Akron Life September 2023

FOREVER YOUNG

Medicare Part C is the Medicare Advantage plan. Both Parts A and B and Part C can include Part D prescription coverage. Medicare Advantage also includes benefits like hearing and dental plans, gym mem berships, traveling benefits, set emergency room copays, some skilled nursing facility coverage, free over-the-counter medica tions, free or low-cost doctor and specialist copays and more. Often, under Medicare Advantage plans, age-appropriate labs and tests are free or up to $20 each, and medi cal supplies like diabetes testing supplies are free or up to 20 percent of their usual costs. There are more network stipulations, however, so you can only visit doctors who are in your plan’s network. “Most people think that when you go on a Medicare Advantage plan, you’re los ing Parts A and B, which isn’t true. It’s subsidized by Medicare to give you the additional benefits,” Core says. “Overall, Medicare Advantage is one of the most all inclusive, affordable coverages that exist.”

Many older adults have multiple prescriptions, and if the costs aren’t covered, they can be very high. “A lot of the plans that people enroll in, they don’t realize that their drugs, eventually, based on how much they are, could hit a coverage gap,” Core says. “That’s usually the rule of thumb: We want to make sure that drugs are going to be affordable.” New this year, the cost of a one-month supply of insulin caps at $35 under Part D, according to medicare.gov. It’s also important to check that your doctors, especially if you have specialists you visit, remain in-network if you have Medicare Advantage. If the doctor switches locations, you can switch plans, and Core Insurance can help you consider that as an option. “You want to make sure that your doctor that you’ve been going to for let’s say 15, 20 years, they’re in that network,” Core says, adding that if you have a hospital or phar macy you prefer, you’ll want to make sure those are in-network too.

Your coverage through Parts A and B or Part C can also include Part G, which can be especially helpful for people with frequent doctor visits. Part G, also known as Medigap, is a supplement that can be beneficial for people with specific needs that may amount to high medical bills otherwise. “If they go to the doctor every day, or mul tiple times a week, then they need to go to a supplement plan so they don’t have high out-of-pocket costs,” Core says. “That per son gets to make that choice of which plan would be the most suitable for them.” On the Lookout There are three main things to check when selecting the Medicare plan that fits you best — prescription drugs, specialty doctors and preferred hospitals. You or an insur ance broker can enter any of that informa tion into the system and check which plans offer the most coverage for your specific situation.

49

SEPTEMBER 2023 | akronlife.com