Medicare Advantage Plans

[Mike in Horseheads]

Hey Peeps on Medicare...  Anyone else get their Medicare Advantage Plan cancelled and you have to find a new one?  I've had a great one since April when I first got on and now the choices are slimmer and more expensive in co pays etc.  Current plan is Excellus Blue/Active (PPO).  Be interested in if others are getting the same notice.

 

Mike

 

PLEASE don't make this politics!

 

 

[Augie]

I do NOT know this world, but I sat in on the calls about my coverage. I even learned a little bit, while nodding along and my wife asked the questions and took notes. 

 

Anyway, one of the things this guide taught us was to look at how long each company had been doing it in your area, were they making or losing money, financial strength, etc. He showed us some things and said that may look like the best deal, but it probably won’t last. I wish I knew enough to help. 

[Another Fan]

IMO having Medicare as primary and then picking up a secondary insurance is the way to go.

 

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan you're at the mercy for things like authorizations.

 

But it depends on one's age as well.  If you're not like that sick I can see the appeal.  

[f0neguy]

My MVP advantage in NY was dropped.  Of course they have another plan available with a little monthly payment (current one is free) and reduced dental benefits….  Just picking away at it a little bit at a time.

[SoTier]

My Medicare Advantage plan through Highmark was canceled, but they have instituted several new plans which are similar to the one that I had.   

 

There are two types of Medicare Advantage plans: those that offer prescription coverage and those that don't.   If you choose a plan that doesn't offer prescription coverage then you have to also have prescription coverage. 

 

Most Medicare Advantage plans have similar benefits and usually have a variety of premium tiers.  I think these are required by law.  The two things that differentiate MA plans are monthly premiums, co-pays, and provider network.   I think that the provider network is the most important because if you pick a plan without the providers you need/want, even a minor health problem may cost you big $$$ regardless of how low the premiums and co-pays may be if you have to/choose to use out-of-network providers.   

 

If you want to be able to select any provider you want, you might want to consider original Medicare with a supplemental policy plus Part D coverage.  The first two years I had Medicare, I had original Medicare, but the price of prescriptions through Part D was both expensive and confusing (the pricing was never the same from one refill to another of the same script), so I switched to MA.  I was lucky that all my providers were also in the Highmark provider network.

 

My previous plan with Highmark had a large provider network, so I am in the process of making sure the providers I use will be in the network for 2026.