Choose Your Medicare Coverage
Original Medicare, Parts A and B, pays for most of your health care expenses, but it doesn't pay for everything. If you need an item or service Original Medicare doesn't cover, you're responsible for the full cost unless you have additional insurance that offers appropriate coverage.
Read Medicare Part A Overview or Medicare Part B Overview to learn more about Part A or Part B benefits and costs.
There are two main ways to get additional coverage:
Purchase a Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plan
Keep Original Medicare and add a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy and a Medicare Prescription Drug plan
Note: You need to be enrolled in both Part A and Part B to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap policy.
The following are descriptions of plan types we may offer in your area. Use Shop & Compare or call us at 1-866-322-2824 to find plans available in your area.
Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage plans provide your benefits instead of Original Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans can include drug coverage.
Private insurance carriers contract with Medicare to provide Medicare Advantage plans. When you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, the carrier administers all of your Medicare benefits for covered services. The plans are required to meet or exceed the benefits under Original Medicare. The exception is hospice care, which is covered directly under Medicare Part A. Medicare Advantage plans must also limit your total annual out-of-pocket Medicare costs. You must continue paying your monthly Medicare Part B premium when you're in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage plans have networks, so be sure to check and see if your preferred doctors are in network for the plan you're considering.
Reasons to Consider Getting a Medicare Advantage Plan
Your monthly premium is generally lower than a Medigap premium. However, you may be required to pay more out-of-pocket costs.
Simplicity of paying fewer premiums. Medicare Advantage plans combine medical and drug coverage in one plan.
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
Medicare Prescription Drug plans (PDPs) offer coverage through private insurance carriers and help pay for out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. You can see any provider that accepts Medicare. Plans can vary in cost and drugs covered. You can get drug coverage through a stand-alone PDP or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan. Keeping Original Medicare and enrolling in Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) and a PDP is a good option if you would rather pay a higher premium and minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
Having prescription drug coverage is optional, but Original Medicare offers limited prescription drug coverage and doesn't cover most medications you take at home. While coverage is optional, you may be charged a late enrollment penalty if you don't maintain creditable coverage. Visit medicare.gov to learn more about the Part D late enrollment penalty.
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)
Medigap policies offer coverage through private insurance carriers and help pay for out-of-pocket costs you have with Original Medicare, such as copays and deductibles. You must have Original Medicare to enroll in a Medigap policy, and you can’t have coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan. There are 10 standardized Medigap policies with lettered names.
Reasons to Consider Keeping Original Medicare and Adding a Medigap Policy
The flexibility to go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare
The ability to visit specialists without getting a referral from a primary care physician
Cost predictability – Your monthly premium may be a bit higher with a Medigap policy, but it covers most or all of your out-of-pocket medical costs
How Via Benefits Can Help
Learn more about your Medicare options through these Via Benefits resources:
Free Via Benefits Medicare educational webinars - If you don't have a computer, you can join this webcast by phone. For more information and to RSVP, visit viabenefitsevents.com or call 1-855-372-3941. Please note: This phone number is to RSVP for the live webcast only.
The Via Benefits website – Shop & Compare plans and familiarize yourself with the Medicare plans available in your area.
Phone support – Call us or sign into your profile to schedule an appointment to discuss your options or to enroll. Our benefit advisors are licensed insurance agents, trained and certified in the necessary skills to match you to a plan in your area.