5 Reasons I Would Choose An Advantage Plan! (Should You?) 🤔

In this Medicare video, Marvin Musick from Medicare School discusses why Medicare Advantage Plans might be a good choice for you. If you're getting close to retirement or thinking about changing your Medicare plan, this video can help. Marvin makes it easy to understand how these plans work and what to consider.
Marvin talks about how Medicare Advantage Plans can save you money compared to other Medicare plans. He also mentions the extra benefits you can get, like gym memberships and dental and vision care coverage. He explains the rules about which doctors you can see and how you might need approval for some services. Plus, he reviews the costs you might pay with these plans, like copays.
Choosing the right Medicare plan is important, and Marvin's advice can help you decide if a Medicare Advantage Plan is right for you. Press Play Now to find out if this is your right plan!
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[@MedicareSchool]

✅ Watch the Internet's #1 Online Medicare Educational Workshop for FREE: get.medicareschool.com/45V4Rbw ✅ To get 1 on 1 Help with your Medicare from our Team, Schedule a Call Here: get.medicareschool.com/3PuKFq3

[@noelc2]

Here is a reason for advantage: you can’t afford a supplement. The end.

[@ocny4468]

Exactly.

[@juliebolduc802]

Or do not care to pay more than $176 per month for lackluster coverage!

[@BrittMFH]

Be prepared for spending that money you think you're saving on copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket expenses.

[@CandycaneBeyond]

With my current insurance I went for a colonoscopy and apparently I was out of network and no one mentioned it. So, $7000 later for a procedure that was supposed to be for free, I had to work and sell my nice car and buy a junker. (My car was paid off) Not worth it, that's why it's call insurance, to cover you

[@g0989]

@@CandycaneBeyond Something definitely wrong there. Sounds like your provider didn't accept your insurance, period; and billed the full cost of the service. Out-of--network would have paid part of the cost. Very unusual for a provider agree to accept you as a patient if they don't accept your insurance, unless you agreed to cash-pay. Somebody really dropped the ball there. I would have refused to pay the $7000 bill in that situation. Let them come after me.

[@LisaGene-su6ru]

Thank you for all you do. Your videos just get better and better. You splashed the date of the time you recorded this, which sticks with me a little better. You are helping 100sk of folks out here!

[@MedicareSchool]

Glad you like them!

[@MarkM58]

I have VA but I still went with the AARP UHC Plan G plus Wellcare Plan D thru you guys for $4/year! The reason is that I can't go to a civilian doctor and get a prescription and take it to the VA to get it filled. The civilian doctor can write a script up to 14 days. If I need more, I have to see my primary care VA doc and get him to write a prescription and meds will be mailed to me. The other reason is that if I get something very seriously wrong with me, I want to be able to go wherever I need to for treatment. Many of the best facilities like Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins only take their own MA plans and not everyone can purchase those...if you live outside their area for instance. So I have the best of both worlds.

[@MikeD_]

Good overview, although you have properly framed the strengths of both in other videos. Overall, this comes down to dollars. If someone can't afford a supplemental plan, then an MA certainly makes sense. On a separate note, would it be worth doing a video specifically for those of us in the four states where a person can move back and forth between a supplemental and MA?

[@BillRobello]

I have the advantage plan and pay Co pay when I visit doctors. I'm fairly healthy so I don't have many visits to the doctor.

[@user-TM59]

I can't afford supplemental plans, and stand alone plans ,🙁🤧,,, I'm a veteran rt now i get care at VA hospital, as a backup I would have to go with the advantage plan.

[@trekketoo]

I work for the state of MO and I'm working past my normal retirement now. Age 62. The insurance offered is Aetna, once age 65 and retired it's an advantage plan through Aetna. There is a premium and it's based on your years of service. I want to say it'd be about $135 for me after 25 yrs. Doesn't sound like a good deal at all now. Thank you for all the information.

[@noelc2]

Usually retiree plans do not offer Med Advantage but a supplement. For instance, a family friend worked for our state & when he retired, was given an F plan through United/AARP. $135/mo does not sound like an advantage plan price, sounds like a supplement price for age 65. Aetna does both advantage & supplements so check on that again. The offer may be a Plan G Medigap supplement.

[@DLTJR1959]

@@noelc2The state of NC offers both. Humana PPO or BCBS traditional medicare. The BCBS plan is over $350 per month and is only a 70/30 plan. The Humana PPO is $4 per month and is a 90/10 plan. The Humana plan has a max out of pocket of 4K per year. The Medicare plan is over $6500 per year. Pretty easy decision.

[@trekketoo]

@@DLTJR1959 why would the Medicare supplement be so expensive? That's not right at all. They make it easy to tell you what plan they want you on.

[@trekketoo]

@@noelc2 ours says Medicare Advantage Plan, and there are no other options.

[@g0989]

@@trekketoo Not very many employers offer Medicare plans to their retirees. Of those that do, it will most often be Advantage-only. Employer Supplement retiree plans are becoming much less common. If you do a side-by-side comparison, you will find in many cases the employer-sponsored Advantage plans are better in a number of ways, compared to individual Advantage plans, particularly when it comes to copays and max out-of-pocket.

[@martinmacek4187]

Why don’t you tell us the average cost for the G plan for a 75 year old?

[@jimadams2113]

For USAA, a 75 year old non-smoker in CA will pay $191.42 (Plan G)

[@MedicareSchool]

Give us a call at 800-864-8890 or schedule an appointment at www.medicareschool.com

[@kurtblaser9421]

Marvin, this is something you have not addressed. Apparently, if you are on a large group advantage plan, you can switch back to original Medicare with without medically qualifying.

[@yeahright532]

You can always switch back to original Medicare without medical underwriting.

[@noelc2]

@@yeahright532 supplements require underwriting (health questions) or you can be declined. Med Advantage does not have underwriting/health questions. If you have been on supplement/Medigap since 65, and try a Med Advantage plan for the 1st time, you can go back to your Supp without having to pass health/underwriting questions for 1 year, it is called your “trial right”. If you are turning 65, you have 6 months of a guaranteed issue in which you do not have to pass any health questions to get on a Supp. If you are past 65 & didnt enroll in Medicare because you were working & covered under your group health (creditable coverage), you can get on a Supp within 63 days without having to pass health questions.

[@trekketoo]

@@yeahright532 how is that?

[@g0989]

@@trekketoo There is no underwriting to switch from an Advantage plan to original Medicare. Nor is there any underwriting to enroll in Advantage, or to switch to a different Advantage plan. There WILL be underwriting to enroll in a Supplement after initial enrollment period, in many situations, or to switch Supplements. Regarding group retiree Advantage plans, those plans differ in a number of ways from individual Advantage plans sold on the open market. There may be a 63-day "Special Enrollment Period" (SEP), if an enrollee should leave that group plan for an individual Medicare plan. You would have to look at the plan documents to see if this applies to your particular plan.

[@ocny4468]

It depends on the state in which you reside.

[@idazakin2589]

Uou've always said to steer clear of Advantage plans - what happened?

[@MedicareSchool]

Some people cannot afford a supplement plan. Getting an advantage plan in this case would be better than just have part A and B.

[@gaetanomaximus8650]

He still is. He said so at the beginning of this video.

[@girlandasuitcase8288]

If a person has full medicaid, can she or he select dual plan medicare medicaid advantage PPO and what do they pay for co-pays, coinsurance, premium and deductible?

[@barreloffun10]

If you have both medicaid and medicare you can enroll in what is called a Dual Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) MAPD if one is available in your area. If your provider is in-network for both medicaid and the D-SNP you should have no out of pocket because the MAPD will pay its portion first and then medicaid will pay what is left over. D-SNPs usually have very rich dental, vision benefits, and other perks.

[@girlandasuitcase8288]

@@barreloffun10 thank you so much for all these info!

[@MedicareSchool]

Yes, just as the other comment stated. If you would like some assistance with reviewing those options we'd love to help contact our office 1-800-864-8890!

[@martinmacek4187]

Marvin, If Your are are on a G plan and the price of it goes up. Say you what to switch insurance companies and find a cheaper plan. Don’t you need to though underwriting to switch companies? If you don’t qualify ,then your stuck on that expensive G plan for life?

[@g0989]

In most states, you would be correct. You could become stuck with whatever Supplement you initially chose. If you want to switch to another Supplement after your initial enrollment period, you will have to medically qualify (again, would be the case in most states). You could be denied another Supplement. Your choice at that point would be to just keep paying the increasing premium, or switch to Advantage.

[@MedicareSchool]

You would have to go through underwriting to switch companies, yes. Some states don't require underwriting such as NY, CT, MA, and VT.

[@Robert_A_Keyboards4948]

They are cheaper. However advantage plans have many restrictions as far as networks and hospitals don't seem to like them and will sometimes exit that particular plan. As far as drug coverage, if you research it advantage and supplemental part D both don't want to cover the same drugs. Most of them don't like brand name drugs. However your drug coverage is rolled into the advantage plan so you pay nothing extra.

[@franciscotorres-dw5iz]

I have part b and the Aetna direct plan, the ma plans for federal retirees are good but I am a little skeptical regarding the provider list even though they say that as long as the Dr or facilities take Medicare there is no problem and there are zero copay’s for almost all care. aca you elaborate more on this . Thank you

[@davidlabate3460]

Thanks for finally stopping the demonizing C plans and why its a good fit for some.

[@gaetanomaximus8650]

There's a lot to demonize about them, though.

[@mey7579]

My supplement plan pays for discounts on dental and vision, plus I get a gym membership for $10 a month.

[@lydiayoung7012]

What ins company is it?

[@mey7579]

@@lydiayoung7012 United Healthcare Plan F with AARP

[@trekketoo]

I'd say it's great for healthy people.

[@sueeason7827]

What plan

[@mey7579]

@@sueeason7827 plan F

[@Direct.injection212]

500 per month aka 6k per year is cheaper than a $50, $60 or $70 Thousand Dollar Medical Bill. The MA plans have networks and pre authorizations. I'll stick with the MediGap for me.

[@noelc2]

Just a few notes on your comment: $500/mo is highly unusual, even counting $174/mo current price all Medicare recipients pay for Part B (have to pay that whether Med Advantage or Supplement/Medigap.) Also, $50-$70k medical bill would not feasibly happen even under Medicare Advantage since they all have MOOPs (Maximum Out of Pockets) usually not exceeding $5k. Unless you went completely out of network by choice & racked up something catastrophic…this honestly would not really happen. I do prefer Medigap/Supp, BUT to be fair, most Med Adv plans today do have larger networks than in the past. For instance, all the carriers in my area include Cleveland Clinic, so huge networks particularly for the biggest carriers, and some are open access or PPO, and most do not require prior authorization on most things. Med Adv plans VARY WILDLY. Each carrier usually offers 5 or so in any given area, so if someone does need advantage it’s not the end of the world. ❤️

[@DLTJR1959]

The Advantage Plan that I will be in has a MOOP of 4K per year.

[@barreloffun10]

​Well said. I perfectly understand why some prefer medigap to MA, but often the medigap supporters overstate things. ​@@noelc2

[@mattt4025]

Thanks for the great info. Just to be clear, once my spouse and I go on Medicare, and either a Medigap or Advantage plan, there is no more sharing of expense, such as towards deductibles or MOOPs? Everything is signed for and calculated independently. Right?

[@MedicareSchool]

That is correct

[@arthurvandermark5397]

State might pick up cost of drug plan too

[@JanetVaughn-cm3et]

So, with the new PSHBP ( Postal retirees) medicare part B & a medicare advantage plan with the new PSHB is a pretty good option ?? Of course the premiums for these new plans won't be released until October/November 2024 so we will have to consider those costs in addition to the medicare part B premium.

[@MedicareSchool]

I'm happy to assist you in getting connected with one of our agents. It's important to note that there are licensing rules and compliance requirements mandated by Medicare. While I can provide you with general information, for plan-specific details and information, it's necessary to consult with one of our agents who is licensed in your state and AHIP certified.

[@rickyschultzusa]

That is a helpful video.

[@MedicareSchool]

Glad we could help!