Medicare Advantage Plans are private health plans that contract with the federal government. Each private plan independently contracts with Medicare resulting in each Medicare Advantage plan having unique benefit designs for your clients to choose from.
Medicare Advantage plans are available in many areas; however, always research to make sure the plan your client is shopping for is available in your client’s county.An agent must complete a “certification” training program for each Medicare Advantage company they choose to market.
Medicare Advantage plans include the following:
Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Medicare Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS)
Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs)
Your contact is Angie Pettinger: (901)818-4311
Prescription Drug Plan
Medicare offers prescription drug coverage for everyone with Medicare. This is called “Part D”.
A Medicare beneficiary can get Medicare prescription drug coverage two ways:
- By joining a Stand-Alone Medicare Prescription drug plan that adds drug coverage to the Original Medicare Plan, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Private Fee-for-Service Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account plans
- By joining a Medicare advantage prescription drug plan (MA-PD). This health plan combines coverage for Medicare A & B with Medicare coverage for prescription drugs (PART D) into one plan provided by a private insurance company.
There are only certain times that a Medicare Beneficiary may sign up for Medicare’s prescription drug plan.
Initial Coverage Election Period: (ICEP) The period during which an individual who is newly eligible for Medicare may enroll in a Part D plan without penalty. The initial eligibility period is the seven-month period that begins three months before the month an individual meets the eligibility requirements and ends three months after the month of eligibility.
Open Enrollment Period: (OEP) Runs from October 15 to December 7 of each year. During this period, a person may enroll in or disenroll from a Medicare health plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Special Election Period: (SEP) Special circumstances that allow people with Medicare A and/or B to enroll at a time when they would otherwise be ineligible (e.g. move out of state, or other creditable coverage discontinued).
An agent must complete a “certification” training program for each Medicare Prescription Drug company they choose to market.
Your contact is Angie Pettinger: (901)818-4311
