• Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Plans

• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Plans

• Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans

• Special Needs Plans (SNPs)

There are other less common types of Medicare Advantage Plans that may be available:

• HMO Point of Service (HMOPOS) Plans: An HMO Plan that may allow you to get some services out-of-network for a higher cost.

• Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans: A plan that combines a high deductible health plan with a bank account. Medicare deposits money into the account (usually less than the deductible).

You can use the money to pay for your health care services during the year.

How to Switch

Follow these steps if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to switch:

• To switch to a new Medicare Advantage Plan, simply join the plan you choose during one of the enrollment periods. You’ll be disenrolled automatically from your old plan when your new plan’s coverage begins.

• To switch to Original Medicare, contact your current plan.

Unless you have other drug coverage, you should carefully consider Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy. Remember, you may only be able to switch at certain times of the year.

If You Have Other Coverage

Talk to your employer, union, or other benefits administrator about their rules before you join a Medicare Advantage Plan. In some cases, joining a Medicare Advantage Plan might cause you to lose employer or union coverage. If you lose coverage for yourself, you may also lose coverage for your spouse and dependents

In other cases, you may still be able to use your employer or union coverage along with the Medicare Advantage plan you join. Remember, if you drop your employer or union coverage, you may not be able to get it back.

At the end of the year, plans can decide to leave the Medicare Program. In recent years, however, very few plans have left. If this happens, your plan will send you a letter explaining your options.

Generally, you’ll be automatically returned to Original Medicare if you don’t choose to join another Medicare Advantage Plan. You will also have the right to buy a Medigap policy.

No matter what you choose, you’re still in the Medicare Program and will get all Medicare-covered services. If you choose to go back to Original Medicare, you need to decide if you want drug coverage. If so, you need to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).

Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. They are offered by private companies approved by Medicare.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for:

• Persons 65 years of age or older

• Certain younger people with disabilities

• People with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD)