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

Minnesota Medicare Snapshot

Minnesota has one of the most distinctive Medicare markets in the country — 81 Medicare health plans from 12 carriers covering all 87 Minnesota counties for 2026 (CMS CY2026 Landscape). The 81 break out as 67 Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans and 14 Medicare Cost plans (§1876 contracts, NOT Part C — one of the largest active Cost-plan markets in the U.S.). Minnesota is also one of three states (with Massachusetts and Wisconsin) that did not adopt the federal Medigap plan-letter standardization. Under Minn. Stat. §§62A.31–62A.44, Minnesota Medigap insurers sell Basic Plan and Extended Basic Plan — state-standardized products with statutorily defined optional riders — on a continuous open-enrollment, community-rated basis.

The average consolidated premium across Minnesota's 81 Medicare health plans (MA + Cost combined) is $72.34/month. The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90/month in 2026. The Minnesota market is led by regional and in-state carriers: Medica (17 plans), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (15), and Allina Health Aetna Medicare (10) — a notable contrast to most states where UnitedHealthcare leads.

Plan Types Available in Minnesota

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Cost Plans

Minnesota offers 81 Medicare health plans for 2026 from 12 carriers — 67 Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) plus 14 Medicare Cost plans (§1876 contracts) (CMS 2026 MA & Part D Landscape Fact Sheet). MA-only plan-type breakdown: 42 PPO, 8 HMO D-SNP (dual-eligible special needs), 5 HMO, and 5 PPO C-SNP (chronic condition special needs); a small number of additional MA plans fall outside these top categories.

County-level plan counts range from 37 plans in Anoka County to 7 plans in Watonwan County. Top carriers by plan count: Medica (17 plans), Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (15 plans), and Allina Health Aetna Medicare (10 plans). Average star rating is 3.91.

About Medicare Cost plans:Cost plans operate in counties not designated as "competitive" under CMS's annual MA enrollment thresholds. They are structurally distinct from HMO/PPO MA plans: Original Medicare pays for out-of-network services (you can use any Medicare provider), and the plan covers in-network services. Eligibility and county availability vary year to year as CMS updates competitive-county designations.

Medigap (Minnesota Basic and Extended Basic Plans)

Minnesota does not use federal Medigap plan letters. Under Minn. Stat. §§62A.31–62A.44 (the Minnesota Medicare Supplement chapter), Minnesota Medigap insurers sell two state-standardized core plans whose benefits are defined by statute (carriers may not vary the core benefits):

• Basic Plan: Covers core Medigap benefits including Part A and Part B coinsurance, Part A hospital extension days, the first three pints of blood, and other statutorily required benefits.
• Extended Basic Plan: Includes everything in the Basic Plan plus the additional statutorily required benefits for the Extended Basic standardization (broader skilled nursing facility coinsurance, additional core inclusions per Minnesota statute).

Statutorily permitted optional riders may be added to either core plan, such as Part A deductible coverage, Part B deductible coverage (available only to those who were Medicare-eligible before January 1, 2020, mirroring federal MACRA 2015), Part B excess charges, foreign-travel emergency, preventive care, and others as defined by statute. Ten Medigap carriers operate in Minnesota (TPP internal data, CY2026). High-deductible variants (HDG, HDF) are not part of the Minnesota standardization and are not sold in the state. If you are moving to or from Minnesota →

Standalone Part D (Prescription Drug Plans)

Minnesota is part of CMS PDP Region 25 (combined with Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming). For 2026, there are 11 standalone PDP plans from 6 carriers in the region. Average total premium is $56.37/month (CMS CY2026 Landscape).

Costs in Minnesota

Medicare Advantage Premiums

The average consolidated MA premium in Minnesota is $72.34/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.

Minnesota Medigap Premiums

Minnesota Medigap rates are community-rated by statute (Minn. Stat. §62A.31) — every enrollee in a given Minnesota Medigap plan from a given carrier pays the same premium, regardless of age, gender, or health status. Because Minnesota uses its own Basic / Extended Basic standardization rather than federal plan letters, premium comparisons should be made between Minnesota plans, not against Plan G or HDG quotes from out-of-state.

Ten Medigap carriers sell Minnesota Basic Plan and Extended Basic Plan coverage in 2026. To see live community-rated quotes, use our Medigap comparison tool. High-deductible variants are not part of the Minnesota standardization.

Part D Costs and the LIS Benchmark

For 2026, Part D premiums in PDP Region 25 average $56.37/month across 11 standalone PDP plans (CMS CY2026 Landscape). The CMS Low Income Subsidy (LIS / Extra Help) benchmark premium for Region 25 is $41.47/month (CMS CY2026 Regional Rates and Benchmarks).

Minnesota-Specific Medicare Rules

Year-Round Community-Rated Medigap

Minn. Stat. §62A.31 requires Minnesota Medigap insurers to offer coverage on a community-rated basis with continuous open enrollment. Minnesota beneficiaries can apply for or switch Minnesota Medigap coverage any day of the year, without medical underwriting:

• No 6-month-OEP cliff. Unlike states with a federal-only 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period, in Minnesota 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 and the specific rider package you select.

Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs)

Minnesota offers Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) through the Minnesota Department of Human Services (Medicaid):

• 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.

Apply through Minnesota DHS or contact the Senior LinkAge Line (1-800-333-2433) for free enrollment assistance. MSP enrollment also automatically qualifies you for Extra Help / LIS on Part D. Learn more about MSPs →

Minnesota Senior LinkAge Line (Minnesota Aging Pathways)

The Minnesota Senior LinkAge Line — also branded as Minnesota Aging Pathways — is Minnesota's federally designated State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), operated by the Minnesota Board on Aging. The Senior LinkAge Line provides free, unbiased Medicare counseling statewide.

Phone: 1-800-333-2433
Website: mn.gov/board-on-aging/direct-services/aging-pathways

For insurance-regulatory questions (Medigap rate-filing review, carrier complaints, etc.), contact the Minnesota Department of Commerce at mn.gov/commerce.

Enrolling in Medicare in Minnesota

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.
• Minnesota Medigap: Year-round community-rated guaranteed issue under Minn. Stat. §62A.31 — no Open Enrollment cliff and no age cap.
• Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs): Learn more →

Minnesota Senior LinkAge Line Counseling

Contact the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433 for free one-on-one Medicare guidance statewide.

Frequently Asked Questions