If you are unsure of what Medicare Advantage is, just know that Advantage means you are getting your Medicare from a private health insurance company, and these plans have become more popular in recent years. The most popular plans are premium-free (although you must continue to pay your Part B Premium) and have a drug plan built in. They also have a list of goodies you cannot get with Original Medicare, paired with a supplement. But within a geographic area, the plans are similar, whether you buy one, for example, from Humana or United Healthcare. So, these different products are how they try to separate themselves.
“Anthem has a hearing aid benefit that covers up to $3,000 a year, Humana has a benefit where you can spend $1,000 toward dental,” Haas says. “They’re all trying to appeal to the marketplace by finding unique niches to differentiate themselves from the other guys.”
He says the most important thing often is how the Advantage Plan handles your drugs – especially if they are of the more expensive variety. If drugs are not a concern, find what’s right for your unique needs and what gives you the most personal value.
You may want to consider utilizing a senior healthcare sales professional as this service cost you nothing. They are typically compensated by the companies you choose.
Given the constant change every year, that might not be a bad idea.