Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Part C – Medicare Advantage

Medicare Advantage Plans are alternatives to Original Medicare (Parts A & B) and are offered by private insurance companies. Plan costs and benefits vary by carrier and may have premiums, deductibles and networks of doctors and hospitals.

• All of the benefits of Original Medicare are included.
• May offer additional benefits such as:
• Dental
• Vision
• Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
• Meals
• Prescription drug coverage may be included.

The most common types of Medicare Advantage Plans

• Health Maintenance Organization Plans (HMO)
• Preferred Provider Organization Plans (PPO)
• Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (DSNP) – eligible for Medicare and Medicaid
• Chronic Special Needs Plan (CSNP) – eligible based on certain chronic illnesses

Enrollment Periods for Medicare Advantage

Initial Enrollment Period – a 7 month period that begins 3 months before your 65th birthday, your birth month and 3 months after.

Annual Enrollment Period – annually from October 15 to December 7. During this period, you can join, switch or drop a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Open Enrollment – annually from January 1 – March 31. At this time, you can change from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare plus a Part D or switch form one Medicare Advantage Plan to another Medicare Advantage Plan.

Special Enrollment – certain time periods that allow changes due to special situations such as moving, job loss or other situations. Ask your licensed insurance advisor for qualifications.