If you have been shopping for your Medicare Part D Plan, you have probably been approached by someone or have recieved mail about changing to a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN. The season for OPEN ENROLLMENT for changing or enrolling in MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS begins January 1 through March 31st of 2008.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS are good for some people, but you must be absolutely sure you can live with the coverage. There are sales people that will tell you that these plans are as good as original Medicare. This can be very misleading. You actually give up your Medicare benefits, and your doctors and hospitals will be paid directly from the MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN. Many doctors and hospitals WILL NOT ACCEPT THE TERMS OF PAYMENT FROM THESE ADVANTAGE PLANS. You must be certain that your doctor or hospital will accept these plans before you join them.
We have heard from many people that could not continue to go to the doctor of their choice. They had to search for a doctor that would accept these plans. If you are in the middle of health issues, and you can afford to keep your Traditional Medicare Supplement, YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT. There are many things that may not be covered by your MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN.
An elderly gentleman here in Chattanooga, TN had scheduled a heart surgery and joined a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN. When he went in to have the surgery, his doctor nor the hospital would accept the terms of payment from his new plan. He had to postpone his surgery, until we could get him back on his Traditonal Medicare Supplement. This was very dangerous for him because he needed the surgery when it was scheduled.
We were able to do this because Medicare rules say that if you join a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN and are not happy with it for any reason, you have 12 months to get back on your Traditional Medicare Supplement, WITH NO UNDERWRITING. Had he waited after 12 months, he would have had to go through underwriting and all the health questions and would NOT have been able to get back on his Traditional Medicare Supplement. His Traditional Medicare Supplement was accepted at any doctor or hospital and payed the 20% of his surgery expenses and Original Medicare Part B payed 80%.
We recommend MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS only for people on disability that cannot get any other type of coverage. We also recommend them for people who can absolutely NOT afford a Traditional Supplement.
For anyone else a Traditional Medicare Supplement is perferable because there are no hoops to jump through or co-pays to worry about. You know your doctor and hospital will accept them. You can go to a specialst anytime without referral and a Traditional Medicare Supplement is good anywhere in the USA. Many times MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS are regional and do not travel well.
I know we all want to save a dollar where we can, but please, if you can afford your Traditional Medicare Supplement do not be drawn in by the lower or no premium sales pitch of the MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS.
Please read my other blogs with further details about MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS. You can find them on the left side of this webpage under “categories”.
At MY PART D USA we can help you find the best Traditional Medicare Supplement in your state. We can also help you if you feel a MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN is right for you. There are many MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS on the market and we will explain them to you and help you choose the one that benefits you the most.
www.MyPartDusa.com
toll free - 866-752-1795
