needs Plans (SNPs) for those with specific chronic health conditions, dual eligibility with Medicaid, or institutionalization. These plans are tailored to provide the best care for members' unique needs.
Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans also include additional benefits such as prescription drug coverage, dental, vision, and hearing care. The SilverSneakers benefit provides access to over 15,000 fitness facilities, and they also offer a Resources For Living program, where consultants help you find community services and resources. Furthermore, members can talk to a registered nurse anytime and take advantage of the CVS Caremark Mail Service Pharmacy for long-term drug supply.
Humana, on the other hand, offers Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) that include the benefits of Original Medicare Parts A and B, and most plans cover prescription drugs. They offer PPO plans, which allow you to visit any Medicare-approved doctor who accepts their plan terms. Humana's Medicare Advantage plans set a limit on out-of-pocket expenses, after which you pay nothing for covered services for the rest of the plan year.
While both companies provide Medicare Advantage Plans, the specific benefits and services offered differ. It is important to consider your unique needs and preferences when choosing a plan and provider.
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Medicare Supplement Insurance
Aetna and Humana offer similar Medicare Part D prescription drug plan options, although Aetna's pricing is more affordable. Humana holds a larger share of the Medicare Advantage market in terms of enrollment rates and plan availability, and it offers a more diverse selection of special needs plans. In 2024, 18% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were members of a Humana Medicare plan, compared to 12% for Aetna. Humana offers plans in 90% of all counties in the U.S., while Aetna has a smaller network.
Aetna and Humana Medicare Advantage plans are dropping coverage in certain regions in 2025 due to a lack of profitability. Aetna plans to make significant changes to its 2025 Medicare Advantage plans, anticipating losing 10% of its membership. Humana also expects to lose 5% of its Medicare Advantage plan enrollees after exiting unprofitable markets, primarily in the Southeastern United States.
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Medigap
Aetna and Humana are two of the nation's leading providers of Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans, Medicare Part D prescription drug plans, and Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (also called Medigap). Both companies sell Medicare Advantage plans nationwide, but Humana has the largest Medicare Advantage footprint of any insurance company, with plans available in 90% of all counties in the US.
Some Medigap policies provide coverage for medical services that don't fall under Original Medicare. For example, a Medigap policy will typically pay the difference between the total healthcare costs and the Medicare-approved amount. Additionally, Medigap can be used to cover costs related to doctor or hospital visits that take place when you're travelling in another country. It's important to note that a Medigap policy cannot be used with Medicare Advantage; it can only be used with Original Medicare.
You can buy any Medigap plan available in your state, and insurers can't turn you down or charge you more due to pre-existing health conditions during the six months after you initially sign up for Medicare Part B. After that, you could be denied or charged higher monthly premiums. Monthly Medigap premiums vary widely by plan. For example, a 65-year-old nonsmoking man in Fort Myers, Florida, could pay $64 a month for a Plan K policy or $263 for Plan D. A 65-year-old nonsmoking woman in Wichita, Kansas, might pay $32 a month for a high-deductible Plan G policy versus $455 for a regular Plan G.
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Customer satisfaction
When it comes to customer satisfaction, Aetna and Humana have received similar ratings across online review platforms like ConsumerAffairs, the Better Business Bureau, and Best Company. However, both carriers rank below average in overall customer satisfaction.
Aetna has a larger network size with over 700,000 in-network providers, ensuring extensive coverage. A majority of its members enrolled in highly-rated plans, indicating high satisfaction among its members. A majority of Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans have scored a 3.79 in member experience, indicating higher-than-average satisfaction.
Humana, on the other hand, has the largest Medicare Advantage footprint, with plans available in 90% of all counties in the US. 18% of all Medicare Advantage beneficiaries were members of a Humana Medicare plan in 2024, while Aetna accounted for 12%. Humana holds a larger share of the Medicare Advantage market in terms of enrollment rates and plan availability, and it offers a more diverse selection of special needs plans.
Both companies offer similar Medicare Part D options, although Aetna's pricing is slightly more affordable. They also provide good general information about their plans, but specific details depend on your location.
When choosing between the two, it ultimately comes down to which company's plan best meets your unique health needs and preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
Both Aetna and Humana are major providers of Medicare Advantage insurance plans. They both sell HMO and PPO Medicare plans, which are the two most common types of Medicare Advantage plans. However, Humana has a larger share of the Medicare Advantage market in terms of enrollment rates, plan availability, and special needs plans.
Humana has the largest Medicare Advantage footprint of any insurance company, with plans available in 90% of all counties in the US. It also offers a more diverse selection of special needs plans and one more type of Medigap plan than Aetna. However, Humana has received generally unfavorable reviews online and has a smaller network than Aetna.
Aetna's pricing for Medicare Part D is more affordable than Humana's. It also offers Part D plans in partnership with SilverScript. U.S. News & World Report lists Aetna as one of the best Medicare Advantage providers in seven states, whereas Humana is not included in this list. However, Aetna has decided to stop 2025 coverage for certain Medicare Advantage plans in various regions.
