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Plan vs plan · Stearns County, MN · 2027 plan year

HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO) vs Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

Medicare.gov compares Medicare Advantage plans with each other. This page also shows Original Medicare, so you can see the full trade-off: premiums, copays, the yearly limit, extra benefits, and the rules about doctors and approvals.

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HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

Plan premium
$40 a month
Yearly limit, in network
$7,150
2027 star rating
4.5 of 5
Prior authorization needed for
13 services

Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

Plan premium
$122 a month
Yearly limit, in network
$7,150
2027 star rating
4 of 5
Prior authorization needed for
11 services

In Minnesota, you get one more chance at Medigap only up to age 70

You can buy any Medigap plan with no health questions in the 6 months that start when you are 65 or older and have Part B. After that, a Medigap company in Minnesota can ask about your health and can say no. Minnesota gives people aged 65 to 70 one more chance. If you never had Medigap, you can buy it one time without health questions. Apply from October 15 to December 7 or from January 1 to March 31. Your price then stays 15% to 35% higher for as long as you keep the plan.

One exception is the trial right. If you joined Medicare Advantage when you first got Medicare at 65, or you left a Medigap plan to try Medicare Advantage for the first time, you can switch back within 12 months. Then you can buy a Medigap plan with no health questions.

Read about Medigap rights on Medicare.gov

Your yearly cost, side by side

Move the controls to match your year. Totals include premiums, the Part B premium, copays, and drug costs.

How much care do you expect?

Ongoing specialist care

Medigap plan with Original Medicare

Minnesota sets its own Medigap plans: the Basic Plan and the Extended Basic Plan, with optional riders. Minnesota also sells its own versions of Plans K, L, M, and N. A high-deductible plan is open only to people who were eligible for Medicare before 2020. We have no prices for these plans, so the totals show Original Medicare without Medigap. Without Medigap you pay 20% of most costs, with no yearly limit. Check Medigap plans and prices for ZIP 56378 on Medicare.gov

Want to check your exact drugs? Medicare.gov lets you enter each drug and shows what each plan charges for it. Enter your drugs on Medicare.gov

Original Medicare

With no Medigap and AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC (PDP)

$6,015 a year

Premiums
$2,638
Medical costs
$1,616
Drugs
$1,762

No yearly limit on what you pay for medical care.

HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

PPO from HealthPartners

$6,859 a year

Premiums
$2,994
Medical costs
$1,690
Drugs
$2,175

Most you can pay in a bad year, before drugs: $10,144.

Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

PPO from Medica

$7,570 a year

Premiums
$3,978
Medical costs
$2,060
Drugs
$1,532

Most you can pay in a bad year, before drugs: $11,128.

With these settings, Original Medicare costs about $844 less a year than HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO).

These are estimates, not quotes. Check every number with Medicare (Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE) and with the plan before you choose. What you pay depends on your doctors and hospitals, your drugs and pharmacy, and the care you use. Drug costs use typical prices for generic and brand-name drugs. Original Medicare amounts are 2027 projections from the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report. CMS sets the final amounts in November.

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What you pay each time you get care

In-network costs for one visit or one stay. The Original Medicare amounts follow your Medigap choice above: no Medigap.

Primary doctor visit

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    20%

    after the $292 yearly Part B deductible

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $0 copay

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $0 copay

Specialist visit

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    20%

    after the $292 yearly Part B deductible

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $0-$55

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $60

Lab tests

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    $0

    most Medicare-covered tests

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $0 copay

    Prior authorization

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $0 copay

    Prior authorization

MRI or CT scan

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    20%

    after the $292 yearly Part B deductible

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $0-$400

    Prior authorization

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $0-$250

    Prior authorization

Emergency room

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    20%

    after the $292 yearly Part B deductible

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $130

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $130

Urgent care

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    20%

    after the $292 yearly Part B deductible

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $50

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $45

Outpatient surgery

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    20%

    after the $292 yearly Part B deductible

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $500

    Prior authorization

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $0-$450

    Prior authorization

Ground ambulance

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    20%

    after the $292 yearly Part B deductible

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $300

    Prior authorization

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $395

Hospital stay, 5 days

  • Original Medicare, no Medigap

    $1,788

    Part A deductible each benefit period; $447 a day for days 61-90

  • HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

    $2,750

    for a 5-day stay

    Prior authorization

  • Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

    $600

    for a 5-day stay

    Prior authorization
See every cost in one table
What you pay in networkOriginal Medicare, no MedigapHealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)Medica Advantage Select (PPO)
Monthly premiumPart B $209.50 + drug plan $10.30$40 + Part B $209.50$122 + Part B $209.50
Yearly limit on what you payNo yearly limit$7,150 in network; $10,000 in and out of network$7,150 in network; $10,750 in and out of network
Medical deductible$292 Part B; $1,788 Part A each benefit period$0$0
Primary doctor visit20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$0 copay$0 copay
Specialist visit20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$0-$55 copay$60 copay
Lab tests$0, most Medicare-covered tests$0 copayPrior authorization$0 copayPrior authorization
MRI or CT scan20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$0-$400 copayPrior authorization$0-$250 copayPrior authorization
X-rays20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$75 copayPrior authorization$35 copayPrior authorization
Emergency room20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$130 copay$130 copay
Urgent care20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$50 copay$45 copay
Outpatient hospital20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$600 copayPrior authorization$0-$550 copayPrior authorization
Surgery center20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$500 copayPrior authorization$0-$450 copayPrior authorization
Ground ambulance20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$300 copayPrior authorization$395 copay
Hospital stay$1,788, Part A deductible each benefit period; $447 a day for days 61-90$550 per day for days 1-5; $0 per day for days 6-90Prior authorization$600 per stayPrior authorization
Skilled nursing facility$0, days 1-20, then $223.50 a day for days 21-100$0 per day for days 1-20; $221 per day for days 21-80; $0 per day for days 81-100Prior authorization$0 per day for days 1-20; $221 per day for days 21-54; $0 per day for days 55-100Prior authorization
Mental health visit20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$55 copay$50 copay
Physical therapy20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible$50 copay$60 copay
Home health care$0, Medicare-covered home health$0 copayPrior authorization$0 copay
Medical equipment20%, after the $292 yearly Part B deductible20% coinsurancePrior authorization20% coinsurancePrior authorization
Part B drugs20% after the $292 Part B deductible0%-20% coinsurancePrior authorization0%-20% coinsurancePrior authorization
Drug deductible (Part D)$700 with AARP Medicare Rx Saver from UHC (PDP)$700$420
Drug tiers (one month, retail)Preferred Generic: $0 copayGeneric: $5 copayPreferred Brand: 18% coinsuranceNon-Preferred Drug: 38% coinsuranceSpecialty Tier: 25% coinsurancePreferred Generic: $0 copayGeneric: $0 copayPreferred Brand: 25% coinsuranceNon-Preferred Drug: 32% coinsuranceSpecialty Tier: 25% coinsurancePreferred Generic: $0 copayGeneric: $11 copayPreferred Brand: 18% coinsuranceNon-Preferred Drug: 25% coinsuranceSpecialty Tier: 28% coinsuranceSelect Care Drugs: $0 copay

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A higher drug plan premium is not, by itself, a reason to switch

With Original Medicare, you buy a separate drug plan. In Minnesota, 9 drug plans are for sale for 2027, from $5.30 to $222.90 a month. Half of them cost $33.30 a month or less.

  • Every 2027 drug plan limits what you pay for covered drugs to $2,400 a year. The drug coverage in Medicare Advantage plans has the same limit.
  • The premium is one part of your yearly cost. The calculator above adds premiums, medical costs, and drug costs, so you can see the whole year.
  • A Medicare Advantage plan can cost less in a light year. But you also take on its network and prior authorization rules, and you may not be able to get Medigap later.
  • If your income is limited, Extra Help can pay most of your drug plan premium and drug costs. Check Extra Help at SSA.gov

Doctors, referrals, and prior authorization

Cost is one side. The other side is how you get care. These rules come from the CMS plan files. Prior authorization means the plan must approve a service before you get it.

Original Medicare

  • Any doctor or hospital in the U.S. that takes Medicare
  • No referrals
  • Prior authorization only for a short list of services

HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

PPO

  • The plan has a network. You can go outside it, but you pay more.
  • No referral needed to see a specialist.

Prior authorization for 13 services

Diagnostic tests, MRI or CT, Radiation therapy, Outpatient hospital, Surgery center, Ambulance, Home health, Medical equipment, Prosthetics, Diabetic supplies, Hospital stay, Skilled nursing, Part B drugs

Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

PPO

  • The plan has a network. You can go outside it, but you pay more.
  • No referral needed to see a specialist.

Prior authorization for 11 services

Diagnostic tests, MRI or CT, Radiation therapy, Outpatient hospital, Surgery center, Medical equipment, Prosthetics, Diabetic supplies, Hospital stay, Skilled nursing, Part B drugs

Extra benefits

Extra benefitOriginal MedicareHealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)Medica Advantage Select (PPO)
DentalNoPreventive onlyComprehensive, up to $800 a year
Eye examNoYesYes
Glasses or contactsNoYes, $150 allowanceNo
Hearing aidsNoNoYes, copays from $549
Over-the-counter allowanceNoNoNo
Fitness benefitNoYesYes
Rides to careNoNoNo
Meals after a hospital stayNoNoNo
Emergency care abroadNo, unless your Medigap plan pays for itYesYes
Part B premium givebackNoNoNo

What changed for 2027

HealthPartners Journey Pace (PPO)

Renewal Plan with SAR · New for 2027

No change found in the fields we track.

Medica Advantage Select (PPO)

Renewal Plan with SAR · 2026 plan H8889-002-0

  • Monthly premium up from $120 to $122
  • In-network out-of-pocket maximum up from $4,200 to $7,150
  • Drug deductible up from $355 to $420
  • Specialist visit: $50 copay to $60 copay
  • Emergency care: $150 copay to $130 copay
  • Urgent care: $0-$45 copay to $45 copay
  • Diagnostic radiology (MRI, CT): $0-$90 copay to $0-$250 copay
  • Outpatient hospital: $0-$350 copay to $0-$550 copay
  • Inpatient hospital: $400 per stay to $600 per stay
  • Skilled nursing facility: $0 per day for days 1-20; $218 per day for days 21-41; $0 per day for days 42-100 to $0 per day for days 1-20; $221 per day for days 21-54; $0 per day for days 55-100
  • Dental maximum up from $700 to $800
  • Eyewear removed
  • OTC allowance removed
  • Overall star rating up from 3.5 to 4

More 2027 plans in Stearns County

County guide: 2027 plans in Stearns CountyState guide: Minnesota

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Sources and method

Plan data comes from the CMS 2027 Plan Benefit Package and landscape files. The data is from 2026-10-10. We checked a sample of plans field by field against Medicare.gov. Original Medicare amounts are the 2027 projections in the 2026 Medicare Trustees Report (Tables V.E1 and V.E2). CMS sets the final amounts in November. Minnesota sets its own Medigap plans: the Basic Plan and the Extended Basic Plan, with optional riders. Minnesota also sells its own versions of Plans K, L, M, and N. A high-deductible plan is open only to people who were eligible for Medicare before 2020. We have no prices or cost model for these plans, so the totals show Original Medicare without Medigap. You can look up Medigap plans and prices for ZIP 56378 on Medicare.gov. Totals use typical Medicare-allowed amounts for each service and typical drug prices.

These are estimates, not quotes, and they are for education only. Check every number with Medicare and with the plan before you choose. What you pay depends on your doctors and hospitals, your drugs and pharmacy, and the care you use. Plans can change their benefits, premiums, drug lists, and networks each year.

Pinnie is not an insurance agent or broker and does not sell Medicare plans. Pinnie is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. For all your options, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227), TTY 1-877-486-2048.

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