Medicare Advantage Plans in Montana: 2026 Coverage

What is a Medicare Advantage plan in Montana?

Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans offer an alternative to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). These plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare and must offer the same coverage as Parts A and B, but may include additional routine benefits like dental, vision, hearing, and wellness programs, as well as prescription drug coverage.

If you want help understanding Medicare plan options in Montana, you can also explore local resources through the Montana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). 

Common Plan Types in Montana

Medicare Advantage plans in Montana may be structured differently by carrier and county. The most common plan types include:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Budget-friendly plans that typically require you to use in-network providers. These plans often have lower monthly premiums and predictable out-of-pocket costs, but limited flexibility outside the network.

• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): More flexible plans that allow you to see out-of-network providers, usually at a higher cost. PPOs are often preferred by beneficiaries who want broader access to specialists or providers across different regions of Montana.

• HMO-POS (Point of Service): Some Montana carriers, including regional options such as PacificSource Health Plans, offer HMO-POS plans. These plans combine lower-cost HMO-style networks with limited out-of-network access. They may also feature lower maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limits compared to broader PPO designs, depending on the plan.

Plan availability, including HMO, PPO, and HMO-POS options, varies by county in Montana and is determined by your specific ZIP code.

Popular Medicare Advantage Carriers Available in Montana

Montana Medicare Advantage plans are offered by a mix of national and regional insurance carriers. Availability can vary by county, so the plans you see in Billings may differ from those available in Missoula, Great Falls, or rural areas of the state.

Some of the most common Medicare Advantage plan carriers in Montana include:

• Humana

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana

• PacificSource Health Plans

• UnitedHealthcare

CMS Star Ratings

Medicare Advantage plans are evaluated annually by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) using a 5-star rating system. These ratings measure plan quality based on factors such as member experience, customer service, preventive care, and chronic condition management.

Higher-rated plans may indicate better overall performance, but plan availability and ratings can vary significantly by location and carrier network within Montana. Beneficiaries should compare both cost and CMS Star Ratings when selecting a plan in their local area.

Plan Availability by Top Montana Counties

Medicare Advantage plan availability in Montana varies significantly by geography. Because plans are offered at the county level, carrier participation, monthly premiums, provider networks, and additional benefits (such as dental, vision, hearing, and fitness programs) can vary widely by ZIP code.

That means a beneficiary in Billings may see different plan options than someone in Bozeman, Missoula, or Kalispell—even within the same carrier.

Here’s a look at some of Montana’s most populated counties and their Medicare Advantage plan access.

• Yellowstone County (Billings): As Montana’s most populous county, Yellowstone typically has some of the broadest Medicare Advantage plan availability, with multiple carriers competing in a larger healthcare market.

• Missoula County: Home to a major regional healthcare hub, Missoula County often offers a range of plan types, including HMO and PPO options, though availability still depends on specific ZIP code networks.

• Gallatin County (Bozeman): One of Montana’s fastest-growing areas, Gallatin County has expanding plan participation and increasing interest from carriers due to population growth and healthcare demand.

• Flathead County (Kalispell): In northwest Montana, Flathead County tends to have more limited network density compared to urban centers, which can impact premium levels and available plan extras.

Because Medicare Advantage plans in Montana are highly localized, comparing options at the county and ZIP code level is essential to understand your true coverage, costs, and provider access.

Disclaimer: Medicare Advantage plan availability, premiums, and provider networks in Montana vary by county and ZIP code. County-level descriptions are based on general Medicare market trends, population distribution, and typical rural vs. urban plan availability patterns. Actual plan options and benefits are determined by each insurance carrier and may change annually. 

Compare Medicare Supplement Plans in Montana

Some Montana beneficiaries prefer the flexibility of Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) paired with a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan instead of a Medicare Advantage plan. Medigap coverage helps pay for out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, and allows you to see any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare—without network restrictions.

If you’re comparing coverage options, you can explore more about to understand how they differ from Medicare Advantage plans. Remember that you cannot be enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. You must choose one or the other.

Why choose SelectQuote?

With more than 40 years of experience, SelectQuote helps Medicare beneficiaries compare plans from a wide range of nationally recognized insurance carriers in just minutes. Instead of researching multiple companies on your own, you can quickly review plan options side-by-side to find coverage that fits your doctors, prescriptions, and budget.

SelectQuote is trusted by millions of Medicare beneficiaries nationwide and is known for:

• Strong customer satisfaction ratings on Trustpilot

• Positive localized reviews from Medicare shoppers across the U.S.

• Accreditation and recognition through the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

No matter where you live in Montana, SelectQuote makes it easier to compare Medicare Advantage plan options so you can choose coverage with confidence.