There are currently 155,290 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare in Sarasota, Florida. Of these enrollees, about 33% are participating in a Medicare Advantage plan.
In contrast, the remaining Medicare enrollees stay with Part A and B or enroll in Part D or a Medigap plan. Below, we will review Sarasota’s supplemental Medicare health insurance plans.
Medicare Plans in Sarasota, Florida
Most people choose to enroll in a Florida Medicare Supplemental plan to help cover the costs of expenses not covered by the federal Medicare program. Suppose you are enrolled in Part A and B. In that case, you can enroll in either Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans. Medicare Supplement plans don’t cover prescriptions you pick up at the pharmacy. Still, you can enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan to cover prescriptions. Medicare Advantage health plans offer prescription drug coverage for prescription medications. You can choose the plan that best suits your healthcare needs.
The quotes below are based on a male or female beneficiary between 65 and 70.
Medicare Advantage plans
Over 51,000 beneficiaries enrolled in a Florida Medicare Advantage plan in Sarasota County, with 44 Medicare Advantage beneficiary plans available.
Humana (HMO) has a $0 monthly premium and a $3,200 maximum out-of-pocket charge. It’s the top Medicare Advantage provider in Sarasota County, with a 4-star rating.
Another option is UnitedHealthcare (HMO), which shares the title of top provider in the county. You’ll pay zero monthly premiums and a maximum out-of-pocket cost of $2,900.
Florida Blue also has a $2,900 MOOP (Maximum Out-Of-Pocket) and $0 premiums.
The average cost of Medicare Advantage plans in Sarasota, Florida
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Star Rating |
| Humana | $0 | $3,200 | HMO | 4 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $2,900 | HMO | 4 |
| Bright Health | $0 | $2,500 | HMO | n/a |
| Florida Blue | $0 | $2,900 | HMO | 4 |
| Freedom Health | $0 | $3,400 | HMO | 4 |
Visit our Medicare Advantage FAQ Pages to learn more.
Medicare Supplement plans
The federal government standardizes Medicare Supplement insurance plans, so the benefits stay the same from state to state and between insurance carriers. The only thing that changes with Medicare Supplement is the monthly premium cost, which will vary from state to state even though the benefits are the same.
Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans are extra insurance you purchase from a private insurance company to help cover Florida Original Medicare healthcare expenses that Medicare beneficiaries would pay for out-of-pocket. Medicare Supplement insurance and Medigap insurance policies are used interchangeably. They fill the gaps in Medicare coverage.
Many experts consider Medigap Plan G the best Medigap plan because you have no coinsurance or copays; you only pay the Part B deductible. Medigap Plan G costs average between $170-$238 per month.
High-Deductible Plan G, also known as Plan HDG, provides the same benefits as Plan G but comes with a deductible. This high-deductible keeps your monthly premiums lower. The average cost of an HDG plan is between $27-$76 per month.
Medigap Plan N is ideal if you want a lower premium to retain benefits. Plan N runs between $123-$182 per month. The most significant difference between Plan N and Plan G is that Plan N requires copays at the doctor’s office and emergency room, $20 and $50, respectively.
The average cost of Medicare Supplement plans in Sarasota, Florida
| LETTER PLAN | LOWEST PREMIUM | HIGHEST PREMIUM |
| PLAN A | $134.44 | $204.85 |
| PLAN B | $167.77 | $228.73 |
| PLAN C | $185.66 | $274.21 |
| PLAN D | $198.10 | $210.38 |
| PLAN F | $182.13 | $274.64 |
| PLAN HDF | $46.00 | $103.00 |
| PLAN G | $170.40 | $238.19 |
| PLAN HDG | $46.00 | $103.00 |
| PLAN K | $60.65 | $131.48 |
| PLAN L | $123.61 | $193.97 |
| PLAN M | $183.60 | $218.46 |
| PLAN N | $123.62 | $182.00 |
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
Florida Part D plans are designed to cover prescription medications. Most Medicare Advantage plans cover prescriptions, but some don’t, so a Part D plan is necessary. Medigap does not cover drugs so enrolling in Part D is essential.
A Part D plan in Sarasota, Florida, can range anywhere from $8-$30 monthly. For example, a Part D plan through Aetna insurance will cost you $7.70 per month with a deductible of $480. Aetna’s SilverScript SmartRx plan has an excellent 3.5-star rating, and beneficiaries enjoy prescription costs as low as $1 on some generic medications.
The highest-rated Part D plan, Humana, offers the same deductible of $480 with a monthly premium of $22.70. generic medications cost between $1-$4 with the plan.
Cigna’s Part D plan is rated average with the highest premium of $30.20 per month. It features the same deductible of $480.
The average cost of Medicare Part D plans in Sarasota, Florida
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING |
| Aetna | $7.70 | $480 | 3 |
| Wellcare | $12.00 | $480 | 3 |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 |
| Clear Spring | $29.40 | $480 | 2 |
| Cigna | $30.20 | $480 | 3 |
Visit our Part D FAQ pages to learn more.
Special Needs plans
Within the Medicare Advantage plans are a subset of Special Needs Plans explicitly geared to people with special needs and chronic disabilities. SNPs aren’t available in all areas.
Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) provide coverage if you’re eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Optimum (HMO) provides D-SNP coverage with a zero-dollar premium and a Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) of only $500.
Cigna (HMO) also provides Dual-Eligible coverage for $0 per month, but the MOOP is significantly higher at $3,500.
UnitedHealthcare (HMO) Special Needs plans cover individuals with chronic or disabling conditions. Premiums are also $0 per month with a maximum out-of-pocket of $3,900.
The average cost of Medicare Special Needs plans in Sarasota, Florida
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Eligibility |
| Optimum | $0 | $500 | HMO | Dual-Eligible |
| Freedom Health | $0 | $1,700 | HMO | Chronic or Disabling |
| Florida Blue | $0 | $1,500 | HMO | Dual-Eligible |
| UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $3,900 | HMO | Chronic or Disabling |
| Cigna | $0 | $3,500 | HMO | Dual-Eligible |
How to sign up for Medicare plans in Sarasota, Florida
When you’re ready to enroll in Medicare Advantage, Medigap, or Part D, our experienced, licensed insurance agents are here to help you through the process. We will help you understand available plans to choose one that best meets your healthcare needs.
Complete our form to get rates, or give us a call today.
