What is a Medicare Advantage plan?

If you currently enrolled in Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, you can choose to enroll in Medicare Part C, more commonly known as Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private health insurance companies to provide and coordinate Medicare Part A and Part B benefits (hospital and medical) for beneficiaries.

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You might wonder why a beneficiary would choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. A Medicare Advantage plan is required to cover everything that Original Medicare covers (except for hospice care), including emergency and urgent care. Hospice care is covered by Original Medicare even if you have a Medicare Advantage plan. But, there can be some differences between Original Medicare and a Medicare Advantage plan. Those differences can be in how much you pay out of your own pocket  when you receive health care. For example, you might have lower co-payments and coinsurance or a smaller deductible.

Tip: Medicare Advantage offers at least the same coverage as Original Medicare, and may offer additional benefits. It may be one way of adding coverage for routine vision, or dental services, dentures, and more. Some Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 premium. However, regardless of how much you pay for a Medicare Advantage plan, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

There can also be differences in the coverage you receive. Some Medicare Advantage plans include routine vision, routine dental, and/or wellness programs. Many plans also include prescription drug coverage; those plans are called Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans (MAPD).

Do be aware that you would remain enrolled in Original Medicare even if you enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan, and you must continue paying your Medicare Part B premiums. However, if you enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan, you will not be allowed to obtain a Medicare Supplement insurance plan (Medigap).

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Types of Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans

It's important to  understand the differences between the types of Medicare Advantage plans to see which works best for you. There are several different types of Medicare Advantage plans:

• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization plan): Lets you see doctors and other health professionals who participate in its provider network. If your doctor is already in network, it could be a good option because you tend to pay less out-of-pocket with in-network doctors. 
• PPO (Preferred Provider Organization plan): Covers both in- and out-of-network providers, giving you the freedom to choose any doctor that accepts Medicare assignment, which can work if you prefer that kind of flexibility. 
• PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service plan): The plan determines how much it will pay providers and how much you must pay when you get care. The treating doctor has to accept the plan's payment terms and agree to treat you. If the doctor doesn't agree to those terms, then the PFFS plan will not cover services through that doctor.
• SNP (Special Needs Plans): Are especially for people who have certain special needs. The three different SNP plans cover Medicare beneficiaries living in institutions, those who are dual-eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), or HIV/AIDS. This type of plan always included prescription drug coverage. 
• HMO-POS (Health Maintenance Organization - Point Of Service plan): Covers both in- and out-of-network health services, but at different rates. You pay less out-of-pocket when you to to in-network doctors, labs, hospitals, and other health care providers. 
• MSA (Medical Savings Account plan): Includes both a high deductible and a bank account to help you pay that deductible. The amount deposited into the account varies from plan to plan. The money is tax-free as long as you use it on IRS-qualified medical expenses, which include the health plan's deductible. 

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Eligibility for Medicare Advantage plans

Medicare Advantage plan eligibility is based on your eligibility for Original Medicare, Part A and Part B (except if you have ESRD). Generally, if you have Medicare Part A and Part B, you are eligible for Medicare Part C. However, you must live in the service area for the Medicare Advantage plan that you're considering.

If you have other health insurance coverage, for example through an employer or union, ask your plan administrator about that plan's rules before you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. In some cases, you may lose your other coverage if you enroll in the Medicare Advantage plan and you may be unable to get it back if you change your mind later.

Enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans

You may only enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during specified election periods:

Initial Coverage Election Period: You can enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan when you first become eligible for Medicare. Your Initial coverage Election Period (ICEP), is a seven-month period that starts 3 months before the month you turn 65, includes the month you turn 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn 65. If you are under age 65 and you receive Social Security disability, you qualify for Medicare in the 25th month after you begin receiving your Social Security benefits. If you fall into this category, you may enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan 3 months before your month of eligibility, during the month of, and 3 months after the month of eligibility. For example, if your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage begins in May, your Medicare Advantage plan ICEP is February through August.

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Annual Election Period: The Annual Election Period (AEP), also called Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage, is October 15 through December 7 every year. The plan coverage you choose during the AEP begins on January 1 of the next year. It allows Medicare beneficiaries to add, change, or drop their current coverage. You can use this period to enroll into a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or switch plans. If you’re already enrolled into a Medicare plan, you can use this period to dis-enroll from your plan.

Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP): If, after enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, you change your mind, you can switch back to Original Medicare from January 1 through March 31. If you would be losing prescription coverage as a result of the switch, you can also enroll into a stand-alone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan during this time, if you wish.

Special Election Period: Generally, once you enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan, you stay enrolled in the plan until the next Annual Election Period (AEP) opens. However, there are some life events that might qualify you for a Special Election Period (SEP) during other times of the year, so you can make a change to your Medicare Advantage coverage. Some examples of these life events include (but aren’t limited to):

• Moving outside your Medicare Advantage plan’s service area
• Qualifying for Extra Help (a program to help you pay for prescription drugs)
• Moving into an institution (such as a nursing home)

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Find out why many more Medicare beneficiaries opt for a Medicare Advantage plan. To see if this route may be a good idea for you, contact one of The Medicare Resource Center's licensed insurance agents at 1-(888) 601-6334 or by email at [email protected]. We have the knowledge to answer your Medicare Advantage plan questions.