New Medicare Program: Full List of Services That Will Need Prior Approval

[valleyrogue]

75. Medicare Advantage plans are PPO/HMOs, just like regular private company insurance carriers. Medigap is fee-for-service.

THAT is the basic difference between the two. I am very sick and tired of people who are all gung-ho about pushing those of us on Medicare Advantage onto far more expensive Medigap (aka Medicare Supplement) plans. A lot of us cannot afford that, understand? The premiums are way more. If you have chronic conditions and need certain doctors, by all means pick Medigap. A lot of us DON'T.

ALL of these plans go through private insurance carriers. The federal government does not bill people for medical services.

Medicare Advantage and Medigap are roughly analogous to private sector companies and public agencies offering people choice between fee for service plans where one can pick their own doctors but much more expensive, or going on HMO/PPOs where one must use the plans' own physicians or networks, but Medicare Advantage has the advantage of providing dental and vision as a bundle.

Most people on this board don't seem to understand this. It took me forever to understand the difference when I first became eligible for Medicare.