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UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage 2025 Review
UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans are available in only two states but get above-average star ratings from CMS.
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NerdWallet's content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness and relevance. It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure the information is as clear and complete as possible.
Kate Ashford is a writer, content strategist and NerdWallet authority on Medicare. She is a certified senior advisor (CSA)® and has more than 20 years of experience writing about personal finance. Previously, she was a freelance writer for both consumer and business publications, and her work has been published by the BBC, Forbes, Money, AARP, LearnVest and Parents, among others. She has a degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Kate has appeared as a Medicare expert on the PennyWise podcast by Lee Enterprises, and she's been quoted in national publications including Healthline, Real Simple and SingleCare. She is based in New York.
Holly Carey joined NerdWallet in 2021 as an editor on the team responsible for expanding content to additional topics within personal finance. She currently leads the Medicare team. Previously, Holly wrote and edited content and developed digital media strategies as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. She is based in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
The bottom line: UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage gets above-average star ratings and member experience scores, but plans are only available in Pennsylvania and a small part of Ohio.
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UPMC for Life
4.41
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage pros and cons
Pros
Star ratings: UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans score a higher-than-average star rating from CMS.
High marks from members: Member experience ratings on metrics like customer service and getting appointments and care quickly are above the average for major providers.
Tops in Pennsylvania: UPMC for Life earned the top spot for customer satisfaction in Pennsylvania in J.D. Power’s latest Medicare Advantage Study.
Affordable prescription drugs: Plans offer $0 copays for Tier 1 and Tier 2 prescription drugs at preferred pharmacies.
Cons
Limited availability: UPMC for Life offers Medicare Advantage plans mostly in Pennsylvania, along with two counties in Ohio.
Fewer $0 plans: UPMC for Life offers fewer $0-premium plans than many other providers.
Compare against other providers
UnitedHealthcare
3.93
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
M-F 9AM-9PM, Sat 10AM-6PM ET
Speak to a licensed insurance agent on askchapter.org
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
NerdWallet’s Medicare content, including articles, reviews and recommendations, is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in Medicare. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, Nasdaq, MSN, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance and other national and regional media outlets. They have been cited in publications including Healthline, and appeared on NerdWallet's "Smart Money" podcast.
UPMC for Life Medicare star ratings
Average star rating, weighted by enrollment: 4.41
UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans are rated above the industry average, receiving an average rating of 4.41 stars out of 5 from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2025, weighted by enrollment
For comparison, the average weighted star rating from all providers is 3.95.
CMS maintains star ratings for Medicare Advantage plans on a 5-point scale, ranking plans from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star). The agency bases these ratings on plans’ quality of care and measurements of customer satisfaction, and ratings may change from year to year.
. You'll also still be responsible for paying your Medicare Part B premium, which is $185 per month in 2025.
(Most people pay this standard Part B amount, but if your income is above a certain threshold, you’ll pay the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA). Some Medicare Advantage plans cover part or all of your Part B premium.)
Requirements for copays, coinsurance and deductibles vary depending on your plan, location and the services you use. Other out-of-pocket costs to consider include:
Whether the plan covers any part of your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The plan’s yearly deductibles and any other deductibles, such as a drug deductible.
Copayments and/or coinsurance for each visit or service. For instance, there may be a $10 copay for seeing your primary doctor and a $45 copay for seeing a specialist.
The plan’s in-network and out-of-network out-of-pocket maximums.
Whether your medical providers are in-network or out-of-network, or how often you may go out of network for care.
Whether you require extra benefits, and if the plan charges for them.
To get a sense of costs, use Medicare’s plan-finding tool to compare information among available plans in your area. You can select by insurance carrier to see only UPMC for Life plans or compare across carriers.
Available UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage plans
UPMC for Life offers Medicare Advantage prescription drug plans as well as Medicare Advantage plans without drug coverage.
Plan offerings include the following types:
HMO plans
A health maintenance organization (HMO) generally requires that you use a specific network of doctors and hospitals. You may need a referral from your primary doctor in order to see a specialist, and out-of-network benefits are usually very limited.
PPO plans
Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans provide the most freedom, allowing you to see any provider that accepts the insurance. You may not need to choose a primary doctor, and you don’t need referrals to see specialists. You can seek out-of-network care, although it may cost more than seeing an in-network doctor.
SNPs
Special needs plans (SNPs) restrict membership to people with certain diseases or characteristics. Hence, the benefits, network and drug formularies are tailored to the needs of those members. UPMC for Life offers one type of SNP:
Dual-Eligible SNP: For people who are entitled to Medicare and who also qualify for assistance from a state Medicaid program.
UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage service area
UPMC for Life offers Medicare Advantage plans in only two states: Pennsylvania and Ohio. (The provider is available in only two counties in Ohio.) UPMC for Life covers nearly 220,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries
Get more information below about some of the major Medicare Advantage providers. These insurers offer plans in most states. The plans you can choose from will depend on your ZIP code and county.
What are the plan’s costs? Do you understand what the plan’s premium, deductibles, copays and/or coinsurance will be? Can you afford them?
Is your doctor in-network? If you have a preferred medical provider or providers, make sure they participate in the plan’s network.
Are your prescriptions covered? If you’re on medication, it’s crucial to understand how the plan covers it. What tier are your prescription drugs on, and are there any coverage rules that apply to them?
Is there dental coverage? Does the plan offer routine coverage for vision, dental and hearing needs?
Are there extras? Does the plan offer any extra benefits, such as fitness memberships, transportation benefits or meal delivery?
If you have additional questions about Medicare, visit Medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227, TTY 877-486-2048).
UPMC for Life
4.41
CMS Star RatingAverage Medicare star rating, weighted by enrollment. Star ratings are determined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
UPMC for Life sells Medicare Advantage in Pennsylvania and a small part of Ohio. Its plans get above-average ratings from CMS, and member experience scores are high.
We will connect you with Medicare companies based on the information you provide. They will help you find a plan that suits your needs. If you prefer to speak to a licensed insurance agent right away, please call the number listed below.
States available
2 states
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
High (85% to 100%)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
4.72 (Above average)
IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
Pros
Star ratings are above average.
Member experience ratings are above the average for major providers.
Tops for customer satisfaction in Pennsylvania, according to latest J.D. Power study.
Cons
Plans offered only in Pennsylvania and a couple of counties in Ohio.
Fewer $0-premium plans than many other providers.
States available
2 states
Members in high-rated plansPercentage of members who are in rated contracts with a Medicare star rating of 4 or higher.
High (85% to 100%)
Member experienceThe average of CMS' star ratings for quality measures in the domain "Member Experience with the Health Plan," weighted by contract enrollment.
4.72 (Above average)
IS THIS PROVIDER AVAILABLE IN MY STATE?
Plan availability is determined by ZIP code. While a plan may be available in your state, it may not be offered in your specific county. Please verify plan availability with a licensed insurance agent.
PROS & CONS
Pros
Star ratings are above average.
Member experience ratings are above the average for major providers.
Tops for customer satisfaction in Pennsylvania, according to latest J.D. Power study.
Cons
Plans offered only in Pennsylvania and a couple of counties in Ohio.