Medigap vs Advantage Plans

Deciding between Medigap vs Advantage Plans is often a tough task. Finding the ultimate option depends on a number of factors. It also depends on how much effort you put in to find the best health supplement plan.

Medigap vs Advantage Plans:

Both the plans are offered by private insurance firms, and both aid in the cover of gaps left by Medicare. Medigap is a group of supplemental insurance plans that operates in conjunction with your normal Medicare benefits. Advantage Plans, on the other hand, are separate from Medicare. The fact is, if you buy an Advantage Plan, you’ll be de-enrolled from Medicare. The following are some more important differences:

1. The benefits of Medicare are standardized through the federal government, which indicates that plans sold by different insurance firms will all offer identical benefits.
2. Advantage Plans provide at least the same coverage as that of Part A and B. However, they vary broadly beyond this set of benefits.
3. The services offered by Medigap Plans involve a large number of doctors and caregivers. The services of Advantage Plans are normally in a limited network.
4. An individual has to pay an additional monthly premium in Medigap Plans.
5. The premiums for Advantage Plans are less compared to Medigap Plans. In some cases there is an absence of monthly premiums for Advantage Plans.

These prove that Advantage Plans cost less than Medigap plans. If you are ready to deal with the limited network and your funds are restricted, the Advantage plan should be the ideal choice for you. However, there are other crucial factors beyond the monthly cost which you should take into consideration.

Making the choice between Medigap vs Advantage Plans:

Advantage Plans may cost less, but not necessarily so. The premiums for some Advantage Plans may increase over time. However, the policyholders of Medigap Plans can choose options where the premiums are locked. Besides, additional services like hospital stays can be much more expensive in the Medigap vs Advantage Plans. Individuals thinking of purchasing an Advantage Plan should make it a point to read the fine print of the policy benefits to find out if the coverage satisfies their requirements.

Some important points:

The first thing is to set your priorities. Try to find out the benefits you value and those which you can do without. Strike out the plans that don’t offer the things you require. Visit the websites of different insurance firms and request for a quote. Educate yourself on different policies and consult people who have a vast knowledge on the subject.

Individuals are often overwhelmed when it comes to choosing a health insurance plan. However, with some amount of background information and guidance, you can run a supplement insurance comparison and make a concrete decision about the suitable supplemental plan for you.

Pm-512-75-12/1/2012