When Can You Sign Up For Medicare Advantage Plans?
Medicare Advantage (aka, Medicare Part C) and Medicare Part D plans have several different enrollment periods. The most well-known period is called the Annual Election Period, or AEP. It runs in the Fall from 15 October to 7 December. You'll want … [Read more...] about When Can I Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan?
Is it Better to Have Medicare Advantage or Medigap?
Here are the five top reasons that it's better to have a Medicare Advantage plan:
Up-front costs (monthly premium) are generally lower.
You may have more doctor choices in Medicare Advantage.
Plans are required to take you regardless of your health condition.
If you have both Medicare … [Read more...] about Is it Better to Have Medicare Advantage or Medigap?
How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans
One of the more common questions we get here at MedicareWire is, "How do I choose a Medicare Advantage plan?" In this article, we'll go over some of the most important aspects of private health plans and what you should look for. We'll also offer seven tips to help you find the best plan and get the … [Read more...] about How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Star Ratings: What They Mean & How to Use Them
Have you ever wondered what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings mean and how to use them to choose a health plan? In this MedicareWire article, we'll cover what you need to know and explain how we use the CMS 5-star rating system to help you choose a plan with the … [Read more...] about Medicare Star Ratings: What They Mean & How to Use Them
Is CMS Biased in Favor of Medicare Advantage?
While studying Medicare & You 2021: The official U.S. government Medicare handbook to look for changes coming in the new year (which you can download here), the MedicareWire staff began noticing language and diagrams that it felt would bias readers. In fact, once you start looking for it, you … [Read more...] about Is CMS Biased in Favor of Medicare Advantage?
Brand New Day vs. 5-Star Kaiser Medicare Advantage in California
Medicare Advantage plans expanded into dozens of new counties for the 2021 plan year. With the expansion in plans also came the news that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) increased the maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit to per year.
However, several companies, including Brand … [Read more...] about Brand New Day vs. 5-Star Kaiser Medicare Advantage in California
Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement: Which is Best for You?
Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage: Which is Better?
Before 2003, when Medicare added the private health insurance option, known as Medicare Advantage, seniors only had two options: pay out-of-pocket or buy a Medicare supplement. Now there's anon-going debate as to which option is … [Read more...] about Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement: Which is Best for You?
Medigap Plans K and N vs. Medicare Advantage Plans
It has long been assumed that Medicare Advantage plans are the way to go if you need a low monthly premium. The risk trade-off, of course, is higher out of pocket costs until you reach the annual spending limit. However, the premiums are so low on most of the basic plans that many seniors wonder, … [Read more...] about Medigap Plans K and N vs. Medicare Advantage Plans
Top 9 Advantages and Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans
If you are about to make plan election choices for yourself or a loved one, you might find yourself asking what are the advantages and disadvantages of Medicare Advantage plans? We'll answer that important question in this article.
Key Takeaways
Medicare Advantage plans may help some of its … [Read more...] about Top 9 Advantages and Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans