There are 22 Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans with prescription drug coverage in Tolland County for 2026, including 15 with a $0 monthly plan premium. The average consolidated premium is about $24.05, the average in-network out-of-pocket maximum is $6,989 (up to $9,250), and 18% of plans carry a CMS Overall Star Rating of 4 stars or higher. Our office is right here in Milford, and we help Tolland County neighbors — from Vernon and Rockville to Tolland and Stafford — compare these plans in plain language.
Every non-SNP MA-PD plan CMS lists for Tolland County this year, with its CMS Overall Star Rating, monthly consolidated (Part C and D) premium, in-network out-of-pocket maximum, Part D deductible and CMS plan ID.
| Plan | Type | CMS stars | Premium/mo | In-network MOOP | Part D deductible | CMS plan ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aetna Medicare Elite (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $0 | $6,750 | $615 | H5793_010 |
| Aetna Medicare Elite (PPO) | PPO | 4.5★ | $0 | $6,750 | $615 | H5521_157 |
| Aetna Medicare Elite Extra (PPO) | PPO | 4.5★ | $0 | $6,750 | $615 | H5521_352 |
| Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) | PPO | 4.5★ | $0 | $6,750 | $615 | H5521_446 |
| CarePartners Access (PPO) | PPO | 4★ | $0 | $8,500 | $550 | H0342_001 |
| CarePartners of CT CareAdvantage Preferred (HMO) | HMO | 3.5★ | $0 | $6,750 | $450 | H5273_001 |
| ConnectiCare Choice Plan 3 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $0 | $6,750 | $225 | H3528_014 |
| ConnectiCare Passage Plan 1 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $0 | $6,750 | $200 | H3528_010 |
| HumanaChoice Giveback H5216-138 (PPO) | PPO | 3.5★ | $0 | $6,500 | $395 | H5216_138 |
| HumanaChoice H5216-289 (PPO) | PPO | 3.5★ | $0 | $5,200 | $400 | H5216_289 |
| UHC Medicare Advantage CT-0003 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $0 | $6,700 | $355 | H0755_033 |
| Wellcare Giveback (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H0712_032 |
| Wellcare Giveback Open (PPO) | PPO | 3.5★ | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H1914_002 |
| Wellcare Simple (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H0712_019 |
| Wellcare Simple Open (PPO) | PPO | 3.5★ | $0 | $9,250 | $615 | H1914_001 |
| HumanaChoice H5216-288 (PPO) | PPO | 3.5★ | $18.20 | $5,900 | $275 | H5216_288 |
| UHC Medicare Advantage CT-0002 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $39 | $6,400 | $355 | H0755_031 |
| ConnectiCare Flex Plan 3 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $41 | $6,750 | $185 | H3528_011 |
| Aetna Medicare Signature (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $72 | $6,750 | $615 | H5793_001 |
| UHC Medicare Advantage CT-0001 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $78 | $5,900 | $355 | H0755_030 |
| ConnectiCare Flex Plan 2 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $119 | $6,750 | $200 | H3528_015 |
| ConnectiCare Choice Plan 1 (HMO-POS) | HMO-POS | 3.5★ | $162 | $4,150 | $200 | H3528_016 |
How the 22 MA-PD plans in Tolland County break down by CMS Overall Star Rating for 2026.
| CMS Overall Star Rating | Plans | Share of plans |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 stars | 3 | 14% |
| 4 stars | 1 | 5% |
| 3.5 stars | 18 | 82% |
Medicare-certified hospitals in and around Tolland County, with their CMS Overall Hospital Star Rating. Confirm a plan's network includes your preferred hospital before enrolling.
| Hospital | City | CMS stars |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson Memorial Hospital | Stafford Springs | 3★ |
| Manchester Memorial Hospital | Manchester | 4★ |
| Hartford Hospital | Hartford | 4★ |
| John Dempsey Hospital (UConn Health) | Farmington | 3★ |
| Windham Community Memorial Hospital | Willimantic | 3★ |
| St Francis Hospital & Medical Center | Hartford | 2★ |
You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage plan. You can enroll with a licensed agent, directly with the plan, or at medicare.gov.
CMS lists 22 Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) in Tolland County for 2026, including 15 with a $0 monthly plan premium.
Yes. 15 of the 22 MA-PD plans in Tolland County have a $0 monthly plan premium for 2026. A $0 plan premium does not mean $0 cost, you still pay your Medicare Part B premium and any plan copays or coinsurance.
About $6,989 in network, up to $9,250 for 2026. Once you reach your plan's in-network out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays 100% of covered Part A and Part B services for the rest of the year.
Medicare-certified hospitals in and near Tolland County include Johnson Memorial Hospital (Stafford Springs, 3-star CMS rating), Manchester Memorial Hospital (Manchester, 4-star CMS rating), Hartford Hospital (Hartford, 4-star CMS rating) and John Dempsey Hospital / UConn Health (Farmington, 3-star CMS rating).
During your Initial Enrollment Period around your 65th birthday, the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 to December 7), the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), or a Special Enrollment Period if you qualify.
Sources. Plan counts, premiums, in-network out-of-pocket maximums, Part D deductibles and CMS Overall Star Ratings come from the CMS Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape and Star Ratings files for contract year 2026 (cms.gov), for Tolland County, CT, covering non-SNP MA-PD plans. Hospital CMS Overall Star Ratings come from CMS Hospital Compare / Provider Data (data.cms.gov). Averages are computed across the 22 MA-PD plans in the county. Data accessed July 31, 2026.
TSM Life & Health is an independent, licensed insurance agency. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to the plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. We are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, or CMS. Verify current plan details with a licensed agent before enrolling.
Medicare has several parts, and most people in our area choose one of three main paths depending on the coverage, flexibility and costs they want. TSM is an independent agency, and we do not offer every plan available in your area.
| Coverage path | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Original Medicare | Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) from the federal government. Covers the essentials, but not everything — there is no built-in prescription drug coverage and no annual out-of-pocket cap. |
| Medicare Advantage (Part C) | Bundles Part A and Part B, and usually Part D drug coverage, through a private plan. Often adds extra benefits and includes a yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Uses a plan network. |
| Medicare Part D | Prescription drug coverage from a private plan. You can pair it with Original Medicare or get it built into a Medicare Advantage plan. |
Timing matters with Medicare. These are the main windows when you can enroll or make changes.
| Enrollment period | When it happens |
|---|---|
| Initial Enrollment Period | The 7 months around your 65th birthday — the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. |
| General Enrollment Period | January 1 – March 31. If you sign up then, your coverage starts the month after you enroll. |
| Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) | October 15 – December 7, for coverage that starts January 1. |
| Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment | January 1 – March 31, to switch or drop a Medicare Advantage plan. |
Special Enrollment Periods may also apply after qualifying events, such as losing employer coverage or moving out of a plan's service area.
Statewide context for Connecticut, to sit alongside the Tolland County plan data above. We do not offer every plan available in your area.
Sources. Medicare beneficiary counts from CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment, calendar year 2025 (data.cms.gov). Plan counts, $0-premium counts, average premium and CMS Overall Star Ratings from the CMS Medicare Advantage / Part D Landscape and Star Ratings files for contract year 2026 (cms.gov), covering non-SNP MA-PD and stand-alone PDP plans available in Connecticut. Accessed July 31, 2026.
Medicare is usually the reason people call, but it’s rarely the only thing on the kitchen table. We’re an independent agency, so we compare across carriers rather than representing one — and a fair number of these conversations end with us telling someone that what they already have is the right fit.
Not sure which of these applies to you? That’s a normal place to start. Book a free consultation or call 203-951-0339 and ask one question — that is allowed.
You will probably recognize yourself in one of these. Each one starts in a different place, so each one gets a different first conversation.
There are three shopping bags of mail on the table, every plan claims to be free, and you’d like to keep your cardiologist. We start with your doctors and your prescriptions, then look at the plans — not the other way around.
Start with MedicareYou’re the one reading small print at 11pm, wondering whether the postcard that looks like a Medicare card is a scam. Bring us the mail. We’ll tell you what’s real, and you can put us on speakerphone with your mother.
See how we workCOBRA quoted more than the mortgage payment and you’ve got a few years to get to Medicare. We help you think through the income estimate the Marketplace runs on, and set the calendar so you land on Medicare at 65 without a gap or a penalty.
Read the ACA guideSize it before you shop it — debt, income to replace, mortgage, education, minus what you already have. Then match the tool: term for the years with a mortgage and children in the house, a smaller permanent policy for what never expires.
See life insuranceNone of these are dramatic enough to notice in the mail. All three show up later — at the pharmacy counter, at the front desk, or in a monthly check that can’t be changed.
Working past 65 does not always let you delay Medicare. Whether you can wait depends on the size of your employer and whether the coverage counts as creditable. Nothing that arrives in the mail tells you which case you’re in, and the penalties for guessing wrong are added to your premium for as long as you hold the coverage. Here is how the enrollment windows actually work.
The higher earner’s Social Security decision is really the survivor’s decision. When one spouse dies, the survivor keeps the larger of the two checks — not both. So the higher earner’s claiming age sets the income the widow or widower lives on, potentially for decades. It’s the single most expensive thing to get wrong, and the easiest to miss. We walk through 62 versus 67 versus 70 here.
“Keep what I have” is one of the options being compared, not the default. Plans change every year — premiums, formularies, networks, the out-of-pocket maximum — and so does your life. Once a year we re-run your drug list and your doctors against the plans we offer in your area. If the plan you have is still the right one, that’s what we tell you, and it costs nothing either way. That yearly review is the part of the relationship that matters most.
Happy to look at any of this with you, at your pace. Our office is at 479 New Haven Avenue in Milford, Connecticut, and a real person answers the phone Monday to Friday 9–6 and Saturday 10–2. Get in touch.
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, or your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), to get information on all of your options. TSM Life & Health is a licensed independent insurance agency and is not connected with, affiliated with, or endorsed by the U.S. government, the federal Medicare program, the Social Security Administration, or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This is a solicitation for insurance; a licensed insurance agent may contact you. Product availability and benefits vary by state and carrier, and all guarantees are backed solely by the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. This page is general educational information only and is not insurance, tax, legal, or investment advice.
Tell us your doctors and prescriptions and we will help you match a plan, at no cost and no pressure.