Medicare Advantage Plans Overview What are Medicare Advantage Plans? A Medicare Advantage Plan is another way to get your Medicare coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called "Part C" or "MA Plans:”are offered by Medicare approved private companies that must follow rules set by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll still have Medicare but you'll get most of your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insur- ance) coverage from the Medi- care Advantage Plan, not Original Medicare. How do Medicare Advantage Plans Work? When you join a Medicare Advan- tage Plan, Medicare pays a fixed amount for your coverage each month to the company offering that plan. These companies must follow Medicare's coverage rules. Medicare Advantage Plans have yearly contracts with Medicare. The plan must notify you about any changes before the start of the next enrollment year. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll have all of the same rights and protections that you would have under Original Medicare. What’s Covered? Medicare Advantage Plans cover all Part A and Part B services. How- ever, if you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Original Medi- care will still cover the cost for hospice care, some new Medicare benefits, and some costs for
clinical research studies. In all types of Medicare Advantage Plans, you're always covered for emergency and urgent care. Some Medicare Advantage Plans offer extra coverage, for things like vision, hearing, dental, and other health and wellness programs. Plans have a yearly limit on what you pay out-of-pock- et for Part A and Part B covered services. Once you reach your plan's limit, you'll pay nothing for Part A and Part B covered services for the rest of the year. Who can join a Medicare Advantage Plan? When you join a Medicare Advan- age. You can join a Medicare Advantage Plan if: You have Part A and Part B You live in the plan's service area You're a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or lawfully present in the U.S. What if I have other coverage? Talk to your employer, union, or other benefits administrator about their rules before you join a Medicare Advantage Plan. In some cases, if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may still be able to use your employer or union coverage along with your Medicare Advan- tage Plan. In other cases, joining a Medicare Advantage Plan might cause you to lose your employer or union coverage for yourself, your spouse, and dependents.
What is a Medicare Advantage Plan?
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter maker