Medicare Advantage Plans are standardized commercial plans made specifically for senior citizens who require specialized medical care or assistance in maintaining their health. These plans are not approved by Medicare. They are only offered by private, government-sponsored insurance providers.

Although Medicare does not cover all of the costs of health care, it does cover a large part of the costs. This allows seniors to receive necessary medications, as well as preventative services, while paying a lower monthly premium than they would without using a Medicare Advantage Plan. With the rising cost of health care, as well as the aging of our population, Medicare supplement plans 2022 are growing rapidly in popularity.

Medicare Advantage Plans offer the same benefits as traditional Part A, but are not considered a part of the original program. Instead, they are private insurance companies that offer plans selected by the consumer according to his or her needs. Plans are available for in-network coverage as well as out-of-network coverage.

Medicare Advantage Plans are offered exclusively on or just before January 1 of each year. The Medicare advantage open enrollment period is usually the first day of the new year. Although the first day of January 1 doesn’t always fall on a weekend, most people prefer to take their pick of the date for the open enrollment period. If you want to sign up at any time other than the recommended date, you can contact the particular company to be sure that they have not yet started the program.

Medicare Advantage Plans are subject to federal regulations and must meet certain standards. They are evaluated by two different sets of star ratings, depending on the pharmaceutical benefits they provide and the cost of the premiums. Ratings are assigned based on various factors, including the number of covered services, number of covered patients, and average dollar value of premiums paid. Plans with higher star ratings receive more priority from health insurers.

If you are currently covered by a Medicare Advantage Plan, you should contact your current Medicare provider for more information. If you are moving from one plan to another, you should contact the new Medigap provider. There may be changes to your coverage once you change addresses.

Your Medicare agent will be able to provide you with more detailed information. You will also need to complete a supplemental application to keep your Medicare Advantage Plan active. The supplemental application will provide you with information about how to make payments and will tell you when the enrollment period will end.