Our goal here is to assist you in making the right decision on the type of Medicare Advantage you should consider. As a senior, you can have many options available causing you to be overwhelmed. In this post, we provide a list of Medicare Advantage plans for 2020 so you can find what options are available. Once you get to know the various options, you can make an informed decision before signing up for any of these plans. 

What are the Medicare Advantage Plans 

Basic Coverage 

Medicare designs the Advantage plans. It mandates every insurer selling these plans to include all the basic coverage. Thus, regardless of where you purchase your plan, it includes basic protection. 

The basic coverage includes items for Medicare Part A, excluding hospice care. It also contains Medicare Part B and various emergency medical services, like ambulance care and ER treatment. It also includes urgently needed medical care, such as medical tests, surgery and medications, and several others. 

MA with Part D 

Medicare Advantage plan with Part D includes the basic coverage and Medicare Part D coverage. Part D is a prescription medicine plan that can work well with the MA plan. But if you have a Part D policy from your employer or obtained an individual Part D plan, they cannot sign up for an Advantage policy with Part D in it. That’s because these two plans will have overlapping coverage. 

Checkup Coverage 

Most of the MA plans have yearly checkups coverage. These checkups could be for your vision, hearing and general wellness. Under this plan, you can find various names. Our list of MA plans will only use generic names. But the insurers will have their names for each of these Medicare Advantage plans for 2020. Thus, make sure to examine them in details before you sign up for one of them. 

You can also obtain a policy that includes checkup coverage that can handle some prescription items. This type of policy will cover the overall cost of hearing aid and prescription glasses. 

Even though insurers will mix and match the various coverage items, they all have the same base protection. They may also include Part D coverage along with coverage for yearly checkups. Medicare allows insurers to include anything in their Advantage plans, provided each plan has the basic protection. 

What is the Medicare Advantage Plan Exactly? 

Medicare formulated the Medicare Advantage plan. However, it does not sell MA plans. Rather, you can purchase it from one of the health insurance providers in your area. MA plans do not have a standard rate. Thus, insurers can choose how much they would charge their clients for their Advantage plans.

Before signing up to an MA plan, you need an active Original Medicare first. It is one of the requirements of getting a Medicare Advantage plan. If you have an active Original Medicare, then you are automatically qualified for the MA plan because it indicates that you are at least 65 years old. However, some younger individuals can obtain an MA plan through special qualification requirements. 

Furthermore, you need to be in the insurer’s coverage area to qualify. You cannot obtain an MA plan from a particular insurance provider if you are far away from where its network reaches. 

As to its compatibility, an MA plan may overlap with other health insurance plans. To know more about it, please contact our health insurance experts to better understand if your current coverage policy is compatible with the MA plan. 

Network Coverage Options

Not all healthcare facilities in the US will honor your insurer’s healthcare plan. Those facilities that do not accept your plan are not part of your insurer’s network. This information is vital to know whether or not you get full coverage for your treatment. 

HMOs 

They are MA plans that will only take care of your treatment if you get treated from a facility that accepts your MA plan. HMOs are cheaper plans with the standard network coverage. Despite that, it does not cover treatments outside of the network. 

But during an emergency, an HMO plan can give you partial coverage. 

PPOs

These are Medicare Advantage policies that come with PPO in their name. They cost more but they offer better coverage. For full coverage, you need to stay within the network. However, if you get treated outside the network, you will get partial coverage. It is a valuable plan if you live in a rural area where there is little to no network coverage. 

These are just the major network options for Medicare Advantage plans. There are plenty more than you can find. However, not all seniors are qualified to obtain them. 

If you are still trying to figure out which plan is the most ideal for you, please contact us. Our health insurance experts will guide you in picking the right plan based on your medical care needs and budget. We can source quotes to make it easier for you to compare rates on the plans. By comparing rates, you can find a plan from a particular insurer that can help you save money because it fits your budget and medical care needs. 

plans for 2020 is only a basic list, it is still useful in helping you get started. You can determine if the MA is right for you. Use our site to find the better deals available in your area.