Well, we cannot simply say Medicare Advantage plans are better than Original Medicare or vice versa because each person has personal preferences, needs, and different lifestyle. But most people see more value in Medicare Advantage plans than Original Medicare because Original Medicare pays for many, but not all, healthcare services. If you want complete coverage through Original Medicare, you have to buy Medigap policy.

So today we will look at the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans that help you understand Medicare Advantage plans.

Pros of Medicare Advantage Plans

Part D coverage

Most of the Medicare Advantage plans in Texas ( harringroup/medicare-advantage-plans ) include Medicare prescription drug coverage (PartD) often for no additional premium. So if you need Medicare prescription drug coverage, Medicare Advantage plan is the better choice than Original Medicare because Original Medicare does not include part D coverage. You have to buy the stand alone part D plan to get the Medicare prescription drug coverage and have to pay a premium for it.

Out-of-pocket maximum

Original Medicare does not have an out-of-pocket maximum. You have to pay the portion of the cost of the services as you use them. On the other hand, Medicare Advantage plan limits your maximum out-of-pocket expense. Once you hit that limit, you don't have to pay for the covered medical services for the remainder of the year; your plan will pay for the expenses. It can save you thousands of dollars especially if you have poor health year.

Offers extra health benefits

Medicare Advantage plan offers a vast range of extra health benefits apart from Original Medicare benefits such as routine vision care, hearing aids, prescription drug coverage, routine dental care, wellness program and fitness center membership. Original Medicare does not offer these benefits; you have to buy Medigap policies to get additional coverage.  However, not all Medicare Advantage plans offer these additional benefits, but every Medicare Advantage plan must provide Original Medicare benefits.

Save money

Some Medicare Advantage plans may cost you less than the Original Medicare plus Medigap plans for the same level of coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans have a premium as low as $0.

Cons of Medicare Advantage plans

Medicare Advantage plan is a one-stop solution for all your health needs, but it has a few cons as well.

•  Medicare Advantage plans it restricted to a specific network of doctors and medical providers. If you go outside of this network, your plan will not cover the cost of medical services. So, it limits your freedom in the choice of doctors and healthcare providers.

•  Some medical services covered in the Medicare Advantage plans ( https://www.harringroup.com/ ) require a referral from a primary doctor to see a specialist. You need authorization from the primary doctor to see a specialist. So, it limits your flexibility when seeking medical specialists.

These are the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans in Texas.

Majority of the beneficiaries enrolled in the Medigap plans or Medical Advantage plans for the additional medical coverage because Original Medicare does not cover a lot of things. That's why most of the people in Texas have purchased Medigap Plans in Texas along with Original Medicare.

Medicare supplement insurance policy or Medigap is the extra health insurance that you purchase from a private insurance company. It includes healthcare costs that Original Medicare does not include. Co-payment, Coinsurance, and Deductibles are the additional coverage that your Medigap plans provide ( harringroup.com/medicare-supplements ). However, long-term care, hearing aids, dental care, vision care, and private nursing are not covered in the policy.

Medigap plans offer numerous benefits. But before you make a final decision of purchase here are the five things you need to know about Medigap plans:

1.  You cannot purchase the Medigap policy without enrolling for the original Medicare. Medigap plan is a supplement plan that fills the gap in Original Medicare coverage. A Medicare supplement insurance policy allows you to visit any doctor all over the U.S. who accepts Medicare patients. Hence, when you travel, you do not have to worry about the limited network of doctors in Original Medicare.

2.  If you have enrolled in Medigap policy, you cannot enroll for the Medicare Advantage plans. No private insurance company can sell you Medicare Advantage plans; it is illegal. However, if you want Medicare Advantages plans, then you have to drop your Medigap policy, but it is of no avail.

3.  Medigap plans are of 10 different types and categorized using letters A to N. Medigap plan E, H, I and J are no longer available. Each plan offers different medical coverage and medical benefits. However, the benefits of each standard Medigap plan are same throughout the U.S. within the category.

4.  No matter from which company you have purchased the plan, you will get the same benefits of the plan as per the category. However, the premium for the same plan varies from company to company. So, choose your Medigap plans in Texas carefully because policy for a selected plan will not change with the company.

5.  You have to pay a monthly premium for your Medicare supplement insurance policy in addition to your Medicare Part B premium. The amount of monthly premium depends on the type of plan, company, location, and age. Part D medical benefits are not included into Medigap plan.

You can enroll for the Medigap plan during your six month of open enrollment period which starts from the first day when you become 65 years old or within the six months of signing up for part B premium. However, if you buy the Medigap plan outside this window ( https://www.harringroup.com/ ), your acceptance is not guaranteed and you premium charges might be higher.

So these are the five things you need to know about Medigap plans.

When you enroll for Original Medicare, you should buy Medigap plans in Texas to fill the gaps of Original Medicare coverage.