If you qualify for Original Medicare, you may be eligible for a Medicare Advantage coverage, available from private insurers. Like anything else, the more you know about Medicare Advantage plans, the better your chances of maximizing your benefit from them.
Health has published informative reviews of the best Medicare Advantage plans. Here’s a look at the main facts about Medicare Advantage plans you should know before you sign on the dotted line with the insurance company.
- They Cover Everything Original Medicare Does
Original Medicare consists of Medicare Part A for inpatient/hospital care and Medicare Part B for outpatient/medical care. All Medicare Advantage plans address the same things that Original Medicare does.
So, if your flu shot qualifies for Medicare Part B coverage, it also falls under the umbrella of a Medicare Advantage plan. If Medicare Part A takes care of your hospital stays, so does Medicare Advantage.
- Many Have Additional Benefits
Medicare Part A and Part B provide very restricted coverage for prescription medication required for use at home. Most Medicare Advantage plans, however, cater to the costs of prescription drugs. The plans may also take care of routine vision, hearing and dental expenses in addition to fitness benefits.
Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans can provide many additional benefits. However, you might wonder if these insurance plans cover ambulance rides. Generally, ambulance rides can help you get to the hospital quickly, especially during emergencies. But this medical transport may cost you hundreds of dollars, depending on the circumstances.
Because of this, you might want to ask yourself and even insurance professionals this question: ‘Are ambulance rides covered by Medicare?’ Well, the answer is yes. But there are certain limitations that you should consider. For example, under the Original Medicare, ambulance transport emergencies can only be covered by Medicare Part B if transportation via a different type of vehicle, such as a car or taxi, would put your life at risk. On the other hand, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Part C will cover the ambulance and additional medical costs. If you want to know more about Medicare’s coverage on ambulance rides, find online resources that provide detailed information about these topics.
- Plans Are Regulated by Medicare
Medicare Advantage plans may offer coverage that goes beyond Original Medicare, but they are still regulated by the Medicare program. Just because they are administered by private insurers doesn’t imply the insurance company can do as it pleases. You enjoy rights and protections derived from Medicare including your right to appeal coverage decisions.
- There are Out-of-Pocket Maximums
Original Medicare doesn’t have out-of-pocket maximums, but Medicare Advantage does. There are caps on the amount of money you can pay for medical expenses out of pocket. This maximum resets each year.
- You May Be Required to Pay Two Premiums
Medicare Advantage plans have premiums starting from $0. But plans with $0 premiums are rare. Most have a monthly premium that must be paid, if you want to stay covered. Medicare Advantage plan premiums do not exempt you from paying Medicare Part B premiums to the government.
- Preexisting Conditions Unlikely to Disqualify You
Preexisting conditions are one of the hot-button issues of health insurance. They are a key reason for the establishment of Original Medicare. If you have a preexisting illness such as cancer or high blood pressure, that will not ban you from signing up for a Medicare Advantage plan.
The only condition that could limit your access to Medicare Advantage is end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Still, individuals with ESRD may be allowed to enroll for a special type of Medicare Advantage plan referred to as a Special Needs Plan.
- They Have Networks
Medicare Advantage plans are often structured as preferred provider organizations (PPOs) or health maintenance organizations (HMOs). These plans have networks that list healthcare providers mandated to provide medical services to members of the plan.
You may still use doctors, providers and hospitals outside the Medicare Advantage plan’s network but you will incur an extra cost for this. Sometimes, the money you pay in order to see a non-network provider will not count toward your annual out-of-pocket cap.
- You Can Change Plans
You aren’t locked into any Medicare Advantage plan for life. As an acknowledgement that people will choose a plan without fully knowing whether it’s the best for them, Medicare allows you to switch plans.
This can occur within your initial seven month enrollment period. Once the enrollment period has ended, you can still switch plans during the Open Enrollment Window each year.
This window usually lasts from October 15 through December 7 each year. Once the switching happens, the resulting changes will become effective on January 1 of the subsequent year. On the other hand, other instances may warrant changing Medicare Advantage plans. For example, moving from one place to another or dealing with other crucial life circumstances may allow you to make the necessary changes to your plan during a particular enrollment period.
- The Plan Can Disengage from Medicare
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies. So, companies will only offer the plan for as long as it makes financial sense to them. Medicare Advantage plans are governed by an annual contract that insurers renew with Medicare each year.
There’s no obligation for the plan to renew, however, so there is always the possibility that it could be removed from Medicare. If your plan opts to disengage, you can either switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or return to Medicare Part A and Part B.
Make the Right Choice
Even if you don’t intend to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you should at the minimum seek to understand how they work. That will be the starting point to choosing the best Medicare Advantage plan for you.