Duluth, Minnesota, has 80,602 Original Medicare Part A and Part B enrollees. Among them, 43,815 also have a Medicare Advantage plan, one of the most popular forms of supplemental Medicare nationwide. That gives Duluth a 54.4% Medicare Advantage participation rate, far above the 42.1% national average.
Medicare plans in Duluth, Minnesota
There are four primary types of Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare supplements: Medigap, Part D, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Advantage.
Each plan gives Minnesota Original Medicare enrollees additional coverage to fill the healthcare gaps that Parts A and B missed. Since private insurance companies control supplemental plans, their prices vary with provider, location, age, gender, and other factors.
In the charts below, we’ll look at the typical quotes for each plan type for a 65-year-old Duluth, Minnesota, male enrollee to give you an estimate for your new supplemental coverage.
Medicare Advantage plans
There are 43 Minnesota Medicare Advantage plans in St. Louis County, where Duluth resides. There are few counties in the state with as many Medicare Advantage options, so in Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare enrollees have several low-cost, highly-rated plans at their fingertips.
Humana offers the most affordable Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare Advantage plan. It has a $0 premium and a $4,400 maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) rate.
Medica has a similarly priced Medicare Advantage plan to Humana’s with a $0 premium and $4,500 MOOP, but Medica’s is an 1876 Cost plan instead of a Local PPO.
BCBS has another popular 1876 Cost Medicare Advantage option with a $25 monthly premium and $6,000 MOOP. Every plan listed above has a four out of five-star rating that measures the plan’s overall effectiveness.
The average cost of Medicare Advantage plans in Duluth, Minnesota
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Star Rating |
| Medica | $0 | $4,500 | 1876 COST | 4 |
| Humana | $0 | $4,400 | LOCAL PPO | 4 |
| Ucare | $0 | $6,500 | LOCAL PPO | 4 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $6,700 | LOCAL PPO | 4 |
| BCBS of Minnesota | $25.00 | $6,000 | 1876 COST | 4 |
Medicare Supplement plans
Medicare Supplement plans, commonly called Medigap plans, give Original Medicare users more coverage for inpatient and outpatient services like skilled nursing care and durable medical equipment. The federal government standardizes all Medicare Supplement plans, so each policy’s benefits are constant across all Duluth providers, with the only difference being the premium prices.
Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare Supplement plans work differently than the rest of the country. Most states can only offer 12 plans lettered A through N, but Minnesota insurance providers have more control over their Medigap options, and their most enrolled-in plans fall outside that standard.
Minnesota Extended is one of Duluth’s most comprehensive Medigap options, but it’s also the most expensive on average, with premiums ranging from $213.27 to $755.58 per month.
Minnesota Basic is Minnesota’s baseline Medigap coverage. It has all the essential Medigap benefits, with standard premiums ranging from $139.73 to $274.21.
Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare beneficiaries can also opt for Minnesota 50%, which waters down the benefits from Minnesota Basic with more affordable average premiums between $132.30 and $139.16 per month.
The average cost of Medicare Supplement plans in Duluth, Minnesota
| LETTER PLAN | LOWEST PREMIUM | HIGHEST PREMIUM |
| MINNESOTA 50% | $132.30 | $139.16 |
| MINNESOTA 75% | $188.15 | $209.16 |
| MINNESOTA 50% A | $267.73 | N/A |
| MINNESOTA BASIC | $139.73 | $274.21 |
| MINNESOTA EXTENDED | $213.27 | $755.58 |
| MINNESOTA HD | $57.99 | $175.11 |
| MINNESOTA HD 2 | $64.65 | $77.72 |
| MINNESOTA PBCO | $137.27 | $309.59 |
| MINNESOTA XBAS | $196.73 | $528.67 |
Medicare Part D prescription drug plan
Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare Part D covers prescription medications. Part D plans are popular nationwide since Medigap policies don’t include prescription drug coverage, and only specific Medicare Advantage plans do.
Aetna’s Part D plan has the most affordable premium at $6.80 per month and a $480 deductible.
UnitedHealthcare’s Part D package offers the lowest deductible at $310 but a slightly higher $29.30 premium payment.
Humana’s Part D plan is one of Duluth’s highest-rated, regardless of price. It has a four-star rating, a $22.70 premium, and a $480 deductible.
The average cost of Medicare Part D plans in Duluth, Minnesota
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING |
| Aetna | $6.80 | $480 | 3 |
| Wellcare | $10.60 | $480 | 3 |
| Clear Spring Health | $16.60 | $480 | 2 |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $29.30 | $310 | 4 |
Special Needs plans
SNPs are a subset of Medicare Advantage with additional coverage for Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare enrollees with chronic disabilities or specialized medical needs. Despite not every provider or location having Special Needs Plans, Duluth has many popular options.
Ucare and Blue Plus offer SNPs with $0 premiums and $0 MOOPs.
Medica’s Special Needs Plan also has a $0 premium with a higher $7,550 MOOP.
UnitedHealthcare’s SNP has a $36.20 premium and a low $1,800 MOOP but stands out for being one of the only Local PPO plans with institutional eligibility.
The average cost of Medicare Special Needs plans in Duluth, Minnesota
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Eligibility |
| Ucare | $0 | $0 | HMO | Dual |
| Medica | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| Ucare | $0 | $0 | HMO | Dual |
| Blue Plus | $0 | $0 | HMO | Dual |
| UnitedHealthcare | $36.20 | $1,800 | LOCAL PPO | Institutional |
How to sign up for Medicare plans in Duluth
Our team compares rates from every Duluth, Minnesota, Medicare provider for free so that you can find the coverage you need without spending weeks researching the dozens of providers and policies across the city.
Call the Medigap.com experts or complete our online form to get rates today.
