Medicare Advantage Plans
What Are Medicare Advantage Plans?
Instead of a Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) you can also select a Medicare Advantage Plan to help cover the costs that are not paid by original Medicare. Under a Medicare Advantage plan, the government contracts with private insurance carriers to administer Medicare benefits.
With a Medicare Advantage Plan you will generally pay lower co-payments and receive additional benefits such as coverage for a longer stay in the hospital, dental, vision, hearing, and preventing services like annual physicals as well as fitness programs or emergency services when you are traveling.
Your benefits and premium will vary depending upon which Medicare Advantage plan you select. Some Advantage plans even offer these benefits at no additional cost over your Medicare B premium.
Instead of a Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap) you can also select a Medicare Advantage Plan to help cover the costs that are not paid by original Medicare. Under a Medicare Advantage plan, the government contracts with private insurance carriers to administer Medicare benefits.
With a Medicare Advantage Plan you will generally pay lower co-payments and receive additional benefits such as coverage for a longer stay in the hospital, dental, vision, hearing, and preventing services like annual physicals as well as fitness programs or emergency services when you are traveling.
Your benefits and premium will vary depending upon which Medicare Advantage plan you select. Some Advantage plans even offer these benefits at no additional cost over your Medicare B premium.
Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?
You can generally join a Medicare Advantage Plan if you have Medicare Part A and Part B, live in the service area of the plan and don’t have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis).
You need to continue to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium and - depending upon the Medicare Advantage Plan you choose - might have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits.
You need to continue to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium and - depending upon the Medicare Advantage Plan you choose - might have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits.
Which Choices For Medicare Advantage Plans Do I Have?
There are different kinds of Medicare Advantage Plans including:
When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you generally have all your health care covered by Medicare through that plan.
For most PPO and HMO plans, out-of-network services will charge you more, so you have to see doctors that belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get services that are covered by your plan.
- Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs)
- Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans
- Medicare Special Needs Plans
When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you generally have all your health care covered by Medicare through that plan.
For most PPO and HMO plans, out-of-network services will charge you more, so you have to see doctors that belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get services that are covered by your plan.
What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans?
Due to constant changes in the health care system, many Medicare Advantage Plans are leaving the market or discontinuing service in some areas of the country. To find out how these changes affect your health care coverage, please visit http://www.medicareadvantagesupplementplans.com