Talking With Insurance Companies

Are you now eligible for Medicare and are considering if you need a Medicare Advantage Plan? If so, it will help to know more about this form of supplemental health insurance. Below are some common questions about this type of plan.

Can You Keep Your Current Doctor On Medicare Advantage?  

Have concerns about keeping your current doctor if you use a Medicare Advantage plan? Know that these plans are going to have their own network of doctors, so it is important that you check the network to find out if they are in it or not. There are various types of plans with different networks, so do not make assumptions about coverage if you are particular about what doctor you see. 

Can You Change Your Medicare Advantage Plan? 

What makes Medicare Advantage unique is that you enroll in Medicare Advantage for the calendar year. Once you purchase a Medicare Advantage plan you are essentially locked into it for the next calendar year for the most part. 

There is an enrollment window near the end of the calendar year where you can make changes to the plan that will go into effect the next calendar year. However, there is also an open enrollment period at the start of the year where you can make a change as well. This includes changing to a different plan or dropping your coverage altogether and having regular Medicare. 

How Does Prescription Drug Coverage Work? 

You have the option of selecting Part D prescription drug coverage through regular Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan. One thing to keep in mind is that you can't have both types of prescription drug coverage at the same time, since you must have one or the other. It is worth looking at what is covered under both plans and if you need the additional prescription drug coverage. 

How Does Dental Coverage Work? 

You also can decide if you want to get dental coverage through Medicare Advantage since many plans offer dental coverage. What you may discover is that the dental coverage under Medicare Advantage is going to be better when you select an HMO plan rather than a PPO plan. By limiting your network to certain dentists, they are able to reduce the costs and give you better dental benefits. It's always worth comparing more than the network, since the type of coverage that you get matters as well. 

Still have questions about Medicare Advantage Plans? Reach out to an insurance provider for more information.