SETX Seniors Medicare Answers: What is a Medicare Advantage Plan by EPO Eastex Physician Organization
For Southeast Texas seniors, each year brings new questions and concerns regarding Medicare and medical coverage.
It can be a challenge to understand what is available, particularly when it comes to available Southeast Texas Medicare and private Medicare Advantage Plans.
One group of Southeast Texas doctors is allied into ensuring Southeast Texas senior citizens understand their options when it comes to their health coverage. Eastex Physician Organization works to ensure their patients, and all Southeast Texas senior citizens, have a clear picture of their options when it comes to health care plans.
One of the growing trends with Southeast Texas senior citizens is a transition from traditional Medicare to Medicare Advantage Plans.
Before a Golden Triangle senior can evaluate whether this is the right option for them, it is critical to have an overview of what a Medicare Advantage Plan is and does for seniors.
The following information was prepared for Southeast Texas seniors at the request of Eastex Physicians Organization (EPO) using information from Medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for Medicare.
First, here is a quick overview of what a Medicare Advantage plan is:
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare services are covered through the plan and aren’t paid for under Original Medicare.
Most Medicare Advantage Plans do offer prescription drug coverage for seniors.
One question many Southeast Texas seniors ask is, “Are there different types of Medicare Advantage Plans”.
Yes, there are. Medicare.gov lists the different types of Medicare Advantage Plans.
The four most common kinds of plans are:
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans
- Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans
- Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
There are other less common types of Medicare Advantage Plans that may be available:
- HMO Point of Service (HMOPOS) Plans: An HMO Plan that may allow you to get some services out-of-network for a higher cost.
- Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans: A plan that combines a high deductible health plan with a bank account. Medicare deposits money into the account (usually less than the deductible). You can use the money to pay for your health care services during the year.
Hopefully this has given you a useful introduction to what a Medicare Advantage Plan is.
Would you like a coordinated approach to your healthcare? EPO can help.
Medicare Advantage Plans are a big and growing issue for Southeast Texas senior citizens, so SETXseniors.com will have more information on this key topic throughout the year.
Eastex Physicians Organization has been carefully monitoring the growth and success of Medicare Advantage Plan and has a great deal of experience with how they have worked for EPO patients.
