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How Do Medicare Advantage Plans Work in Minnesota?



Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Until recently, there was only one way to go when it came to Medicare coverage.  First you would acquire Medicare coverage.  You would then supplement your coverage by purchasing a Medicare Supplement plan.  A stand-alone Medicare plan contains "gaps" in coverage that can lead to significant out-of-pocket costs for several possible medical circumstances.  There are a variety of Medicare supplement health plan options that provide different levels of supplement protection.  The various plan types are designated by letters of the alphabet (A-N).  Generally, the more comprehensive the coverage, the higher the cost of the supplement plan.

Good to know:  Ask questions.  If you don't understand the details of the plan offered, contact the insurance company or give us a call.  While there are a variety of online tools and resources that can help, the best thing to do is simply pick up the phone and talk to an insurance professional.  You need to clearly understand what you're buying.

In Minnesota, Medicare Advantage Plans are an "all in one" alternative to the Original Medicare / Medicare Supplement plan arrangement.  These plans are offered by private companies approved by Medicare.  If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you still have Medicare.  These "all in one" plans include Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and usually Medicare prescription drug (Part D).

Medicare Advantage Plans cover all services covered by original Medicare.  In addition, Advantage plans are required to offer at least the same level of coverage as the Original Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.  In almost every case, Advantage plans feature several attractive additional benefits that are not covered by original Medicare.  Dependent upon which Minnesota advantage plan you choose, these benefits may include coverage for vision care, hearing aids, dental care, prescription drug coverage, transportation to and from medical facilities, and even fitness center membership.  The end result is a very comprehensive medical insurance plan.

Improvements for 2020

What's new?  Beginning in 2020, Medicare Advantage plans will have the option of covering several items that you would not expect to be covered by any health insurance plan.  Such as for example, a person with diabetes could receive transportation to a doctor's appointment, to a diabetes education program, or to a meeting with a nutritionist.  Some Medicare Advantage plans will even pay for cooking classes as part of improving someone's eating habits!  For someone with heart disease, a Medicare Advantage plan could provide heart-healthy produce or other foods that promote heart health.  For asthma, the plan could cover air cleaners or even pay to shampoo a subscriber's carpet to remove the irritants that often trigger asthma attacks.  Astoundingly, plans may even pay for improvements to a member's home, such as permanent ramps or wider hallways and doors to accommodate wheelchairs.  2020 will see a host of new, attractive, Medicare Advantage Plan Benefits.

Good to know:  Cheaper is almost never better: Cut-rate insurance prices can unfortunately also mean cut-rate, sketchy plan benefits.  The old adage, you often get what you pay for, is true more often than not.  Thoroughly review plan benefits and evidence of coverage statements before purchasing a plan.  If this documentation is not readily available, call the company and request it.  If you are unfamiliar with the insurance company, check independent rating companies like A.M.  Best.  You should expect a rating of A or better.

If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.  The private insurer determines what the Medicare Advantage plan premium will be.  This premium amount will vary from one plan style to another.

Medicare Advantage plans tend to be significantly less expensive than Medicare Supplement coverage.  Some Medicare Advantage plans may have premiums as low as $0.

Copay costs may also be less with a Medicare Advantage plan.  For, example, if you visit a primary care physician under a Medicare Advantage plan, you may pay a copayment of $10.  However, if you visit a primary care physician under Original Medicare, you may have a coinsurance of 20%, which could be significantly more than $10.

A Medicare Advantage plan will limit your maximum out-of-pocket expense.  Once you have spent that maximum, you pay nothing for covered medical services for the remainder of the year.

Medicare Advantage Rules and Guidelines

Medicare pays a fixed amount for your care each month to the companies offering Medicare Advantage Plans.  In turn, these companies must follow rules set by Medicare.

Each Medicare Advantage Plan can charge different Out-of-pocket costs.  They can also have different rules for how you get services – for example:

  • Whether you need a referral to see a specialist.
  • What shared medical costs you are responsible for.


Which Medicare Avantage Plan Carriers Are Available in Minnesota?

Following is a list of some of the insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota:

  • Medica Health Plans. (Several plan variations)
  • Allina Health Aetna Medicare - Minnesota. (Several plan variations)
  • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. (Several plan variations)
  • UCare. (Several plan variations)
  • HumanaChoice. (Several plan variations)
  • UnitedHealthcare. (Several plan variations)
  • AARP. (Several plan variations)
  • Medica Health Plans. (Several plan variations)

Good to know:  Keep an eye out for health plan discounts for using fitness technology like Fitness Trackers.  As technology makes data about the state of our health easily available, many insurers are starting to look at using tools like fitness trackers to minimize risk.  Some insurance providers currently offer discounts or incentive plans that will save you money, or provide financial rewards.
Ask a broker about plans that give discounts using new fitness technologies, or plans with health incentives.  One example is "UnitedHealthcare Motion" which offers financial reimbursement incentives of up $1,500 per year.  These types of plans provide good opportunities for savings.  Also, make sure to inquire about the possibilities every year, since these types of programs will become more common over time.
For more information concerning Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, please give us a call.


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Medicare Supplement Vs Medicare Advantage Plans.
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