Medicare in Sioux Falls · Minnehaha County, SD
2026 Medicare Advantage Plans in Sioux Falls, SD
Minnehaha County is home to 39,532 Medicare beneficiaries — the largest Medicare market in South Dakota. For 2026, 6 carriers compete here with 2 $0-premium options, and the highest CMS rating offered locally is 4.5★. Below is the real data — plans, local health stats, and hospital ratings — plus a live tool to check your ZIP. Big Sioux Benefits compares it all, free.
By the numbers · Minnehaha County
Quick facts for Minnehaha County Medicare
Source: CMS Medicare Monthly Enrollment by County & CMS Medicare Advantage/Part D Landscape (PY2026).
Health profile · why coverage choice matters here
Chronic conditions among Minnehaha County adults
The right Medicare plan depends on your health. Here's how common key conditions are locally (CDC PLACES, model-based prevalence among 206,930 adults) — a reason to check each plan's drug formulary and specialist network before you enroll.
Source: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, County 2023 (2023).
Plans & stability
Medicare Advantage plans in Minnehaha County (2026)
Representative MA-PD plans with drug coverage, by CMS star rating. "Stability" is each plan's published CMS Overall Star Rating — a federal quality measure, not our opinion. We never call a plan best or worst; we show the data and help you compare.
| Plan | Carrier | Premium | Drug deductible | CMS rating | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UHC Dual Complete SD-Q1 (PPO D-SNP) | UnitedHealthcare | $41.5 | $615 | 4.5★ | Strong (CMS 4★+) |
| Aetna Medicare Signature (PPO) | Aetna | $0 | $615 | 3.5★ | Average (CMS 3.5★) |
| Align ChoicePlus (PPO) | Sanford | $0 | $350 | 3.5★ | Average (CMS 3.5★) |
| Aetna Medicare Enhanced Extra (PPO) | Aetna | $52 | $615 | 3.5★ | Average (CMS 3.5★) |
| Align ChoiceElite (PPO) | Sanford | $66 | $300 | 3.5★ | Average (CMS 3.5★) |
| Wellmark Blue Medicare Advantage Enhanced (PPO) | Wellmark | $80 | $300 | 3.5★ | Average (CMS 3.5★) |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage/Part D Landscape (PY2026). Premiums shown are consolidated monthly premiums; full plans vary — compare with the tool below.
Who covers you
Carriers in the Minnehaha metro
- Aetna Medicare (CVS Health) — 4 plans · PPO + Dual-eligible D-SNP
- Align powered by Sanford Health Plan — 2 plans · Local Sanford-backed PPO
- UnitedHealthcare — 2 plans · Highest-rated in county (4.5★ D-SNP)
- Wellmark / BCBS — 1 plan · Enhanced PPO
- Great Plains Medicare Advantage (Sanford) — 2 plans · Institutional SNP
- Medica — 5 plans · Medicare Cost plans
Where you get care
Hospitals & providers nearby
- Sanford USD Medical Center — Sioux Falls · CMS 5★ hospital rating
- Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center — Sioux Falls · CMS 4★ hospital rating
- Sioux Falls VA Medical Center — Sioux Falls · CMS 5★ hospital rating
Plus roughly 200+ family-medicine providers and 126 pharmacies in the Sioux Falls area — check that yours are in-network before you enroll.
Sources: CMS Hospital Compare — Overall Star Ratings · NPPES NPI Registry (provider counts).
Choosing a plan in Sioux Falls — what matters here
- Sanford vs. Avera — make sure your health system and doctors are in-network. Sanford USD Medical Center is a CMS 5★ hospital; Avera McKennan is 4★. One local plan, Align, is powered by Sanford Health Plan.
- Your prescriptions — Part D drug deductibles range from $300 to $615 across local plans; tiers differ too.
- CMS star rating — most local MA-PD plans sit at 3.5★; the 4.5★ option is a dual-eligible D-SNP. We explain which you qualify for.
- Cross-border options — just into Iowa there are more plans; see NW Iowa Medicare plans →
Sioux Falls Medicare questions, answered
How many people are on Medicare in Sioux Falls (Minnehaha County)?
About 39,532 Medicare beneficiaries are enrolled in Minnehaha County — the largest Medicare market in South Dakota. Neighboring Lincoln County adds another 12,719, per CMS enrollment data.
What Medicare Advantage carriers serve Sioux Falls for 2026?
Sioux Falls is served by 6 carriers including Aetna Medicare (CVS Health), Align powered by Sanford Health Plan, UnitedHealthcare, Wellmark/BCBS, and Medica. The highest CMS star rating offered locally is 4.5★; most MA-PD plans carry 3.5★.
Are Sanford and Avera in the Medicare Advantage networks in Sioux Falls?
It depends on the plan. Sioux Falls is served by Sanford USD Medical Center (CMS 5★) and Avera McKennan (CMS 4★). One local plan — Align — is powered by Sanford Health Plan. We check each plan's network against your specific providers before you enroll.
What health conditions are most common among Sioux Falls seniors?
Per CDC PLACES (2023), among Minnehaha County adults high blood pressure affects 31.7%, obesity 37.4%, arthritis 22.9%, and diabetes 10%. That's why matching a plan's drug formulary and specialist network to your conditions matters.
Does Big Sioux Benefits charge for help choosing a plan?
No. Our guidance is free — licensed agents are paid by the carriers, not by you. We compare the plans we offer in the Sioux Falls area against your needs.
Talk to a local Sioux Falls Medicare advisor
Free, no pressure — right here in Sioux Falls.