Most people look forward to the day they move from private insurance to medicare because now they won’t have to go through the arduous task of choosing a health care plan every year. With the introduction of Medicare Advantage Plans and their expanding array of benefits, choosing has come back into the picture for retirees. At Family Insurance Associates in Ruidoso, NM, we are here to help with this important decision.
Original Medicare
Original Medicare covers Americans how have reached the age of 65. It is a point of service plan. Any provider who accepts Medicare can be used. Medicare pays 80% of assigned fees and users responsible for the additional 20%. For that reason, about 40% of those who use original Medicare have a Medicare Supplement Policy. These can be pretty pricey depending on how much they cover. Original Medicare does not cover drugs, dental, vision, or hearing. You will need to get a Medicare Part D prescriptions drug plan.
What is a Medicare Advantage Plan?
Medicare Advantage plans are insurance plans for seniors that take the place of traditional Medicare. They must cover the same thing original Medicare covers and everyone who is eligible for Medicare can opt to have one. One disadvantage of MA plans is they are managed care and you will need to choose your providers from within their network. Depending on the network you choose, this may not be a disadvantage at all. Many major insurance carriers have gotten into the MA business including Blue Cross, Aetna, and United Healthcare.
Medicare Advantage Plans have many additional benefits that may be available to members. These include dental coverage, vision coverage, hearing aids, Silver Sneakers, rides to medical appointments, home meal delivery, and OTC medical supplies. Additionally, many plans also include prescription coverage. The biggest advantage is not having to deal with any paperwork to get services paid, it is all one carrier.
Contact Family Insurance Associates in Ruidoso, NM to talk about whether a Medicare Advantage plan is right for you.
