Medicare Advantage Plans

How Can I Benefit From Medicare Advantage Plans?

To help pay the costs that Traditional Medicare does not cover, you can either enroll in Medicare Supplement Plans or Medicare Advantage Plans (also called Medicare Part C).

Under Medicare Part C, the federal government contracts with private insurance companies to administer Medicare benefits through Medicare Advantage plans. With a Medicare Advantage Plan you generally pay lower co-payments and get additional benefits such as coverage for extra days in the hospital, vision, dental, hearing, and preventing services like annual physicals and coverage for emergency services while traveling or even fitness programs.

Benefits and costs will vary depending upon the Medicare Advantage plan you select. Some Medicare Advantage plans even offer health coverage at no additional cost over your Part B premium.

Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?

You can generally join a Medicare Advantage Plan if you meet these conditions:

• You have Medicare Part A and Part B
• You live in the service area of the plan
• You don’t have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis)

When you get a Medicare Advantage Plan you will have to continue to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare. In addition, you might have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits that they offer.

What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2010?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released information about the Medicare Advantage plans that will be available in 2010.

On average, Medicare beneficiaries will be able to choose from more than 30 Medicare Advantage plans in 2010, some will have as many as 73 Medicare Advantage plans offered in their area, in addition to traditional Medicare. The mix of Medicare Advantage plans offered will change as carriers respond to current and anticipated program changes.

Between 2009 and 2010, the total number of Medicare Advantage plans has declined by 18 percent, with mostly fewer Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plan offerings. Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) remain the most common type of Medicare Advantage plans in 2010. Firms withdrawing from the PFFS market (such as Coventry and HealthNet) are continuing to offer coordinated care plans (mainly HMOs) and new plans of various types. Some firms, like Kaiser Permanente, are making no changes in their offerings in 2010. Kaiser Permanente will continue to offer only HMO and cost plans.

Fewer MA-PD enrollees will be in plans with no premium in 2010 than in 2009, if they stay in their plans (a decline from 50 percent in 2009 to 43 percent in 2010). However, a plan with no premium does not necessarily represent the best value for enrollees because out-of-pocket costs are affected by a combination of premiums, covered benefits and cost-sharing requirements.

Beneficiaries who decide to remain in their same Medicare Advantage plan in 2010 can expect premium increases of, on average 32, percent, although the magnitude of the increase will obviously vary from plan to plan. Premiums are rising faster for some types of Medicare Advantage plans than others.The average weighted premium for continuing MA-PDs increased 22 percent for HMOs, 37 percent for local PPOs, 55 percent for regional PPOs, and 78 percent for PFFS plans in 2010.

Thus, beneficiaries may find it in their interests to review and compare Medicare Advantage Plan options each year, taking into account premiums, benefits, cost-sharing, and provider networks, to select the option most likely to meet their individual needs and circumstances.

Do I Have Medicare Part D Coverage With A Medicare Advantage Plan?

You can get Medicare Advantage plans with Part D prescription drug coverage. Co-pays and limits apply.

If your current plan doesn’t offer Medicare Part D drug coverage, you may want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan that does provide Part D prescription drug coverage.

Can I Cancel Or switch to A Different Medicare Advantage Plan?

In most cases, you are enrolled in a plan for a year. If you are already in a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to switch to a different Medicare Advantage Plan, simply join the plan you choose. You will be dis-enrolled automatically from your old plan when your new plan’s coverage begins.

You can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan only during certain times:

• When you first become eligible for Medicare (the 7 month period that begins 3 months before the month you turn age 65, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends 3 months after the month you turn age 65)
• If you get Medicare due to a disability, you can join during the 3 months before to 3 months after your 25th month of disability. You will have another chance to join 3 months before the month you turn age 65 to 3 months after the month you turn age 65.
• Between November 15–December 31 each year. Your coverage will begin on January 1 of the following year, as long as the plan gets your enrollment request by December 31.
• Between January 1–March 31 of each year. Your coverage will begin the first day of the month after the plan gets your enrollment form.

In certain situations, you may be able to join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan at other times, e.g.

• If you move out of your plan’s service area
• If you have both Medicare and Medicaid
• If you qualify for Extra Help to pay for your prescription drug costs
• If you live in an institution (e.g. nursing home)

More Articles About Medicare Advantage

1. Medicare Advantage Plans
2. Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?
3. What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2010?
4. Do I Have Medicare Part D Coverage With A Medicare Advantage Plan?
5. Can I Cancel Or switch to A Different Medicare Advantage Plan?
6. Does A Medicare Advantage Plan Work With My Medicare Supplement Plan?
7. What Happens To My Medicare Supplemental Insurance If I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?
8. What If My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued In 2010?
9. Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan If I have Already Other Health Insurance Coverage?
10. How Much Are Medicare Advantage Plans 2010?
11. How Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?

Tags: cancel, Change, drop, join, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans 2010, Medicare Part C, Switch

Does A Medicare Advantage Plan Work With My Medicare Supplement Plan?

No, it doesn’t. You have to choose one or the other.

When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, your Medicare Supplement plan will stop to pay. So if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you should (although legally you don’t have to) cancel your Medicare Supplement Plan.http://www.medicareadvantagesupplement.info/wp-admin/edit.php

More Articles About Medicare Advantage

1. Medicare Advantage Plans
2. Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?
3. What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2010?
4. Do I Have Medicare Part D Coverage With A Medicare Advantage Plan?
5. Can I Cancel Or switch to A Different Medicare Advantage Plan?
6. Does A Medicare Advantage Plan Work With My Medicare Supplement Plan?
7. What Happens To My Medicare Supplemental Insurance If I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?
8. What If My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued In 2010?
9. Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan If I have Already Other Health Insurance Coverage?
10. How Much Are Medicare Advantage Plans 2010?
11. How Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?

Tags: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans 2010, Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage, Switch

What Happens To My Medicare Supplemental Insurance If I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?

Medicare Supplemental Insurance policies don’t work with Medicare Advantage Plans. If you decide to keep your Medigap supplemental policy, you will have to pay your insurance premium, but the Supplemental Insurance won’t pay any deductibles, co-payments, or coinsurance under a Medicare Advantage Plan. So, if you want to join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may want to drop your Medicare Supplement Plan.

Attention: You might not be able to get the same Medicare Supplemental Insurance policy back, or in some cases, any Medicare Supplemental Insurance, in case you decide to switch back after a while!

More Articles About Medicare Advantage

1. Medicare Advantage Plans
2. Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?
3. What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2010?
4. Do I Have Medicare Part D Coverage With A Medicare Advantage Plan?
5. Can I Cancel Or switch to A Different Medicare Advantage Plan?
6. Does A Medicare Advantage Plan Work With My Medicare Supplement Plan?
7. What Happens To My Medicare Supplemental Insurance If I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?
8. What If My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued In 2010?
9. Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan If I have Already Other Health Insurance Coverage?
10. How Much Are Medicare Advantage Plans 2010?
11. How Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?

Tags: cancel, Change, join, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans 2010, Medicare Part C, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Switch

What If My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued In 2010?

If your Medicare Advantage Plan provider decides to stop participating in Medicare in 2010, you will either have to join another Medicare plan (Advantage or Supplemental) or return to Original Medicare.

Your insurance company will send you a letter about your options. Generally, you will automatically return to original Medicare if you don’t choose to join another Medicare Advantage Plan. You will also have the right to buy certain Medigap policies, but you might not be able to get the same Medigap policy back you had before joining the Advantage Plan.

If you decide to return to Original Medicare and you want drug coverage, you will need to join a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

If your Medicare Advantage plan was discontinued, there may be other Medicare plans and Prescription Drug plans available to you.

More Articles About Medicare Advantage

1. Medicare Advantage Plans
2. Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?
3. What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2010?
4. Do I Have Medicare Part D Coverage With A Medicare Advantage Plan?
5. Can I Cancel Or switch to A Different Medicare Advantage Plan?
6. Does A Medicare Advantage Plan Work With My Medicare Supplement Plan?
7. What Happens To My Medicare Supplemental Insurance If I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?
8. What If My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued In 2010?
9. Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan If I have Already Other Health Insurance Coverage?
10. How Much Are Medicare Advantage Plans 2010?
11. How Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?

Tags: cancel, Change, Discountinued Advantage Plan, join, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans 2010, Medicare Part C, Switch, Switch back to Medicare

Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan If I have Already Other Health Insurance Coverage?

If You Have Other Coverage with your employer, union, or Indian or Tribal Health Program benefits, you need to talk with the plan administrator about their rules before you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

In some cases, joining a Medicare Advantage Plan might cause you to lose your other health care coverage, or if you drop your employer or union coverage, you may not be able to get it back.

Make sure to carefully explore all your Medicare health insurance options and compare Medicare Advantage Plans to make sure you select the plan that best suits your needs and your budget.

More Articles About Medicare Advantage

1. Medicare Advantage Plans
2. Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?
3. What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2010?
4. Do I Have Medicare Part D Coverage With A Medicare Advantage Plan?
5. Can I Cancel Or switch to A Different Medicare Advantage Plan?
6. Does A Medicare Advantage Plan Work With My Medicare Supplement Plan?
7. What Happens To My Medicare Supplemental Insurance If I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?
8. What If My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued In 2010?
9. Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan If I have Already Other Health Insurance Coverage?
10. How Much Are Medicare Advantage Plans 2010?
11. How Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?

Tags: Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans 2010, Subscribe

How Much Are Medicare Advantage Plans 2010?

Some Medicare Advantage Plans still offer health coverage at no additional cost over what you already pay for your Medicare in 2010. While some advantage plans have a no monthly plan premium, others do. In any case you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium unless paid for you under Medicaid or by another third party.

Additional costs depend on the benefits provided by the plan, with some charging an additional premium or having higher deductible and co-payment requirements. However, there are many Medicare Advantage plans that offer more coverage protection than Medicare Parts A and B, but have zero extra monthly premiums above your Part B premium.

In general, Medicare Advantage plans are less expensive than traditional Medicare because they cap the amount of out-of-pocket costs. For example, traditional Medicare plans typically require an individual to personally pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount out of their own pocket. For someone with high medical costs this can quickly add up. Medicare Advantage plans, however, will limit annual out-of-pocket expenses, typically between $2,000 and $5,000.

As rates and benefits vary, you need to carefully compare plans in order to find the one that best fits your health care needs. While Medicare Advantage plans can provide better coverage, the choices can seem overwhelming.

Depending on where someone lives, the Medicare Advantage plan options number in the hundreds. If you live in New York City or Miami for example, you have over 100 different Medicare Plans to choose from.

More Articles About Medicare Advantage

1. Medicare Advantage Plans
2. Am I Eligible For A Medicare Advantage Plan?
3. What Is New For Medicare Advantage Plans In 2010?
4. Do I Have Medicare Part D Coverage With A Medicare Advantage Plan?
5. Can I Cancel Or switch to A Different Medicare Advantage Plan?
6. Does A Medicare Advantage Plan Work With My Medicare Supplement Plan?
7. What Happens To My Medicare Supplemental Insurance If I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?
8. What If My Medicare Advantage Plan Is Discontinued In 2010?
9. Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan If I have Already Other Health Insurance Coverage?
10. How Much Are Medicare Advantage Plans 2010?
11. How Can I Enroll In A Medicare Advantage Plan?

Tags: Best Rates, Buy, Costs, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans 2010, Medicare Part C, Price, Shop, Subscribe

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