As you approach 65, navigating the complex world of Medicare can seem overwhelming. Many people prefer to review and enroll in Medicare plans without speaking to an agent, and it's easier than you might think.
In this in-depth article, we'll provide a step-by-step guide on self-enrolling in Medicare Advantage plans without an agent and tips on making an informed decision about your coverage.
Understanding Medicare Plans
Before we dive into the enrollment process, let's review the different parts of Medicare. Medicare consists of four parts: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D.
Part A: Also known as hospital insurance, Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, and some home health care services.
Part B: Also known as medical insurance, Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient services, preventive care, and medical supplies.
Part C: Also known as Medicare Advantage, Part C is offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These plans often include Part A, Part B, prescription drug coverage (Part D), and additional benefits such as vision, dental, and hearing.
Part D: Part D is prescription drug coverage and can be added to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or included in a Medicare Advantage plan.
What is Original Medicare?
Original Medicare refers to Part A and Part B, provided by the federal government. To enroll in Original Medicare, you must be eligible for Medicare, typically at age 65, or earlier if you have certain qualifying conditions.
Original Medicare provides basic coverage but does not cover all medical expenses. That's where Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans come in.
What are Medicare Advantage plans?
Medicare Advantage plans, or Part C plans, are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.
These plans provide an alternative way to receive your Medicare benefits. They combine Part A, Part B, and often Part D coverage into one plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans also offer additional benefits such as vision, dental, and hearing coverage.
One of the advantages of Medicare Advantage plans is that they often have lower out-of-pocket costs compared to Original Medicare. They may also include prescription drug coverage, eliminating the need for a separate Part D plan.
However, Medicare Advantage plans typically have network restrictions and may require you to use doctors and hospitals within the plan's network.
What are Medicare Supplement Plans?
Medicare Supplement Plans, or Medigap plans, are offered by private insurance companies and work alongside Original Medicare. These plans help cover the "gaps" in Original Medicare, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.
Medicare Supplement plans are standardized, offering the same basic benefits regardless of your chosen insurance company. However, each plan is labeled with a letter (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N), and not all plans are available in every state.
How to Review & Self-Enroll in Medicare Advantage Plans Without Speaking to an Agent
Reviewing Medicare plans without speaking to an agent is possible thanks to the Medicare Plan Finder tool. Here's how you can do it:
Choose between "Help me choose" and "See plans and prices."
Help me choose will allow you to go through an automated guided process to recommend plans based on your provided information.
See plans and prices that will take you directly to the plans in your area.
Not all plans can be shown and enrolled in without speaking with an agent using this tool. For carriers not shown or for help with a Special Needs plan for Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries, please call us at 855-855-8301 or fill out an online request form, and we can email or call you with that information.
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