Life has many “rites of passage”, including getting a driver’s license and graduating from high school. Another of these rites seems to happen around retirement age when Medicare insurance comes on the scene for older Americans in Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley, Windsor, and the surrounding areas. At Volk Insurance Benefits, we can help you to understand just what is covered with Medicare, what the Medicare Advantage plans are, and what about Medigap insurance. Call us today to learn more and schedule some time for a discussion of Medicare insurance.
Medicare vs Medicare Advantage
Medicare is split into a number of parts that are labeled alphabetically. This can sometimes cause confusion, especially when discussing Medicare Part C and what that means. Part A of Medicare covers hospital stays, hospice care, as well as some skilled nursing care. For most people, Part A is fully paid for with the money you paid in the form of the Medicare tax deductions from your paycheck.
Part B of Medicare insurance covers complementary services to Part A, including doctor visits, lab tests, diagnostic screenings, medical equipment, ambulance transportation, as well as other outpatient services. And Parts A and B are what is covered in Part C, which is also often labeled as Medicare Advantage insurance.
Medicare insurance covers quite a bit between Parts A and B, so why use a Medicare Advantage plan instead? This is because these plans, offered by private insurance companies, usually include several other benefits, such as dental insurance, vision insurance, and other perks. Some also include Part D coverage which is for prescription drugs.
So Why Opt for Plain Medicare?
When you go with the standard Medicare, you will be enrolling in four separate elements: Part A, Part B, Part D, and a Medigap policy to help cover those extra costs that aren’t covered with the other three parts. While this might seem to be a worse deal, you have a wider range of choices when it comes to seeing doctors. Medicare Advantage plans will require that you get referrals under their system, and you have a more limited number of doctors that are considered “in network” when compared with regular Medicare.
So what is the right answer for your Medicare insurance in Loveland, Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley, Windsor, and the surrounding areas? The answer will be individualized for each person, and that’s why a call to Volk Insurance Benefits is in order. Schedule a time today to review all of your options with Medicare insurance.