The bottom line: Cigna plans are becoming HealthSpring for 2026 after Cigna sold its Medicare business. HealthSpring offers Medicare Advantage plans with low costs and a variety of benefits. Its overall 2026 star ratings are below average, but it gets good scores on measures of member experience. Jump to: Full Review
HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- $0 premiums: Eight in 10 of HealthSpring's Medicare Advantage offerings are $0-premium plans.
- Low-cost options: For Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans with premiums, HealthSpring's average premium is $25.12 — the lowest among major companies.
- Breadth of benefits: HealthSpring offers a number of helpful member benefits, such as gym memberships, meal delivery and transportation to and from health facilities.
Cons
- Limited availability: HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans are available in 29 states and Washington, D.C.
- Star ratings: HealthSpring’s overall star ratings aren’t bad, but they’re below average for 2026.
- Third-party ratings: The National Committee for Quality Assurance doesn’t give any HealthSpring plan a rating higher than 3 out of 5 on its ratings scale.
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Compare against other providers
🔍 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
» More options in our roundup of the best Medicare Advantage plans
Our full review
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HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Advantage star rating
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 3.68
HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans are rated below the industry average, receiving an average rating of 3.68 stars out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2026, weighted by enrollment. For comparison, the average weighted star rating for plans from all providers is 3.98.
While some plans have lower ratings, 60% of HealthSpring's members are in plans rated 4 stars or better for 2026.
CMS maintains its own star ratings, which rank each plan from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
All Medicare Advantage plans are evaluated on health plan measures, and Medicare Advantage plans that include prescription drug coverage are also evaluated on drug plan measures.
You can find a plan’s rating with the Medicare plan finding tool.
How much does HealthSpring (formerly Cigna) Medicare Advantage cost?
Eight in 10 HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plans are $0-premium plans. For HealthSpring plans with premiums, the average monthly cost is $25.12. You'll also be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $185 per month in 2025.
(Most people pay this standard Part B amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). Some Medicare Advantage plans cover part or all of your Part B premium.)
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.
Here are examples of HealthSpring Medicare Advantage costs for the most popular plans in a mid-range city:
HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plan | Pricing |
|---|---|
HealthSpring Preferred (HMO) | Monthly premium: $0. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $3,550 in-network. Copays:
Dental allowance: $1,600. |
HealthSpring Preferred Plus (HMO) | Monthly premium: $14. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $3,300 in-network. Copays:
Dental allowance: $2,300. |
HealthSpring Preferred Select (HMO) | Monthly premium: $0. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $3,200 in-network. Copays:
Dental allowance: No cap. |
Selected plans are available in ZIP code 27513. *Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-5. | |
| |
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s Plan Finder to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only HealthSpring plans or compare across carriers.
What additional benefits does HealthSpring Medicare offer?
All HealthSpring plans include some coverage for routine vision and hearing care, and most include some dental coverage. Here are a few other benefits that might be included in some HealthSpring plans:
Fitness: Plans might include Silver&Fit, which offers a fitness center membership or home exercise program.
Meal delivery: Some plans might provide home-delivered meals after a hospitalization or skilled nursing facility stay.
Transportation: Plans might provide a certain number of non-emergency trips to or from health care facilities.
Over-the-counter allowance: Some plans might include a quarterly allowance to cover the cost of certain over-the-counter medications and health and wellness products.
HealthSpring Medicare Advantage plan types
HealthSpring offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
- HMO plans
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually limited.
- HMO-POS plans
HMO point-of-service (POS) plans are HMO plans that allow members to get some out-of-network services, but you’ll pay more for those services.
- PPO plans
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
- SNPs
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. HealthSpring offers two types of SNPs:
Chronic Condition SNP: Designed to meet the needs of members living with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes.
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
Third-party ratings of HealthSpring
AM Best Financial Strength Rating: A (Excellent)
AM Best is a credit rating agency that specializes in the insurance industry. In July 2025, AM Best affirmed its Financial Strength Rating, or FSR, of A (Excellent) for the HCSC Medicare & Supplemental Group, which includes the newly acquired Cigna Medicare business.
An A rating in this category indicates that AM Best believes HCSC has an excellent ability to meet its ongoing insurance obligations.
J.D. Power Ranking
J.D. Power releases an annual study measuring member satisfaction with Medicare Advantage plans. It uses eight factors, such as level of trust, ability to get health services, ease of doing business and resolving problems or complaints.
On these measures, Cigna placed third out of six major providers in Texas (the only state where Cigna had enough market share to be considered).
NCQA Scores: 3 out of 5
The National Committee for Quality Assurance rates health insurance plans on a 5-point scale (with 5 being best) based on clinical quality, member satisfaction and results from the NCQA's accreditation survey. The ratings highlight the results of care and what patients say about their care.
HealthSpring's rated plans all received 3 stars from NCQA in September 2025.
HealthSpring Medicare Advantage service area
HealthSpring offers Medicare Advantage plans in 29 states and Washington, D.C.
Before it was acquired, Cigna was the sixth-largest Medicare Advantage provider in the country among for-profit health plans. About 690,000 Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Cigna Medicare Advantage plans, and the company added 101,000 new members for the 2025 plan year.
About HealthSpring (formerly Cigna)
HealthSpring is the new brand name for Cigna Medicare plans starting in 2026. The name change comes after Cigna sold its Medicare business to Health Care Service Corp. (HCSC) in March 2025.
Current Cigna Medicare members will not experience any disruption in their coverage due to the acquisition. You can call the number on your member ID card if you have any questions.
HCSC also sells Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Its headquarters are in Chicago.
Read the NerdWallet reviews of these other HealthSpring Medicare offerings:
HealthSpring customer service
HealthSpring Medicare Advantage members can contact their plan’s customer service in a few ways:
Call a customer service representative at 800-997-1654, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (TTY/TDD dial 711 and follow the prompts.)
Chat with a member services representative, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Compare Medicare Advantage companies
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
- 8 in 10 plans have $0 premiums.
- Plans with premiums are relatively inexpensive.
- Side benefits include gym memberships, transportation and meal delivery.
- Available in only 29 states and Washington, D.C.
- Star ratings from CMS are below average.
- Plans score 3 stars out of 5 on NCQA's scale.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cigna getting rid of Medicare Advantage plans?
Is Cigna getting rid of Medicare Advantage plans?
Cigna sold its Medicare business, but Cigna Medicare Advantage plans are unchanged, at least for now. The new owner, HCSC, also sells Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans in a number of states.
Cigna Medicare Advantage plans will stay the same through the end of 2025. As of the acquisition in March 2025, HCSC hasn’t yet indicated what it plans to do for the 2026 plan year.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary, trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high standards for journalism by reading our editorial guidelines.
- 1.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. 2026 Star Ratings Data Tables (ZIP). Accessed Oct 10, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2026 Landscape (202509). Accessed Oct 10, 2025.
- 3.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans. Accessed Oct 10, 2025.
- 4.AM Best. AM Best Removes From Under Review With Developing Implications and Affirms Credit Ratings of Certain Members of Health Care Service Corp Medicare & Supplemental Group Members. Accessed Oct 10, 2025.
- 5.J.D. Power. Medicare Advantage Plan Member Satisfaction Facing Headwinds; Digital Innovation an Emerging New Solution, J.D. Power Finds. Accessed Oct 10, 2025.
- 6.NCQA. Health Plans. Accessed Oct 10, 2025.
- 7.Chartis. Medicare Advantage market growth slows amid intensified headwinds. Accessed Oct 7, 2025.
Medicare Advantage review methodology
The Medicare Advantage marketplace is concentrated among just a handful of companies; in many places, one insurer serves more than half of the market. NerdWallet reviewed 26 Medicare Advantage brands, with some insurers having more than one brand under their umbrella. (For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield includes the brands Anthem and Highmark.) At the national level, these reviews include nine of the 10 largest brands by enrollment. At the state level, our research includes at least one major insurer in 47 of the 49 states that offer Medicare Advantage plans, and includes the top two insurers in 35 of those states. (Alaska doesn't offer Medicare Advantage plans.) We also look at online search volume to identify regional and other notable players in the space.
NerdWallet’s Medicare Advantage reviews are based on ratings data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as pricing, plan availability by state, plan types available, consumer experience, extra benefits offered and more. These reviews are a guide, but we encourage you to shop around and compare several plans to find the best coverage and rate for you. NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines for additional information.
Compare Medicare Advantage plans
Insurance company | CMS star rating | States available | Members in high-rated plans | Member experience | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4.10 | 4.10/5 | 48 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.76 (Above average) | (855) 821-0556 / TTY 711 Call UnitedHealthcarefrom UnitedHealthcare | |
3.61 | 3.61/5 | 46 states and Washington, D.C. | Low (49% or less) | 3.61 (Above average) | from Humana | |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet | 4.19 | 4.19/5 | 43 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.88 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on http://askchapter.org on NerdWallet |
(855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet | 3.68 | 3.68/5 | 29 states and Washington, D.C. | Medium (50% to 84%) | 3.89 (Above average) | (855) 432-0512 / TTY 711 M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ETSpeak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.orgon NerdWallet |