Medicare 101 – What you need to know?
A handy guide that explains the Medicare Health Insurance arena in easy to understand terms. The world
September 16, 2020
Medicare
What are Medicare Advantage Plans? (Medicare Part C)
A Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) is another way to get your Medicare coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are offered by Medicare-approved private companies that must follow rules set by Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you’ll still have Medicare but you’ll get your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage from the Medicare Advantage Plan, not Original Medicare. You’ll generally get your services from a plan’s network of providers. Remember, in most cases, you must use the card from your Medicare Advantage Plan to get your Medicare-covered services. Keep your Medicare card in a safe place.
Source: Medicare & You 2019
What are Prescription Drug Plans? (Medicare Part D)
Medicare prescription drug coverage adds to your Medicare health coverage Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) helps you pay for both brand-name and generic drugs. Medicare drug plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare.
You can get coverage 2 ways:
1: Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (sometimes called “PDPs”) add prescription drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.
2: Some Medicare Advantage Plans (like HMOs or PPOs) or other Medicare health plans offer prescription drug coverage. You generally get all of your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and Part D through these plans. Medicare Advantage Plans that offer prescription drug coverage are sometimes called “MA-PDs.”
What are Medicare Supplements? (MediGap)
Original Medicare pays for much, but not all, of the cost for health care services and supplies. Medicare Supplement Insurance policies, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the remaining health care costs, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Medicare Supplement Insurance policies are also called Medigap policies.
Source:Medicare & You 2019
