How to Choose the Best Medicare Advantage Plan

Business Wire

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Medicare open enrollment season is officially under way. With a December 7 deadline, there’s time to peruse the different plans and sign-up for the right one for you, but don’t wait until the last minute.

There are plenty of plans out there, so how do you know which one is right for you? The federal government’s official Medicare.gov website has a helpful tool called “Medicare Plan Finder,” which helps you estimate your annual health and drug costs based on the Medicare Advantage plan you choose.

There are a number of important factors to consider when enrolling:

First of all, you need to be on Medicare A and B before you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. In selecting a plan, you need to consider all of your health needs, including cost. Consider how much you pay in monthly premiums. There are often $0 premium plans available with Medicare Advantage.

The cost is different with each plan, which is another factor. There are Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) that feature more provider options at a slightly higher cost. Also, there are Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) available at a lower cost.

Premiums can vary depending on where in you live in Ohio. Some plans provide medical and prescription drug benefits required by Medicare while others may only provide either medical or prescription benefits. Many plans include benefits such as dental, vision and the popular Silver Sneakers program at no additional costs.

Silver Sneakers is a program that promotes healthy lifestyles by providing access to more than 13,000 fitness centers across the country. It also offers cardio, yoga and other classes including access to swimming pools and walking groups.

There is some homework to do. Study your options to determine which plan is best for your personal health care needs.

Enrollment in a MedMutual Advantage Medicare plan is easy, and there are several convenient ways to get more information and sign-up. Call (866) 406-8777 and our licensed insurance agents can answer your questions. You can also go online at MedMutual.com/Medicare, compare plans and enroll with our safe and secure online application. Also, by calling 866-406-8777 (or TTY 711 for the hearing impaired) you can schedule a face-to-face consultation with one of our licensed and certified agents. You can also fill out an enrollment application and mail it to: Medical Mutual P.O. Box 94563 Cleveland, Ohio 44010

About Medical Mutual of Ohio

Founded in 1934, Medical Mutual of Ohio is the oldest and largest health insurance company based in Ohio. For more than 80 years, the company has served customers with high-quality, affordable group and personal health insurance plans, and third-party administrative services to self-insured group customers. As a mutual health insurance company, Medical Mutual is unique in that it operates for the benefit of its members. Unlike publicly-traded insurance companies that must maximize their financial return, Medical Mutual does not answer to stockholders or Wall Street analysts. For more information, visit the company’s award-winning Web site at MedMutual.com.