Medicare Advantage FAQs

Choosing the right plan for you depends on a number of factors – what services do you need? Which plans are available in your area? Which providers accept patients under those plans? What are the monthly premiums? What are the deductibles? What are the copayments? Is there a cap on your out-of-pocket costs? What are your total monthly payments likely to be? How can you select the best health care providers? Depending on where you live, you may have only a few plans to choose from or a wide variety of them. Here's a little more detail on what to ask to help you find the best Medicare plan for you.

When choosing Medicare coverage, you may select Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan, which is also known as Medicare Part C. Original Medicare includes Part A (hospital coverage) and the optional, though strongly recommended, Part B (doctors and other medical service coverage). Original Medicare is administered directly through the federal government, while Medicare Advantage is offered by private insurance companies that contract with the government. There are many factors to consider when you’re making a decision.

When looking for a Medicare Advantage plan that works for you, there are two main plan types to consider: HMO and PPO. Both HMOs and PPOs offer similar coverage, but there are some significant differences between coverage and costs.

With the many Medicare options available to you, it can be difficult to know which health insurance plan to choose. While researching your options, you will very likely come across what’s known as a Health Management Organization (HMO) plan.

Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs) can be particularly difficult to navigate. We break it down for you so that you can understand the three types of Medicare SNPs and what they cover.

Alignment Health Plan offers Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) to those who have both Medicare and Medicaid eligibility. If you qualify, a D-SNP can help you get the health care you need with the providers you want at an affordable cost.

Medicare Chronic Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) have different benefits and extended coverage for those with qualifying chronic health conditions. C-SNPs provide customized care to fit the unique health care needs those chronic conditions require.

Joining Medicare can seem like a daunting process, but it doesn’t have to be. Before enrolling in Medicare, it’s important to understand your options to help you better determine the coverage you may need and ensure you receive it.

Medicare Part D is prescription drug insurance that provides protection for people enrolled in Medicare who have high drug costs. Medicare Part D plans cover both brand name and generic prescription drugs at participating pharmacies in your area. Everyone with Medicare is eligible for Part D coverage, but coverage is not automatic.

There are many things that can influence which Medicare plan works best for you. Once you have selected and enrolled in a plan, however, the government limits when you can switch Medicare plans.  Every year, thousands of Medicare enrollees decide they want or need to swap plans, so there is no reason for you to feel alone in this process.

People who are enrolled in Medicare have the option to make changes to their plan coverage only at certain times of the year. Once you enroll in a new plan, Medicare will inform your original insurance carrier that you have picked a new plan, and you will automatically be disenrolled from your existing plan.

When you're planning a move to California, you have to coordinate everything from finding a home to making sure your belongings are packed up safe and sound. One thing that many people forget to check is whether their existing Medicare coverage goes with them when they move to a new state. You don't want to add health insurance worries onto your plate during an already stressful time. Here's what you need to know about your Medicare plans when you move from out of state into California.

Medicare is an American federal health insurance program administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and is limited to qualified U.S. citizens and legal residents. This article describes the role of Medicare insurance agents and brokers in the state of California (although the rules are similar throughout the United States, state laws will vary).