Medicare is a great option for seniors. In fact, those 65 and older who qualify for Medicare often cite it as one of the best health plans. However, it doesn’t take care of everything. In fact, you may need extra insurance, known as Medicare Supplement or Medigap, to fully manage your healthcare issues as you age.
If you’re looking for some different options, based on your individual needs, here are some of the best Medicare Supplement companies for 2020.
Best Overall Value: Cigna
Best for Discounts: Anthem Blue Cross
Best for Personal Service: State Farm
Best for Online Experience: United Healthcare
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Best for Claims Experience: Mutual of Omaha
Best for Plan Options: Humana
Best for Cost-Effectiveness: Aetna
What You Need to Know
When picking a Medicare Supplement plan consider your personal needs and preferences. Think about your budget and see if it makes sense to pay more upfront or to go with smaller payments.
Look at ratings such A.M. Best and J.D. Power to check if a company has good customer satisfaction or is financially healthy.
Best Overall Value: Cigna
Cigna covers more than 230,000 people with its supplemental Medicare insurance, making it the fourth-biggest insurer when measured by direct premiums earned for policies issued from 2016 to 2018.1 Cigna is available in all 50 states and provides access to a variety of discounts and other perks. Cigna offers a lot of information through its web portal and makes use of telehealth and its mobile app. Because Cigna is so technology-heavy, though, it might be harder for some seniors who aren’t as tech-savvy to manage their accounts.
| Pros | Cons |
| Telehealth access | Must have a broadband connection for telehealth |
| Medigap in all 50 states | Some of the discounts require smartphone mobile apps |
| Healthy Rewards program |
Cigna Rankings
- A.M. Best financial rating:2 BBB (good)
- J.D. Power:3 781 out of 1,000
- NCQA rating:4 For Medicare plans, Cigna only has a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 in Arizona
Best for Discounts: Anthem Blue Cross
Anthem is part of the massive Blue Cross Blue Shield network, but Anthem, specifically, is only available for Medigap coverage in 14 states. The largest state health plan by direct premiums earned is Anthem Health Plans of VA Inc., which covers more than 32,000 people.5 However, if you’re looking for a number of discounts, Anthem Blue Cross can be a good choice. There’s an option to bundle different types of insurance with your Medigap, and you can also include Medicare Part D for prescriptions.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to bundle coverage | Limited availability |
| Discounts for automatic payments | Some discounts go away after the first year |
| Benefit of being in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network |
Anthem Blue Cross Rankings
- A.M. Best financial rating:6 Depends on the state or region, but Anthem has a rating of A (excellent)
- J.D. Power:7 788 out of 1,000
- NCQA rating: Anthem isn’t rated for Medicare plans
Best for Personal Service: State Farm
State Farm offers Medicare Supplement Insurance in 46 states, covering more than 24,000 people.8 Because State Farm has such a well-known and widespread network, it’s easier to find an agent to see in person. It can be a good choice for those who want a more personal interaction when they are looking for insurance coverage. Plus, if you already have other coverage through State Farm, adding Medigap can make sense and ease the way you manage your accounts.
| Pros | Cons |
| Ability to go into personal office almost anywhere | Discounts can be limited in some cases |
| Face-to-face interaction | You might have to make an appointment to speak with your agent |
| Bundle with other insurance, like auto and homeowners |
- A.M. Best financial rating:9 A++ (Superior)
- J.D. Power:10 788 out of 1,000
- NCQA rating: State Farm isn’t rated for Medicare plans
Best for Online Experience: United Healthcare
UnitedHealthcare is the largest Medicare Supplement company by premiums earned, and they cover more than 308,000 people.11 United Healthcare is known for its easy-to-use online portal, as well as its partnership with AARP. In fact, when you go to AARP to look for Medigap plans, they send you to United Healthcare. It’s possible to find United Healthcare coverage for Medicare supplemental coverage in all 50 states.
| Pros | Cons |
| Partner with AARP | Wait times can be longer |
| Easy online portal | Customer satisfaction considerations |
| Wide coverage area |
United Healthcare Group Rankings
- A.M. Best financial rating: A (excellent)
- J.D. Power: 784 out of 1,000
- NCQA rating:12 Receives a rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 in several states
Best for Customer Satisfaction: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Highmark is known for its “right fit guarantee” and its high levels of customer satisfaction. As part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield network, this company offers access to a wide care network, even though it’s only possible to buy coverage in limited states. The state with the highest rate of direct premiums earned is Delaware, where just over 3,000 people purchased policies.13
| Pros | Cons |
| High level of customer satisfaction | Limited availability |
| Good online portal | Limited discounts |
| Access to the Blue Cross Blue Shield network |
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Rankings
- A.M. Best financial rating:14 A (excellent)
- J.D. Power:15 818 out of 1,000
- NCQA rating: Receives a rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 in three states, but rates a 4.5 in customer satisfaction in Pennsylvania
Best for Claims Experience: Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha is one of the best Medicare supplement companies with coverage available in all 50 states. It’s sixth in terms of direct premiums earned.16 The company covers more than 150,000 people. One of the main selling points of Mutual of Omaha, however, is that 98% of claims are paid out within 12 hours. As a result, Mutual of Omaha offers one of the best experiences for claims efficiency.
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast turnaround for claims | Not all prices are lowest |
| Shares profits with members | Website isn’t as easy to navigate |
| Household discount |
Mutual of Omaha Rankings
- A.M. Best financial rating:17 A+ (excellent)
- J.D. Power: N/A for Medicare
- NCQA rating: No rating
Best for Plan Options: Humana
As one of the largest health insurance providers in the U.S., it’s no surprise that this insurer is on the list. Humana covers nearly 107,000 people with Medigap.18 Humana provides coverage in all 50 states, but if you want to learn about specific coverage options you may need to call. Additionally, unlike some other companies, it doesn’t offer a discount if you fill out an online application. Humana offers a number of specialized plan options, healthy living plans, high deductible options, and other choices.
| Pros | Cons |
| A variety of specialized plan options | No “select” plans |
| In-app ID card | Website may not have information for all states |
| Discount for online application |
Humana Rankings
- A.M. Best financial rating: A- (excellent)
- J.D. Power:19 803 out of 1,000
- NCQA rating:20 4.5 out of 5.0 in three states, with a 3.5 in most states
Best for Cost Effectiveness: Aetna
Aetna was acquired by CVS in 2018.21 It is the fifth-largest Medigap provider by direct premiums earned and covers more than 169,000 people.22 Especially noteworthy are the low-cost G and N plans, which are cost-effective because they offer reasonably broad coverage at a lower premium.
| Pros | Cons |
| Low-cost plan options | Sometimes customer services reps are overseas |
| Better than average customer satisfaction | Premium increases can be steep |
| Household discount | Not available in all states |
Aetna Rankings
- A.M. Best financial rating:23 A (excellent)
- J.D. Power:24 801 out of 1,000
- NCQA rating:25 Mostly 4.5 and 4.0 ratings
How to Choose Medicare Supplement Insurance
When choosing Medicare supplement insurance, it’s important to consider your personal needs and preferences. While your premium is a big factor, it’s also important to look at other items, including whether you have to worry about copays and coinsurance, and what out-of-pocket costs you’ll have. Also, pay attention to your budget to determine whether it makes sense for you to pay more upfront, or whether you need smaller payments.
Look at various ratings, including A.M. Best and J.D. Power, to see whether a company has good customer satisfaction or its financial health.
How We Choose the Best Medicare Supplement Companies
We chose the best Medicare Supplement companies based on the types of plans offered for different needs, as well as rankings from reputable resources. These companies all offer a variety of advantages, depending on what you’re most interested in.
Keep in mind that the best Medicare Supplement company for you is the one that best addresses your personal circumstances. Shop around to find the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget.
