Medicare Advantage is also known as Medicare Part C. People with Medicare part A and B can get coverage through their private insurance plans if they have this. The government will be the one making a fixed amount paid to the company for the care. What this means is you will still be making payments for premiums for your Medicare Part B, but many factors are going to affect other costs, with some of them being deductibles, co-payments, provider networks, and deductibles.
When it comes to these plans, they need to have the same level of coverage when compared to Part A and Part B, and this includes medical coverage and hospital. There are some more benefits you can expect to get with this plan, including vision and dental, which is usually not found in traditional Medicare. These plans will usually include prescription drug coverage because it comes with Medicare Part D.
Below are some great tips that will help you if you are interested in learning more about Medicare Advantage and travel.
1. Know Your Travel Plans
The place you are going to and the length of your trip is going to have a big impact on the options you have when it comes to Medicare Advantage and traveling. The options are going to change based on these factors. You also need to remember that your options are going to be limited when it comes to the changing of the Medicare Advantage when it is not within the enrolment period, which is between the 15 October and December 7 every year.
The first thing you need to know is whether you are going to travel internationally or within the US because the options available are going to be different. You also need to know the length of your trip. Is it going to take a week, a month, or several months? It is important to have this information when making your plans.
2. Choose a Travel Friendly to the Plan
You will notice that there are plans that are friendlier than others. If you are planning to travel, go through the different plans that you are eligible for then finding an option that is going to work for you. If you decide to choose a plan that restricts you to in-network health providers, it becomes a challenge once you try to find a provider outside your service area. This is going to result in more out-of-pocket costs. A good option for most people is PPO because they have a more flexible network, and this makes it easy for you to find a health provider when traveling.
There are some services that you are going to get from Medicare Advantage providers that you cannot with Medicare. You need to find a supplement plan that is going to work for you. There are plans that are going to include overseas coverage. Travel-friendly options are becoming even more popular because people are starting to realize how good they are. Some providers have plans that will give you a chance to travel for up to 12 before being disenrolled. Sunbird coverage is going to give you the freedom to use it in two states. This can be the perfect option for those people who spend their summers in the north and the warmer winter months in the south.
3. Know what is covered
Medicare advantage will be covering emergencies and urgent care in the US, and this also includes US territories like Puerto Rico and American Samoa. If you are outside, then the cover is going to be limited if you have the traditional plan. If it is not an emergency, then you are going to have more limitations. Like finding an in-network provider.
You still have to deal with limited coverage even if you choose a plan that is travel-friendly. When you are overseas, some plans are going to work when there is an emergency. This means you have to find a way of taking care of your medication and non-emergency care. Before leaving, it is important to know what is going to be covered, and what isn’t. This puts you in a good position to know what you are going to be liable for. Compare Medicare Advantage Plans to get the best coverage.
4. Know More About Maximizing Out of Pocket Expenses
Medicare Advantage Plans have a spending limit on MOOP (Maximum out-of-pocket), which is going to keeping the cost down for people who need a high amount of care. When you reach the limit, your plan covers the costs for the remaining part of the year. Something you need to keep in mind about out-of-network costs is that it might not contribute to your limit. It is a good idea to carefully go through the fine print of your plan so that you can know what counts towards your MOOP. Some words you can expect to find when going through the fine print include “your limit is $7,000 a year from in-network providers”. You need to have a good understanding of MOOP so you can avoid unexpected costs.
5. Looking at other Insurance Options If you go through the many plans and you do not find one that is going to work for your journey, it is a good idea to start looking at other options. Travel insurance can be the perfect option for you. Even if you end up finding a plan that works for you when traveling, you can still get travel insurance because it gives you peace of mind when traveling because it has extra coverage. These plans usually have the option of medical transport which provides transportation back to the US in case of an emergency. This means you can still get the regular care. Another thing you need to know is you are going to pay higher if you are an older adult, and also if you have a pre-existing condition.
