There are many differences between Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B).... and Medicare supplement insuranceMedicare Supplements are additional insurance policies that Medicare beneficiaries can purchase to cover the gaps in their Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) health insurance coverage.... (Medigap). In this MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... article, we'll help you figure out if a Medicare Advantage plan is best for you or if you should keep your Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage.... and add a Medicare supplement policy for … [Read more...]
Blog Posts Related to Medicare Advantage
On this page, you will find blog posts related to Medicare Advantage plans (Medicare Part C).
What Does Medicare Advantage Cover? 7 Facts You Should Know.
By law, Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B).... must provide the same basic healthcare services for inpatient care and outpatient care as Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage..... The similarities end there, so it's important to learn what private health plans cover and how to compare plans to find the best for your needs.
Key … [Read more...]
The Pros and Cons of Medicare Supplement Plans
Do Medigap Plans Have Any Disadvantages?
Approximately 30% of people in Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage.... have Medicare supplements. Many people look at the cost and wonder if Medicare supplement insuranceMedicare Supplements are additional insurance policies that Medicare beneficiaries can purchase to cover the gaps in their Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B) health insurance coverage.... is really worth it? In this MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... article, we'll explore the disadvantages of Medigap plans and … [Read more...]
How Does Medicare Advantage Work?
If you have ever had a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plan or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan through an employer or the Healthcare Exchange, you already have a pretty good idea about how Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B).... work. In this MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... article, we'll explain what you need to … [Read more...]
What Medicare Advantage Plans Are Available In My Area?
Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B).... are organized and sold county-by-county. The reason for this, versus national plans, is that most private health insurance use provider networks, which are local. In this MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... article, we'll help you find plans in your area and give you tips to help you choose the … [Read more...]
Does Medicare Cover the Shingles Vaccine?
Shingles is a contagious viral infection that causes a painful rash and blisters on the skin from a condition known as postherpetic neuralgia (post-hur-PET-ik noo-RAL-juh). It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox in young people. After having chickenpox, the virus … [Read more...]
Understanding Medicare in 4 Easy Steps
If you are getting your Medicare benefits for the first time, the jargon may sound foreign, but you don't need Medicare for Dummies to figure it out. Once you learn the ABCs and D of Medicare, you'll be well on your way.
In this MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... blog post, we'll break down the four main parts of … [Read more...]
When Can I Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan?
When Can You Sign Up For Medicare Advantage PlansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B)....?
Medicare Advantage (aka, Medicare Part CMedicare Part C is Medicare's private health plan option. Also known as Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part C plans are a type of Medicare health plan offered by companies that contract with Medicare to provide all...) and Medicare Part DMedicare Part D is Medicare's prescription drug plan program. Plans are offered by private insurance companies and cover outpatient prescriptions.... 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...]
Is it Better to Have Medicare Advantage or Medigap?
Here are the five top reasons that it's better to have a Medicare Advantage planMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B)....:
Up-front costs (monthly premiumA premium is an amount that an insurance policyholder must pay for coverage. Premiums are typically paid on a monthly basis. In the federal Medicare program, there are four different types of premiums. ...) 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...]
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...]
Medicare Star Ratings: What They Mean & How to Use Them
Have you ever wondered what the Centers for Medicare and MedicaidMedicaid is a public health insurance program that provides health care coverage to low-income families and individuals in the United States.... Services (CMS) star ratings mean and how to use them to choose a health plan? In this MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... 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...]
Does Medicare Cover Blood Tests?
Medicare covers many common laboratory tests and diagnostics needed to keep you healthy or diagnose a symptom. This includes many blood tests for things like hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), triglycerides, cholesterol, lipids, and most preventive care lab tests. In this … [Read more...]
What Is Medicare Part F?
The federal Medicare programMedicare is a federal health insurance program for people ages 65 and older and people with certain disabilities.... is a series of lettered (A, B, C, and D) health insurance programs available to people, age 65 and older, and certain adults with qualifying disabilities. Medicare Part AMedicare Part A is hospital inpatient coverage for people with Original Medicare, whereas Part B is medical coverage for doctor visits, tests, etc.... and Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical coverage for people with Original Medicare. It covers doctor visits, specialists, lab tests and diagnostics, and durable medical equipment. Part A is for hospital inpatient care.... (Original MedicareOriginal Medicare is private fee-for-service health insurance for people on Medicare. It has two parts. Part A is hospital coverage. Part B is medical coverage....) is provided directly by the government, whereas Medicare … [Read more...]
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 MedicareWireMedicareWire is a Medicare insurance consulting agency. We founded MedicareWire after seeing and hearing how confusing and frustrating it is to find, understand, and choose a plan. Our services are free to the consumer.... staff began noticing language and diagrams that it felt would bias readers. In fact, once you start looking for it, you … [Read more...]
Brand New Day vs. 5-Star Kaiser Medicare Advantage in California
Medicare Advantage plansMedicare Advantage (MA), also known as Medicare Part C, are health plans from private insurance companies that are available to people eligible for Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B).... 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 ServicesThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the U.S. Federal agency that runs the Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Programs.... (CMS) increased the maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit from $6,700 to $7,550 per year.
However, several … [Read more...]