Aetna vs. Humana - Medicare Comparison
- Aetna and Humana are both major providers of Medicare Advantage insurance plans. Our review outlines how these companies compare across a variety of metrics, such as Medicare plan quality, availability, costs and more.
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).
In this review, we explore Aetna vs. Humana Medicare plans.
Humana vs Aetna Medicare Advantage Comparison
Category |
Humana Medicare Advantage |
Aetna Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Company overview | Humana offers Medicare Advantage plans in many parts of the U.S., with availability varying by county. | Aetna offers Medicare Advantage plans in many parts of the U.S., with availability varying by county. |
| Plan types commonly offered | May include HMO, PPO, POS options and SNPs depending on service area. | May include HMO, PPO, POS options and SNPs depending on service area. |
| Medicare Part D (drug coverage) | Many plans include Part D coverage; formularies vary by plan. | Many plans include Part D coverage; formularies vary by plan. |
| Provider networks | HMO plans generally require in-network providers; PPOs may allow out-of-network care. | HMO plans generally require in-network providers; PPOs may allow out-of-network care. |
| Typical extra benefits (varies by plan) |
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| Monthly premiums | Premiums vary by plan and area; some may offer $0 premiums. | Premiums vary by plan and area; some may offer $0 premiums. |
| Cost-sharing structure | Copays, coinsurance, and deductibles vary; includes an annual out-of-pocket max. | Copays, coinsurance, and deductibles vary; includes an annual out-of-pocket max. |
| Special Needs Plans (SNPs) | May offer D-SNP, C-SNP, or I-SNP options depending on area. | May offer D-SNP, C-SNP, or I-SNP options depending on area. |
| Digital tools and member resources | Online accounts, mobile apps and support resources (varies by plan). | Online accounts, mobile apps and support resources (varies by plan). |
| High-level pros |
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| High-level considerations |
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Explore plan options |
*Plan F and Plan C are not available to new Medicare beneficiaries who first became eligible for Medicare after January 1, 2020. If you became eligible for Medicare before that date, you may be allowed to apply for either plan if they're available where you live. If you already have Plan F or Plan C, you may keep your plan.
You can see the list of benefits covered by each plan and learn more about how they can help you save money by reviewing the Medicare Supplement plans comparison chart.
Aetna vs. Humana: Ratings
Every year, Medicare evaluates plans on a 5-star rating system.
Humana recently earned competitive Medicare Star Ratings, with 94% of the company’s Medicare Advantage members enrolled in a plan rated four stars or higher in 2024.
88% of Aetna Medicare Advantage members are part of a plan rated 4 stars or higher for 2025.
Aetna vs. Humana Summary
Humana holds a larger share of the Medicare Advantage market in terms of both enrollment rates and plan availability, while also offering a more diverse selection of special needs plans. Humana also offers one more type of Medigap plan than Aetna does.
Both companies offer similar Medicare Part D options, although Aetna’s pricing is a bit more affordable.
Helpadvisor.com is owned and operated by Tranzact, the parent company of TZ Insurance Solutions LLC, which is the owner/operator of Medicareadvantage.com and other websites mentioned on HelpAdvisor and which has a financial relationship with some of the carriers listed on HelpAdvisor. This may influence which products we write about, but HelpAdvisor maintains editorial independence, and our opinions and evaluations are our own.
