MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS

Medicare Advantage plans are not Medicare.  They are Medicare-inspired, Healthcare plans offered by private insurance companies.  These companies decide what procedures they will cover! There are limited networks, with annual Out-Of-Pocket Expenses (MOOP) between$5,700 - $12,000 annually. 

A Medicare Advantage Plan is a private health insurance plan approved by Medicare.  You have the option to receive your Part A, Part Ban and Part D benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan instead of Original Medicare.  Originally these private insurance company offerings were referred to simply as Medicare Part C.  Medicare Advantage plans usually have, an  HMO or PPO network of physicians and hospitals. All Medicare Advantage Plans are 80/20 Plans where the insurance company pays 80% of the covered charges and you are responsible for paying your 20% share as you go. Each year you in the fall Annual Enrollment Period you will need to choose a new plan for the coming year 

MA and MA/PD (Medicare Advantage Plans) were created as an alternative to Original Medicare and Medicare Supplemental/Medigap insurance.  By joining one of these plans, you direct Medicare to pay the Advantage Plan a set monthly amount for your care.  In return, the plan will deliver all of your Part A & Part B benefits and services.  Essentially your care and services are managed by a private insurance company instead of the government.  The Insurance carrier takes on all of the risk. And, unfortunately, each Insurance Company makes its own rules and they have the final say on what procedures are covered and which ones are not.

You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium each month, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B and you must live in the Medicare Advantage Plan's, service area.

Medicare Advantage plans are NOT Medigap plans.  They work differently because your insurance company pays all of your bills instead of Medicare, which means they also decide what they will and will not cover.

There are some great advantages for people choosing a Medicare Advantage plan.  First and foremost is that most of their plans offer $0 monthly premiums, the majority of Medicare Advantage plans also include Prescription Drug coverage.  And there are many other benefits including Dental, Vision, and Hearing benefits, Over-The-Counter (OTC) Benefits, Transportation, and more.  

At Braden Medicare we are legally contracted by the best Medicare Companies who offer Medicare Advantage plans in Arizona. It is important to mention that we do not offer every plan available in every county in the United States. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.”