Here is a very basic description of the differences between the various Medicare plans offered:

Medicare Advantage HMO. This type of plan requires that you see doctors, specialists, or hospitals that are contracted with or on the plan's list in order for the plan to pay the bills. The only exception is in an emergency. If you go to a healthcare provider or hospital that is not on the HMO list, neither the HMO nor Medicare will pay the bill. These type of plans generally have a lower monthly premium than a traditional Medicare supplement, and may cover your Medicare deductibles and may offer additional benefits compared to original Medicare.
PPO. PPO plans are a type of Medicare Advantage Plan available in a local or regional area where you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and providers that belong to the network. You can use doctors, hospitals, and providers outside of the network for an additional cost.
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans. This is not a Medicare Advantage plan. When you sign up for a Medigap plan, Medicare is the primary payer and the Medigap plan is your secondary insurance. There are 14 standardized plans that are sold by private insurance companies (Blue Shield of California, HealthNet, etc...) labeled A through N. The monthly premium varies between plans and is dependent on the county where you live and your age. To get a list of companies that sell these plans, call HICAP at 1-800-434-0222 and ask for a list of Medigap plans in your county.
Medicare Part D-Outpatient Prescription Drug Coverage. This is in addition to your Medicare Part A and Part B. If you sign up for a Medicare Part C plan, that plan may or may not include Part D drug coverage. If it doesn't include it or if you have a Medigap plan, you may want to enroll in a Medicare Part D plan to cover your outpatient prescription drugs.

To help understand these plans, we recommend calling Medicare: 1-800-633-4227(1-800-Medicare) www.Medicare.gov, calling HICAP at 1-800-434-0222, or visiting www.senioradvocacyservices.org.

Open Enrollment FAQs

General Health Insurance Questions

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Medicare and Medicare Advantage Questions

Does Northbay accept Medicare?

What's the difference between the Medicare plans?

Does Northbay Health accept Medicare Advantage?

What is a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap)?

How do I choose which Medigap plan to purchase?

What Medicare Supplemental plans does Northbay accept?

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