Medicare Advantage plans are a popular private insurance alternative to Medicare. Healthpro Consultants offer Medicare Advantage plans to Medicare-eligible consumers.
What is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Part C plans, also known as Medicare Advantage, combine original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) coverage and often offer additional benefits.
Many Medicare Advantage plans offer the following benefits:
- Hospitalization
- Some home healthcare services
- Hospice care
- Doctor’s visits
- Prescription drug coverage
- Preventive care
- Dental
- Vision
- Hearing
Types of Medicare Advantage plans
There are different types of Medicare Advantage plans to choose from, including:
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). HMO plans utilize in-network doctors and require referrals for specialists.
- Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). PPO plans charge different rates based on in-network or out-of-network services.
- Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS). PFFS plans are special payment plans that offer provider flexibility.
- Special Needs Plans (SNPs). SNPs help with long-term medical costs for chronic conditions.
- Medical Savings Account (MSA). MSA plans are medical savings accounts paired with high deductible health plans.
Advantages of Medicare Advantage
1. Convenient coverage options
Original Medicare only offers two types of coverage: hospital insurance and medical insurance. If you want additional coverage, you’ll need to purchase Medicare Part D for prescription drug coverage and Medigap for supplemental coverage.
With a Medicare Advantage plan, all your coverage options are in one convenient plan.
2. Personalized plan structures
Medicare Advantage offers different plan types for your personal situation. For example, if you have a chronic health condition, SNP Advantage plan can help with your medical costs.
If you prefer provider freedom, a PPO or PFFS plan may be more of what you’re looking for. If you want extra services like dental, vision, or hearing, many Medicare Advantage plans include them.
3. Cost savings
Many Advantage plans have no premiums and offer low or no deductibles.
Most plans set limits on the maximum out-of-pocket costs you’ll pay during a plan year.
You may save money on laboratory services and medical equipment switching to a Medicare Advantage plan. If you choose a Medicare HMO plan, you may see even more savings on healthcare services provided your HMO network.
4. Coordinated medical care
Many Medicare Advantage plans include coordinated medical care. This means that your healthcare providers actively communicate to coordinate your care between different types of healthcare services and medical specialties. This ensures you have a healthcare team and helps avoid unnecessary expense and issues like medication interactions.