Benefits and more benefits?

Dr. John here to answer your Medicare questions, no matter how big or small. 

“Is my plan going to stay the same if I don't do anything during the Annual Enrollment Period?” 

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan or a Part D drug plan, these plans do change from year to year. Unfortunately just because you like your current plan, doesn't mean that it's going to be the same exact plan for next year.

Make sure that you review your changes and if you're happy with it you can simply say do nothing and your plan will renew into the new version of the plan. If you're on a Medicare Supplemental plan, also known as the Medigap plans, these are the plans FG or N those are the most common ones that we see. These plans actually stay the same year after year so as long as you like your plan and you're saying on your Medigap plan, there's going to be no changes for the following year. 

My friend has all these benefits… can I have those?

“My friend has a plan that includes dental, vision, and a gym membership and it costs her just $0.00 a month! Can I sign up for that plan and keep my Supplemental plan?” 

We hear there's a lot from individuals that have friends who are on Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans include: medical, oftentimes prescription, dental, vision, hearing, and in some cases, gym memberships. These are extra benefits that Medicare typically doesn't cover rolled into an all-in-one plan. These plans are pretty inexpensive a lot of them will start at $0.00 a month.

Many  people who are on Supplemental plans or Medigap plans where they might be paying 100 or $200 a month, this alternative option could be pretty enticing because if you could sign up for it and keep your current plan it's no additional cost and gain benefits it would be great, but….  you cannot be on a Medicare supplemental plan or Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. 

The reason for that is because Medicare Advantage plans, are an alternative way to get Original Medicare.  The other option, Medicare Supplement (or Medigap) insurance plans work alongside your Original Medicare coverage. These plans have significant differences when it comes to costs, benefits, and how they work.

Unfortunately the short answer here is it can't have both at the same time you have to choose either or.