Medicare Advantage Includes Drug Coverage and Enhanced Benefits

HIGHLIGHTS:
    -> What is Medicare Advantage 
    -> What are the different types of Medicare Advantage Plans
    -> What are Medicare Special Needs plans
    -> What are the advantages of a Medicare Advantage Plan
    -> What are the disadvantages of a Medicare Advantage Plan
    -> Is a Medicare Advantage plan right for me



WHAT IS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PART C

The Part C or Medicare Advantage plan is a type of Medicare insurance plan that can be purchased or at times a $0.00 cost plan for individuals on Part A and Part B. It comes with some great benefits, but also has some disadvantages. In this blog post, we will explore what types of Part C plans are available, why they’re different from traditional Medicare coverage, and how you can find one near you!

Part C plans include dental, vision, and hearing services. You can get those covered by Medicare Advantage if you don’t have them covered under another plan such as employer-sponsored health insurance for retirees. Furthermore, Part C is completely voluntary, which means that you don’t need to sign up for it and choose a Part C plan over traditional Medicare Parts A and B coverage unless you feel like the benefits outweigh the costs (which we’ll talk about soon).

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS OR PART C

Now let’s go into detail on what types of Part C plans there are: There are local PPOs or preferred provider organizations. These allow you to visit any doctor within your network without having to pay out-of-pocket expenses; however, they do not cover out-of-network doctors or hospitals. Then there are regional PPOs which cover both in and out of network providers but at a lower rate than local PPOs, which is why they’re often more expensive. The next type Part C plan we’ll discuss is HMOs (health maintenance organizations) that only allow you to visit a specific doctor within the plan’s own network for no additional cost; however, if you want to go outside their provider list then you may have to pay extra just as with the other two types.

WHAT ARE MEDICARE SPECIAL NEEDS PLANS

Finally, let’s talk about MSPs or Medicare special needs plans: these Part C coverage options target those who have multiple chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart failure etc., so it might be beneficial for those individuals to be on a Part C plan. These plans are designed to give more benefits so that the people with special needs get more benefits to help them with their special medical needs.

WHAT ARE THE TRUE ADVANTAGES OF MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS

Now that you know what Part C plans are and the different types of Part C coverage available it’s time to talk about why they’re advantageous as opposed to traditional Medicare Parts A and B: first off, there is no deductible some plans have no premiums paying for costs such as co-payments or prescriptions may end up being cheaper in the long run as compared to Original Medicare compared, Part A and  Part B. Furthermore, many Part C plans include vision, dental, hearing aids, etc., which means you don’t have to go out-of-pocket expenses or may have a small co-payment for these services unlike with traditional Medicare parts A & B where only preventive care visits are covered 100%. Also, some Part C plans also offer Part D prescription drug coverage which Original Medicare does not.

WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF A MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN

Now let’s talk about Part C disadvantages: first off, some plans require a monthly premium to help cover vision, dental, etc., for example, a local PPO Part C plan could have a monthly premium that type of Part C plan vs Part C plan that uses the HMO model has no premium. Furthermore, many doctors don’t accept all types of Part C plans so it may be difficult sometimes to find one near you if you’re away from your home area; also switching providers or even plans can mean extra out-of-pocket expenses on top of what would normally apply with traditional Medicare parts A & B.



Part A and Part B are the traditional Medicare coverage that everyone must enroll into at age 65 (unless an exception applies like having medical insurance from an employer that is credible), regardless of income or health status. Part C insurance plans may have a premium just like Part D does for prescription drugs but there may also be additional out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays when seeing a doctor or buying prescriptions. There can also be extra co-payment for services not covered by Parts A & B including dental visits, eyeglasses, hearing aids, and more!

Dental, vision, and hearing needs are an important part of Part C plans. As insurance companies know that these may be expensive to pay for out-of-pocket if you have traditional Medicare coverage only, they will often include them in their Part C plan’s benefits package at no extra cost! However, each Part C plan is different so it’s best to look up your options before signing on the dotted line. It can vary based on where you live as well so make sure to take a close look at what providers are available near you. Make sure there are several hospitals or clinics within driving distance because being far away from medical care could cause some serious problems! If something were to happen while you traveling abroad (we hope not) you would be stuck with big medical bills, which Part C plans often help to cover. Here at Your Medicare, we are looking forward to helping you find a Plan C, and help relieve some of the stresses that may come with the process.

Finally, Part C plans do not cover any out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare Part A or B so if you’re also enrolled in those two parts then you’ll be responsible to pay for monthly premiums but no additional costs associated with Part A & B such as copayments, coinsurance, etc.; however, the good news is that many Part C plan providers will allow you to use their network doctors and hospitals for co-pays even though they are outside your regular geographic area which Part B won’t let them do. This is a huge advantage in receiving a Part C plan, even with some additional costs. With today’s world ever-evolving and healthcare being so valuable, the increased ability to be seen no matter where you are can be priceless.



In conclusion, there aren’t too many downsides to getting a Part C plan over traditional Medicare coverage under Parts A and B, although some may find it difficult sometimes trying to find a local doctor who accepts Part C plans or find Part C plan providers in general, for those who are willing to do the research Part C can be a great way to get more coverage at an affordable price. At YourMedicare we will help you determine the best plan for you that reduces your cost and increases your benefits.