Medicare in Minnesota serves about 1.1 million beneficiaries, with 45% enrolled in Medicare Advantage and the remainder on Original Medicare + Medigap. Average Medigap Plan G premium for a new 65-year-old enrollee: $141/mo. Stand-alone Part D plans average $43/mo.
Medicare Beneficiaries
1.1 million
Age 65+ and disabled
MA Enrollment
45%
% on Medicare Advantage
Avg Medigap Plan G
$141/mo
New enrollee, age 65
| Topic | Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare Advantage plans available | 45+ | Varies by county; check medicare.gov plan finder |
| Top MA carriers | UCare, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota (Aware) | Networks differ by county |
| Stand-alone Part D | $43/mo | Required if you have Original Medicare + Medigap |
| Annual guaranteed-issue Medigap switching | No (one-time 6-month window at 65) | No state annual GI rights; Minnesota has a unique Medicare Supplement market with state-specific plan names (Basic, Extended Basic, etc.) rather than standardized A-N lettered plans. |
Medigap premiums vary by carrier, age, and ZIP code. The 2026 Part B premium is $202.90/month and Part B deductible is $283. Part D out-of-pocket cap is $2,100 in 2026.
Minnesota is one of the few states that does not follow the standard federal A-through-N Medigap plan naming system. Instead, Minnesota has its own state-standardized supplement plans called 'Basic,' 'Extended Basic,' and others. This can create confusion for beneficiaries who research Medigap plans nationally — what's called 'Plan G' elsewhere corresponds to specific Minnesota plan designations. UCare, a Minnesota nonprofit health plan, is a major local MA carrier with strong roots in the Twin Cities market and consistently high quality ratings. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, and UnitedHealthcare (which is headquartered in Minnesota) are the other dominant carriers.
The Twin Cities (Minneapolis–Saint Paul) metro area is home to some of the nation's most distinguished health systems — Mayo Clinic's extensive regional network, Allina Health, Fairview Health Services, and M Health Fairview — all broadly participating in MA plans. UnitedHealthcare's headquarters in Minnetonka creates a particularly competitive home-market dynamic. Northern Minnesota, the Iron Range, and the Boundary Waters region have more limited MA network options due to population sparsity. Minnesota has no birthday rule or annual Medigap switching protections, and beneficiaries should understand the state's unique supplement plan structure when enrolling.
In Minnesota, traditional Medicare combined with a Medigap supplement (typically Plan G or N) plus a stand-alone Part D plan provides nationwide access with predictable costs. Plan G covers everything except the $283 Part B deductible.
Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans bundle Medicare Parts A, B, and usually D into one private plan, often with $0 premium beyond Part B. Trade-offs include network restrictions and prior authorization. 45% of Minnesota beneficiaries currently choose MA.
No state annual GI rights; Minnesota has a unique Medicare Supplement market with state-specific plan names (Basic, Extended Basic, etc.) rather than standardized A-N lettered plans.
💡 Minnesota Pro Tip
Minnesota beneficiaries in the Twin Cities metro typically have access to 45 or more Medicare Advantage plans. Duluth and Rochester generally offer 20 to 30 options. Northern Minnesota's rural counties and the Iron Range may have 10 to 20 plans. UCare, UnitedHealthcare, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are the top carriers.
The average Medicare Supplement premium in Minnesota for coverage equivalent to Plan G is approximately $141 per month for a 65-year-old. Note that Minnesota uses its own plan designations rather than the standard federal A-N lettering, so beneficiaries should compare plans by benefit structure rather than just plan names.
Minnesota does not have a birthday rule or annual guaranteed-issue protections for its Medicare Supplement plans. Outside of your initial open enrollment period at 65 or a qualifying federal guaranteed-issue event, insurers can use medical underwriting. The state's unique plan naming convention means beneficiaries should verify benefit equivalency when comparing options.
Beneficiary counts and MA enrollment percentages from CMS state-level Medicare data; premium averages from 2026 carrier rate filings for Minnesota. Verify current plan costs at medicare.gov before enrolling.
Jennifer Walsh
Editorial Lead, Health & Medicare
This article was researched and written by the Cover Forge USA editorial team against federal sources (NAIC, CMS, FEMA, DOL, SSA, state DOIs) and standard policy forms. Bylines organize content by topic — they do not assert individual licensure. See our editorial-policy for details.
Reviewed May 2026
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