The bottom line: Kaiser Permanente’s star ratings are above average, and its average maximum out-of-pocket is lower than all major providers. If you live in one of the eight states or Washington D.C., where plans are offered and don't mind a Medicare Advantage HMO plan, Kaiser is a strong contender. Jump to: Full Review
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
- Californians are happy: Kaiser got the highest score in terms of customer satisfaction in California, one of the major Medicare markets measured by J.D. Power in this year's study.
- Ratings are strong: Kaiser’s star ratings from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are well above average.
Cons
- Limited availability: Kaiser Permanente plans are available in just eight states and Washington, D.C.
- Limited plan types: Kaiser offers mostly HMO plans, so most members must work within Kaiser’s network of medical providers.
- Low member experience ratings: Kaiser’s member experience ratings, including customer service and getting needed care, are lower than most major providers.
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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Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage star rating
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.42
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans are rated well above the industry average, receiving an average rating of 4.42 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.
CMS maintains its own database of 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.
You can find a plan’s rating with the Medicare plan finding tool.
How much does Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage cost?
About 38% of Kaiser Permanente’s Medicare Advantage plans are $0-premium plans in 2026. For Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans with a premium, Kaiser’s average monthly premium is $77.86, which is higher than most competitors.
Even as a Medicare Advantage user, you’ll still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $185 per month in 2025. However, some plans cover part or all of this cost.
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 Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage costs for the most popular plans in a mid-range city:
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plan | Pricing |
|---|---|
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Centennial (HMO) | Monthly premium: $0. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $4,950. Copays:
Dental allowance: Preventive services only. |
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Basic (HMO) | Monthly premium: $99. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $4,200 in network. Copays:
Dental allowance: Preventive services only. |
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Columbia (HMO) | Monthly premium: $67. Deductible: None. Out-of-pocket max: $3,950. Copays:
Dental allowance: Preventive services only. |
Selected plans are available in ZIP code 99201. *Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-4. **Inpatient hospital copay is per day for days 1-3. | |
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s website to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only Kaiser Permanente plans or compare across carriers.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plan types
Kaiser Permanente offers mostly HMO Medicare Advantage plans, but also offers some PPO plans.
Plan availability may vary by county. Plan offerings may 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 in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
- HMO-POS plans
HMO point-of-service 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. Kaiser Permanente offers one type of SNP:
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 Kaiser Permanente
Fitch Ratings Insurer Financial Strength: AA- (stable)
Fitch Ratings is a credit rating agency that assigns ratings based on its opinion of a company’s ability to meet financial commitments. In June 2025, Fitch Ratings affirmed an Insurer Financial Strength rating of AA- (stable) for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and its insurance company subsidiaries (KFHP collectively). Among other factors, Fitch Ratings called out KFHP’s favorable competitive positioning, unique operating model, and strong financial performance and earnings.
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.
Kaiser Permanente placed first among all providers surveyed in California (the only state where Kaiser had enough market share to be considered).
NCQA Score Range: 4.5 to 5 out of 5
The National Committee for Quality Assurance rates health insurance plans on a 5-point scale (with 5 being best) based on quality of care, patient satisfaction and health plans’ efforts to keep improving.
Kaiser Permanente received NCQA ratings between 4.5 and 5 stars in September 2025.
Kaiser Permanente’s best rated plans were Kaiser Foundation Health Plan in Northern California and Southern California, each with 5 stars. The rest of the company’s rated plans scored 4.5 stars.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage service area
Kaiser Permanente offers Medicare Advantage plans in eight states and Washington, D.C. (Kaiser sells plans in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia and Washington state.)
Nearly 2 million Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente, headquartered in Oakland, California, was founded in 1945 and serves 12.6 million people across eight states and Washington, D.C. The company is made up of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and its subsidiaries, and the Permanente Medical Groups.
Kaiser Permanente offers insurance for individuals and families, employer group plans, Medicaid/Medi-Cal and Medicare Advantage.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage customer service
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage members can contact their plan’s customer service in a few ways:
Call 888-777-5536 (TTY:711), available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Chat with a member services representative after signing into your account.
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).
- Earns top customer satisfaction scores in California, one of the major Medicare markets studied by J.D. Power.
- Star ratings from CMS are well above average.
- Available in only eight states and Washington, D.C.
- Offers mostly HMO plans, so most members must work within Kaiser’s network of medical providers.
- Member experience ratings are below average.
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. 2025 Star Ratings Data Tables (ZIP). Accessed Oct 15, 2025.
- 2.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CY2026 Landscape (202509). Accessed Oct 15, 2025.
- 3.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans. Accessed Oct 15, 2025.
- 4.Fitch Ratings. Fitch Affirms Kaiser Foundation Health Plan's 'AA-' IFS Rating; Outlook Stable. Accessed Oct 15, 2025.
- 5.J.D. Power. Medicare Advantage Plan Member Satisfaction Facing Headwinds; Digital Innovation an Emerging New Solution, J.D. Power Finds. Accessed Oct 15, 2025.
- 6.NCQA. Health Plans. Accessed Oct 15, 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 |