About 2.1 million people in North Carolina are signed up for Medicare, making it the ninth-largest U.S. state for Medicare beneficiaries.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people age 65 and older. Medicare Advantage is a bundled alternative to Medicare sold by private insurance companies. It offers all the same benefits and usually some extras, such as cost savings on dental and vision coverage.

Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than Original Medicare, and they can be cheaper than paying for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement plan. However, they have less flexibility since you’ll need to get care from within the plan’s network of providers. Weigh your options to determine which plan best suits your needs.

» MORE: Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: Which should I choose?
What to know about Medicare in North Carolina
Almost 1 in 6 people in North Carolina are 65 and older, and there are a wide variety of Medicare Advantage plans in the state.

The average monthly premium in 2023 for a Medicare Advantage plan in North Carolina is $14.05. (It was $15.26 in 2022.)

There are 150 Medicare Advantage plans available in North Carolina in 2023. (This number is up from 142 plans in 2022.)

All Medicare-eligible people in North Carolina have access to a $0-premium Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare Advantage companies in North Carolina
Aetna Medicare.

Alignment Health Plan.

ApexHealth.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Care N’ Care Insurance Company of North Carolina.

Cigna.

Devoted Health.

Experience Health.

FirstMedicare Direct.

Humana.

Lasso Healthcare.

Troy Medicare.

UnitedHealthcare.

Wellcare.

Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in North Carolina
Each year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, awards every Medicare Advantage plan a star rating on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being a top-rated plan. Below are companies with plans that received top marks in North Carolina for the 2023 plan year. (Check out more information about Medicare star ratings.)

5-star plans
The companies below offers plans in North Carolina that are rated 5 stars out of 5 by CMS:

Alignment Health Plan.

Care N’ Care Insurance Company of North Carolina.

UnitedHealthcare.

4.5-star plans
The companies below offers plans in North Carolina that are rated 4.5 stars out of 5 by CMS:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

Experience Health.

Humana.

UnitedHealthcare.

This list doesn't include special needs plans, which restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics, such as having a chronic illness or living in a nursing home.

» MORE: Best Medicare Advantage plans
Find the right Medicare Advantage plan
It’s important to do your research before selecting a Medicare Advantage plan for yourself. Here are some questions to consider asking:

What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?

Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.

Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?

Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?

Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?

Medicare Advantage companies
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage companies. These insurance companies offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.

AARP Medicare Advantage plans.

Aetna Medicare Advantage plans.

Anthem Medicare Advantage plans.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans.

Cigna Medicare Advantage plans.

Humana Medicare Advantage plans.

Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plans.

UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans.

Wellcare Medicare Advantage plans.

If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
Looking for additional insurance in North Carolina? Check out these resources:

North Carolina car insurance.

North Carolina homeowners insurance.

North Carolina renters insurance.

About the author: Kate Ashford is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and personal finance writer at NerdWallet specializing in Medicare and retirement topics. Read more