Medicare Advantage is an alternative to traditional Medicare options that allows you to bundle services and include add-on extras such as dental, vision, and more. Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans, and availability depends on location and can vary in cost. Knowing what Medicare advantage plans are available in Utah can help you make the best decisions to ensure you get the healthcare coverage you need. Here are six of the best Medicare advantage plans in Utah for you to choose from.
What Types of Medicare Advantage Plans Are Available?
There are many different Medicare Advantage Plan options to consider when looking over different insurance companies. It can be overwhelming when trying to select the right plan for you. Understanding what each type of healthcare plan means can help you make an informed decision. Here are some of the plan types available in Utah.
HMOs – HMOs, or health maintenance organizations, require you to see an in-network provider. A network is a group of doctors, specialists, and healthcare facilities agreeing to a specific healthcare plan to provide services. With this type of plan, you will need to receive a referral from your primary care doctor if you need a specialist.
PPOs – PPOs or preferred provider organization also operates by providing care by a selected network. You will pay less if you stay with providers within the network. With this plan, you usually do not need to have a referral to see a specialist.
SNPs – SNPs or special needs plans are for people covered under Medicare that have special needs. Three types of special needs plans cover a wide range of medical issues. These include:
- Chronic Condition Special Needs Plans (C-SNPs) – These plans are designed for people with chronic healthcare conditions, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, chronic heart failure, HIV/AIDs, Diabetes, and more.
- Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) – These plans are available for people eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, a program for low-income patients.
- Institutional Special Needs Plans (I-SNPs) – The I-SNPs were developed to cover those who receive nursing home care or need in-home care.
PFFS – PFFS or private fee-for-service plans allow you to choose any healthcare provider who takes your insurance plan. These plans often have a network where you will pay more if you see out-of-network providers.
MSA – An MSA or medical savings account plan combines a high deductible health plan with a medical savings account. The deductible is the amount you pay for services before the plan begins to cover expenses. The monthly payment on the plan deposits money into your MSA on your behalf. You would use the money in the savings account or some of your own funds to cover health care expenses. This plan is often better for people who don’t need to see a doctor as often.
The Best Medicare Advantage Plans in Utah
While there are many options within each health provider, this list of the best Medicare Advantage plans can give you a good idea of where to start your search.
Aetna Medicare Advantage Plans
Aetna is an award-winning insurance company with a large network of providers offering $0 premiums and low-cost copays. Since 1853, Aetna has continually received positive reviews and customer feedback.
Choosing Aetna Medicare Advantage, you have a wide selection of HMO and PPO plan options, and the coverage varies by county. Aetna Medicare Plans cover many services, including vision, dental, hearing, prescription drugs, and wellness benefits. Some plans even cover medical transportation. Some chronic medical conditions, such as Alzheimer’s or cancer, can qualify individuals for the Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan to ensure the right coverage is available.
Regence Blue Cross and Blue Shield
The Regence Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medicare Advantage plans offer low premiums with additional coverage options. The plans offer a low max out-of-pocket limit, low or no monthly premiums, and you can have coverage when traveling out of state. Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan often receive a high rating across all Medicare offerings.
The Medicare Advantage plans through Blue Cross and Blue Shield cover traditional expenses, and added coverage includes prescription drugs, vision, dental, hearing, wellness programs, transportation, telehealth, OTC drugs, emergency response devices, and in-home help.
Cigna
Cigna’s Medicare Advantage plans in Utah have a broad range of services to choose from, low copays, and out-of-pocket costs. Cigna is one of the most affordable options that cover basic coverage and several other additional services. Cigna stands out due to its offering of $0 copays through virtual care or for visits to primary care physicians. Their. Their coverage extends beyond the standard Medicare Advantage plans to include vision, dental, behavioral health care, and preventative care.
Humana
Humana offers a wider variety of Medicare Advantage healthcare plans, including HMOs, PPOs, SNPs, and PFFS plans, but they vary depending on the region. The low-cost option also allows for waived out-of-pocket costs for telemedicine visits. While Human offers a wide range of plan offerings, the extra coverages are more limited and include dental, vision, and hearing, with some options including health and wellness programs. For some areas, Humana may offer Medicare Part D plans to supplement the Medicare Advantage plans that don’t include drug coverage.
United Healthcare
UnitedHealthcare plans are widely available, and all plans offer the ability to add on extra benefits to ensure you are covered for your medical needs. Many of the plans include low to zero monthly premiums and low or no copays. However, the maximum out-of-pocket costs can be higher than other plans.
UnitedHealthcare has one of the largest networks available in the country, giving you a larger selection of primary care physicians. The coverage can include prescription drugs, vision, dental, hearing, and wellness benefits. Some plans include medical transportation and OTC medications.
Molina
Molina Medicare Advantage HMO plans can be a great option for quality care at a low price and is great for coverage of preventative care. Molina’s Medicare Advantage plan offers coverage of vision, dental, hearing, wellness benefits, OTC medications, and care and provides access to virtual services. Molina operates with a network of doctors, hospitals, and other specialist providers. Molina may not cover those services if you choose to go out of network.
Medicare Resources in Utah
Utah provides several services and assistance programs that can help you select the best Medicare coverage for your healthcare needs to fit your budget. Other resources can help you learn more about the options for additional coverage and help you understand the benefits to make the best enrollment decisions.
- The Utah Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) offers free health benefits counseling to learn more about your options. You can visit their website to find a local office or call SHIP at 1-800-541-7735.
- The Utah Department of Health & Human Services can provide assistance through Medicare cost-sharing programs to help cover the costs associated with coverage. To learn more about the available programs, you can visit their website.
- Utah Medicaid assists people with low income who need help covering their Medicare Coverage. You can visit their website to learn more about eligibility and what is covered.
Brighter Insurance Utah
We offer free Medicare consultation to anyone. We can quickly assess your needs and help you identify the best available options in your area. Click here to connect with a licensed Medicare Agent in Utah now.
