Medicare Advantage is appealing to those looking to get more out of Medicare. With Medicare Advantage, you’re getting all forms of coverage within the same plan, and you can enjoy certain benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t offer. This could also mean higher savings for you.
What Does Medicare Advantage’s Coverage Consist Of?
Medicare Advantage takes a multi-faceted approach to medical coverage.
It combines Medicare Part A’s inpatient coverage with Part B’s outpatient coverage, and some Medicare Advantage plans even include Part D’s prescription medication coverage.
Leaving your Original Medicare plan to join Medicare Advantage won’t result in a loss of coverage. In fact, Medicare Advantage plans are legally required to offer all of the same benefits as Original Medicare – and this is a minimum.
What Makes Medicare Advantage’s Coverage Unique?
Original Medicare is infamous for lacking dental, vision, and hearing coverage. However, that isn’t the case for Medicare Advantage.
Dental, vision, and hearing can be included in Medicare Advantage, and require no extra costs.
Nutrition plans and gym memberships are often featured in Medicare Advantage plans as well.
How Do Medicare Advantage Plans Work Differently?
Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage only has coverage within a network of providers. While some allow out-of-network treatment, the costs will be higher.
Only certain healthcare providers participate within a specific Medicare Advantage plan network. But with a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll get greater discounts than you would if you had Original Medicare. This is possible due to healthcare providers making contracts with insurers, and they agree to charge lower fees in exchange for more patients.
Some plans call for choosing a primary care physician. If your plan requires this, you will also need that physician’s referrals in order to see specialists. If you go to a specialist without a referral, your plan may not cover you.
How Can I Get Medicare Advantage?
Before you can join Medicare Advantage, you have to join Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) first.
If you’re newly eligible for Medicare and you join during the Initial Enrollment Period, you can get Medicare Advantage right away. This enrollment period begins three months before you turn 65, and ends three months after that.
If you join Original Medicare during the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31), you’ll be able to join Medicare Advantage during a Special Enrollment Period lasting from April 1 to June 30.
If you already have Original Medicare, you can join Medicare Advantage during the Annual Enrollment Period, which is from October 15 to December 7.
You have to contact a private insurer in order to get Medicare Advantage, as it is only available through private insurance.
Get The Most Benefits At The Lowest Cost
At Eldridge Agency, we believe health coverage should be extensive. With our help, you won’t need to enroll in multiple policies just to get the coverage you need. Call us today at (775) 328-1197 to learn more.
