Providers|Agents & Brokers
Register
Blog Home   /   Healthcare and Insurance Basics

What is Medicare Advantage

Do you know what Medicare is and who qualifies for it? It’s time to take charge and learn what Medicare is and how it may be beneficial to you.

Couple on couch review Medicare Advantage plan and prescription.

First things first, what is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that pays for several covered health services. Generally, you’re eligible for Medicare if you (or your spouse) worked for at least 10 years and contributed taxes to fund your Medicare benefits, are 65 years or older, and a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you’re younger than 65, you may qualify for coverage if you have a disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), which is permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant.

Related: Ready to Enroll

Choosing the right plan is not only important, it’s personal. To sort things out, it is best to know all your options. So, what are the differences between Medicare Parts A, B, C and D?

Original Medicare—your government plan—is only PART A and PART B.

Part A is hospital coverage.

Part B is medical coverage, which most people will pay the standard premium amount for each month. This premium is set by the federal government, and your income determines how much you must pay.

Part C combines your hospital, medical, and typically even your drug coverage into one complete plan. You may need to pay an additional premium each month, depending on the plan you choose.

Part D is prescription drug coverage only.

Think of Medicare Advantage (Part C) as all-in-one coverage. You get hospital and basic medical care coverage, like preventive services and inpatient and outpatient care, plus many plans offer supplemental benefits for vision, dental, and hearing. You get all the benefits of Original Medicare, plus predictable copayments that make it easy to budget, a cap on your out-of-pocket maximum, and coverage for preventive screenings.

There are also Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans. These types of plans have an additional premium but only cover costs of some of the care Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These plans often don’t include any additional perks or optional benefits.

Related: We Have the Right Plan for You

When it comes to Medicare, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all option. Give the Select Health Answer Team a call at 855-442-9940 (TTY: 711) or work with a licensed insurance agent to better understand your options and decide what’s right for YOU.

 


Related Articles

Infographic listing off tools and member resources of SelectHealth insuranceInfographic

Healthcare and Insurance Basics

Select Health Member Toolkit

We’ve got something to help you find what you need, when you need it. If you’re a new member or even if you’ve been with us a while, you’re bound to have questions or need assistance. Here’s the most helpful tools you’ll need.
Woman hiking in the mountains, Health insurance survival guide lgWoman

Healthcare and Insurance Basics

Health Insurance Survival Guide

Understanding your health plan can be a real undertaking. Explore the many tools and resources to help you not only survive but thrive!
Insurance tools to help you save money, ConnectCare, nurseline, etc. Insurance

Healthcare and Insurance Basics

How Your Health Insurance Company Can Save You Time and Money

If you haven’t given much thought to your health insurance lately, it might be time to check in. Health insurers know that from groceries to back-to-school supplies, you have a lot of other expenses to worry about.
Self Exams you can do at home, infographicSelf

Healthcare and Insurance Basics

Must-do Self-exams

It’s important to think about health screenings that can alert us to possible health problems. You'll need a doctor for most screening tests and exams, of course. But you can do some checks yourself, often with a doctor's input or recommendation