@RickR55843
All Medicare beneficiaries have to decide for themselves what is the best way for them to get their Medicare benefits.
Medicare Advantage plans are part of the Medicare system and both the Traditional program and Medicare Advantage as well as all Part D programs are regulated and monitored by CMS.gov. under the Dept of Health and Human Services.
Many beneficiaries like their Medicare Advantage plan and they also have the option of changing every year to another if their needs change. The % of beneficiaries choosing a MA plan as the manner in which they get their benefit is about 35_40% of all beneficiaries in the program.
Many beneficiaries aren't poor but yet live on a budget and feel that they cannot afford a Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) plan with a monthly premium that escalates over time. Thus they opt for a MA plan so that they know their cost and can plan for these cost.
Having Traditional Medicare WITHOUT a Medicare Supplemental (medigap) plan leaves ones open to a lot of out of pocket cost since Traditional Medicare has NO limit on out of pocket cost - but Medicare Advantage DO!
Medicare Advantage plans cover the EXACT same things as Traditional Medicare except in a different way.
- We could talk about MA discounts or savings for people under a specific income (Medicare Savings Program)
- We could talk about Medicare Advantage plans offering some added benefits which some people need - which aren't offered by the Traditional program.
- We could talk about dual eligibles (people who have Medicare and Medicaid) and how special managed care MA plans helps them.
- We could talk about programs such as Accountable Care Organizations, Medicare Direct Contracting Entities and how all these also help certain beneficiaries.
All of these special programs are designed & regulated by CMS.gov. to help specific sets of beneficiaries depending upon their needs and their income.
One thing that the Medicare program has to watch and many of the rules surrounding the program takes into consideration - they do not want beneficiaries signing up for a MA plan and then perhaps years later begin to need lots and lots of care, switching from a MA plan to Traditional Medicare - that's the reason for the rules on when one can get a Medigap plan are limited and sometimes costly if one wants to do it and if they can (underwriting applies).
It's Always Something . . . . Roseanna Roseannadanna
