Medicare in Kentucky 2026: County and Regional Guides
Kentucky Medicare Advantage plans are set county by county — 120 county guides built from 2026 CMS data. See plan counts and $0-premium options near you.
Kentucky Medicare Advantage plans are approved county by county, so there is no single statewide plan list. Across the 120 counties covered here, choice ranges from 36 to 67 plans for 2026, and every one of those counties has plans available at a $0 monthly premium — between 34 and 63 of them, depending on where you live.
That county-line rule is the part people are never told. Your ZIP code decides your options more than anything else about you does, and it decides them for the 983,881 people on Medicare across these counties. Below, every county guide we have published for Kentucky, grouped into regions — each one built from the CMS plan data for that specific county.
The highest 2026 overall CMS Star Rating found among these Kentucky counties is 4.5 out of 5. Star ratings measure the plan, not the fit — a 5-star plan whose network excludes your doctor is still the wrong plan for you.
Start with your region
Pick the part of Kentucky you live in. Each region page lists its county guides, and every county guide carries that county’s own plan data.
See the Kentucky Medicare Access Report for the statewide county table, methodology, and findings.
Bluegrass & Central Kentucky
30 county guides. See the Bluegrass & Central Kentucky overview.
Adair County56 plans · 53 at $0 · 4,681 enrolledAnderson County53 plans · 50 at $0 · 5,395 enrolledBoyle County56 plans · 52 at $0 · 7,482 enrolledCasey County55 plans · 52 at $0 · 3,902 enrolledClark County64 plans · 60 at $0 · 8,828 enrolledClinton County55 plans · 52 at $0 · 2,585 enrolledCumberland County52 plans · 50 at $0 · 1,940 enrolledEstill County50 plans · 47 at $0 · 3,705 enrolledFayette County65 plans · 61 at $0 · 55,702 enrolledFloyd County51 plans · 48 at $0 · 9,821 enrolledGarrard County57 plans · 54 at $0 · 4,420 enrolledJessamine County62 plans · 58 at $0 · 11,481 enrolledJohnson County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 5,979 enrolledLawrence County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 4,022 enrolledLee County54 plans · 51 at $0 · 1,755 enrolledLincoln County56 plans · 52 at $0 · 6,484 enrolledMadison County58 plans · 54 at $0 · 19,293 enrolledMagoffin County60 plans · 57 at $0 · 3,225 enrolledMartin County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 2,610 enrolledMenifee County56 plans · 52 at $0 · 1,806 enrolledMercer County52 plans · 49 at $0 · 5,877 enrolledMontgomery County62 plans · 58 at $0 · 6,387 enrolledMorgan County59 plans · 57 at $0 · 3,159 enrolledPowell County56 plans · 52 at $0 · 3,193 enrolledPulaski County49 plans · 46 at $0 · 18,142 enrolledRussell County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 4,912 enrolledTaylor County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 6,522 enrolledWayne County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 5,250 enrolledWolfe County46 plans · 43 at $0 · 1,927 enrolledWoodford County61 plans · 57 at $0 · 6,797 enrolled
South Central Kentucky
11 county guides. See the South Central Kentucky overview.
Allen County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 4,891 enrolledBarren County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 10,905 enrolledButler County62 plans · 59 at $0 · 2,959 enrolledEdmonson County56 plans · 54 at $0 · 2,790 enrolledGreen County51 plans · 48 at $0 · 2,952 enrolledHart County62 plans · 59 at $0 · 4,490 enrolledLogan County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 6,721 enrolledMetcalfe County55 plans · 52 at $0 · 2,709 enrolledMonroe County50 plans · 47 at $0 · 2,736 enrolledSimpson County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 4,541 enrolledWarren County60 plans · 57 at $0 · 24,484 enrolled
Western Kentucky
22 county guides. See the Western Kentucky overview.
Ballard County48 plans · 45 at $0 · 1,985 enrolledCaldwell County41 plans · 38 at $0 · 3,349 enrolledCalloway County48 plans · 45 at $0 · 8,596 enrolledCarlisle County48 plans · 45 at $0 · 1,238 enrolledChristian County45 plans · 42 at $0 · 12,047 enrolledCrittenden County48 plans · 45 at $0 · 2,221 enrolledDaviess County49 plans · 46 at $0 · 23,866 enrolledFulton County49 plans · 46 at $0 · 1,757 enrolledGraves County56 plans · 53 at $0 · 9,060 enrolledHenderson County57 plans · 53 at $0 · 10,769 enrolledHickman County49 plans · 46 at $0 · 1,131 enrolledHopkins County57 plans · 54 at $0 · 11,154 enrolledLivingston County49 plans · 46 at $0 · 2,724 enrolledLyon County48 plans · 45 at $0 · 2,499 enrolledMarshall County52 plans · 49 at $0 · 9,139 enrolledMcCracken County56 plans · 52 at $0McLean County54 plans · 51 at $0Muhlenberg County56 plans · 53 at $0 · 7,761 enrolledTodd County55 plans · 52 at $0 · 2,562 enrolledTrigg County46 plans · 43 at $0 · 4,186 enrolledUnion County47 plans · 45 at $0 · 3,275 enrolledWebster County53 plans · 49 at $0 · 3,213 enrolled
Northern Kentucky
23 county guides. See the Northern Kentucky overview.
Bath County62 plans · 58 at $0 · 3,065 enrolledBoone County65 plans · 60 at $0 · 26,072 enrolledBourbon County58 plans · 54 at $0 · 4,786 enrolledBoyd County54 plans · 51 at $0 · 11,895 enrolledBracken County60 plans · 57 at $0 · 2,229 enrolledCampbell County65 plans · 60 at $0 · 19,575 enrolledCarter County57 plans · 54 at $0 · 7,035 enrolledElliott County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 1,406 enrolledFleming County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 3,711 enrolledFranklin County60 plans · 56 at $0 · 14,948 enrolledGallatin County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 1,712 enrolledGrant County58 plans · 55 at $0 · 5,577 enrolledGreenup County54 plans · 51 at $0 · 9,366 enrolledHarrison County58 plans · 55 at $0 · 4,751 enrolledKenton County65 plans · 60 at $0 · 32,716 enrolledLewis County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 3,263 enrolledMason County52 plans · 49 at $0 · 4,328 enrolledNicholas County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 1,801 enrolledOwen County57 plans · 55 at $0 · 2,384 enrolledPendleton County63 plans · 59 at $0 · 3,567 enrolledRobertson County60 plans · 57 at $0 · 595 enrolledRowan County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 5,043 enrolledScott County62 plans · 58 at $0 · 10,439 enrolled
Eastern Kentucky
16 county guides. See the Eastern Kentucky overview.
Bell County58 plans · 55 at $0 · 6,341 enrolledBreathitt County53 plans · 50 at $0 · 3,187 enrolledClay County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 4,781 enrolledHarlan County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 6,963 enrolledJackson County55 plans · 51 at $0 · 3,317 enrolledKnott County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 3,608 enrolledKnox County60 plans · 57 at $0 · 7,188 enrolledLaurel County36 plans · 34 at $0 · 14,313 enrolledLeslie County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 2,776 enrolledLetcher County55 plans · 52 at $0 · 5,789 enrolledMcCreary County60 plans · 57 at $0Owsley County55 plans · 52 at $0 · 1,174 enrolledPerry County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 6,793 enrolledPike County55 plans · 52 at $0 · 15,627 enrolledRockcastle County60 plans · 57 at $0 · 4,125 enrolledWhitley County61 plans · 58 at $0 · 9,812 enrolled
Louisville & North Central Kentucky
18 county guides. See the Louisville & North Central Kentucky overview.
Breckinridge County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 5,325 enrolledBullitt County64 plans · 60 at $0 · 17,504 enrolledCarroll County57 plans · 55 at $0 · 2,437 enrolledGrayson County57 plans · 54 at $0 · 7,101 enrolledHancock County53 plans · 50 at $0 · 2,206 enrolledHardin County42 plans · 38 at $0 · 23,955 enrolledHenry County62 plans · 59 at $0 · 4,174 enrolledJefferson County67 plans · 63 at $0 · 162,098 enrolledLarue County62 plans · 59 at $0 · 3,653 enrolledMarion County52 plans · 48 at $0 · 4,620 enrolledMeade County60 plans · 57 at $0 · 5,851 enrolledNelson County64 plans · 60 at $0 · 11,524 enrolledOhio County57 plans · 54 at $0 · 5,699 enrolledOldham County56 plans · 52 at $0 · 12,156 enrolledShelby County59 plans · 56 at $0 · 10,124 enrolledSpencer County63 plans · 59 at $0 · 4,319 enrolledTrimble County57 plans · 54 at $0 · 2,089 enrolledWashington County57 plans · 54 at $0 · 2,996 enrolled
How to use these guides
Start with your county, then verify your doctors, prescriptions, pharmacies, premium, and maximum out-of-pocket exposure. A larger plan count does not make every plan a better fit, and $0 premium does not mean $0 total cost.
Questions about Medicare in Kentucky
How many Medicare Advantage plans are available in Kentucky?
Plan counts are set county by county, not statewide. Across the 120 Kentucky counties covered here, availability ranges from 36 plans in Laurel County to 67 in Jefferson County for 2026, according to the CMS plan data.
Are there $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans in Kentucky?
Yes. Every county covered here has plans with a $0 monthly premium — between 34 and 63 of them depending on the county. A $0 premium plan is not a plan with no costs: you still pay the Medicare Part B premium, plus the plan’s copays and deductibles.
Why do Medicare plans differ between Kentucky counties?
Medicare Advantage plans are approved by CMS county by county, and carriers choose which counties to enter based on the provider networks they can build there. Two neighbouring counties can have very different options, which is why a statewide answer is never the answer you actually need.
Do I have to change plans if I move within Kentucky?
Usually yes, if you move to a county outside your plan’s service area. Moving triggers a Special Enrollment Period so you can choose a plan approved where you now live. Staying within the same county generally changes nothing.
Where can I get local help comparing Medicare plans in Kentucky?
Guardian Health & Wealth is an independent Medicare broker serving Kentucky, comparing Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and drug coverage against your own doctors and prescriptions. Consultations are by phone or video at (270) 721-5069 and cost you nothing.
Schedule a free consultation or call (270) 721-5069.
