Medicare Advantage Part C
If you are about to become eligible for Medicare, or even if you are already enrolled, it’s time to consider a Medicare Advantage Part C plan. Medicare Advantage Part C plans come in many different varieties, and different plans are tailored for different individuals’ needs.
What Are Medicare Advantage Plans?
Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is an optional plan that allows Medicare enrollees to access Medicare benefits within the framework of a managed care plan. This allows for a more coherent continuum of care, and frequently enables Medicare Advantage customers to receive better, more coordinated services.
Managed Care and Medicare Part C Plans
Managed care plans enable health care professionals to provide coordinated care suited to your personal needs for an affordable premium. These plans contract with a network of local quality health care providers, including clinics, physicians, and hospitals, who agree to provide discounted pricing in exchange for being a preferred provider for the network. In many plans, you will receive a primary care physician, who is responsible for coordinating your overall care and helping you contact specialists as needed. These plans are called Health Maintenance Organizations, or HMOs. Other plans do not require a referral to see a specialist, but still provide the benefits of the network and affordable pricing. These plans are called Preferred Provider Organizations, or PPOs. Other Medicare Advantage plans exist to provide more focused care for specific medical conditions, offering deeper discounts for these providers than you could get on your own.
Depending on where you live, you may be able to select Medicare Part C Plans that provide prescription drug coverage as part of the plan. Or you can choose to purchase a Medicare Advantage insurance plan that does not cover prescription drugs – instead getting it via Medicare Part D, the Medicare prescription drug plan.
Warning: You do not need to purchase Medicare Advantage and Medigap insurance at the same time. Medicare Advantage does not work if you have Medigap. Choose one or the other.
Medicare Advantage Enrollment
Because Medicare Advantage Insurance plans rely on local care providers and networks, plan availability may vary depending on where you live. To get a list of the available plans in your area, and to compare Medicare Advantage plans, including features, benefits and premiums, simply fill out our free online quote tool at www.abchealthplans.com. There’s no obligation whatsoever, and you will have your quotes in just a few minutes. Once you have selected a plan, you can generally enroll on line.