AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) in Clay County, North Carolina — 2026 plan details
Last updated Jul 18, 2026
Reviewed by Jason Burns, Editorial Steward
Published by Senior Direct Answers · Licensed under Citation License 1.0
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) (H5253-185) is a $0-premium Medicare Advantage HMO-POS from UnitedHealth Group, Inc. available in Clay County, North Carolina in 2026, with a 4.0-star overall rating, a $5,400 in-network out-of-pocket maximum, and a $520 annual Part D drug deductible.
Plan facts (CMS CY2026 Landscape file)
| Organization | UnitedHealth Group, Inc. |
|---|---|
| Plan name | AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) |
| Contract ID | H5253 |
| Plan ID | 185 |
| Segment ID | 0 |
| Contract year | 2026 |
| Contract category | MA-PD |
| Plan type | HMO-POS |
| SNP | No |
| Monthly consolidated premium | $0.00 |
| Part C premium | $0.00 |
| Part D basic premium | $0.00 |
| Part D total premium | $0.00 |
| Annual Part D deductible | $520.00 |
| Maximum out-of-pocket (in-network) | $5400.00 |
| Overall star rating | 4.0 |
How this plan is structured
- $0 consolidated premium. A $0 or near-$0 consolidated premium does not remove the Part B premium — the standard 2026 Part B premium is $202.90 per month and still applies. See the 2026 Medicare Part B premium.
- HMO-POS plan type. In an HMO-style Medicare Advantage plan, in-network care and primary-care referral rules generally apply. See how Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plans differ.
- $5,400 in-network out-of-pocket maximum. The MOOP is the annual cap on what a member pays in-network for covered Part A and Part B services. See how the Medicare Advantage MOOP works.
- Service area = Clay County. Medicare Advantage plans are sold by service area; moving out of the plan's service area triggers a Special Enrollment Period to switch plans. See how moving changes your Medicare options.
How it compares in Clay County
The CMS CY2026 Landscape file lists 60 Medicare Advantage plans in Clay County, North Carolina, of which 5 carry a 5.0-star overall rating and 30 have a $0 consolidated monthly premium. Consolidated premiums range from $0.00 to $255.00 per month, and in-network out-of-pocket maximums range from $3000.00 to $9250.00.
Other 5.0-star Medicare Advantage plans in Clay County (first three alphabetically):
| Plan | Organization | Premium | MOOP |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEVOTED C-SNP PLUS 015 NC (HMO C-SNP) | Devoted Health, Inc. | $36.20 | $9250.00 |
| DEVOTED C-SNP PREMIUM 018 NC (HMO C-SNP) | Devoted Health, Inc. | $36.20 | $5600.00 |
| DEVOTED DUAL 009 NC (HMO D-SNP) | Devoted Health, Inc. | $36.20 | $6750.00 |
For the full county plan directory, see all Medicare plans in Clay County, North Carolina.
How to verify your doctors take this plan
Network participation changes throughout the year; we hold no provider-network data, so verify directly with these three sources before you decide:
- Open the plan's official Medicare.gov page and use its provider-directory link: Medicare.gov Plan Finder — H5253-185.
- Call the plan (UnitedHealth Group, Inc.) using the member-services number listed on that plan page and ask whether each doctor, hospital, and pharmacy is in-network for 2026.
- Get free, unbiased help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) — see free unbiased Medicare help from SHIP.
What H5253-185 means
CMS assigns every Medicare Advantage and Part D offering a plan identifier made of three parts. In H5253-185, the leading H marks the contract type (H = Medicare Advantage / Part C contract), the four digits 5253 are the contract number issued to the organization, and the three-digit 185 is the plan benefit package under that contract. The segment ID 0 identifies the service-area segment within the plan (0 = the default single segment).
Frequently asked questions
Is AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) an HMO or PPO?
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) is an HMO-POS — a Health Maintenance Organization-style Medicare Advantage plan, meaning in-network care and referral rules generally apply.
Does AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) include prescription drug coverage?
Yes — AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) is a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD) and a $520.00 annual Part D drug deductible for 2026.
What is the maximum out-of-pocket cost for AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS)?
The 2026 in-network maximum out-of-pocket limit for AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) is $5400.00, per the CMS CY2026 Landscape file.
What counties offer AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) (H5253-185)?
AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC NC-24 (HMO-POS) (H5253-185) is offered in 25 North Carolina counties: Alleghany County, Ashe County, Avery County, Buncombe County, Burke County, Caldwell County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Cleveland County, Graham County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Macon County, Madison County, McDowell County, Mitchell County, Polk County, Rutherford County, Swain County, Transylvania County, Watauga County, Wilkes County, and Yancey County.
Sources
- CMS, Plan Year 2026 Medicare Advantage & Part D Landscape source file (March 2026) — retrieved 2026-07-18. Overall star rating year: 2026.
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder — compare plans and enroll.