In the digital age, many tools can help you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan from the comfort of your home. These tools can also provide you with the personalized support you need to make an informed decision about your coverage. In addition, there are licensed representatives who can assist you throughout the process and answer any questions you may have.
Medicare Advantage Plans (also known as Part C) are health insurance plans offered by private companies that provide all the hospital and medical coverage of Original Medicare (Parts A and Part B), plus extra benefits, like vision, hearing and dental care, gym memberships and home delivery of prescription drugs. These plans are available nationwide and are managed by private insurance companies like Aetna.
Typically, these plans require you to use in-network doctors and hospitals for most services but may allow you to go out of network for certain services at higher costs. Aetna’s Medicare Advantage HMO-POS plans have a wide network of doctors and hospitals and offer a choice of in-network dentists. In contrast, Aetna’s PPO plans have more flexibility by not requiring you to select a primary care doctor.
Many Medicare Advantage plans, including those from Aetna, include a drug plan (Part D) that covers your medication. This allows you to have all your Medicare coverage in one place rather than having separate cards for each part of your healthcare.
Medicare Advantage Plans from Aetna are rated 4.3 out of 5 stars by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This is higher than the national average. They offer a wide range of prescription drug and wellness benefits, and they also provide support for people with chronic diseases.
Aetna HMO-POS and PPO-POS Plans
The type of Medicare Advantage plan you choose depends on your needs and budget. Aetna offers a wide range of Medicare Advantage Plan options, including Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. They also offer Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (DSNP) that work with your Medicare and Medicaid benefits.
Some Medicare Advantage Plans are HMO Point-of-Service (HMO-POS) plans that allow you to see providers outside of their network for certain treatments in limited circumstances, but you will pay more. Other Medicare Advantage Plans are PPO-POS (Preferred Provider Organization with Point-of-Service) plans that combine the convenience of an HMO plan with the choice and flexibility of a PPO plan.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drug coverage, you will still need to pay the Part B premium and may need to meet other out-of-pocket cost limits. Your specific costs will depend on how much you use your Medicare Advantage plan, how often you visit doctors or hospitals, and what drugs you take.
Aetna Value PlusSM Plan
Aetna also offers a new Medicare Advantage plan called Value PlusSM that provides extra benefits that complement Original Medicare, including dental, hearing, and vision, SilverSneakers fitness benefit, and an OTC allowance. Plus, the plan offers $0 monthly premiums for those who qualify for Extra Help and have a Part D Low Income Subsidy. You can find more information about these plans by viewing the Evidence of Coverage and the Part D formulary.