Medigap policies don’t work with Medicare Advantage Plans; You can have one or the other, but not both. Your Medigap policy can’t be used to pay your Medicare Advantage Plan copayments, deductibles, and premiums.

Yes, you can join a Medicare Advantage Plan even if you have a pre-existing condition. Medicare Advantage Plans are not medically underwritten.

You can only join this plan at certain times of the year, like when you are new to Medicare, during the annual enrollment period, if you lose creditable coverage or have a change in Medicaid eligibility. Once you purchase an Advantage plan, you’re typically locked into the plan for the rest of the calendar year.

While Medicare Advantage Plans often have premiums as low as $0, you may have deductibles, copays, and coinsurances for many services. Therefore, affordability can also depend on how frequently you use the plan.

To purchase a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must reside in the plan’s service area (zip code and county) and be enrolled in Original Medicare. If you are enrolling outside of the Annual Enrollment Period, you must have a valid window to change plans.

Medicare Advantage Plans replace Original Medicare and bundle Part A (Hospital Insurance), Part B (Medical Insurance) all into one plan. Medicare Advantage Plans are available with or without Part D (Prescription Drug Insurance).

Yes, these plans typically operate off a network like an HMO or PPO.

Keep in mind that providers can join or leave a plan’s provider network anytime during the year. Your plan can also change the providers in the network anytime during the year. If this happens, you may need to choose a new provider.