Medicare Advantage Plans ~ Medicare Part C

You can generally join a Medicare Advantage plan if:

You live in the service area of the plan.  If you live in another state for part of the year check to see if the plan will cover you there.

You have Medicare Parts A and B.

You don't have End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure).

If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan:

You are still in the Medicare Program

You still have Medicare rights and protections

You still get complete Medicare Part A and B coverage

In many cases the premiums or the costs of services (co-pays) can be less in a Medicare Advantage Plan than they are for a Medigap policy. In some regions, there are Medicare Advantage plans that do not charge a monthly premium.

Out-of-pocket costs are generally lower in the Medicare Advantage Plans than in the Original Medicare Plan.

Medicare Advantage plans provide all of your Medicare Part A Hospital and Medicare Part B Medical coverage.

Medicare Advantage Plans must cover medically-necessary services

Some Medicare Advantage plans offer extra benefits

They often offer Part D Drug coverage

If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan and enroll in a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan you will be automatically disenrolled from your Medicare Advantage Plan.

If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan you don't need to by a Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy

Each year in the fall the plan will send you information about any changes in the service area, changes in cost or changes in benefits.  You should review this information carefully.  It may be beneficial to look at other plans should your plan make changes that change your service or payments.

For more information see Medicare and You 2011 Section 2 Medicare Advantage Plans on page 60

Medicare and You

2011 Medicare Basics

Medicare and You 2011

Medicare and You 2010