What is Medicare Advantage
The Medicare Advantage program was created by the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (MMA) which was passed in 2004. The program was designed to bring more affordable healthcare and prescription drug coverage to Medicare beneficiaries, expand health options and preventive care services and improve health access for those living in rural areas. Medicare Advantage plans replaced “Medicare + Choice” plans, an alternative to Original fee-for-service Medicare, and that is why Medicare Advantage plans are also known as Medicare Part C. An important aspect of Medicare Advantage plans is a mandatory maximum out-of-pocket amount for all Original Medicare services. After a beneficiary reaches the maximum out-of-pocket limit in a given coverage year, the plan must cover 100% of your remaining Original Medicare-covered costs for the remainder of the year. The mandatory maximum out-of-pocket limit for 2014 Medicare Advantage plans is $6,700 or less.
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a Medicare health insurance policy offered by a private insurance company. Medicare reimburses the insurance companies a fixed monthly amount for each member according to factors such as Medicare Advantage risk scores. Medicare enrollees often decide to receive healthcare coverage through a Medicare Advantage plan because many of these Medicare Part C plans can include more benefits (such as vision, dental, hearing, and health/wellness plans) than Original Medicare and most Medicare Advantage Plans provide prescription drug coverage.1 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries may have to pay a monthly premium for their additional benefits and most Medicare Advantage plans require copays for services. Some copays are lower than what a beneficiary would have to pay if they were enrolled in Original Medicare but copays for certain services can cost more.