Health systems
- Allina Health
- M Health Fairview
- HealthPartners & Park Nicollet
- Hennepin Healthcare
- North Memorial Health
- Regions Hospital
Each contracts differently with each plan; we check your doctors first.
Medicare by region · Minneapolis–St. Paul
Medicare help across the Twin Cities metro
Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, Scott and Carver counties — the most plan choices in Minnesota, riding on the most crowded set of provider networks. We check the networks first.
No cost, no obligation, no pressure.
Request your free Medicare review
No cost, no pressure. Prefer to call? (702) 706-6564.
Medicare in the region
Twin Cities Metro: what shapes the choice here
More than half of Minnesota’s Medicare beneficiaries live in the seven-county metro, and it shows in the plan menu: dozens of Medicare Advantage plans, every Medigap carrier in the state, and the full set of Part D plans. Medicare Cost plans, on the other hand, ended in the metro counties in 2019, so metro residents choose between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a supplement.
The metro is also where the big 2026 shake-up landed hardest. UCare left Medicare Advantage statewide, and Humana and UnitedHealthcare pulled out of several counties, so a lot of households were shopping for the first time in years. If that was you, an annual review is worth more than ever — the plans announced each October 1 are often different from the ones you compared last year.
Cost plans: none of the counties in this region are on the state’s list of Cost-plan counties; the choice is Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Minnesota supplement.
Counties: Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, Washington, Scott, Carver.
Cities in this region
When you can enroll
Turning 65? Your Initial Enrollment Period is the 7 months around your birthday. Already on Medicare? Annual Election runs Oct 15–Dec 7; Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Jan 1–Mar 31. Cost plans, where sold, accept enrollment year-round.
Your options
Which kind of plan fits you?
Medicare Advantage
All-in-one Part C plans, often $0 premium, that use a local network — so your providers and prescriptions matter.
How Advantage worksMinnesota Medigap
Basic and Extended Basic supplements pair with Original Medicare and let you see any provider nationwide that accepts Medicare.
Basic vs Extended BasicMedicare Cost plans
Still sold in 21 Minnesota counties: a local network at home, Original Medicare everywhere else.
Where Cost plans remainPart D drug plans
Standalone drug coverage chosen around your medications. 2026 out-of-pocket cap: $2,100.
How Part D worksQuestions from Twin Cities Minnesota
Frequently asked questions
Which Medicare Advantage plans are available in the Twin Cities?
Availability is set by county and ZIP code, and the lineup changes every plan year. The metro typically has the widest choice in Minnesota — plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, Medica, UnitedHealthcare and others — but each rides on a different network. We compare what is actually offered at your address.
Are Medicare Cost plans still sold in the Twin Cities?
No. Cost plans ended in the seven-county metro at the end of 2018 under a federal rule that retires them wherever two or more Medicare Advantage plans compete. They remain in 21 mostly rural counties. Metro residents choose between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare with a Medicare supplement.
Do you meet in person in the Twin Cities?
We work with Minnesotans by phone and video across the state, which is how most people prefer it. Call and we will set up a time that suits you.
Ready when you are
Let’s find the right plan for life in the Twin Cities.
A short, friendly conversation — no pressure, no cost.
Written and reviewed by Darin Weidauer — licensed insurance agent (NPN 18580338), Gerontologist (USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology), MBA, Registered Social Security Analyst, and 22-year U.S. Air Force veteran.Last reviewed September 3, 2026. Plan availability, benefits and costs change every plan year — verify current details at Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or Minnesota Aging Pathways at 800-333-2433.