Yes, the advantage of traditional Medicare is that the “network” is very large (93% of adult primary care physicians, although only 70% accept new traditional Medicare patients) and national compared to typical PPO and HMO networks.
This type of thing seems to vary between states. For example, in California, you can change to a different supplement / Medigap plan once per year without underwriting (“birthday rule”), but only if the new plan has the same or lower benefits as the old plan: Medicare Supplement Insurance "Medigap"
However, initial enrollment in a supplement / Medigap plan without underwriting is still limited to the six months around your 65th birthday. I.e. adding a supplement / Medigap plan later, or switching from a Medicare Advantage plan, can require medical underwriting.
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My Medicare Advantage plan is with a VERY large group. So there are some things it has that might not be generally available. My plan covers any doctor who takes Medicare anywhere in the country. Some don’t need to wonder or worry if I go OOS for a period of time. But mine is a very very large group…and that is why this perk of the plan was made available. Otherwise, the group would have sought a different provider.
Also, every year during open enrollment, I could choose to switch back to regular Medicare with supplement…without underwriting.
I feel dumb asking, but what does “with” or “without” “underwriting” mean?
With underwriting means that medical history, etc is taken into consideration to determine eligibility…sort of like for life insurance.
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Oh, thanks. I thought Obamacare made it illegal to take into account preexisting conditions for any policies, but I might have misunderstood. I did think that was illegal in NJ. I need to look into this more.
No prexisting conditions for regular insurance or for Medicare. BUT it’s my understanding that for those who choose a Medicare advantage plan, they “might” need to go through underwriting if they decide to switch back to regular Medicare.
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The ACA guaranteed issue rules do no affect Medigap plans, which are controlled by state law, or an employer if a retiree Medigap plan. (Note, you can transfer to Medicare Parts A and B, but it’s the Medigap plan that may not accept you.)
A few states* allow one to change from Medicare Advantage to a Medigap plan without medical ‘underwriting’, but most do not. Underwriting can be a simple process by answering a few questions, but if you have a pre-existing condition the Medigap plan does not have to accept your transfer from a Medicare Advantage plan (unless this is your initial enrollment in the first year).
*In addition to CA mentioned above, Oregon also has a birthday rule. I believe NY and MA have some other rules to change.
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Thank you!
H and I have medicare parts A and B and secondary BC/BS Federal Employee Plan. I originally chose BC/BS years ago for its international coverage which I have not needed to use. On our internists’s website it stated that they stopped accepting Medicare Advantage Rocky Mountain Health Care plan. I have no idea why.
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Wait, so if you have one of the Medicare Advantage plans that’s regional, and you go on a two-week vacay and end up needing some kind of doctor/hospital care, you’re SOL?
It covers emergency care everywhere.
I haven’t done so but I could buy travel insurance for a lot less than what a Medicare Supplement would cost. But I don’t travel that much.
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So hmm, if you snowbird for 3 months, though, you probably shouldn’t get the Medicare Advantage regional plan.
Dear god, I’ve barely cracked the FAFSA and FSA and 401(k) codes. A whole new lexicon.
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It depends on the plan. My MA advantage plan covers me in all 50 states with any provider who takes Medicare. No in and out of network. But I’m a member of a VERY a large group that was able to get a lot put into the plan. This isn’t what’s available to everyone.
BUT yes…there are MA plans that cover folks who reside in two different states…you need to shop around.
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Going through our 2nd year of Medicare choices. Staying with our Medigap policies due to wide acceptance (with travel) of Blue Cross C+ Plan. Have selected different Drug plans for both of us for 2022 and changed for 2023 based on cost comparisons using our same pharmacy. My plan already was confirmed and prior plan letter with discontinuing; DH’s processed electronically with Medicare at same time does not show the changes on Medicare’s system but confirmation printout when processing electronically said “It takes at least 10 days for your new plan to show in your account.” So will wait a few more days and check on Medicare web site before calling the new plan (have phone number on my confirmation printout.
Oooh, ooh, I can contribute something useful on this, @SOSConcern - I just went thru this with my dad, who moved across the country to live with us and had to change Medicare Advantage plans.
They also confirmed online that the change was requested, and then there was a scary wait with nothing showing in the system.
But then a fat packet arrived in the mail after about two weeks.
So it does work 
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Does anyone have dental coverage? My dentist told me it can be found in some Part D plans, but he doesn’t recommend it because it’s so expensive. Is that true or is he just trying to avoid dealing with insurance companies?
Dental insurance may included with Part C plans (not D, which is pharmacy benefits). Part C is also called Medicare Advantage.
Not sure there is any value to dental insurance for those on Original Medicare (Parts A & B). Just pay out of pocket. Ask your dentist for a cash pay discount at service.
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Dental insurance tends to cover relatively small expenses (note the yearly limits on many employer coverages) that are relatively predictable on an individual basis. So it is likely to cost at least as much as the expected cost of self-pay dental care.
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No dental insurance in our plan that I know of. I pay out of pocket. Interestingly ours does cover hearing aides.
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