Medicare Advantage

In addition to traditional Medicare plans, Medicare beneficiaries have the option of enrolling in plans offered by private health insurance companies through the Medicare Advantage program. These plans typically offer supplemental benefits that may provide more options to fit the needs of beneficiaries. Due to the sheer number of Medicare Advantage plans, which vary in out-of-pocket costs, customer service ratings and benefits, the process of choosing a particular plan can be daunting for beneficiaries. The resources below are intended to provide information for both physicians and their patients to become familiar with the Medicare Advantage system and its various plans. The news links below focus on the debate concerning the costs and value of the Medicare Advantage program.

Resources

Medicare Advantage- A State Health Insurance Assistance Program Resource Guide (hpapnetwork.org) 

Kaiser Family Foundation- Medicare Advantage Fact Sheet (kff.org PDF)

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation- Health Policy Brief: Medicare Advantage Plans (healthaffairs.org PDF)

AARP Policy and Research – Medicare Advantage (aarp.org) 

AARP- Choosing the right Medicare plan for you (aarp.org) 

Medicare Options Compare (medicare.gov)