There is no doubting the major importance of having a healthcare plan. It gives you access to a variety of medical and health-care related solutions for your needs. And it does this without needing to spend a fortune in the process. However, not all healthcare plans are created equally. In fact, even Medicare has several different options for those looking for healthcare coverage and insurance.

One of the most popular Medicare plans for people to choose is Medicare Advantage. Medicare Advantage, also known as “Part C”, offers essentially the same benefits as original Medicare (or Parts A and B) but is instead offered by private companies.

But just what is a Medicare Advantage plan? What makes it unique and why would someone choose it over the other options available to them? Without any further ado, this blog post is going to take a closer look at Medicare Advantage and go over everything you should know about it.

What is Medicare Advantage?

As mentioned briefly in the introduction, Medicare Advantage is a way for people to get the same medical benefits as original Medicare, only getting it through a private company. Medicare needs to approve each and every company that offers Medicare Advantage coverage and they essentially pay these private companies to cover your costs.

There are various different types of Medical Advantage plans, such as:

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) plan - You can only go to healthcare providers and hospitals that are in-network. This means if the doctor doesn’t work with or support your provider, you normally can’t use their services.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plan - You can go to any healthcare provider, but you will pay less if you go to doctors that are in-network.

PFFS (Private Fee-for-Service) plan - Like original Medicare, you can go to any doctor as long as they accept the payment terms of the plan. Each individual plan will determine how much you pay, and it can differ from plan to plan.

SNPs (Special Needs plans) - These provide specialized care for certain groups of people with specific needs. This could be those with chronic medical conditions or those in a nursing home.

Each of these types of plans will have different costs, rules and benefits, so be sure to do your homework. Also, each company that offers the aforementioned plans may also be different. Take your time and shop around to ensure you find the best plan and provider for your needs. Also, be sure to look at your plan and compare it to others annually, as plans can sometimes change in terms of the benefits they offer.


 

The Benefits of Medicare Advantage?

Now that you have a good idea of what a Medical Advantage plan is, what are the benefits of one? If it simply provides the same coverage as Parts A and B, only through a private company, it may not look like there is any difference. Well, that’s not exactly the case. There are several different benefits or reasons that someone might choose a Medicare Advantage plan over simply going with original Medicare.

The first benefit of a Medicare Advantage plan is that they simply offer more benefits than a standard Medicare plans. They can often include dental coverage, vision, and potentially even prescription drug coverage. As you are likely aware of, these types of coverage are incredibly important, especially as you get older. These pans might also offer other discounts, programs and value.

This customization can help you design a plan that works for you, instead of using the one-size-fits-all approach. Another benefit of these plans are that Medicare Advantage plans have an annual limit on out-of-pocket expenses. There are no limits for this sort of thing with original Medicare, so you can end up spending a lot more. This makes a Part C/Medicare Advantage plan often more affordable for many people.

In conclusion, we hope that this article has helped you learn everything you need to about Medicare Advantage. Whether you choose to go with a Medicare Advantage plan or not, it is always a good idea to know everything about a plan before you make a decision.