Medicare Advantage
plans cover all of the above (Part A and Part B), and most plans also cover prescription drugs (Part D). When deciding which option is best for you, it is important to consider the key differences between the two.Original Medicare is a government health insurance program that allows you to access care anywhere in the United States as long as the provider accepts Medicare. You pay the premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance for Medicare Parts A and B. The federal government has been adding services that these plans can offer, such as home improvements, such as wheelchair ramps to help Medicare beneficiaries stay home, provide transportation to doctor's offices and receive meals at home.
Medicare Advantage is private health insurance that the government helps fund. With Medicare Advantage, you'll join a private insurance plan like the one you probably had through your employer. Most plans offer additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as some routine exams and eye, hearing, and dental services. In most cases, a service or supply doesn't need to be approved in advance for Original Medicare to cover it. However, with Medicare Advantage plans, you get your benefits from private health insurance companies that Medicare has approved.
Both Medicare and Medicare Advantage will fund most basic health costs, including doctor visits and hospitalizations. In some States, if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can't buy a separate Part D plan. Plans have an annual limit on what you pay out of pocket for services covered by Medicare Part A and Part B.
When deciding which option is best for you, it is important to consider the key differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. Original Medicare allows you to access care anywhere in the United States as long as the provider accepts it. With Medicare Advantage, you'll join a private insurance plan like the one you probably had through your employer. Most plans offer additional benefits that Original Medicare doesn't cover, such as some routine exams and eye, hearing, and dental services. In some States, if you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can't buy a separate Part D plan.
Remember that there are several different types of Medicare Advantage plans. If you're interested in joining a plan, talk to a plan representative for more information. Keep in mind that if you're looking for a new doctor, 30 percent of primary care doctors don't accept new Medicare patients.
