There are a lot of acronyms in Medicare, and even more in insurance. We know, it can get very confusing when you are not hip to the “Medicare/ insurance world” lingo. As a result, one of the most repeated acronym questions we hear is: What is MAPD?
Medicare MAPD plans are private insurance plans offered by Insurance Carriers to replace Original Medicare. Also called Medicare Part C, they offer a single payer option to beneficiaries. In addition, they offer extra benefits to members above and beyond what is covered in Medicare Part A and Part B. Finally, they also include a Part D drug plan.
If the plan does not offer drug coverage, then it is just called a MA (Medicare Advantage) Plan. As mentioned, these plans are also called Medicare Part C, and insurance companies offer Medicare MAPD plans with extra benefits to take the place of Original Medicare.
What Do Medicare Advantage Plans Cover?
Medicare Advantage Plans are regulated by the CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services). This agency makes sure that every plan offers at least the same standards of care and coverage that Original Medicare offers. Most plans offer additional benefits, not covered by Original Medicare, such as vision, dental, hearing and even gym memberships such through organizations like SilverSneakers or Renew Active.
Costs of MAPD
Medicare Advantage Plans often come with lower premium costs than Supplement Plans. Some of them even offer “zero premium” options. They are not technically “free” because everyone still has to pay their Medicare Part B Premiums directly to the government each month.
However, they are low cost options because the government is paying the insurance company to take beneficiaries onto their books and off the government books. Essentially, the Medicare Advantage Insurance companies are replacing beneficiaries Original Medicare with their Part C plan and becoming a single-payer.
Just like Medicare Advantage (Part C), PDP plans are not administered by the U.S. government, but instead by private insurance companies. Just like MAPD Insurance plans, you can shop to find the best PDP plan for your needs each year.
And also, just like Medicare Advantage Insurance plans, you do not have to go through medical underwriting to be accepted into a Part D plan.
Differences Between Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans
First, if you have Original Medicare, you will need a PDP plan in addition to Parts A & B to cover your prescription drugs needs. They are not included.
Additionally, beneficiaries on Original Medicare + a PDP Part D Drug Plan often also have a Medigap Plan (Supplement) to cover the 20% of costs, co-pays and co-insurances that Medicare does not cover.
MAPD Healthcare Insurance Plans, on the other hand, include all three of these options in one (Parts A + B + D).
As a result, you will not need a standalone PDP plan or a Medigap Plan in addition. All you need is your MAPD Plan (aka Medicare C).
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Carly Cummings is a licensed insurance agent and former financial adviser. Carly is the Creator of MedicareLifeHealth.com where she helps her readers (of all ages) find the best health care and create the best cash flow in retirement. Carly has worked in finance and insurance for a Fortune 500 company as well as for a Berkshire Hathaway company. Before finance, she was an entrepreneur that owned a wellness licensing company and two yoga studios.
Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement (Medigap): What Medicare Plan is Best for Me?
I am a firm believer that there is a good Medicare health plan out there for everyone. Moreover, there might even be more than one good choice out there for your situation. If there is more than one good choice available to you, you might be weighing your options right now – Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement.
First, Let’s review your Medicare options:
Original Medicare (no supplement)
Certainly, stand-alone Medicare coverage is an option. You would still want to get Part D Prescription coverage. (There are penalties down the road if you do not get Part D or have credible coverage already and then want to get it later.) However, you would then be left paying your deductibles and 20% coinsurance out-of-pocket.
For example, with ONLY Original Medicare and NO supplement or MA plan, if you ended up having a major health event like a surgery, the 20% left that medicare doesn’t pay could still be thousands of dollars.
You would also have to go through medical underwriting with a private insurance carrier if you later want a supplement and you have missed your Guaranteed Issue time frame. You can always join a MA plan later, but only during a special enrollment period or during the Annual Enrollment Period (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7).
With this option, you keep Original Medicare and add on a Supplement (Medigap) Policy with a private insurance company to help you in paying the pieces that Medicare does not. These costs can become large if you have a big medical event or a chronic illness. In this instance, a Supplement would protect you from “losing the shirt off your back”! You would also have a stand-alone Part D Prescription Drug Plan (or a plan that is considered “credible coverage”).
Finally, with a MA/MAPD plan you would replace Original Medicare with a bundled plan offered by a private insurance company. These often include a Prescription Drug Plan. (These are called MAPD plans, which are most the common plans). You still “have Medicare” with these plans. However, they are run by private companies who put together networks of providers and health facilities.
One question we hear a lot is, “can I have both Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement?” No, you have one or the other. Not both, they do not work together and it is illegal for anyone to sell you both.
What are the Differences Between having a Supplement (Medigap) and having Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD)?
Now, let’s do a breakdown of Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplements. First, let’s look at the difference in care and the differences in cost. We are assuming you either have Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare with a Supplement (aka Medigap Plans).
Medicare w/Medigap
Medicare Advantage
Care Options
You can go to any doctor that accepts Medicare already. Specialist referrals are not needed.
Some plans include extra benefits such as hearing, dental, vision and fitness/wellness programs.
Monthly Costs
Medicare Part A – usually premium free Part B – Monthly Premium (based on income level) Part D – Monthly Prescription Premium Supplement – Premium dependent on which company & plan letter you choose
MAPD plans with Drug Coverage Included pays a monthly premium to the insurance company for all services. Some plans include the Part B Premium and some plans do not. Some plans have a $0 monthly premium option.
Out of Pocket Costs
Costs can be very minimal depending on that Medigap plan you choose. There are high deductible options, and starting in 2020, the Part B deductible will have to be paid by everyone who is just aging into Medicare.
Some plans have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare and all have a yearly limit on out-of-pocket expenses that are covered by Medicare.
Domestic Travel
Emergency and urgent care are always covered in the US. You can use any doctor that takes Medicare in the US for routine visits. If you spend long periods of time traveling and need to see a doctor for routine visits whole out of town, this might be your best option.
Emergency and urgent care are always covered in the US. You will have to use doctors in network for routine visits for them to be covered. Some insurance companies have large networks that can span several states, so make sure to inquire about how large the network is before you rule out a MA plan if you travel a lot.
Foreign Travel
Some supplement plans cover part of the emergency medical fees you may use in other countries. Plans C, D, F, G, M & N have 80% foreign travel exchange limits.
Plans do not typically have any over seas coverage.
Making Your Choice between Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement
Now that you understand the basics of Medicare Advantage Plans and Original Medicare plus a Medigap (Supplement) Plan and know the significant differences between the two, it’s decision time.
First, I always recommend speaking with a licensed, independent agent that can help you in assessing all the various plan types available in your area. Every county has different options for MA/MAPD plans, and insurance carriers have different prices on the supplement plans you may be considering.
Second, it’s good to have an idea of what is important to you. You should be thinking specifically in regards to money and lifestyle when choosing a path.
Consider these questions when choosing between Medigap and MA Plans:
Do you plan on living in another place for a significant period of time during the year?
If you are a “snowbird” or are planning a longer vacation where a routine doctor visit may be necessary when away from your primary residence, then a supplement may be your best choice. Remember though, emergency / urgent care visits are covered with both types of plans.
However, if your travel happens to be international, Both Original Medicare and MA plans do not cover foreign travel, but some supplement plans (plans C, D, F, G, M & N) have 80% foreign travel exchange limits that will help off-set some costs.
What is (or will be) your cash flow situation in retirement?
Some retirees have pensions, social security and other payments (like annuities) that come to them automatically each month. Other retirees have less of these automatic infusions or smaller required distributions and prefer to leave as much of their cash in investments as possible. Finally, some retirees are on a smaller, fixed income. This might require them to consider cash flow very carefully.
In each situation, you will need to review how you are paying for your health services, as each plan offers different payment options.
Cash Flow with a Supplement:
With a supplement, you will have a set amount of money (that could be a larger sum than an MA plan) come out of your bank (and/or S.S./R.R. check) each month. This can add up when you consider it includes Part B premiums, Part D Prescription premiums, and your supplement premiums. However, if you chose a plan that covers everything Original Medicare leaves out, then you would not pay any other out-of-pocket fees for Medicare covered services.
Cash Flow with a MA/MAPD Plan:
With a Medicare Advantage plan, you will most likely have a smaller amount of money coming out of your wallet each month. You will most likely have an MAPD plan that includes your drug plan, as stand alone MA plans are becoming much more rare, and some plans even include Part B premiums. So, with a MAPD plan, you would be paying a MA premium and maybe your Part B premium each month. Moreover, there are sometimes zero dollar per month ($0/month) premium MA plans available. The costs then to consider and maybe budget for with MA plans is if there are any co-pays, co-insurances and deductibles with the plans. Each plan will be set-up differently, and each plan will also have a max yearly out-of-pocket limit.
Just like in any kind of insurance, Medicare plans are set-up to allow you to choose how much out-of-pocket expenses you incur versus monthly premiums you pay.
Looking at your budget and then talking through your options with a licensed agent will allow you to make the best choice for your situation.
How interested are you in extra benefits being included?
Finally, one more consideration is the other elements that round out your health insurance plan, such as dental, vision, hearing, etc. If you have a supplement plan, you will need to decide if you need these services, and if you do, are you wanting to take on insurance plans for them. You might decide to add on a stand-alone, or a plan that includes any or all of these common services (dental, vision, hearing).
Often times, Medicare Advantage plans will include these services as a part of their plan as an additional benefit which might save you money if you were planning on getting a stand alone plan or paying cash for these services.
Moreover, many MA plans will offer fitness or wellness services that are included at no additional cost. Sometimes this means you will not have to pay for a separate gym membership. Silver Sneakers is one example of a national program that is used by many MA plans to provide fitness and wellness services.
The Next Steps for Choosing Your Medicare Plan
As you can see, developing your Medicare Health Insurance Plan can be very involved, but I am confident you can do it! Having a professional to help you through the process is important. Please reach out to an independent insurance agent to review what is available in your area. They will be able to explain plans in specifics and answer your questions about Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement.
Finally, Medicare.gov is also a good tool for answering your broader questions, and we also encourage you to comment on this page or contact us directly with any questions. Thanks!
Carly Cummings is a licensed insurance agent and former financial adviser. Carly is the Creator of MedicareLifeHealth.com where she helps her readers (of all ages) find the best health care and create the best cash flow in retirement. Carly has worked in finance and insurance for a Fortune 500 company as well as for a Berkshire Hathaway company. Before finance, she was an entrepreneur that owned a wellness licensing company and two yoga studios.
In this article, we look at what is Medicare Advantage (aka Medicare Part C). As we discussed in our Medicare 101 Post, there are two different Medicare paths. You will choose one when you are setting up your health care in retirement.
Path One = Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, with a stand alone Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) and an optional Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Plan.
Path Two = Medicare Advantage (Part C) that replaces Medicare Part A and Part B and typcially includes a Part D Drug Plan. These plans are offered by private insurance companies that you work with directly.
The Basics of Medicare Advantage
Medicare Advantage “bundled” plans are offered by private insurance companies (carriers). You use them IN PLACE of Original Medicare, but they are still Medicare. Moreover, they must include all the same Medicare services covered by Part A (hospital) and Part B (medical). In addition, almost of them include Part D (prescription drugs).
You will hear/see these plans referred to as MA plans, and MAPD plans when they include prescription drugs.
What is the Advantage to Choosing a MA or MAPD plan?
The first advantage to these plans is that many of them have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare. Secondly, they often have extra benefits such as dental, vision or hearing that is not included in Medicare.
There may be many (or just a few) different MA and MAPD plans available in your area. They will all be set up differently and cost different prices from carrier to carrier. We suggest finding an independent insurance agent/broker that can compare different plans, carriers (insurance companies) and prices. They will help you pick a plan that fits your lifestyle and financial needs. Please note, there are often plans out there that have low or even $0 monthly premiums.
In addition to whether or not you pay a monthly premium with a MAPD plan, each plan will have a different set up for out-of-pocket costs:
You will need to decide what plans fit well with your monthly cash flow situation in addition to how often you need medical products and services.
How do MA and MAPD Plans Work?
Insurance companies usually set-up Medicare Advantage programs as a PPO or HMO networks. You might be familiar with this style of network plan insurance if you had (have) one from an employer or even from the open marketplace.
Typically, you will need to use doctors in your MA plans network. (Unless it is an emergency, or unless you are willing to pay extra to go “out-of-network”). If you have providers you want to keep, ask them if they are part of a network you are considering. In some MA/MAPD plans, you may also need referrals to see specialists. These are all plan specific requirements. You will need to look all these requirements prior to making your MA decisions.
HMO and PPO plans have much more robust networks now than plans from the past. Most people can find a plan that is large enough/flexible enough to work with their lifestyle. This is true even if they travel frequently in retirement. I recommend talking to a licensed agent to make sure you understand how the plans work.
When Can You Sign-up for a Medicare Advantage Plan?
If you are a US citizen with both Part A and Part B Medicare coverage, you can join MA plans in your area during these times:
During your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP): Just like joining Original Medicare, you can join a MA plan during the 7 month period (3 months before the effective date of Medicare Part A and B, including the month Medicare begins, and then 3 months after) of time that you are turning 65.
During the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15th to December 7th, is when you have the opportunity each year to join an MA/MAPD plan. Your new coverage will begin January 1st.
*OEP – As of 2019, if you are already in a Medicare Advanage plan, you can also change plans during AEP, or you can switch plans once (or switch back to Original Medicare) during Open Enrollment Period – January 1st to March 31st.
Other things the US Government would like you to know about MA Plans:
Emergency and Urgent Care is always covered with MA plans.
MA plans cover all Original Medicare Services and carriers must follow all Medicare rules.
MA plans may have extra benefits like vision, health, dental and other fitness/wellness programs.
Who can Help You with a Medicare Advantage Policy?
Just like a supplement, you can compare these plans online, but I suggest you talk to a professional, independent insurance broker that can help you compare plans. It won’t cost you any more money to use a professional, and Medicare Advantage Plans can be overwhelming when you are trying to pick one, especially if there are many offered in your area.
Remember, independent agents work for you (not the carriers), and having an actual person to help you in communicating to insurance carriers and keeping you updated each year is very valuable. This is something you do not get if you sign-up directly with a company online.
Carly Cummings is a licensed insurance agent and former financial adviser. Carly is the Creator of MedicareLifeHealth.com where she helps her readers (of all ages) find the best health care and create the best cash flow in retirement. Carly has worked in finance and insurance for a Fortune 500 company as well as for a Berkshire Hathaway company. Before finance, she was an entrepreneur that owned a wellness licensing company and two yoga studios.
