Choosing the right supplemental insurance and Medicare Advantage Plan is essential if you want to make the most of your healthcare.
While many factors go into those decisions, understanding how each type of coverage works can help determine what will work best for you.
Let’s see how medicare supplemental insurance differs from the medicare advantage plan.
Contents
What is a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
Medicare Supplements are just what they sound like: supplements to Medicare. Also called Medigap is designed to pay the portion of Medicare that Original Medicare does not cover. It helps cover out-of-pocket expenses you might have to pay for deductibles, coinsurance, and copays. Medicare Supplement is only available if you have Original Medicare (Medicare Part A & B).
Benefits of Medicare Supplemental insurance plan
- International coverage
Some Medicare Supplement plans will cover medical expenses if you are injured or ill while on vacation outside the U.S.
- Guaranteed acceptance
You can buy Medicare Supplement insurance even if you have health problems, and your condition cannot affect your rate. This applies if you purchase a Medicare Supplement plan during the Open Enrollment Period.
- Guaranteed renewable policy
Insurance companies can’t cancel your Medicare Supplement plan if you’re paying your premiums, even if you have health problems. As a result, you will also be automatically re-enrolled every year.
- All Medicare-accepting doctors are available to you.
A Medicare Supplement policy will cover your visits to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. SELECT policies are an exception, as they may require you to use providers and hospitals in their network.
Medicare Advantage plan
Medicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health plan that combines Original Medicare and additional benefits in some areas, such as coverage for services that aren’t covered by Original Medicare- like dental and vision care. Private companies approved by Medicare administer Medicare Advantage plans. However, the health insurer may refuse to sell you a policy or charge you more if you apply after the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period.
Benefits Of Medicare Advantage Plan
Additional coverage
Medicare Advantage plans can cover the cost of hearing aids, vision care, and dental care, unlike Original Medicare. Original Medicare requires you to buy a separate Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) to help pay for your prescription drugs.
Prescription drug coverage
The Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug program (MAPD) provides prescription drug coverage to beneficiaries.
Coverage abroad with Medicare Advantage plans
Original Medicare is unavailable outside the United States, but some Medicare Advantage plans provide coverage overseas.
Health care providers in the plan’s network are readily available
Medicare Advantage Plans’ network restrictions may limit your access. A Medicare Advantage plan may be a good choice if your doctors and providers are in your network.
It may be less expensive than Medigap: Medigap plans typically have higher premiums than Medicare Advantage plans.
Which Medicare Plan Is Right for You?
In short, the right plan for you is the one that fits your situation the best. A Medicare Supplement plan offers coverage for costs that aren’t fully covered by Medicare related to your healthcare, but may require higher premiums for lower out-of-pocket costs. Medicare Advantage plans offer additional benefits while sometimes requiring the patient to shoulder more out-of-pocket costs for doctor visits, and may be more expensive than Original Medicare plans.
