Medicare Advantage Or Medicare Supplement – How to Choose a Medicare Health Plan?

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplements

Do you know the difference between these two types of health insurance for seniors in the US? They are different, and it is important for you to understand it so you can find the best coverage for you!

What is a MedSup?

Medicare supplements are also called Medi Gap or Medsups. They cover the “gaps” in coverage that original Medicare may not cover. They also come in different levels, from A – L, which of course, provide different amounts of supplemental coverage. The price will vary as well.

Since these medsups are provided by private health insurance companies, they do have a monthly premium. This price tag varies by level of coverage, zip code, and age the same way other health insurance does. Most plans are also subject to yearly price increases. So a 65 year old may purchase a policy at one price, but will probably expect to pay more at age 75.

There are periods when a beneficiary gets guaranteed enrollment, but during other times, that person may also be subject to normal health insurance underwriting as with any other individual policy. It is important to understand this, especially if you are considering dropping a plan for another plan.

The important thing to remember is that an insured person will still use their government issued card, in addition to an id card from the insurer. The two parts work together to provide the coverage that a person gets for their health.

What is Medicare Advantage?

These are different because they actually take over the health coverage for a person. A member will put their government id card in the back of their wallet and use their MA plan card to verify coverage. These plans come in different types too, and they are also provide by private insurers.

You may choose a PPO, HMO, or Fee For Service (Any Doc) plan depending upon what is marketed in your zip code and your preferences. Some plans my come bundled with Part D (Prescription) coverage while others do not. Some plans require an additional premium, but others will not. Some MA plans even rebate part of the Part B premium most Medicare beneficiaries have taken out of their social security checks.

What About RX Coverage?

Again, your options will vary. If you health plan does not come with prescription drug coverage, you can purchase PART D plans which work on their own. Some plans, especially MA HMO and PPO plans come with RX coverage, and so you will not need to buy another plan.

Which is the Best Health Insurance For Seniors?

No one plan is right for everybody. Many people are very happy with Medicare Advantage HMO or PPO plans because they like the network health providers and benefits. Others like the flexibility of a Medigap plan or Any Doc MA. A person’s budget will also affect their choice. As we wrote above, medsups come with a premium, but some MA plans have no additional price tag.

We want to help you Compare Medicare Health Insurance plans in your local area. We provide more information and free online health quotes.

Visit us to Compare Medicare vs Advantage plans.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Katz
http://EzineArticles.com/?Medicare-Advantage-Or-Medicare-Supplement—How-to-Choose-a-Medicare-Health-Plan?&id=2725344

Related posts:

1. Top Medicare Advantage Companies
2. Medicare Health Insurance Plans Explained
3. Medicare 101 – The Basics Of Medicare

Top Medicare Advantage Companies by Revenue, by State

When you choose compare Medicare Health insurance, you need to consider many things. And the plan, or combination of plans, that provide the best coverage at an affordable price will be a major consideration.

In addition you need to weigh the pros and cons of Medicare Supplements vs Medicare Advantage. Is this type of plan right for you. If so, which plan meets your needs well?

But people still like to know which companies do a lot of business in their state, and so we are providing a list of top MA plans by state by revenue. This list is certainly not inclusive, and is NOT meant to influence your decisions.

LARGEST MEDICARE ADVANTAGE INSURERS BY STATE

(Premiums are in millions of dollars.)
Alabama
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF ALABAMA INC 85,412,589
HEALTHSPRING OF ALABAMA INC 71,101,904
VIVA HEALTH INC (AL) 54,802,611
Alaska
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) 31,327
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 2,176
Arizona
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
PACIFICARE OF ARIZONA INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 251,030,986
HEALTH NET OF ARIZONA INC 90,716,139
CIGNA HEALTHCARE OF ARIZONA INC 82,548,320
Arkansas
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
ARKANSAS COMMUNITY CARE INC 8,562,662
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) 3,714,066
CARE IMPROVEMENT PLUS SOUTH CENTRAL (AR) 2,991,044
Colorado
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
KAISER FOUNDATION HP OF CO 156,150,969
PACIFICARE OF COLORADO INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 151,018,229
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEALTH MAINT ORG (CO) 12,188,774
Connecticut
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HEALTH NET OF CONNECTICUT INC 106,368,380
WELLCARE OF CONNECTICUT INC 6,563,632
OXFORD HEALTH PLANS (CT) INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 3,893,751
Delaware
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) 2,712,471
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 24,376
DELAWARE PHYSICIANS CARE – MEDICARE 1,837
D.C.
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
KAISER FOUNDATION HP MID-ATL STATES (MD) 10,771,088
AETNA HEALTH INC (A MARYLAND CORP) 152,425
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 30,439
Florida
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HUMANA MEDICAL PLAN INC (FL) 747,048,274
CAREPLUS HEALTH PLANS INC (FL) 182,366,006
WELLCARE OF FLORIDA INC 168,601,956
Georgia
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INS CO INC (FL) 32,426,981
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF GEORGIA (A WELLPOINT COMPANY) 9,885,229
CARE IMPROVEMENT PLUS SOUTH CENTRAL (AR) 6,986,670
Hawaii
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
KAISER FOUNDATION HP INC HI 57,624,108
HAWAII MEDICAL SERVICE ASSOCIATION 18,789,933
ALOHACARE 2,334,690
Idaho
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
BLUE CROSS OF IDAHO HEALTH SERVICE 39,354,862
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) 14,594,727
REGENCE BLUESHIELD OF IDAHO INC 5,233,717
Illinois
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HUMANA HEALTH PLAN INC (KY) 73,400,941
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 24,075,932
HEALTH ALLIANCE MEDICAL PLANS (IL) 20,125,848
Indiana
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
M PLAN (IN) 6,677,616
ARNETT HMO INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 6,543,178
ANTHEM INS COMPANIES INC (A WELLPOINT COMPANY) 6,358,431
Iowa
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
WELLMARK INC (IA) 5,782,319
MEDICAL ASSOCIATES HEALTH PLAN INC (IA) 3,816,989
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF THE MIDLANDS (IA) 3,309,638
Kansas
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HUMANA HEALTH PLAN INC (KY) 20,252,972
COVENTRY HEALTH & LIFE INS CO (DE) 7,106,653
COVENTRY HEALTH CARE OF KANSAS INC (KS) 4,557,727
Kentucky
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
UNIVERSITY HEALTH CARE INC (KY) 29,960,289
ANTHEM HEALTH PLANS OF KENTUCKY INC (A WELLPOINT COMPANY) 26,646,871
STERLING LIFE INS CO (AN AON COMPANY) 6,066,130
Lousiana
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HUMANA HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN LA 153193269
TENET CHOICES INC (LA) 98051534
STERLING LIFE INS CO (AN AON COMPANY) 27431787
Maine
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
FOX INS CO (AZ) 794,579
MARTINS POINT GENERATIONS LLC (ME) 425,392
ARCADIAN HEALTH PLAN INC (WA) 113,549
Maryland
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
BRAVO HEALTH MID-ATLANTIC INC (MD) 31,504,921
KAISER FOUNDATION HP MID-ATL STATES 19,111,946
AETNA HEALTH INC (A MARYLAND CORP) 10,849,681
Massachusetts
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
TUFTS ASSOCIATED HEALTH MAINT ORG (MA) 213,933,148
BLUE CROSS & BLUE SHIELD MA HMO BLUE 97,634,939
FALLON COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN (MA) 92,536,265
Michigan
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MICHIGAN 138,979,068
HEALTH ALLIANCE PLAN OF MICHIGAN 58,629,169
BLUE CARE NETWORK OF MICHIGAN 19,501,950
Minnesota
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
MEDICA HEALTH PLANS 71,370,583
MEDICA INS CO 56,749,052
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MINNESOTA 14,669,877
Mississippi
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 4,212,288
WELLCARE HEALTH INS OF ARIZONA INC 3,186
Missouri
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF THE MIDWEST INC 103,686,140
GROUP HEALTH PLAN INC (A COVENTRY COMPANY) 45,816,110
MERCY HEALTH PLANS OF MISSOURI INC 41,239,709
Montana
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) (AN AON COMPANY) 13,777,791
NEW WEST HEALTH SERVICES (MT) 2,223,323
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MONTANA 870,178
Nebraska
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF THE MIDLANDS 11,707,100
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEBRASKA 2,752,685
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) (AN AON COMPANY) 363,077
Nevada
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HEALTH PLAN OF NEVADA INC (A SIERRA HEALTH SERVICES COMPANY) 145,115,315
PACIFICARE OF NEVADA INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 62,800,769
HOMETOWN HEALTH PLAN INC 10,511,524
New Hampshire
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HARVARD PILGRIM HC OF NEW ENGLAND (MA) 2,954,376
ANTHEM INS COMPANIES INC (IN) (A WELLPOINT COMPANY) 558,365
FOX INS CO (AZ) 126,647
New Jersey
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HORIZON HEALTHCARE OF NEW JERSEY INC 156,931,261
AETNA HEALTH INC (A NEW JERSEY CORP) 79,251,882
OXFORD HEALTH PLANS (NJ) INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 49,840,056
New Mexico
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
LOVELACE HEALTH SYSTEMS INC (NM) 52,140,025
PRESBYTERIAN HEALTH PLAN INC (NM) 39,004,578
HCSC INS SERVICES CO (IL) (A HEALTHCARE SVC CORP COMPANY) 1,904,837
New York
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN OF GREATER NY 518,624,364
OXFORD HEALTH PLANS (NY) INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 276,575,956
EMPIRE HEALTHCHOICE HMO INC (A WELLPOINT COMPANY) 197,495,189
North Carolina
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
PARTNERS NATIONAL HEALTH PLANS OF NC (A BCBS OF NC COMPANY) 95,201,245
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF NC INC 82,224,059
WELLCARE HEALTH INS OF ARIZONA INC 4,255,413
North Dakota
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
NORIDIAN MUTUAL INS CO (ND) (A BCBS COMPANY) 169,209
MEDICA INS CO 98,160
FOX INS CO (AZ) 41,857
Ohio
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
COMMUNITY INS CO (OH) (A WELLPOINT COMPANY) 213,934,621
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF OHIO INC 130,527,886
MOUNT CARMEL HEALTH PLAN INC (OH) 60,343,395
Oklahoma
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
COMMUNITYCARE HMO INC (OK) 51,779,943
PACIFICARE OF OKLAHOMA INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 46,315,952
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) (AN AON COMPANY) 12,059,880
Oregon
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
KAISER FOUNDATION HP NORTHWEST (OR) 96,565,042
PROVIDENCE HEALTH PLAN (OR) 94,843,620
REGENCE BL CROSS BL SHIELD OREGON 73,267,475
Pennsylvania
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
KEYSTONE HEALTH PLAN WEST INC (PA) (A HIGHMARK COMPANY) 536,310,248
KEYSTONE HEALTH PLAN EAST INC (PA) (AN INDEPENDENCE BC COMPANY) 441,428,033
UPMC HEALTH PLAN INC (PA) 139,619,009
Rhode Island
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF RI 108,330,477
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF NEW ENGLAND INC (RI) 48,293,492
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 9,113
South Carolina
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INS CO INC (FL) 23,852,353
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) (AN AON COMPANY) 6,901,387
CARE IMPROVEMENT PLUS SOUTH CENTRAL (AR) 4,855,143
South Dakota
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
WELLMARK OF SOUTH DAKOTA INC 1,393,545
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) (AN AON COMPANY) 102,806
FOX INS CO (AZ) 42,016
Tennessee
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 118,628,615
CARITEN HEALTH PLAN INC (TN) 96,386,844
UNITEDHEALTHCARE PLAN RIVER VALLEY (IL) 75,133,825
Texas
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
PACIFICARE OF TEXAS INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 330,245,398
SELECTCARE OF TEXAS LLC 101,039,883
TEXAS HEALTHSPRING LLC 97,866,085
Utah
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
REGENCE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF UT 23,396,441
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF UTAH 7,943,958
UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE INS CO INC (FL) 5,573,782
Vermont
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) (AN AON COMPANY) 12,111
HEALTHSPRING OF TENNESSEE INC 4,101
Virginia
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
KAISER FOUNDATION HP MID-ATL STATES (MD) 13,175,458
OPTIMA HEALTH INS CO (VA) 4,055,944
WELLCARE HEALTH INS OF ARIZONA INC 1,660,599
Washington
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
GROUP HEALTH COOPERATIVE (WA) 161,409,275
PACIFICARE OF WASHINGTON INC (A UNITEDHEALTH GROUP COMPANY) 104,842,338
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) ( AN AON CORPORATION) 45,040,867
West Virginia
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
COVENTRY HEALTH & LIFE INS CO (DE) 16,676,827
HEALTH PLAN OF THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY(WV) 11,272,373
UPMC HEALTH BENEFITS INC (PA) 3,903,488
Wisconsin
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF WISCONSIN (A WELLPOINT COMPANY) 57,775,448
UNITED HEALTHCARE OF WISCONSIN INC 41,780,297
SECURITY HEALTH PLAN OF WI INC 33,953,623
Wyoming
Company Name (Domicile State) Premiums
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF WYOMING 82,651
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEALTH MAINT ORG (CO) 37,531
STERLING LIFE INS CO (IL) (AN AON CORPORATION) 32,952
(Based on premiums as of 3/31/07)

Source: tba

Related posts:

1. Medicare Supplements or Medicare Advantage Plans?
2. Medicare at 55 – The Latest Health Reform Rewind
3. Medicare Changes for 2010