Original Medicare is made up of Part A and Part B, but what costs are covered through Original Medicare?
Inpatient Hospitalization
Prescription Drugs
Doctor Visits and Preventive Care
Dental, Vision and Hearing
Correct! Incorrect. Original Medicare covers hospitalization and doctor visits for preventive care. But you’re still responsible for purchasing Part D for drug coverage, and Original Medicare doesn’t include any coverage for benefits like dental, vision or hearing.
Supplemental benefits are popular extras that may be included in the cost of a Medicare Advantage plan. Choose all that may be offered:
Fitness Membership
Over-The-Counter Medication Credits
Glasses and Contact Lens
World Wide Travel Assistance
Correct! Incorrect. Most Medicare Advantage (MA) plans today include extra benefits that aren’t included in Original Medicare coverage like dental, vision and hearing. While they vary by plan, more MAs are including supplemental benefits like transportation, support for caregivers, bathroom safety and more! It’s worth your time to compare plans to see what benefits work for you.
Not all Medicare plans are created equal. Pick 3 benefits of a health-system based Medicare Advantage plan:
Coordinated care with a team of doctors
Convenient insurance and billing
Attentive care from Primary Care Physician
Only see specialists and facilities in that health system
Correct! Incorrect. Unlike Original Medicare, or even Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offered by insurance companies, MA plans founded by a health system have a patient-focused approach. Coordination between doctors and specialists, more face time with your doctor and a simplified billing experience are common among new health-system based plans. You may be pleasantly surprised to know that some local health-system based MA plans offer an extended network that allows you to use facilities and doctors outside of that health system for specialized care.
True or False? If I have a chronic condition, like diabetes, it’s better to be on Original Medicare.
True
False
Correct! Incorrect. It’s best to research the best plan for you depending on your condition. While Original Medicare may cover things like annual screenings or tests and Part D may cover insulin, you may be responsible for 20% of the cost of your doctor visits. A health-system based Medicare Advantage plan may offer more care and specialists for your specific condition, so check it out before you enroll.
How many Americans on Medicare in 2019 were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans?
5 million
16 million
22 million
80 million
Correct! Incorrect. It’s 22 million! Many Americans are switching from Medicare Supplement plans and Original Medicare to increasingly popular Medicare Advantage plans for the low premiums, lower out-of-pocket costs and added supplemental benefits.
Good job!
Now you know a little more about Medicare than you did before. Check out ASK YOURSELF THIS ... 5 questions to think about before choosing coverage for information on questions you should be asking before choosing a Medicare plan, or go to our Q&A.
