Medicare in Massachusetts: 2026 Plans, Costs, and Enrollment Guide

Massachusetts Medicare Snapshot

Massachusetts has one of the most distinctive Medicare markets in the country — 82 MA plans from 13 carriers covering all 14 Massachusetts counties for 2026 (CMS CY2026 Landscape), and a Medigap system that does not use the federal plan letters at all. Massachusetts is one of three states (with Minnesota and Wisconsin) operating under its own state-standardized Medigap structure: Medicare Supplement Core and Medicare Supplement 1 (with a Supplement 1A variant for beneficiaries who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020). The plan mix is balanced: 28 HMO, 24 PPO, 16 HMO D-SNP, 11 HMO-POS, and 2 HMO-POS C-SNP plans, reflecting strong in-state regional carrier presence from Tufts Health Plan and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

The average consolidated MA premium is $38.03/month. The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90/month in 2026. On the supplement side, Massachusetts is one of a small group of states (with CT, ME, NY, VT, and WA — each with its own statutory variant and limits) that provide year-round guaranteed-issue Medigap protections beyond the federal 6-month Open Enrollment Period.

Plan Types Available in Massachusetts

Medicare Advantage (Part C)

In Massachusetts, 103 MA plans are available for 2026 from 13 carriers (CMS CY2026 Landscape). Plan type mix: 28 HMO, 24 PPO, 16 HMO D-SNP (dual-eligible special needs), 11 HMO-POS, and 2 HMO-POS C-SNP. The strong HMO presence reflects in-state integrated networks at Tufts Health Plan and BCBS of Massachusetts.

County availability ranges from 58 MA plans in Worcester County to 6 plans in Nantucket County. Top carriers by plan count: Tufts Health Plan (19 plans), UnitedHealthcare (15 plans), and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (7 plans). Massachusetts MA plans carry an average CMS star rating of 4.01 (CMS CY2026 Landscape).

Medigap (Massachusetts Medicare Supplement)

Massachusetts does not use federal Medigap plan letters. Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176K and 211 CMR 71, Medigap insurers in Massachusetts sell two state-standardized plans:

• Medicare Supplement Core: Covers Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (365 extra days after Medicare benefits end), Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, and Part A hospice coinsurance. Does not cover the Part A or Part B deductibles.
• Medicare Supplement 1: Includes everything in Core plus Part A and Part B deductibles, Part B excess charges, foreign travel emergency coverage, and skilled nursing facility coinsurance. Closest to federal Plan F.
• Medicare Supplement 1A: Identical to Supplement 1, but does not cover the Part B deductible. This is the version sold to beneficiaries who became Medicare-eligible on or after January 1, 2020, matching the federal MACRA 2015 restriction on first-dollar Part B deductible coverage for newly eligible beneficiaries (the same federal rule that closed Plan F and HDF nationally to post-2020 enrollees).

Twelve Medigap carriers operate in Massachusetts (TPP internal data, CY2026). High-deductible variants (HDG, HDF) are not part of the Massachusetts standardization and are not sold in the state. If you are moving to or from Massachusetts →

Standalone Part D (Prescription Drug Plans)

Massachusetts is part of CMS PDP Region 2 (combined with Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont). For 2026, there are 11 standalone PDP plans from 6 carriers in the region. Average total premium is $80.35/month (CMS CY2026 Landscape).

Costs in Massachusetts

Medicare Advantage Premiums

The average consolidated MA premium in Massachusetts is $38.03/month (CMS 2026 Medicare MA & Part D Landscape State-by-State Fact Sheet). The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90/month in 2026.

The top three carriers by plan count are Tufts Health Plan (19 plans), UnitedHealthcare (15 plans), and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (7 plans) (CMS CY2026 Landscape). Average star rating is 4.01.

Massachusetts Medigap Premiums

Massachusetts Medigap rates are community-rated by statute (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176K) — every enrollee in a given Massachusetts Medicare Supplement plan from a given carrier pays the same premium, regardless of age, gender, or health status. Because Massachusetts uses its own Core / Supplement 1 / Supplement 1A standardization rather than federal plan letters, premium comparisons are with other Massachusetts plans — not with Plan G or HDG quotes from out-of-state.

Twelve Medigap carriers sell Massachusetts Medicare Supplement plans in 2026. To see live community-rated quotes for Supplement Core, Supplement 1, and Supplement 1A in Massachusetts, use our Medigap comparison tool. High-deductible variants are not part of the Massachusetts standardization.

Part D Costs and the LIS Benchmark

For 2026, Part D premiums in PDP Region 2 (CT, MA, RI, VT) average $80.35/month across 11 standalone PDP plans (CMS CY2026 Landscape). The CMS Low Income Subsidy (LIS / Extra Help) benchmark premium for Region 2 is $35.76/month (CMS CY2026 Regional Rates and Benchmarks).

Massachusetts-Specific Medicare Rules

Year-Round Guaranteed-Issue Medigap (Community-Rated)

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176K and 211 CMR 71 require Massachusetts Medicare Supplement insurers to offer coverage on a community-rated, continuous guaranteed-issue basis. Massachusetts beneficiaries can apply for or switch Massachusetts Medicare Supplement coverage any day of the year, without medical underwriting:

• No 6-month-OEP cliff. Unlike states with a 6-month Open Enrollment Period tied to Part B enrollment, in Massachusetts the guaranteed-issue window is year-round.
• No age cap. The continuous open-enrollment right applies at all ages.
• Community-rated premiums. Your age, gender, and health history do not affect the price you pay. Premium differences across plans reflect carrier-to-carrier variation only.

Massachusetts is one of a small group of states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Washington — each with its own statutory variant and limits) that require Medigap protections beyond the federal 6-month Open Enrollment Period. Each state handles continuous open enrollment differently — for example, Maine and Washington generally limit no-underwriting switches to plans of equal or lesser benefits; New York and Massachusetts provide broader continuous open enrollment under their statutes. Always verify the specifics of your state’s rule before relying on it.

State Pharmacy Assistance Programs

Massachusetts operates several programs that supplement Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage:

• Prescription Advantage:A state-administered pharmacy assistance program run by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence. Prescription Advantage helps lower out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Massachusetts residents aged 65+ (and certain younger residents with disabilities who are income-eligible). The program works alongside Medicare Part D and can provide cost-sharing assistance based on income tier. Benefit details and income thresholds are updated periodically.
• MassHealth (Medicaid): Full Medicaid coverage for low-income beneficiaries who qualify; provides prescription drug coverage alongside Medicare for dual-eligibles.

SHINE counselors can help you navigate these programs and confirm eligibility — income thresholds and benefit details are updated periodically, so verify current details before applying.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)

Massachusetts offers Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) administered through MassHealth (the state Medicaid agency):

• QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary): Covers Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, and cost-sharing.
• SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary): Covers Part B premiums only.
• QI (Qualifying Individual): Also covers Part B premiums; subject to annual appropriations.

Massachusetts uses generally higher income thresholds for MassHealth MSPs than the federal floor (verify current MassHealth limits before applying). Apply through MassHealth or contact SHINE (1-800-243-4636) for free enrollment assistance. MSP enrollment also automatically qualifies you for Extra Help / LIS on Part D. Learn more about MSPs →

Massachusetts SHINE

Massachusetts SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) is the state's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), operated by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence. SHINE provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling statewide through a network of trained counselors at local Councils on Aging and senior centers.

Phone: 1-800-243-4636
Website: mass.gov/service-details/get-free-health-insurance-counseling-shine-program

Enrolling in Medicare in Massachusetts

Standard Enrollment Periods

• Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): 7-month window centered on your 65th birthday month. Enroll at ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213.
• Annual Election Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7 each year.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP): January 1 – March 31.
• Massachusetts Medicare Supplement: Year-round community-rated guaranteed issue under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176K — no Open Enrollment cliff and no age cap.
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Learn more →

Massachusetts SHINE Counseling

Contact SHINE at 1-800-243-4636 for free one-on-one Medicare guidance statewide.

Frequently Asked Questions