![]() Some insurers have several plans in an area with different networks, so be sure to ask about the specific plan you're interested in. You'll usually need to ask the plan directly, and several insurers have web tools that let you look up providers. Click on the "health & drug plan benefits" tab to see details about coverage in different categories, such as inpatient and outpatient hospital coverage, cost-sharing for doctors' visits, preventive care, emergency care and supplemental benefits (such as hearing and dental services).īecause the cost can be higher for out-of-network services, it's also important to make sure your favorite doctors and hospitals are included. You can then choose up to three plans to compare in detail. ![]() The top rating is 5 stars, which very few plans receive, but many good plans receive 4 or 4.5 stars. The rating assesses the plans on several factors, such as health plan responsiveness and care, member complaints, appeals, drug-plan customer service and managing chronic conditions. The most important information is in the fifth column-"estimated annual health and drug costs"-which adds up the premiums, deductibles and the cost of your drugs as well as an estimate of your co-payments for average medical needs based on your health status.Ĭustomer service can make a significant difference with Medicare Advantage plans, so it's also important to look at 's star rating for each plan in the sixth column. You'll see a list of the plans along with information about their coverage and costs, including the estimated annual costs for your medications (and whether either of the pharmacies you listed is a preferred pharmacy under the plan) the monthly premium deductibles and co-payments the maximum out-of-pocket spending limit for in-network and out-of-network care whether the plan includes some dental, vision or hearing coverage whether all of your drugs are in the plan's formulary (which means that the plan covers your drugs) and if there are restrictions on your drugs, such as "prior authorization," which requires your doctor to provide additional information upfront on why you need a medication, or "step therapy," which requires that you try a less-expensive drug first, if possible. However, you may want to change the health status from the default "good" to "poor" or "excellent" to adjust the tool's estimates of your out-of-pocket costs based on your general medical needs.Ĭlick on "Medicare Health Plans with drug coverage" to see the Medicare Advantage plans in your area. You're given several options on the left side to refine your search, such as capping your monthly premium, but it's generally best to keep the search more general at this point. Most people shopping for Medicare Advantage plans will be looking for plans with drug coverage. You'll then see a summary page listing the number of Part D prescription-drug plans in your area, the number of Medicare Health Plans (Medicare Advantage) with drug coverage, and the number of those without drug coverage. 10 Things You Need to Know About Medicare
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