People 65 and up are eligible for Medicare, the federal government's health insurance program. Medicare Advantage is an alternative to traditional Medicare that provides all the same coverage as Original Medicare, plus sometimes additional advantages like reduced out-of-pocket expenses for dental and vision care.

Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Original Medicare that may be less expensive and provide more comprehensive coverage. However, they limit your options for medical treatment because you must use only doctors and hospitals in the plan's network. Evaluate your choices to find the strategy that best meets your requirements.

Medicare In Lowa: The Facts

• Over 20% of Iowans are 65 and up, and residents can choose from a wide range of Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.
• In 2022, the typical cost of an Iowa Medicare Advantage plan is expected to be $8.99 per month. In 2021, that sum was $9.73.
• In 2022, Iowa residents can choose from 61 different Medicare Advantage plans. (This number is higher than 2021's projections of 55.)
• In Iowa, almost everyone who qualifies for Medicare (97%) can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with zero out-of-pocket costs.

Healthcare Service Organizations Serving Iowans With Medicare Advantage

Health Alliance, Inc., Aetna Medicare HealthPartners UnityPoint Health, Humana, Medica, Medical Associates Health Plans, MediGold, Quartz Medicare Advantage, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellmark Advantage Health Plan

Choosing the Right Medicare Advantage Program

Consider these guidelines when you shop for a Medicare Advantage plan that fits your needs. Always remember that the fall annual open enrollment period allows you to switch plans if your requirements change.

Does Your Doctor's Office Cover You?

Carefully consider whether plans include your current physician's practice so that you can continue seeing them.

Does The Plan Provide Prescription Drug Coverage?

According to a survey conducted in 2017, only 10% of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in the Medicare drug coverage plan that provided the most affordable coverage for their prescription medicines. By making the transition, they could have saved $541 on average for the next year.

Comprehend The Meaning Of The Star System.

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans are rated on a scale from one to five stars by the Medicare star rating system. Plans are evaluated on their ability to maintain a healthy membership, their responsiveness to members' requirements, the quality of their customer service, and how they handle member complaints. A plan can get a maximum of five stars and a minimum of one.

Enrollment In Iowa's Medicare Advantage Program

Alternatives to traditional Medicare are Medicare Advantage plans. Identical to Medicare Parts A and B, these plans give coverage for hospitalizations and doctor's visits through commercial insurance providers. However, they might also pay for things like drugs and visits to the doctor. Additional advantages, including dental, vision, hearing, short-term rehabilitation, ambulance services, and so on, may also be included.

• There are currently 653,534 people in the state of Iowa that are enrolled in Medicare.
• The number of Medicare Advantage plans available to Iowans will expand by 14.8%, from 61 in 2022 to 70 in 2023.
• In 2023, Medicare Advantage plan members in Iowa will pay an average monthly premium of $9.13, a drop of 2.6% from the average premium of $9.37 in 2022.
• In Iowa, $0 premium plans are available in 96.70 percent of the counties.

Insurance Agencies That Provide Medicare Advantage Plans In Iowa

The federally run Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services assigns star ratings to Medicare Advantage programs (CMS). The quality of treatment, the handling of chronic illnesses, and the responsiveness of customer support are just a few of the metrics by which plans are rated, along with many more. U.S. News' ratings can be found on the individual plan details pages.

Advantage Plans For Medicare In Iowa

Anyone over 65 in Iowa can sign up for the original Medicare program (parts A & B). In light of original Medicare's lack of prescription drug coverage, it is strongly advised that anyone enrolling in Medicare do so in conjunction with a separate prescription drug plan (Part D).

• Medicare Part A covers medical care received at hospitals. It includes hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and certain home health aide visits.
• Medicare Part B pays for outpatient care, including doctor visits, mental health treatment, durable medical equipment (like walkers and wheelchairs), and preventative treatments like immunizations.

Medicare Advantage Plan Enrollment In Iowa Begins When?

The Medicare enrollment period begins three months before the 65th birthday and continues for another three months afterward. Medicare recipients have the opportunity to examine, customize, or switch plans every year during the period beginning October 15 and ending December 7. Medicare recipients can do the following during the annual fall open enrollment period: • Switch between Medicare Advantage and original Medicare (parts A and B).

• You can switch Medicare Advantage plans.
• Join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D), switch to a different Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, or decline Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage entirely.