What is Medicare Advantage?
The short answer
Medicare Advantage is an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company, instead of directly through the federal government. These plans must cover everything Original Medicare covers, and most include extra benefits like dental, vision, and drug coverage.
The full explanation
Medicare Advantage is sometimes called Part C. When you enroll, you are still in Medicare. You just receive your benefits through a private insurer that contracts with the federal government rather than through Medicare directly.These plans bundle your hospital coverage (Part A) and medical coverage (Part B) together. Most also include prescription drug coverage, so you do not need a separate Part D plan. Many throw in extras that Original Medicare does not cover at all, things like routine dental cleanings, eye exams, hearing aids, or even gym memberships. That said, extra benefits vary widely by plan and by year, so it is worth checking current offerings rather than assuming.Most Medicare Advantage plans work like an HMO or PPO. An HMO generally requires you to use a specific network of doctors and get referrals to see specialists. A PPO gives you more flexibility to go outside the network, usually at a higher cost. If your doctors are important to you, confirming they are in-network before you pick a plan is essential.One big difference from Original Medicare is that Medicare Advantage plans have a built-in out-of-pocket maximum, which caps your yearly spending on covered services. Original Medicare alone has no such cap.
Related Medicare Resources
In
specifically
In Utah, Medicare Advantage plans are offered by carriers including SelectHealth, Regence BlueCross, UHC, Humana, Aetna, Molina, Devoted Health, Cigna, and Wellcare. Plan availability and networks vary by county. If you live in a rural county like Garfield, Kane, or Daggett, your choices may be more limited than they would be in Salt Lake or Utah County. SelectHealth plans are closely tied to Intermountain Health, so if your doctors are part of that system, it is worth checking SelectHealth's network carefully.
What this means for you
For you, this means Medicare Advantage can offer cost and coverage advantages over Original Medicare alone, but the right fit depends heavily on which doctors you want to keep and how much care you typically use in a year.
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