Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C is a health insurance plan that belongs to Medicare, but which is run by private companies and insurance providers. Medicare Advantage allows you to have broader coverage and it is usually used as an alternative to original Medicare that Involves Part A & Part B.
If you opt for Medicare Advantage, you will still be in a Medicare program, except you will need to find private companies to enroll with. Despite that, an increasing number of people are recognizing the benefits of Part C and there are more enrollees each year.
Medicare Part C may be the perfect solution for those who are looking for a plan that offers some supplemental benefits as well as vision, hearing and dental insurance. In a way, Medicare Advantage has combined everything there is in the original two parts, with the addition of prescription drugs and some other benefits taken from other plans.
Commonly, people who opt for Medicare Advantage don’t need any additional plans, which isn’t the case with the original Medicare. In this article, we will present 6 things that Medicare Advantage covers – something you may be unfamiliar with.
1. Healthcare During Travel
A majority of Medigap Plans (Medicare Supplement Plans) come with insurance during your travel abroad. However, it may take a toll on you to get the original Medicare + Medicare Part D that covers prescription drugs and get one of the Supplement plans. This can be too much to keep track of.
You can replace all four plans with Medicare Advantage. Most Medicare Advantage Plans cover emergencies while you are traveling within the USA and some cover the abroad costs as well. The way this works depends on the provider – sometimes, you will pay up front and get the reimbursement later and sometimes, the coverage will be paid for you before the trip.
For people who travel a lot, visiting their family or simply enjoying retirement, Medicare Advantage may be the best insurance out there. And healthcare during travel is not mentioned a lot when we talk about Part C
2. Groceries and Meal Deliveries
For some people, getting older means that they cannot walk properly or drive their car. Those people usually need help when they want to shop for groceries and do regular daily tasks. Some Advantage plans have grocery shopping and meal delivery included for the people who cannot get around well. To find the best meal kit delivery service to suit your needs, check out this guide by Lifehacker.com.
However, this type of service has an expiration date, but it can mean the world to anyone who is recovering from surgery or struggles to move around due to a certain health condition. Before you opt for your Medicare plan, make sure to check if this is included in the plan and under which conditions.
3. Telemedicine Services
Often, during their treatment people can have some questions regarding their condition or the medicines they take. The Medicare Advantage program includes telemedicine services. In other words, if you have a couple of questions, you don’t have to go to the doctor’s office – you can simply use your phone and call them. Nursing hotlines are organized and active for the beneficiaries who choose to have this in their plan.
4. Emergency and Non-Emergency Transportation
If you need to go to the doctor’s office for a checkup, you don’t have to worry about transportation. A large majority of Medicare Advantage plans have the transportation costs to the doctor’s covered. Some even partner with private ridesharing services to make things easier for everyone. This is often not mentioned in the plan outlay, but it is important to know that there’s this option for beneficiaries.
5. Gym Membership and Wellness Programs
Working out has numerous physical and mental benefits. One of the best ways to stay healthy and live longer is to work out regularly. The workouts don’t need to be intense for you to improve your health, but as long as you stay active, everything should be ok.
Medicare Advantage is one of the few plans that offer you gym memberships. Seniors can also opt for SilverSneakers – a fitness program designed for seniors, which is an even better option.
6. House Cleaning and Home Modifications
Sometimes, doing chores can be tiring or even impossible for some Medicare beneficiaries who struggle with certain diseases. For example, specific programs such as SNPs offer coverage for patients who have dementia and some other severe conditions that are making their lives difficult.
Although doing chores isn’t medical assistance, living in a clean home improves quality of life and therefore home cleaning is included in the mix of services. Medicare Advantage enrollees can also have equipment such as arm rails or wheelchair ramps installed in their home to move around easier. Both home cleaning and modification services are covered in Medicare Advantage.
7. Medicare Part C Options
There are different plans within the Medicare Advantage program and it is important to choose one that suits you best. Some of the most popular include Health Maintenance Organization or HMO and Preferred Provider Organization or PPO. There are other plans such as SNP (Special Needs Plans), Private Fee-for-Service plans and Medical Savings Account Plans.
Before option for any of these plans, you must first see if you are eligible to choose one. Once you find that out, see which of the plans offers any of the 6 things that we mentioned in the article.
The Bottom Line on Medicare Advantage…
Medicare Advantage is one of the best Medicare programs because of its vast coverage. With such a plan, seniors can make their lives a lot easier, considering that they get help regarding grocery shopping, home cleaning and the motivation to stay healthy with a gym membership and programs designed specifically for seniors. If you are an eligible Medicare recipient or helping a loved one, you can learn more about Medicare Advantage at MedicareConsumer.com and compare free quotes from top Medicare insurance carriers within minutes.
