What is a Medicare Advantage Plan? |
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private companies that contract with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits to people with Medicare who enroll in the plan.
- Some Medicare Advantage plans include Prescription coverage so you don't have to purchase a separate policy. Many also offer additional benefits above Medicare like dental and vision.
- There are different types of Advantage Plans, including HMO, PPO, etc.
- You must live in a plan's service area to be eligible for coverage and you can only join and leave Advantage plans at specific times each year.
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What are some of the differences between Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage Plans? |
- Original Medicare (Parts A & B) with a good supplement offers comprehensive coverage and although Medicare Supplements have a higher monthly cost, a good supplement like Plan G, will result in lower out of pocket costs for Hospital and Medical bills.
- Medicare Advantage Plans typically have lower monthly premiums (they start at $0/month), but then may include copays / coinsurance for Dr. Visits, Emergency Room, and Hospitalization.
- Medicare Advantage plans often use PPO or HMO doctor networks that you must use to be covered or save more money. Medicare Supplements don't have a network and can be used anywhere, all over the country, as long as the provider works with Original Medicare.
- Outside of Guarantee Issue periods, Medicare Supplements are medically underwritten and you can join or leave plans whenever you like. There is no medical underwriting to join Medicare Advantage plans (however, if you have ESRD you are ineligible) but you can only join or leave advantage plans at certain times of the year.
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How do I know whether a Supplement or Advantage plan would be best for me? |
- Give us a call and we can do a needs analysis to determine which plan type would be most beneficial for you. It is also very important to go over the rules associated with Original Medicare, Supplements, and Advantage plans. Timing matters with Medicare, and if you don't choose a plan within specific timelines you can be locked out for a while or be subject to penalties.
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CMS Mandatory Disclaimer: |
- We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.
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