Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 2-21-20

Health
BY LITA EPSTEIN
Although you won’t hear health insurance companies talk about them, Medicare Advantage plans have flaws that can cause big problems for the people who buy them.
The public doesn’t realize that making the choice be- tween Original Medicare and
Medicare Advantage can de- termine who treats you, where you can get care, whether you need referrals and, of course, how much you have to pay for your cho- sen plan, deductibles and co- pays.
Medicare Advantage plans, also referred to as Medicare Part C, may sound enticing. As one plan, it com-
bines Medicare Parts A and B benefits and may cover prescription (Part D) and other benefits. Many offer $0 premiums, but the devil is in the details. You will find that most have unexpected out-of-pocket expenses when you get sick, and many only want you as a customer when you’re healthy.
Also known as Part C,
these plans, which private insurers provide as an alter- native to traditional Medicare, must provide the coverage required by Medicare at the same overall cost level. However, what they pay can differ depend- ing upon your overall health.
Coverage Choices For Medicare
When choosing medical coverage as a senior citizen 65 years old and over, you can make one of three choices:
– Traditional Medicare, which has co-pays and de- ductibles
– Traditional Medicare with Medigap (a private sup- plemental policy that covers Medicare’s co-pays and de- ductibles)
– Medicare Advantage, private insurance that varies depending on the policy you choose
Comprehensive Coverage
The most comprehensive coverage, which will likely result in the fewest unex- pected out-of-pocket ex- penses, is a traditional Medicare plan paired with a Medigap policy. Medigap policies vary, and the most comprehensive coverage is offered through Medigap Type F.
With Medigap Type F, all co-pays and deductibles are covered, and you even get some coverage when you travel outside the coun- try. With this combination, you can go to any doctor who accepts Medicare. Be aware that with traditional Medicare and Medigap, you will likely need Part D pre- scription drug coverage.
There Is A Difference In The Choices
Medicare Advantage plans do not offer the same level of choice as Medicare plus Medigap. Most plans require you to go to their network of doctors and health providers. Since Medicare Advantage plans can’t pick their customers (they must accept any Medicare-eligible partici- pant), they discourage peo- ple who are sick by the way they structure their co-pays and deductibles.
Medicare Advantage plan cherry-picks its patients by carefully reviewing the co- pays in the summary of ben- efits for every plan you are considering.
PAGE 8-B FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2020