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What Are Medicare Advantage Plans
(Examples: HMOs and PPOs)?
Medicare Advantage Plans are health plan options that are approved by Medicare and run by private companies. They are part of the Medicare Program, and sometimes called "Part C." When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you are still in Medicare. Some of these plans require referrals to see specialists. In many cases, the Premiums or the costs of services (co-pays) can be lower in a Medicare Advantage Plan than they are in the Original Medicare Plan or the Original Medicare Plan with a Medigap Policy.
Medicare Advantage Plans provide all of your Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical) coverage and must cover Medically Necessary services. They generally offer extra benefits, and many include Part D drug coverage. These plans often have networks, which means you may have to see doctors who belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get covered services. In many cases, your costs for services can be lower than in the Original Medicare Plan. Some of these plans coordinate your care, using networks and referrals, more than others. This can help manage your overall care and can also result in savings to you.
Medicare pays an amount of money for your care every month to these private health plans, whether or not you use services. Medicare Advantage Plans also include options that provide specialized care for people who need a lot of health care services. Even if you are out of the service area of the plan, you are still covered for emergency or urgently needed care (see Part B Helps Cover ...
).
Medicare Advantage Plans include
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(Primary Source: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - Medicare and You Handbook 2007. This content may have been added upon by Q1Group LLC to include further examples, explanations, and links.)
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Last updated on: 07/05/2009
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Life Insurance plays an important role in your families financial stability.
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