Medicare Advantage Plans, Bucks County, PA, 2024
We reviewed the top 78 Medicare Advantage Plans available in Bucks County, Pennsylvania for 2024. Here's what we learned:
Key Facts
- The average premium is $30.23 per month.[3]
- The average out-of-pocket limit is $6,634 per year.[3]
- The average drug plan deductible (for plans that include Part D) is $73.98 per year.[3]
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rated 69% of all plans available in Bucks County 4 stars or higher.[3]
- There are 4 5-star plans available that qualify for the 5-star special enrollment period.
- There are 4 plan types to choose from, including HMO-POS, PPO, HMO, PFFS, and possibly SNP plans (see: Bucks County, PA Medicare Special Needs Plans.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania Medicare Advantage Plans
Bucks County, PA
Medicare Advantage Plan Information
Medicare Advantage (MA) plans provide an alternative to Original Medicare for people on Medicare living in Bucks County. The 78 plans available are offered by Medicare-approved private companies that agree to provide coverage by Medicare's rules. MA plans, also known as Medicare Part C, can offer additional benefits unavailable through Original Medicare.
One of the most common additional benefits offered is coverage for prescription medications. These plans are commonly referred to as Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans (MAPDs), and they provide comprehensive coverage for people on Medicare in Bucks County seeking to minimize their out-of-pocket expenses.
The top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Pennsylvania have a star rating of 4.0 stars or higher. Many people often start their search with these plans. See: medicarewire.com/medicare-advantage/pennsylvania/
4 Plan Types Available in Bucks County
A notable advantage of Medicare Advantage plans lies in their diverse range of plan types. While the most prevalent options are HMOs and PPOs, several other plan types exist, although availability varies by region. In Bucks County, people on Medicare (beneficiaries) can access 4 distinct plan types, each offering unique benefits. Here's an overview of what each plan type provides:
Plan Type | Description |
---|---|
HMO | Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) members usually receive services through the plan's local network of providers. Referrals are typically required to see a specialist and other providers. However, plans allow out-of-network care for emergencies and out-of-area dialysis. Prescription drug coverage is often included in HMO plans, and many plans include some coverage for dental, vison, and hearing. |
PPO | Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) members can usually use in-network and out-of-network providers for care, including hospitalization. However, visits to non-network providers could cost significantly more. PPO plans often include prescription drug coverage and other benefits, and referrals are typically not required for specialist visits. |
PFFS | Private fee-for-service plans set the amount a healthcare facility or doctor will be paid. Members can seek care from any provider within or outside their network that accepts the plan's terms. Some PFFS plans include prescription drug coverage. Members may also be eligible for coverage through standalone Medicare drug plans (Part D). |
HMO-POS | An HMO-POS (point-of-sale) plan offers the same features as an HMO plan. There is however one major difference. HMO-POS plans allow members to access healthcare providers outside of the plan's network to receive some or all of their services. In most cases, to go out of the plan's network a member will need to get a referral from their physician. Plus, there are separate deductibles for in-network and out-of-network services. |
SNP |
See below. |
How-To Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan
The majority of residents aged 65 and above in County, Bucks, are eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. Nonetheless, it's important to note that not all of the top-rated Medicare Advantage Plans in Pennsylvania are accessible in the area.
You are only allowed to join, drop or change Medicare Advantage plans during a Medicare Election Period. The period between October 15 and December 7 is the Annual Enrollment Period. That's when most people join or change their Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans or go back to Original Medicare.
Most of us also get an Individual Election Period (IEP), but it only comes around once. Your IEP is a 7-month period around your 65th birthday. It starts three months before your birth month and ends three months after, so you have plenty of time. If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your IEP starts on the 25th month of your benefits.
Adding Medicare Part D for Prescription Coverage
Some Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible for a standalone prescription drug plan. Also known as a PDP, or Part D plan, a standalone prescription plan provides coverage for prescription drugs to Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans that do not include Part D.
It is important to know that most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage and may not allow members to sign up for a separate drug plan. Medicare rules do not allow you to be enrolled in plans that offer overlapping benefits.
Other Medicare Plan Options in Bucks County
Medicare Advantage is one way to get full coverage healthcare. However, many people feel that Medicare Advantage plans have too many disadvantages. Another option is to keep Original Medicare benefits and add more coverage with a Pennsylvania Medicare Supplement plan and a Pennsylvania Medicare Part D plan (PDP) to help pay for your prescription medications.
If you are not aware of the benefits of Medicare Supplement Insurance, and how it helps pays medical bills from an extended illness or hospital stay, check out our Medigap page and compare Medicare supplement plans in your area. All Medicare supplements are standardized and regulated. That means you can go with the lowest cost policy and get all of the same benefits.
IMPORTANT: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplements are not compatible insurance. Medicare Supplements work with Original Medicare and cannot be purchased while you are enrolled in Medicare Advantage.
Bucks County Special Needs Plans (SNP)
Some Americans may have special circumstances, including institutional care, care for chronic health conditions, and dual eligibility for both Medicare and Medicaid. If you or a loved one have one of these special needs, look into the availability of a Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan (SNP).
MedicareWire catalogs Medicare SNP plans available in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in their own directory. We do this because Special Needs Plans are designed specifically for three types of people:
- People in a nursing home or receiving skilled nursing care at home;
- People with both Medicare and Medicaid benefits; and
- People with certain chronic health conditions.
Plan Availability
The MA and MAPD plans on this page are available to people on Medicare enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B living in Bensalem, Bristol, Chalfont, Croydon, Doylestown, Dublin, Fairless Hills, Feasterville Trevose, Furlong, Jamison, Kintnersville, Langhorne, Levittown, Morrisville, New Hope, Newtown, Ottsville, Perkasie, Pipersville, Quakertown, Richboro, Richlandtown, Riegelsville, Sellersville, Southampton, Upper Black Eddy, Warminster, Warrington, Washington Crossing, and all other areas of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Plans Offered
Medicare Advantage and Part D plans and benefits offered by the following carriers: Aetna Medicare, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aspire Health Plan, Dean Health Plan, Devoted Health, GlobalHealth, Health Care Service Corporation, Cigna Healthcare, Humana, Molina Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Premera Blue Cross, Medica Central Health Plan, SCAN Health Plan, Scott and White Health Plan now part of Baylor Scott & White Health, UnitedHealthcare(R), and Wellcare.
Citations & References
- CMS.gov, "2024 Medicare Part C Landscape Source Files", Last Accessed October 14, 2023
- CMS.gov, "2024 Part C and D Performance Data", Last Accessed October 14, 2023
- Medicare.gov, "Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans", Last Accessed 18 June, 2022
- CMS.gov, "Special Needs Plans (SNP)", Last Accessed 24 May, 2023
- Medicare.gov, "What's Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)?", Last Accessed 22 May, 2023
[3]Data & Statistics
The data presented on this page is derived from the 2024 Landscape Source Files and the Part C and D Performance Data published by CMS.
The average premium, average out-of-pocket limit, and average drug plan deductible statistics for Bucks County, Pennsylvania are derived from the most recent Landscape Source Files, excluding employer, MMP and SNP plans. MedicareWire publishes Special Needs Plans here.
Star rating statistics are derived from the most recent Part C and D Performance Data, excluding employer, MMP, SNP, and plans that have not yet been rated by CMS.
[4]Highest-Rated Medicare Advantage Plans
CMS publishes the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D Star Ratings each year to measure the quality of health and drug services received by people on Medicare in Bucks County. MedicareWire highlights plans rated 4.0 or better as "highest-rated" or "top-rated" because they received the overall highest summary rating from CMS. According to CMS, "The Star Ratings system helps Medicare consumers compare the quality of Medicare health and drug plans being offered so they are empowered to make the best health care decisions for them."