Medicare Advantage Plans - The Different Types
Medicare Part C or Medicare Advantage plans are a fairly new addition to the healthcare industry.
Medicare Part A pays for a Medicare recipient's in-patient stay at hospital, nursing home, hospice or home-based medical care.
And while Medicare Part B covers nearly all of a patient's medical expenses (blood, ambulance, etc.
), a Medicare Advantage plan takes the best features of Part A and Part B - plus the cost of prescription medicine.
Advantage Plans have become popular recently because of the tremendous benefits they offer.
Because of them, Medicare recipients are able to stay extra days in the hospital, pay low fees for doctor's visits and generally pay less for prescription drugs.
Also, you don't anymore need to be referred by your primary physician - you can go to your doctor or hospital of choice without any referral.
It's easy to get this type of plan because they are available throughout the United States through private insurance providers.
Under the law, Part A and Part B are required to be incorporated into Advantage Plans.
A Medicare Advantage Plan may be an HMO plan, a PPO plan, or Private Fee For Service or Private Fee for Service plan.
The HMO Advantage plan continues to be a popular choice, especially for Medicare recipients who want to pay only the most minimal of out-of-pocket expenses and low or zero monthly premiums.
HMO medicare advantage plans, however, are only offered in metropolitan areas with a large number of Medicare recipients.
On the other hand, a Medicare PFFS or Private Fee for Service Advantage plan allows the Medicare recipient to visit any doctor, any hospital of his or her choice in the United States.
Not surprisingly, this type of Medicare advantage plan is enjoying tremendous popularity among Medicare recipients.
Advantage plans are now offered in 98% of counties within the United States.
This is a far cry from 1996, when only 15% of American counties offered them.
According to the 2007 statistics on Medicare Advantage plans, the average American pays $736 per month in premiums, although the actual monthly payments between states varies between over $500 to over $800 per month.
Medicare plan holders who do not have End Stage Renal Disease or kidney failure can qualify for a Medicare advantage plan, but in some counties there are offerings especially for people with kidney failure.
Medicare Part A pays for a Medicare recipient's in-patient stay at hospital, nursing home, hospice or home-based medical care.
And while Medicare Part B covers nearly all of a patient's medical expenses (blood, ambulance, etc.
), a Medicare Advantage plan takes the best features of Part A and Part B - plus the cost of prescription medicine.
Advantage Plans have become popular recently because of the tremendous benefits they offer.
Because of them, Medicare recipients are able to stay extra days in the hospital, pay low fees for doctor's visits and generally pay less for prescription drugs.
Also, you don't anymore need to be referred by your primary physician - you can go to your doctor or hospital of choice without any referral.
It's easy to get this type of plan because they are available throughout the United States through private insurance providers.
Under the law, Part A and Part B are required to be incorporated into Advantage Plans.
A Medicare Advantage Plan may be an HMO plan, a PPO plan, or Private Fee For Service or Private Fee for Service plan.
The HMO Advantage plan continues to be a popular choice, especially for Medicare recipients who want to pay only the most minimal of out-of-pocket expenses and low or zero monthly premiums.
HMO medicare advantage plans, however, are only offered in metropolitan areas with a large number of Medicare recipients.
On the other hand, a Medicare PFFS or Private Fee for Service Advantage plan allows the Medicare recipient to visit any doctor, any hospital of his or her choice in the United States.
Not surprisingly, this type of Medicare advantage plan is enjoying tremendous popularity among Medicare recipients.
Advantage plans are now offered in 98% of counties within the United States.
This is a far cry from 1996, when only 15% of American counties offered them.
According to the 2007 statistics on Medicare Advantage plans, the average American pays $736 per month in premiums, although the actual monthly payments between states varies between over $500 to over $800 per month.
Medicare plan holders who do not have End Stage Renal Disease or kidney failure can qualify for a Medicare advantage plan, but in some counties there are offerings especially for people with kidney failure.