Humana vs. UnitedHealthcare Medicare Comparison
- UnitedHealthcare and Humana are two of the largest health insurance companies in the U.S. How do these carriers compare? Our review compares UHC vs. Humana and the Medicare plans they offer.
UnitedHealthCare vs Humana Pros and Cons
| Category | Humana Medicare Advantage | UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Company overview | Humana offers Medicare Advantage plans in many parts of the United States. Availability, plan types and benefits vary by state and county. | UnitedHealthcare offers Medicare Advantage plans in many parts of the United States. Availability, plan types and benefits vary by state and county. |
| Plan types commonly offered | May include HMO, PPO and, in some areas, other plan types such as POS or special needs plans (SNPs), depending on the service area. | May include HMO, PPO and, in some areas, other plan types such as POS or special needs plans (SNPs), depending on the service area. |
| Medicare Part D (drug coverage) | Many Humana Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage. Drug formularies, tiers and pharmacy networks differ by plan. | Many UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans include Part D prescription drug coverage. Drug formularies, tiers and pharmacy networks differ by plan. |
| Provider networks | Uses contracted provider networks. HMO plans generally require members to use in-network providers for non-emergency care, while PPO plans may allow out-of-network use at a higher cost, depending on the plan. | Uses contracted provider networks. HMO plans generally require members to use in-network providers for non-emergency care, while PPO plans may allow out-of-network use at a higher cost, depending on the plan. |
| Typical extra benefits (varies by plan) |
Some plans may include:
|
Some plans may include:
|
| Monthly premiums | Humana Medicare Advantage plan premiums differ by plan and location. Some plans may offer a low or $0 monthly plan premium, but members must continue to pay their Part B premium and any applicable cost-sharing. | UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan premiums differ by plan and location. Some plans may offer a low or $0 monthly plan premium, but members must continue to pay their Part B premium and any applicable cost-sharing. |
| Cost-sharing structure | Copayments, coinsurance and deductibles vary by plan. Most plans include an annual out-of-pocket maximum for covered Part A and Part B services, which can help limit what a member spends in a year. | Copayments, coinsurance and deductibles vary by plan. Most plans include an annual out-of-pocket maximum for covered Part A and Part B services, which can help limit what a member spends in a year. |
| Special Needs Plans (SNPs) | In some areas, Humana may offer SNPs designed for people with specific health conditions, those who receive Medicaid assistance or who live in certain facilities, where approved and available. | In some areas, UnitedHealthcare may offer SNPs designed for people with specific health conditions, those who receive Medicaid assistance or who live in certain facilities, where approved and available. |
| Digital tools and member resources | May offer online member accounts, mobile apps, nurse lines and other resources to help members manage their benefits and find providers, depending on the plan. | May offer online member accounts, mobile apps, nurse lines and other resources to help members manage their benefits and find providers, depending on the plan. |
| High-level pros |
|
|
| High-level considerations |
|
|
| Explore plan options | Visit Humana | Visit UnitedHealthcare |
| Key reminder | Specific Humana and UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans can differ significantly by state, county and ZIP code. People should compare individual plan details (benefits, costs, provider networks and drug coverage) and review the official Summary of Benefits, Evidence of Coverage and the Medicare Plan Finder before enrolling in any plan. | |
UnitedHealthcare is the largest health insurance company in the U.S. according to market share, followed by Humana in ninth place.
But how do these carriers stack up in terms of cost, customer service, market reach and other key criteria? And how do UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans compare to Humana Medicare plans?
Below we break down the comparison between UnitedHealthcare and Humana.
Humana vs. UnitedHealthcare Product Offerings
UnitedHealthcare and Humana each offer a variety of insurance products including:
- Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C)
- Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
- Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
Humana stopped selling health insurance plans for individuals and families in 2018. The only way to enroll in an individual non-Medicare Humana health insurance plan now is through an employer.
UnitedHealthcare continues to offer individual and family plans as well as Medicare insurance plans, and they also provide a number of supplemental policies not sold by Humana such as accident, critical illness, term life and hospital indemnity insurance.
Markets Served
While the selection of products will vary from one ZIP code to the next, Humana Medicare plans and UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans are both available in areas of all 50 states and Washington D.C.
Provider Networks
UnitedHealthcare has one of the nation’s largest networks of participating doctors and health care providers with the insurance being accepted by more than 1.3 million physicians.
Plan Quality Reviews
Every year, Medicare evaluates plans on a 5-star rating scale. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rates all Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan providers according to this scale.
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.
Medicare Plan Costs
Comparing Medicare Advantage plan costs between two insurance companies is difficult. There are many variables that can affect a Medicare plan premium, such as the deductible and copayment amounts and the benefits included with the plan.
We recommend comparing plan quotes for a number of different Medicare plans where you live. Depending on where you’re located, you may have access to Humana Medicare plans and UHC Medicare plans that feature benefits not covered by Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B).
Member Resources
UnitedHealthcare and Humana each provide a number of helpful resources to their respective members. Both companies have an online member portal to review benefits, check on a claim, pay bills, find doctors and pharmacies and more.
And both companies go the extra mile by providing numerous health programs for members complete with tools, resources and rewards programs for tracking and achieving results, although UnitedHealthcare’s is a bit more robust.
Both companies have mobile apps available to members, with UnitedHealthcare’s receiving slightly higher ratings and reviews from users.
Customer Service
UnitedHealthcare and Humana each have dedicated phone hotlines for help with their various insurance products, along with available support via social media.
Humana supplements its customer service tools with an online support community and a live online chat feature, neither of which are available through UnitedHealthcare.
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.
