What is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage is the new name for Medicare + Choice Plans a but it’s more than just a new name. Medicare Advantage gives you more health care coverage choices and better health care benefits. This fact sheet has basic information about how Medicare Advantage affects your health care choices, and has contact information for where to get your questions answered. You must have Medicare Part A and Part B to join a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare Advantage Plans provide Medicare-covered benefits to Medicare members through the plan, and may offer extra benefits that Medicare doesn’t cover, such as vision or dental services.
Medicare Advantage is the new name for Medicare + Choice, and it’s more than just a new name. Medicare Advantage gives you more health care coverage choices. Medicare Advantage plans are one of your health plan choices as part of the Medicare program. With Medicare Advantage, you may have the following choices: Medicare Managed Care Plans In most of these plans, you can only go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals on the plan’s list, except in an emergency. This is called the plan’s “network.” You may also have to choose a primary care doctor and get referrals to see a specialist. You may pay lower copayments and get extra benefits, such as coverage for extra days in the hospital. New Medicare Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPOs) In most of these plans, you use doctors, specialists, and hospitals on the plan’s list (network). You can go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals not on the plan’s list, but it may cost extra. You don’t need referrals to see doctors or specialists, o
Medicare Advantage (formerly Medicare + Choice) Plans generally provide all Medicare-covered services through a specific plan such as an HMO or PPO. Medicare Advantage Plans are available in many areas and typically provide health care coverage that exceeds the coverage of traditional Medicare. Sometimes referred to as Medicare Replacement or Medicare Part C, these plans must offer benefits that are the same or better than those offered through traditional Medicare. However, you may need to see doctors that belong to the plan or certain hospitals to get services.
A. Medicare Advantage is the new name for Medicare + Choice plans. This type of health plan is an alternative to Original Medicare and was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 and the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003. Some examples of Medicare Advantage plans are: • Medicare Health Maintenance Organization plans (HMO) • Medicare Preferred Provider Organization plans (PPO) • Medicare Private Fee-for-Service plans (PFFS) Medicare Advantage plans feature prescription drug benefits, fixed costs, limits on out-of-pocket expenses, and worldwide coverage for emergency and urgent care.
