Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-454-9051

TTY user 711 Mon-Fri : 8am-9pm EST

Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa 2027: Carriers, Counties and the Wellmark Exit

Reviewed by Russell Noga, Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker (all 50 states) — Last updated November 3, 2026

Iowa’s biggest Medicare Advantage change for 2027 is the exit of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, which is leaving Medicare Advantage in all 98 Iowa counties where it sold plans. If you’re in a Wellmark plan, you’ll need to choose new coverage for January.

For 2027, CMS’s plan data lists 64 individual Medicare Advantage plans from 13 companies across all 99 Iowa counties. Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, for coverage that starts January 1, 2027.

✔ Licensed across all 50 states✔ Built on CMS 2027 data✔ No-cost plan comparison

Compare 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-454-9051TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Agent 08
Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa 2027 overview: ma plans in iowa 64 (individual plans from 13 companies), counties covered 99 (every Iowa county), average ma premium 2027 $11.21 (down from $13.20 in 2026), wellmark for 2027 Exiting (all 98 of its Iowa counties)

How Iowa Medicare Advantage Breaks Down for 2027

Here is how Iowa’s 2027 individual Medicare Advantage plans break down by plan type:

Plan Type 2027 Plans in Iowa What It Means
HMO 28 You generally use the plan’s network and a primary care doctor
HMO-POS 18 HMO network with some out-of-network coverage
PPO 17 You can see out-of-network providers, usually at a higher cost
PFFS 1 Private fee-for-service plans that work with any Medicare provider who accepts the plan’s terms
Special needs plans (included above) 23 9 dual plans, 7 chronic condition plans and 7 institutional plans
Part B giveback plans (included above) 4 Plans from Humana and Devoted that may lower your Part B premium

Source: CMS 2027 Plan Benefit Package and plan service area data, individual (non-employer) Medicare Advantage plans.

Clinton County has the most choices, with 44 plans, followed by Polk, Jasper and Warren. Taylor County has the fewest, with 8. Learn how the plan types differ in our guide to Medicare Advantage plans for 2027.

Iowa also has 10 Medicare Cost plans, which are not Medicare Advantage plans and are not counted above.

What Is New in Iowa for 2027

These are the biggest changes for Iowa Medicare Advantage shoppers this year:

✔

Wellmark is leaving Medicare Advantage. Becker’s reports Wellmark is exiting in all 98 of its Iowa counties, plus South Dakota.

✔

Medica is shrinking. Medica is ending its Medicare Advantage PPO plans in Harrison, Mills and Pottawattamie counties.

✔

Premiums are falling. CMS projects Iowa’s average Medicare Advantage premium at $11.21 a month for 2027, down from $13.20.

✔

UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Humana lead. UnitedHealthcare has 15 plans in 90 counties, Aetna 11 in 85 and Humana 7 in 98.

CMS counts 64 Iowa Medicare Advantage plans for 2027, compared with 63 in 2026. Part D out-of-pocket drug costs are capped at $2,400 in 2027.

Compare 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-454-9051TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Agent 08
Iowa Medicare Advantage carriers 2027 by plan count: UnitedHealthcare 15, Aetna Medicare 11, Humana 7, Quartz 6, MediGold 5, Devoted Health 5, Wellcare 4, Molina Healthcare 2, Iowa Health Advantage 2, Align Senior Care 2, Great Plains Medicare Advantage 2, Align (Sanford Health Plan) 2, Wellpoint 1

Iowa Medicare Advantage Companies in 2027

These are the companies selling individual Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa for 2027:

Carrier 2027 Plans Counties Plan Names to Know
UnitedHealthcare 15 90 UHC Medicare Advantage, UHC Medicare Advantage Patriot No Rx, UHC Complete Care
Aetna Medicare 11 85 Aetna Medicare Signature, Aetna Medicare Signature Classic, Aetna Medicare Enhanced Classic Extra
Humana 7 98 Humana Gold Plus, HumanaChoice, HumanaChoice SNP-DE
Quartz 6 3 Gundersen Quartz Med Advantage Elite D, Gundersen Quartz Med Advantage Value D, Gundersen Quartz Med Advantage Value
MediGold 5 57 MercyOne Health Plan Choice, MercyOne Health Plan No Premium, MercyOne Health Plan Plus
Devoted Health 5 47 Devoted Core, Devoted Giveback, Devoted C-SNP Plus
Wellcare 4 76 Wellcare Iowa Total Care Dual Liberty Sync, Wellcare Iowa Total Care Dual Access, Wellcare Simple
Molina Healthcare 2 93 Molina Medicare Complete Care
Iowa Health Advantage 2 92 Iowa Health Advantage, Iowa Health Advantage Choice
Align Senior Care 2 41 Senior Care, Premier
Great Plains Medicare Advantage 2 8 Great Plains Medicare Advantage, Great Plains Medicare Advantage Gold
Align (Sanford Health Plan) 2 4 Align SecureChoice, Align SecureChoice Gold
Wellpoint 1 99 Wellpoint Full Dual Advantage

Source: CMS 2027 Plan Benefit Package and plan service area data, individual (non-employer) plans. Plan counts include special needs plans.

MediGold sells its Iowa plans under the MercyOne Health Plan name. Iowa Health Advantage and Align Senior Care offer institutional plans. Read more in our guides to UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans, Aetna Medicare Advantage plans, Humana Medicare Advantage plans and MediGold Medicare Advantage plans.

PPO and Giveback Plans in Iowa

If you want flexibility to see doctors outside a network, Iowa has these options for 2027:

✔

17 PPO plans from UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, Align (Sanford) and MediGold.

✔

4 Part B giveback plans that may lower your Part B premium, from Humana and Devoted.

✔

1 private fee-for-service (PFFS) plan, which can work in rural areas with few network plans.

Learn more in our guide to Medicare Advantage PPO plans.

Dual and Special Needs Plans in Iowa

Iowa has 23 special needs plans for 2027, built for people who qualify through Medicaid, a chronic condition or nursing home care:

✔

Dual plans (D-SNPs) for people with Medicare and IA Health Link (Iowa Medicaid) come from Wellcare, Molina, UnitedHealthcare, Wellpoint, Humana and Aetna.

✔

Chronic condition plans (C-SNPs) come from UnitedHealthcare, Aetna and Devoted.

✔

Institutional plans (I-SNPs) for nursing home residents come from Great Plains, Align Senior Care, Iowa Health Adv. and Humana.

Learn more in our guide to Medicare Advantage special needs plans.

Extra Benefits to Look For in Iowa

Benefits depend on the plan and county, but Iowa Medicare Advantage plans may include:

✔

Prescription drug coverage, with Part D out-of-pocket costs capped at $2,400 in 2027.

✔

Dental, vision and hearing benefits in many plans.

✔

Part B premium reductions in giveback plans, where offered.

✔

Fitness and over-the-counter allowances in some plans.

Not all plans offer all benefits, so check each plan’s 2027 Summary of Benefits before you enroll.

Iowa Medicare Advantage Checklist for 2027

1

If your Wellmark plan is ending, act now. Pick new coverage during Annual Enrollment so you’re covered January 1.

2

Check your doctors and hospitals in each plan’s network, including UnityPoint Health, MercyOne, University of Iowa Health Care and Broadlawns.

3

Run your prescriptions through each plan’s 2027 drug list.

4

Compare out-of-pocket maximums and hospital copays, not just premiums.

5

Check the star rating. See the 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings.

6

Enroll on time. Medicare Open Enrollment 2027 runs October 15 to December 7, 2026.

Compare 2027 Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-454-9051TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Agent 08

Medicare Advantage Plans in Iowa — Frequently Asked Questions

➤ What is the 2027 Medicare Advantage plan count in Iowa?

CMS’s 2027 plan data lists 64 individual Medicare Advantage plans from 13 companies in Iowa, including 23 special needs plans. Plans are available across all 99 Iowa counties.

➤ What insurance carriers have Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa?

UnitedHealthcare, Aetna Medicare, Humana, Quartz, MediGold, Devoted Health, Wellcare, Molina Healthcare, Iowa Health Advantage, Align Senior Care, Great Plains Medicare Advantage, Align (Sanford Health Plan) and Wellpoint sell individual Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa for 2027.

➤ Is Wellmark leaving Medicare Advantage in Iowa?

Yes. Becker’s reports Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is exiting Medicare Advantage for 2027 in all 98 Iowa counties where it sold plans, plus South Dakota.

➤ Are there Medicare Advantage PPO plans in Iowa?

Yes. Iowa has 17 PPO plans for 2027 from UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna Medicare, Align (Sanford Health Plan) and MediGold.

➤ Are there Part B giveback plans in Iowa?

Yes. Iowa has 4 Part B giveback plans for 2027 from Humana and Devoted Health. Availability depends on your county.

➤ Which Iowa county has the most Medicare Advantage plans?

Clinton County has the most choices, with 44 plans, followed by Polk, Jasper and Warren. Taylor County has the fewest, with 8.

➤ Are there dual-eligible Medicare Advantage plans in Iowa?

Yes. Dual special needs plans for people with Medicare and IA Health Link (Iowa Medicaid) come from Wellcare, Molina Healthcare, UnitedHealthcare, Wellpoint, Humana and Aetna Medicare.

➤ When is open enrollment for Iowa Medicare Advantage plans?

Annual Enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, with coverage starting January 1, 2027. If you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also make one change from January 1 to March 31, 2027.

New to Medicare?

If you are new to Medicare, then you can enroll in a 2027 Medicare Advantage plan up to three months prior to your Medicare Part B effective date.

Call one of our licensed insurance agents to see what the best time frame is for you to enroll, based on your current situation. You can contact them at 1-855-454-9051 (TTY 711), Mon–Fri 8am–9pm EST.

Have Questions?

Speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-454-9051

TTY users 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Compare plans & benefits in your area

Or speak with a licensed insurance agent

1-855-454-9051TTY 711

Mon-Fri: 8am-9pm ET

Agent 08
CompareMedicareAdvantage.org
1200 Lakeway Drive #17A Austin, TX 78734

TERMS & CONDITIONS | PRIVACY POLICY
About Us | Editorial Standards | Contact Us | Medicare Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

This website and Medicare Advantage plans are not affiliated or connected with the Federal Medicare program or any other government agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 193 organizations which offer 4,624 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Data represented is for the plan year 2027. CompareMedicareAdvantage.org is a Website owned and operated by ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company. *You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. $0 premium plans may not be available in all areas. Not all plans offer all benefits mentioned. By submitting your information in the form and clicking ‘Find Plans’, you agree to this site’s privacy policy and expressly consent to be contacted at the number entered in the form, (including a wireless number if provided) by insurance professionals or other partners offering related offers that might be of interest to me by phone or email. You understand that these calls may be generated using an automatic telephone dialing system, a pre-recorded message or artificial voice, or by sending SMS messages. Your telephone company may impose additional charges on the subscriber for such messages. You understand that you are not required to provide this authorization to purchase goods or services. Receiving quotes through our website is always free and you are under no obligation to purchase any goods or services as a result of this request. The Medicare plans represented are PDP, HMO, PPO or PFFS plans with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in plans depends on contract renewal. Enrollment in a plan may be limited to certain times of the year unless you qualify for a special period or you are in your Medicare Initial Election Period. Deductibles, copay and coinsurance may apply. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day/7 days a week to get information on all of your options.