Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans are an alternative to Original Medicare. Private carriers take over for the Government for managing your Part A and Part B coverage, and the carriers share the expenses with the policyholder for the costs that Part A and Part B do not cover. Advantage Plans do not participate in the “Original Medicare network”, but rather each have their own network of providers that participate. Advantage Plans can have as low as a zero dollar monthly premium, typically include medication coverage, and often include gym memberships, routine dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Multiple factors need to be taken into consideration in order to identify the best Medicare Advantage Plan for an individual. In addition to minimizing costs, it is important to ensure that the Medicare Advantage Plan will provide appropriate coverage, by taking the following into consideration: Participating (in-network) Providers- Hospitals, Primary Care Physicians, Dentists, Specialists such as Cardiologist, Nephrologist, Ophthalmologist, Endocrinologist, Gynecologist, Dermatologist, Gastroenterologist, Urologist, Neurologist, Rheumatologist, Orthopedist, Podiatrist, Otolaryngologist, Allergist, and Pulmonologist to name a few. Covered Medications- Ensure that the Medicare Advantage Plan covers your Medications and that pharmacies/mail-order options are acceptable to the policyholder.