Different Kinds of Medicare Advantage Plans

[Mack]

The most common type of Medicare Advantage Plans are as follows:

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans.
Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans.
Special Needs Plans (SNP).

Two other plans that are less common are listed below:

HMO Point-of-Service (HMOPOS) Plans.
Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.

 

[Deleted member 985]

So Mack, can you explain something about medigap?

My ss is a bit different so until the card comes I’m going to be very confused. It’s on via ss way on other side of U.S. Deal is I don’t want to have to use doctors who are on other side of U.S. Will I have flexibility of using doctors in my area?

Which is best, medigap or medicare advantage? Differences?

 

[Mack]

A Medicare Supplement Plan, aka Medigap, is good for any Doctor who accepts Medicare. You are not limited to geographic areas.

Medicare Advantage Plans are limited to Networks of Doctors in geographic areas. Medicare Advantage Plans are cheaper than Medicare Supplement Plans.

So if you are primarily in one location, and the Doctors you might want to visit are in the Network, then a Medicare Advantage Plan will save you money. However if you spend several months in one area, and several months in another area you might want to consider the Medicare Supplement plan which does not restrict you from seeing any Doctor who accepts Medicare.

 

[Deleted member 985]

Sadly they are using the first 3 digits on the ssa card to raise questions. That’s why mine sat with no action for over 2 months. So it was processed on other side of U.S., and the people in my area just let it sit all that time.

As a kid, my family moved sometimes, but I’ve been in the same area for 40 years. Guess I’m stuck without medical care. Not my fault they moved it to other side of U.S. But at least I will have the card. Have no clue what I will do with it. I mean I shouldn’t have to get medigap because if bad policies.