Medicare Advantage plans combine Medicare Part A (hospital stays) and Part B (doctor visits) — also known as Original Medicare — in a single plan. Most plans include prescription drug (Part D) coverage. Many plans offer additional benefits and features like routine vision, hearing, dental and fitness coverage not provided by Original Medicare.
UnitedHealthcare Medicare plans are there for what matters to you, today and tomorrow. With plans designed for all styles, stages and ages of Medicare, there’s a UnitedHealthcare plan to fit your life.
Depending on where you live and your personal situation, UnitedHealthcare may offer several types of Medicare Advantage plans to choose from. In addition to plans varying by the benefits they offer, there are also differences in cost and provider networks. Not all plans are available in all areas.
United Healthcare HMO plans give you access to a local network of doctors and hospitals, including a primary care provider (PCP) to help coordinate your unique health care needs. You'll need to get care from doctors and providers in the network and you select a PCP to help coordinate your care. If you use a provider that isn't in the national network, you may have to pay for the service yourself. 1 Many plans include UnitedHealthcare Passport®, which gives you the network costs and benefits of your plan when you travel. Many HMO plans have a low or $0 monthly premium.
HMO-POS (Point of Service) plans give you access to a local network of doctors and hospitals, including a PCP to coordinate your care. Plus, you can see out-of-network doctors and providers for certain covered services.
Many UnitedHealthcare HMO plans also give you access to care across the country at network costs using the UnitedHealthcare® Medicare National Network, the nation’s largest network of top doctors and specialists. 2
1 Emergency care, urgent care, and out-of-area dialysis services are covered where you need them.
2 Networks vary by market.
UnitedHealthcare PPO plans give you freedom to see any doctor nationwide that accepts Medicare, without referrals for specialist or hospital visits. Many plans also provide access to in-network costs when you see doctors participating in the UnitedHealthcare Medicare National Network. Many PPO plans have a low or $0 monthly premium.
Networks vary by market and exclusions may apply. You can see any doctor who accepts Medicare but costs may be lower with a network doctor.
A PFFS plan doesn't have a network. It gives you the freedom to see any Medicare-approved doctor that accepts the plan's terms. If a PFFS plan doesn't include prescription drug coverage, you can purchase a separate, standalone prescription drug plan.
A Special Needs plan (SNP) is a type of Medicare Advantage plan. SNPs have a provider network and serve people that qualify with special health care or financial needs. All SNPs include prescription drug (Part D) coverage.
can get all the services you need within the network
want choices outside the care network
want to see specialists without referrals
have qualifying health or financial needs
HMO-POS – No, but costs more out-of-network
No, but costs more out-of-network
All include drug coverage
Most people become eligible for Medicare coverage when they turn 65 or have a qualifying disability or medical condition. If this describes you, read about the Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).
If you already have Medicare coverage and want to enroll in a different plan type, you can change at these times:
See the changing plans page to learn more about these enrollment periods and their rules.
Generally, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans have a low or $0 monthly plan premium and offer more coverage than Original Medicare alone.
Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans limit the amount you pay out-of-pocket each year. Once you reach that limit, called the out-of-pocket maximum, the plan pays 100% of costs for the rest of the year.
When comparing Medicare Advantage plans, these questions can help you decide which plan fits your budget:
All Medicare Advantage plans include at least the same coverage as Original Medicare Part A and Part B, but that’s where the similarity ends.
All plans also have added benefits and features Original Medicare doesn’t have — but may be very different in exactly what they offer. Think about what extra coverage is important to you when comparing different Medicare Advantage plans.
Ask yourself the following questions:
When comparing the costs for different Medicare Advantage plans, it’s important to compare your monthly plan premiums and your out-of-pocket costs. Comparing monthly plan premiums is pretty simple, as this cost is consistent regardless of the health services you use. Your out-of-pocket costs — deductibles, copays and coinsurance — can be trickier to calculate. These costs are how Medicare shares costs with you, and the total amount you pay is influenced by what healthcare services and items you use each year.
