Medicare Advantage Plans
A Medicare advantage plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits.
Medicare Advantage Plans include
- Health Maintenance Organizations
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Private Fee for Service Plans
- Special Needs Plans
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare services are covered through the plan and aren’t paid for under original Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.
How Do Medicare Advantage Plans Work?
Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans” are offered by private companies approved by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan you’d still have Medicare. You’ll get your Medicare Part A Hospital Insurance and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage from the Medicare Advantage Plan and not Original Plan.
Medicare Advantage Plans Cover All Medicare Services
Medicare health plans provide Part A and Part B benefits to people with Medicare who enroll in these plans. This includes Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Cost Plans, Demonstration/Pilot Programs, and Programs of All Inclusive Care For The Elderly (PACE)
Medicare Advantage Plans Must Follow Medicare’s Rules
Medicare pays a fixed amount for you each month for the companies offer Medicare Advantage Plans. These companies must follow the rules provided by Medicare. However, each Medicare Advantage Plan can charge different out of pocket costs and have different rules for how you get services like when they can see a specialist or get a referral. They also determine if you have to go to only doctors, facilities and supplies that belong to the plan for non-emergency care. These rules change each year.
Costs for Medicare Health Plans
Find out what factors contribute to how much you pay out of pocket when you have a Medicare health plan.
Drug Coverage In Medicare Advantage Plan
You usually are allowed to get prescription drug coverage through the plan. In some types of plans the don’t offer drug coverage, you can join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.