People in Maine have access to 55 Medicare Advantage plans, 16 prescription drug plans, and 12 Medigap plans. Your exact options depend on where you live.
Medicare is a health insurance program for individuals ages 65 and older, as well as younger people with certain health conditions and disabilities.
It includes four parts:
- Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) make up Original Medicare
- Part C, known as Medicare Advantage, is an alternative to Original Medicare
- Part D offers coverage for prescription drugs
If you have Original Medicare, you can also sign up for a supplemental insurance plan (Medigap) to help with out-of-pocket costs. You can’t enroll in Medigap if you have a Medicare Advantage plan.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), 375,784 people in Maine are enrolled in Medicare.
The CMS reported the following trends for the 2025 plan year:
- The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium decreased by 70 cents — from $13.54 in 2024 to $12.84 in 2025.
- The number of available Medicare Advantage plans increased by 1 — from 54 in 2024 to 55 in 2025.
- All Medicare beneficiaries have the option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, including plans with $0 premiums.
- All Original Medicare enrollees have the option to buy a stand-alone prescription drug plan.
- There are 16 stand-alone prescription drug plans available, and the lowest monthly premium is $0.
- All Medicare beneficiaries with a stand-alone prescription drug plan have the option to enroll in a plan with a lower premium than they paid in 2024.
- About 32% of people with a stand-alone prescription drug plan receive Extra Help.
Different parts of Medicare cover different services, so understanding each component is crucial for determining the best option for you.
Original Medicare
Original Medicare is a federal program that includes Part A and Part B coverage. It is available to anyone who is eligible for Medicare.
Most individuals qualify for premium-free Part A. In 2025, the standard monthly premium for Part B is estimated to be $185, but your premium may be higher based on your income.
Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies that contract with Medicare to combine Part A and B coverage with additional health and wellness benefits.
Many of these plans also include prescription drug coverage, as well as vision, dental, and hearing benefits.
Some of the companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans in Maine include:
- Aetna Medicare
- AMH Health
- Humana
- Martin’s Point Generations Advantage
- UnitedHealthcare
- Wellcare
Your options may vary depending on where you live in Maine, as not all plans are available in every region. Each plan sets its own costs and coverage amounts.
Stand-alone prescription drug plans
Private insurance companies also provide prescription drug coverage through Medicare. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in either Part A or Part B.
People in Maine can choose from 16 different prescription drug plans offered by some of the following companies:
- Aetna Medicare
- Anthem / Anthem or Blue KC in Missouri
- Cigna Healthcare
- Humana
- UnitedHealthcare
- Wellcare
Service areas can vary by plan, and each plan sets its own costs and coverage amounts.
Medigap
Private insurance companies work with Medicare to offer supplemental coverage for Original Medicare beneficiaries.
Keep in mind that Medigap is not health insurance; rather, it’s a supplemental policy designed to help cover out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
People in Maine can choose from 12 different Medigap plans:
Some of the companies that offer Medigap plans in Maine include:
- Ace Property and Casualty Insurance Company
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Cigna Health & Life Insurance Company
- Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Inc.
- Humana (Humana Insurance Company)
- Mutual of Omaha (United of Omaha Life Insurance)
- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
- Transamerica Life Insurance Company
- United American Insurance Company
- UnitedHealthcare/AARP
- USAA Life Insurance Company
- Washington National Insurance Company
Service areas may vary by plan. Each plan sets its own cost and coverage amounts.
You’re eligible for Medicare if you:
- are age 65 or over
- are a U.S. citizen or legal resident of at least 5 years
If you’re under age 65, you may be eligible for Medicare if you:
- received Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) benefits for at least 24 months
- have end stage renal disease (ESRD) or a kidney transplant
- have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease
When can you enroll in Medicare in Maine?
You can only enroll in Medicare or make changes to your coverage during certain periods. This includes:
- Initial enrollment period (IEP): IEP begins three months before your 65th birthday, continues during your birthday month, and ends three months later.
- Open enrollment period (OEP): From October 15 to December 7, you can enroll, switch plans, or drop unwanted coverage.
- Medicare Advantage OEP: If you’re already enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you can make changes to your coverage from January 1 to March 31.
- Medigap OEP: You can enroll in Medigap for up to 6 months after you turn 65.
Certain life events can trigger a special enrollment period, which gives you an opportunity to sign up for Medicare outside of standard enrollment.
Tips for enrolling in Medicare in Maine
To help narrow your options, keep these things in mind:
- Provider network: To maximize the benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan, you may need to stay “in-network,” meaning you should receive care from a list of approved healthcare providers and facilities. Before enrolling, check that your care team is part of the network.
- Prescription drugs: Compile a complete list of all your medications and compare it with the coverage offered by stand-alone prescription drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage in your area. Before enrolling, make sure your medications are covered and available at a reasonable price.
- Travel coverage: Some Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage outside the plan’s service area. If you travel often, it may be wise to choose a plan that provides coverage while you’re away from home.
- Plan performance: The CMS publishes annual performance ratings for Medicare plans, which range from one to five stars, with five being the highest rating.
Medicare has a helpline with staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (excluding some federal holidays) to answer your questions. You can call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY: 1-877-486-2048).
For personalized health insurance counseling, contact Maine’sState Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)at 1-800-262-2232.
More than 300,000 Maine residents are enrolled in Medicare.
Several private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and stand-alone prescription drug coverage across the state.
Overall, monthly premium costs have remained stable for Medicare Advantage plans in Maine.