The concept of Medicare Advantage is nothing new, as it has been doing the rounds since the 1970s. However, in 2003, it was named “Medicare Advantage”. In 2014, 15.7 million people were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. This proves that it included nearly 30% of all beneficiaries of Medicare.
Know the Extra perks
Many Medicare Advantage plans offer additional perks to people like hearing, vision, or dental coverage, and people do not get them when they remain enrolled in the original Medicare. When a person has original Medicare, he should opt for another plan, and this one should be outside of Medicare, like hearing, vision, or dental. A few MA plans offer transportation from and to doctor’s appointments or gym membership.
A beneficiary who does not get enrolled under Medicare when he turns 65 and does not become qualified for a specific enrolment period can expect to get enrolled in Medicare Part A as well as Medicare Part B. The members of MA use this period to return to their original Medicare or switch over to a different MA plan.
Enrolment period of MA plans in California
The eligibility criteria and enrolment periods for MA plans in California need beneficiaries to decide who qualifies for these plans and when they should enroll themselves. A person can get enrolled in an MA plan during the periods mentioned below:
- Special Enrolment period when some particular life events happen.
- The initial period of enrolment.
- MA Open Enrolment period that starts breakingtimes from the 1st of January to the 31st of March.
- MA’s enrolment period starts from the 15th of October to the 7th of December every year.
The eligibility criteria
Every person who satisfies the following criteria can become eligible for getting enrolled in a MA plan in California:
- People who have attained the age of 65 years and are older than this.
- People who suffer from a qualifying disability. These people might become qualified for enrolment if they receive nearly 24 Social Security or RRB (Railroad Retirement Board) Disability Insurance payments.
- People suffering from ESRD (end-stage renal disease) and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
For more information on the eligibility criteria and the enrolment periods of MA plans in California,visit https://www.medicareadvantageplans2025.org/best-medicare-advantage-plans-California-2025/.
The optimal out-of-pocket costs for MA
The costs for the MA plan vary by plan every year though not every Part C plan has a max. Out-of-pocket spending limit. The maximum a person will spend in 2024 is $8,850. However, people might be asked to pay a little less than this if their plan permits them to. This limit has been set so that people are not required to pay excessive costs if they unfortunately suffer from some kind of illness or injury, and when they find that, they are required to pay a higher medical cost.
When an MA plan permits a person to visit out-of-network providers, then it suggests that it covers higher out-of-pocket spending and a distinct out-of-network. Additionally, the plan encompasses coverage for prescription drugs and has a distinct out-of-pocket max. for the costs of prescription drugs.
Conclusion
MA plans provide the same benefits that Medicare Part B and Medicare Part A offer. Additionally, these plans comprise prescription drug coverage too and comprise benefits that Medicare does not cover. Hence, people enjoy coverage of eye examinations, routine dental care, hearing aids, and glasses.