Residents of Kentucky who are eligible for Medicare coverage can choose among various plan options, including Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D prescription drug plans, and Medicare supplement insurance.

Medicare eligibility in Kentucky follows the same federal guidelines as elsewhere in the country. To be eligible, a person must be at least 65 years old or living with a qualifying disability, end stage renal disease (ESRD), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Learn more about the options for Medicare coverage as a resident of Kentucky.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the following are some key figures about Medicare in Kentucky in 2025.

  • Enrollment: There are 981,983 residents of Kentucky enrolled in Medicare.
  • Medicare Advantage (Part C): There are 110 Medicare Advantage plans available in 2025 compared to 119 during the previous year.
  • Part D: There are 16 stand-alone Part D plans available to residents of Kentucky.
  • Extra Help: Roughly 29.5% of people enrolled in a stand-alone Part D plan get Extra Help.

Residents of Kentucky have various options for Medicare coverage, including Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medigap.

Original Medicare in Kentucky

Individuals eligible for Medicare may enroll in Original Medicare, which comprises Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Together, these plans meet the bulk of a person’s healthcare needs.

Part A coverage includes:

  • inpatient hospital care
  • skilled nursing facility care
  • hospice care
  • limited home healthcare

Part B coverage includes:

  • outpatient care from doctors or other healthcare professionals
  • lab and imaging tests
  • durable medical equipment (DME)
  • preventive services

Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. These plans include the same level of coverage as parts A and B while offering additional benefits, such as vision, dental, and hearing care. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug coverage.

In 2025, the average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan in Kentucky is $15.15, while the lowest available premium is $0. There are 110 different plan options.

Some of the organizations that offer Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky include:

  • Aetna Medicare
  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
  • Cigna Healthcare
  • Devoted Health
  • Essence Healthcare
  • Humana
  • Passport Advantage
  • Signature Advantage (HMO SNP)
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Wellcare

A person can explore Medicare Advantage coverage options by visiting the Medicare website and entering their ZIP code.

To assist people with selecting Medicare Advantage and Part D drug plans, CMS assigns star ratings to all the plans in each state.

In 2025, the Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky that receive an overall star rating of 4.5 out of 5 include those from:

  • Aetna Medicare
  • Essence Healthcare
  • Humana

Part D in Kentucky

Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage that individuals can purchase in addition to their Original Medicare coverage or Medicare Advantage coverage (if their plan does not include drug coverage). Private insurance companies offer these plans.

In Kentucky, there are 16 stand-alone plans available across the state. The exact plans available to a person will depend on their county.

According to the health policy research group KFF, the average Part D premium cost for plans in Kentucky was $40.86 in 2024.

Medicare supplement plans in Kentucky

Private insurance companies offer Medicare supplement plans, also called Medigap plans, to assist with the out-of-pocket costs of Original Medicare. These costs include deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

However, Medigap plans are unavailable to people with Medicare Advantage.

Some of the organizations offering Medigap plans in Kentucky in 2025 include:

  • AARP UnitedHealthcare
  • AFLAC
  • Allstate Health Solutions
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Kentucky
  • LifeShield National Insurance Company
  • Mutual of Omaha
  • State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company
  • United American Insurance Company
  • USAA Life Insurance Company

To explore Medigap coverage options, a person can visit the Medicare website and enter their ZIP code.

Read more about Medigap plans.

Medicare resources for residents of Kentucky

For further information about Medicare plan options, coverage, and costs, consider the following resources:

  • Medicare: Contact Medicare by phone at 800-633-4227 or online. Representatives are available 24/7 to offer support.
  • State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP): Kentucky SHIP is a state program that offers free, unbiased guidance to Medicare beneficiaries in the state.
  • Social Security Administration (SSA): The SSA website has information about signing up for Medicare, applying for Extra Help, and managing benefits.
  • Medicare Savings Program: The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services offers information about eligibility for savings on the out-of-pocket costs of Medicare.

Medicare enrollment windows are the same in Kentucky as in other states. These are important periods during which people can join, switch, or drop coverage:

  • Initial enrollment period: This is a 7-month period that starts 3 months before the month of a person’s 65th birthday. If an individual qualifies for Medicare through age, this is their first opportunity to join a plan.
  • Open enrollment period: From October 15 to December 7, people can switch plans or add coverage.
  • General enrollment period: Anyone who misses initial enrollment may enroll during this period.
  • Special enrollment period: Life events that affect someone’s health insurance status may trigger a special enrollment period.
  • Medicare Advantage open enrollment: From January 1 to March 31, people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans can switch plans or return to Original Medicare.

In some cases, Medicare will automatically enroll a person for coverage. This can occur if they have a disability and have received Social Security Disability Insurance for 2 years or have ALS.

People can join a plan by:

  • enrolling online through Medicare.gov
  • signing up through the SSA website
  • contacting the plan via phone or the web
  • calling Medicare at 800-633-4227 (TTY: 877-486-2048)

When selecting a plan, it is important to consider factors such as:

  • Cost: Plans will have different out-of-pocket costs to consider, including monthly premiums, annual deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. Some plans will have annual out-of-pocket maximums, whereas others will not.
  • Choice: While Original Medicare coverage works across the country with any provider who accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans can restrict which providers members may see.
  • Coverage: A person needs to consider coverage needs when deciding on a plan. If they need benefits such as vision, dental, hearing, or prescription drug coverage, they may require more than Original Medicare alone.
  • Special health concerns: Certain health conditions require tailored insurance plans. A person may wish to consider a Special Needs Plan (SNP) if they have a condition such as diabetes or HIV.

Medicare in Kentucky follows the same federal guidelines as elsewhere throughout the United States. Residents may enroll in Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan.

Private insurance companies offer the latter, and plan options vary across the state based on a person’s county of residence. A person can also choose to add a Part D plan to cover drug costs or a Medigap plan to help with the expenses of Original Medicare.

Before picking a plan, people may consider their coverage needs, provider preferences, and cost requirements. For assistance, people can reach out to Medicare, the Social Security Administration (SSA), or Kentucky’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).