By Paul Barrett, CMIP | The Modern Medicare Agency | Melville, NY 18+ years Medicare-exclusive experience | Licensed in 34 states | 40+ carriers Last updated: June 2026
If you live in Freeport and you’re looking at Medicare Advantage plans for 2026, there is one question that matters more than any other before you look at a single premium:
Does your plan still cover your doctors at Mount Sinai South Nassau?
Because in 2026, not all of them do — and the carrier whose name is probably on your current card may be one of the ones that doesn’t.
I’ve been helping South Shore Nassau County residents navigate Medicare from my Melville office for 18 years. This guide gives you what Freeport residents actually need: real plan data, honest carrier assessments, local hospital network intelligence, and the kind of straight talk you’d get from a friend who happens to know this market cold.
2026 Medicare Advantage Fast Facts for Freeport (ZIP 11520)
For a deep-dive on how Medicare Advantage compares to Medigap for South Shore residents, see our Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap guide for Freeport.
Fact | 2026 Figure |
Total Medicare Advantage plans available | 31 |
Plans with $0 monthly premium | 11 |
Average premium (for plans with a premium) | $43.29/month |
Average out-of-pocket maximum | $8,625/year |
Average Part D (Rx) deductible | $504.81/year |
Plans rated 4 stars or higher | 10 |
Plan types available | HMO, PPO, HMO-POS |
Carriers offering plans | 11 |
Nassau County MA enrollment rate | ~33% of Medicare beneficiaries |
Source: CMS Medicare Advantage Plan Data 2026; Medicare.org Nassau County enrollment data
The Hospitals That Matter Most for Freeport Residents
Freeport sits on Nassau County’s South Shore. Your healthcare geography is different from residents in the northern part of the county — and it shapes which Medicare Advantage plans actually serve you well.
The facilities most relevant to Freeport residents:
Mount Sinai South Nassau (One Healthy Way, Oceanside, NY 11572) — The anchor hospital for the South Shore. A full-service community medical center offering cardiac care, cancer treatment, orthopedics, behavioral health, and emergency services. Since its 2024 integration into the Mount Sinai Health System, it carries both the community roots of the former South Nassau Communities Hospital and the clinical resources of one of the nation’s leading academic medical systems. If you live in Freeport, this is almost certainly where your doctors have admitting privileges and where you’d go in a serious medical situation.
Mercy Medical Center (Uniondale) — Catholic Health-affiliated community hospital serving central Nassau’s South Shore corridor. A second key facility for Freeport area residents.
NYU Langone Hospital — Long Island (Mineola) — Major academic medical center accessible to Nassau residents seeking specialized care. Important for cancer, cardiac, and complex surgical cases.
Nassau University Medical Center (East Meadow) — County-run safety-net hospital serving a diverse Nassau population. Important safety resource for Freeport’s community.
South Shore University Hospital / Northwell (Bay Shore) — Across the Nassau-Suffolk border but relevant for some Freeport residents depending on their location and specialist relationships.
Which of these facilities your Medicare Advantage plan covers — and at what cost-sharing level — matters more than the monthly premium. I verify every single provider before any Freeport client enrolls. No exceptions.
The Critical 2026 Warning Every Freeport Resident Needs to Read
ANTHEM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD — Not in Network with Mount Sinai South Nassau for Medicare Advantage in 2026
This is the most important piece of local intelligence in this entire article — and it’s something no national Medicare website or aggregator has written clearly for Freeport residents.
Mount Sinai Health System and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to reach a Medicare Advantage contract renewal. Effective January 1, 2026, Mount Sinai physicians, hospitals, and clinics — including Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside — went out of network for Anthem Medicare Advantage members.
In April 2026, Mount Sinai and Anthem reached a partial agreement that restored in-network access for most commercial employer plans. However, the agreement explicitly does not include Anthem Medicare Advantage plans. Anthem Medicare Advantage members still do not have in-network access to Mount Sinai South Nassau.
For Freeport residents, this is a direct, immediate concern. If you are currently enrolled in an Anthem Medicare Advantage plan and your doctors have admitting privileges at Mount Sinai South Nassau — or if you see any Mount Sinai-affiliated physician — your care is being processed at out-of-network rates right now.
What you can do:
- Contact Anthem at the number on your card and confirm your specific doctor’s current network status
- If you have an upcoming procedure or ongoing treatment at Mount Sinai South Nassau, ask about continuity of care protections
- Call me directly at 631-358-5793 — this is exactly the situation where an independent broker who knows the local market can help you find a plan that actually covers your South Shore providers
Source: choosemountsinai.org and keepmountsinai.org — official Mount Sinai Health System communications, January and April 2026
The Carriers Offering Medicare Advantage in Freeport in 2026
Eleven insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans in Nassau County for 2026:
- Aetna Medicare
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
- Elderplan
- EmblemHealth
- HealthSpring
- Healthfirst Medicare Plan
- Humana
- UnitedHealthcare
- VNS Health Medicare
- VillageCareMAX
- Wellcare
The top 5 by enrollment in Nassau County:
- Aetna Medicare Elite PPO — 15,740 enrollees
- AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC (HMO-POS) — 7,052 enrollees
- Healthfirst 65 Plus Plan (HMO) — 4,286 enrollees
- Sierra Health and Life (Anthem network)
- Anthem HP, LLC
Paul's Take: Honest Carrier Assessment for Freeport 2026
AETNA — The most enrolled plan in Nassau County by a significant margin, and for good reason. Aetna’s Medicare Elite PPO offers genuine flexibility — see specialists at Mount Sinai South Nassau, Mercy Medical, NYU Langone Long Island, and beyond without a referral. Aetna has maintained stable network relationships with South Shore providers and is typically the first plan I look at for Freeport residents who want coverage freedom. PPO structure is particularly valuable if your care is spread across multiple facilities or if you split time between New York and another state. Aetna has taken rate corrections in recent cycles but remains the most practical broad-access option for Nassau County in 2026.
UNITEDHEALTHCARE (AARP branded) — UHC is the largest Medicare Advantage carrier in the country, and the AARP HMO-POS is the most popular single plan of its type in Nassau. However, Freeport residents need to understand what UHC is and isn’t doing in this market for 2026. UHC removed their Regional PPO plans from Nassau County — a plan type that previously offered the broadest access. Their remaining HMO-POS is going through enrollment management: the plan has been made difficult for agents to enroll consumers in online, and agent compensation has been suspended. This signals UHC is not actively seeking growth in this plan right now. Additionally, UHC’s network depth on Long Island is thinner than their national reputation suggests.
One critical Mount Sinai-specific note: Mount Sinai participates with United/Oxford Medicare Advantage plans but explicitly does NOT participate with UHC Community Plan. If you are on any UHC Medicare Advantage plan, confirm your specific plan is not the Community Plan product before assuming Mount Sinai South Nassau is covered. Call your provider’s office directly and ask: “Do you participate in the UHC [plan name] for Medicare Advantage?” — not just “Do you take UnitedHealthcare?”
HEALTHFIRST — A genuinely local New York health plan with strong community roots. Healthfirst offers several plan configurations at different price points, each with slightly different network access. Their strength is the five boroughs — their Long Island network is considerably thinner. Freeport residents should verify each specific provider before choosing any Healthfirst plan, particularly for specialists. For a generally healthy enrollee with predictable, simple provider relationships close to home, Healthfirst can work well. For anyone with complex medical needs or multiple specialists, I’d look elsewhere first.
ANTHEM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD — As detailed above, Anthem does not have an active Medicare Advantage contract with Mount Sinai South Nassau in 2026. For most Freeport residents, this is a material problem — Mount Sinai South Nassau is the anchor hospital for the South Shore. Anthem’s 5-star rated Medicare Advantage 2 HMO-POS is the only 5-star plan available on Long Island, and it’s an otherwise strong plan. But if your doctors are at Mount Sinai South Nassau, enrolling in Anthem Medicare Advantage for 2026 means accepting out-of-network cost-sharing for that system. This is not a plan I can actively recommend for most Freeport residents until the Mount Sinai Medicare Advantage contract situation is resolved. Verify directly before enrolling.
HUMANA — Humana is a strong national carrier that has struggled in the New York and Long Island market in recent years. Their plans in Nassau County for 2026 are non-commissionable to agents — a signal that Humana is managing enrollment here rather than growing it. Their star ratings in New York have declined from their peak. At $647.27 on the Medigap side and limited MA competitiveness locally, Humana is not a primary option I’m recommending for Freeport residents in 2026. Worth checking specific plan details but don’t choose them on brand name alone.
WELLCARE — Wellcare has decided not to renew its contract with Northwell effective July 1, 2026. While Northwell is less central to Freeport’s South Shore healthcare geography than it is for North Shore Nassau communities, some Freeport residents do use Northwell specialists — particularly at LIJ Medical Center in New Hyde Park. Additionally, the Wellcare/Northwell exit is symptomatic of Wellcare’s broader network instability in this market. I approach Wellcare recommendations with caution for all Nassau County residents in 2026.
HEALTHSPRING (formerly Cigna) — HealthSpring terminated its relationship with Northwell Health effective December 31, 2025, covering all Northwell hospitals, physician groups, and ancillaries. As with Wellcare, the direct South Shore impact on Freeport residents is more limited than for North Shore residents — but the broader pattern of network instability is a concern. Verify all provider relationships before considering this carrier.
VNSHEALTH, VILLAGECAREMAXX, EMBLEMHEALTH — These carriers serve specific segments of the Nassau market, often with a focus on dual-eligible or lower-income populations. VNS Health reached a new agreement with Mount Sinai to continue in-network participation through 2026, which is a positive development. For Freeport’s diverse population, including dual-eligible residents, these plans can be worth exploring. Call me and I’ll look at whether any of these are a fit for your specific situation.
HMO vs. PPO vs. HMO-POS: What Matters for South Shore Residents
HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) Requires in-network providers only, requires a primary care physician for referrals, typically the lowest premiums. Of the 31 plans in Nassau, 19 are HMOs with an average premium of $58.91/month (though 11 plans are $0).
Best for Freeport residents who: have all their doctors within one or two close-to-home systems, want predictable low costs, and don’t travel or split time in another state.
Caution: With the Mount Sinai South Nassau/Anthem situation and Northwell/Wellcare exit, HMO network verification in 2026 is more important than ever. An HMO that doesn’t cover your hospital has no out-of-network flexibility.
PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) See any Medicare-accepting provider — in or out of network. No referrals. 12 PPO plans available in Nassau in 2026, covering 25,348 beneficiaries. Average PPO premium: $27.82/month, with 7 at $0. The Aetna Medicare Elite PPO is the most enrolled plan in all of Nassau County.
Best for Freeport residents who: have specialists at multiple systems (Mount Sinai South Nassau AND NYU Langone, for example), travel or spend part of the year in another state, or want the security of out-of-network access if a carrier-hospital dispute arises mid-year.
HMO-POS (Point of Service) A hybrid — HMO cost structure with limited ability to go out of network for select services. The AARP/UHC HMO-POS leads this category in Nassau with 7,052 members.
Best for: People who want HMO pricing with occasional flexibility. Requires careful network verification given UHC’s Long Island network depth concerns noted above.
My honest take for most Freeport residents in 2026: Given the Mount Sinai South Nassau/Anthem situation and the general network instability in this market, a PPO offers a level of provider protection that an HMO simply cannot. If Aetna’s PPO fits your budget and your providers are in network, that’s where most South Shore Nassau residents are best served right now.
The One Number That Matters More Than the Premium
Everyone focuses on the $0 premium. Here’s the number that actually determines your financial exposure in a bad year: the out-of-pocket maximum.
In Nassau County, the average Medicare Advantage out-of-pocket maximum is $8,625 per year for in-network services. If you have a serious illness, a surgery, or a significant hospital stay, you could owe close to that amount before your plan covers 100%.
Compare that to a Medigap Plan G. After a single $283 annual Part B deductible, your out-of-pocket exposure for covered Medicare services is essentially zero. However, Plan G’s total annual cost on Long Island is real money: UHC Plan G runs $372.50/month — plus the $283 deductible plus a separate Part D plan — meaning your minimum annual commitment exceeds $5,000 before you use a single medical service.
Neither path is automatically right. The right answer depends on your health, your providers, your budget, and your risk tolerance. That’s the conversation I have with every Freeport client — and I’ll never rush you toward a decision just to close an enrollment.
For a full comparison, see: Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Freeport, NY: Your 2026 Comparison Guide
What About Medigap for Freeport Residents?
New York’s guaranteed issue rules mean you can apply for a Medigap plan at any time of year, with no health questions, regardless of your medical history. No other state offers this level of protection year-round.
For Freeport residents specifically, Medigap has one compelling advantage in 2026: it is entirely immune to hospital-carrier network disputes. If Anthem and Mount Sinai South Nassau can’t agree on a contract, it doesn’t affect you. If Wellcare and Northwell have a falling out, it doesn’t affect you. A Medigap plan works wherever Medicare is accepted — period.
For more on what Medigap actually costs on Long Island, the real carrier options available to you, and why the NY market is more constrained than most guides suggest, read: Medicare Supplement Plans in Freeport, NY: 2026 Rates and What NY’s Rules Mean for You
The Freeport Enrollment Deadlines You Cannot Miss
For a full breakdown of Medicare enrollment rules, visit Medicare.gov’s official enrollment page or our Original Medicare Explained guide.
Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) Seven months: starts 3 months before your 65th birthday, includes your birth month, ends 3 months after. This is your first chance to enroll. Missing it can trigger permanent late enrollment penalties.
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) October 15 – December 7 each year. Changes take effect January 1. This is when most plan switching happens — and when the Anthem/Mount Sinai situation should prompt every current Anthem Medicare Advantage enrollee in Freeport to review their options.
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) January 1 – March 31. If you enrolled in an MA plan and want to switch to another MA plan or return to Original Medicare, this is your window.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) Triggered by specific life events — including when your plan makes a significant network change that affects your access to care. If your current Anthem Medicare Advantage plan’s Mount Sinai South Nassau exit constitutes a significant mid-year disruption, you may qualify for an SEP. Call me to discuss your specific situation.
Late enrollment penalties are permanent. A missed Part B enrollment window adds 10% to your premium for every 12-month period you were eligible but didn’t enroll — and it follows you for life.
My 5-Step Process for Freeport Residents
Step 1: List your providers — all of them. Every physician, specialist, and facility you currently use. I run live network searches against every carrier before any enrollment. For Freeport residents in 2026, I pay particular attention to Mount Sinai South Nassau affiliation and Mercy Medical relationships before recommending any plan.
Step 2: List your medications — name and dosage. Under 2026 rules, your annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs is $2,100. But how you get there — and what you pay within that cap — depends entirely on how your drugs are tiered in each plan’s formulary.
Step 3: Look at your total annual cost picture — not just the premium. A $0 plan with an $8,625 out-of-pocket maximum and a hospital network that doesn’t include Mount Sinai South Nassau is not a deal. It’s a potential financial and medical problem. I build a realistic full-year cost projection for every client before we make a decision.
Step 4: Consider your lifestyle. Do you travel? Winter in Florida? Have specialists in Manhattan as well as South Shore? PPO or Medigap. Do you stay close to home, see the same doctors near Freeport year-round, and want to keep costs simple? A well-chosen HMO may work beautifully — as long as the network holds.
Step 5: Talk to an independent broker. Not a call center. Not someone who represents one company. Someone who represents 40+ carriers, knows the South Shore hospital landscape, and will still be answering your calls in February when a question comes up.
Quick Reference: Provider Network Status for Key Freeport-Area Hospitals
Carrier | Mount Sinai South Nassau | Notes |
Aetna | ✅ In-Network | Strong, stable — most enrolled plan in Nassau County |
UnitedHealthcare | ✅ In-Network (verify plan type) | Standard UHC/Oxford MA plans in-network; UHC Community Plan is NOT accepted at Mount Sinai |
Healthfirst | ✅ In-Network (verify) | Verify each provider — stronger in boroughs |
Anthem BCBS | ❌ Not in Network (MA) | Out of network for Medicare Advantage as of Jan 1, 2026 — partial Apr agreement excludes MA |
Wellcare | ✅ Mount Sinai South Nassau generally in-network | Northwell relationship compromised — verify Northwell specialists |
HealthSpring | ✅ Mount Sinai South Nassau generally in-network | Northwell terminated Dec 31, 2025 — verify any Northwell specialists |
VNS Health | ✅ In-Network | Reached new Mount Sinai agreement for 2026 |
Medigap (any) | ✅ Always covered | Works anywhere Medicare is accepted — no network restrictions |
Note: Hospital-carrier network agreements can change. Always verify your specific providers directly with your carrier before scheduling non-emergency care. Information as of June 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions: Medicare Advantage in Freeport, NY
There are 31 Medicare Advantage plans available to Freeport residents in Nassau County for 2026, including HMO, PPO, and HMO-POS plan types from 11 insurance carriers.
No. Mount Sinai South Nassau — part of the Mount Sinai Health System — went out of network for Anthem Medicare Advantage plans effective January 1, 2026. A partial agreement was reached in April 2026 restoring network access for most commercial plans, but that agreement explicitly excludes Anthem Medicare Advantage plans. If you are on an Anthem MA plan and use Mount Sinai South Nassau, you are receiving care at out-of-network rates. Call 631-358-5793 to discuss your options.
Yes — 11 of the 31 available plans have a $0 monthly premium. However, $0 premium does not mean $0 cost. The average out-of-pocket maximum in Nassau County is $8,625 per year. Always look at the full cost picture, not just the monthly premium.
There is no single best plan — it depends entirely on your specific doctors, medications, budget, and lifestyle. The most enrolled plan in Nassau County is the Aetna Medicare Elite PPO with 15,740 members. For most South Shore Nassau residents in 2026, Aetna’s broad network access and PPO flexibility make it the strongest starting point — but I review all 31 plans against your situation before making any recommendation.
Yes. Aetna’s PPO network generally includes both systems. A PPO structure is particularly valuable when your care spans multiple hospital systems. Verify your specific physicians at each system before enrolling.
If your plan makes a significant network change mid-year — like Anthem’s exit from the Mount Sinai Medicare Advantage network — you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period to change plans. The eligibility, timing, and process depend on your specific circumstances. Call me directly at 631-358-5793 and I will review your situation at no charge.
Standard UHC/Oxford Medicare Advantage plans are in-network with Mount Sinai South Nassau. However, Mount Sinai explicitly does not participate with the UHC Community Plan product. If you are on any UHC Medicare Advantage plan, confirm your specific plan sub-type before assuming coverage. The correct question to ask your provider is: “Do you participate in the [specific UHC plan name] Medicare Advantage?” — not simply “Do you take UnitedHealthcare?”
Freeport’s primary South Shore hospital is Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside. However, some Freeport residents also use Northwell facilities — particularly Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park for specialized care. If you use any Northwell provider, be aware that Wellcare lost its Northwell contract effective July 1, 2026, and HealthSpring lost its Northwell contract effective December 31, 2025.
For some Freeport residents — particularly those managing serious conditions, seeing multiple specialists across different systems, or valuing provider freedom above all else — Medigap may be the better long-term choice. Medigap is immune to hospital-carrier network disputes: it works wherever Medicare is accepted. New York allows you to switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap at any time of year without medical underwriting. See our full comparison: Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Freeport, NY.
Paul Barrett of The Modern Medicare Agency has served Freeport and Nassau County’s South Shore communities from his Melville office since 2007. He is an independent broker licensed in 34 states who represents 40+ Medicare carriers. Consultations are always free. Call 631-358-5793 or visit paulbinsurance.com.
Ready to Compare Your 2026 Options?
I serve Freeport and all of Nassau County’s South Shore from my Melville office. If you’re on an Anthem plan and concerned about your Mount Sinai access, if you received a rate increase letter from your Medigap carrier, or if you’re simply not sure your current plan is still the right fit — call me. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just honest guidance from someone who’s been doing this on Long Island for 18 years.
Paul Barrett, CMIP The Modern Medicare Agency 📞 631-358-5793 ✉️ medicare@paulbinsurance.com 🌐 paulbinsurance.com 📍 445 Broad Hollow Rd, Melville, NY 11747
Licensed in 34 states | 40+ carriers | 18+ years Medicare-exclusive experience | 5,000+ clients served
Related guides:
- Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage in Freeport, NY: Your 2026 Comparison Guide
- Medigap Plan G in Freeport, NY: Your 2026 Guide
- Medicare Advantage Plans with Good Prescription Drug Coverage in Freeport
- Medicare Agent in Freeport, NY
- Medicare Advantage Plans in Farmingdale, NY: Your Honest 2026 Local Guide
- Northwell Health and Medicare in Farmingdale: Which Plans Cover Your Doctors in 2026
- Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage: The Honest Side-by-Side
Primary sources:
- CMS Medicare Advantage Enrollment Data 2026
- Medicare.gov Plan Finder
- Mount Sinai Health System — Anthem Medicare Advantage Network Update
- Keep Mount Sinai — April 2026 Anthem Agreement (excludes Medicare Advantage)
- Mount Sinai South Nassau Insurance Plans
- Northwell Health — Wellcare Network Update
- Medicare.org Nassau County Plan Data
Disclaimer: The Modern Medicare Agency is not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. Plan data reflects CMS-published figures for 2026. Provider network information is subject to change — always verify your specific physicians’ network status before enrolling. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Network status for Anthem/Mount Sinai sourced from official Mount Sinai Health System communications at choosemountsinai.org and keepmountsinai.org, April 2026.
