Humana remains the second-largest Medicare Advantage carrier for 2026 with unusually generous extra benefits — but it exited three states and 194 counties, and only 20% of members sit in 4-star-plus plans. We review all four Humana product lines on cost, stars, stability, and drug coverage.
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If you are weighing Humana Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, here is the short version: Humana remains the second-largest Medicare Advantage carrier in the country and still offers unusually generous extra benefits, but it pulled out of three states and 194 counties for 2026 (learn more about medicare advantage vs medicare supplement) (learn more about glp-1 drugs covered by medicare in 2026: ozempic, wegovy, mounjaro & more) (learn more about nationwide new heights 10 fixed index annuity review: independent analysis (2026)) (learn more about social security spousal benefits explained: 8 scenarios that could increase your household income) and its star ratings slipped. Only 20% of Humana members sit in plans rated 4 stars or higher this year. We reviewed Humana across four product lines — Medicare Advantage, Part D, Medicare Supplement, and Special Needs Plans — using cost, star ratings, network stability, (learn more about long-term care planning guide: secure your future care needs) (learn more about tax-free retirement income: complete guide) and drug coverage. The honest answer: Humana is a strong pick for extra benefits and drug costs, and a risky one if plan stability matters most to you.
We scored each Humana product line across five criteria:
| Criteria | Weight | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Cost and premiums | High | Out-of-pocket exposure is what most seniors actually feel month to month. |
| CMS star ratings | High | Stars measure real member outcomes, complaints, and customer service. |
| Network and plan stability | High | A plan that exits your county forces you to start over next year. |
| Drug coverage | Medium | Part D design drives the largest single cost swing for most enrollees. |
| Extra benefits | Medium | Dental, vision, hearing, and OTC allowances are the main reason people leave Original Medicare. |
Data sources: CMS 2026 star ratings and premium releases, Humana plan documents, and 2026 Medicare cost figures published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Best for: Seniors who want robust dental, vision, and OTC allowances and whose county is still served.
2026 footprint: Three fewer states and 194 fewer counties than 2025.
Average star rating: 3.61 — roughly flat year over year.
Humana kept richer supplemental benefits in 2026 than most competitors, and more than one million new members enrolled as a result. The tradeoff is geography and quality: Humana cut 194 counties to protect margins, and only 20% of its members are in plans rated 4 stars or above, down slightly from 2025. Members in 4.5-star-or-better plans did rise sharply, from 3% to 14%.
Choose Humana Advantage if your county is still served, your doctors are in network, and you will actually use the dental and OTC benefits. Avoid it if you move frequently, travel for months at a time, or cannot tolerate the risk of your plan being discontinued. If your current Humana plan is ending, read our guide to Medicare Advantage plan exits in 2026 before you do anything else.
Best for: Seniors on maintenance generics who shop at Walmart or Sam''s Club.
2026 plans: Humana Basic Rx, Humana Value Rx, Humana Premier Rx.
Premium range: roughly $0 to $58 per month depending on plan and region.
Humana offers three standalone drug plans for 2026. The Value Rx plan — renamed from Humana Walmart Value Rx — is the standout, with $0 copays on Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs at preferred pharmacies. In New Jersey, for example, Basic Rx runs $0.00 per month, Value Rx $18.90, and Premier Rx $57.70. The national average standalone Part D premium for 2026 is $34.50.
Humana Part D is a strong fit if your prescriptions are mostly generics and a preferred pharmacy is convenient. It is a weaker fit if you take expensive brand-name or specialty drugs — price those specific medications plan by plan rather than trusting the premium. Compare against the field in our review of the best Medicare Part D drug plans for 2026.
Best for: Seniors who want predictable costs and nationwide doctor access.
Structure: Standardized federal plan letters, so benefits are identical across carriers.
Humana sells Medicare Supplement coverage in most states. Because Medigap benefits are federally standardized, a Humana Plan G covers exactly what any other carrier''s Plan G covers — the only real differences are premium, rate-increase history, and household discounts. Humana is competitive but rarely the cheapest.
Medigap suits seniors who travel, see specialists often, or simply want to stop guessing at costs. It is the wrong choice if the premium strains your budget or you are drawn to Advantage extras. Start with our breakdown of the best Medicare Supplement plans for 2026, and compare Humana against UnitedHealthcare''s AARP-branded Medigap lineup.
Best for: Members with a qualifying chronic condition or both Medicare and Medicaid.
Humana operates one of the larger SNP footprints among national carriers, covering chronic-condition (C-SNP) and dual-eligible (D-SNP) members with care coordination and condition-specific drug formularies. These plans are often where Humana''s benefit generosity does the most good.
A Humana SNP is worth serious consideration if you have diabetes, heart disease, or dual eligibility. See our comparison of the best Medicare Advantage plans for chronic conditions.
| Humana Product | Typical 2026 Cost | Network Freedom | Extra Benefits | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage | Often $0 premium + $202.90 Part B | Limited (HMO/PPO) | Strong | Benefit maximizers |
| Part D (Value Rx) | ~$0–$19/mo by region | Preferred pharmacies | Drug only | Generic prescriptions |
| Part D (Premier Rx) | ~$58/mo, $0 deductible | Preferred pharmacies | Drug only | Higher drug volume |
| Medicare Supplement | Varies by state and age | Nationwide | None | Cost predictability |
| Special Needs Plans | Very low for duals | Narrow | Strongest | Chronic or dual eligible |
This review draws on CMS 2026 star rating data, CMS-published 2026 Medicare cost figures, Humana plan documents, and reporting on Humana''s 2026 and 2027 plan footprint decisions. We cross-referenced premium examples against state-level Part D plan listings and excluded employer-group and commercial products, which are not available to individual shoppers. Last updated: September 2026. We review this guide at the start of each Annual Enrollment Period.
If you are still deciding between Original Medicare and Advantage, start with our complete guide to Medicare Part C, then compare carriers in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans for 2026.
Humana is a reasonable choice with a real caveat. It offers some of the most generous extra benefits among national carriers, but only 20% of its members are in plans rated 4 stars or above, and it cut 194 counties for 2026.
Yes. Humana reduced its Medicare Advantage footprint by three states and 194 counties for 2026 to improve margins. It has also announced additional exits for 2027 affecting roughly 600,000 members.
Humana''s average Medicare Advantage star rating is 3.61 for 2026, roughly flat versus 2025. The share of members in plans rated 4.5 stars or higher rose from 3% to 14%.
It depends on the plan and your state. In New Jersey, Humana Basic Rx is $0.00 per month, Value Rx is $18.90, and Premier Rx is $57.70. The 2026 national average standalone Part D premium is $34.50.
Humana Value Rx, formerly Humana Walmart Value Rx, offers $0 copays on Tier 1 and Tier 2 drugs at preferred pharmacies including Walmart and Sam''s Club.
Yes. Medicare Advantage replaces how your benefits are delivered, not your Part B obligation. The standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month with a $283 annual deductible.
$2,100 for the year, up $100 from 2025. Once your covered drug spending reaches that cap, you pay nothing more for covered prescriptions for the rest of the calendar year.
Yes, and many people do. Medigap does not include prescription coverage, so pairing it with a standalone Part D plan is the standard approach. Bundling with one carrier may qualify you for a discount.
You get a Special Enrollment Period to choose another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Original Medicare with a Part D plan. Do not let the window lapse — you would otherwise be defaulted into Original Medicare with no drug coverage.
No carrier wins across the board. Humana generally leads on extra benefits and generic drug pricing; UnitedHealthcare typically has broader networks and AARP-branded Medigap; Aetna often prices more aggressively in select markets. Compare the specific plans available in your ZIP code.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, insurance, or medical advice. Premiums, benefits, networks, formularies, and plan availability change every year and vary by county and state. SeniorSimple is not affiliated with Humana, Medicare, or any government agency. Verify every plan detail on Medicare.gov or directly with the carrier before enrolling, and consider speaking with a licensed insurance agent or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor at no cost. Last updated: September 2026.
Reviewed by the SeniorSimple editorial team. We have covered Medicare enrollment decisions for the 55+ audience since 2023, working from CMS data and plan filings rather than carrier marketing materials. We do not accept payment for placement in our carrier reviews.
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