The Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage Plans

Image: Medicare.gov.

One of the biggest challenges that retirees face is managing healthcare costs, and for most seniors Medicare plays an essential part in achieving that. Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to traditional Medicare, but many people don't really understand how they work or whether they're better or worse than the regular Medicare coverage they're more familiar with. To shed some light on this often-misunderstood part of the Medicare program, we asked three Motley Fool retirement experts to weigh in with their views on the strengths and weaknesses of Medicare Advantage plans. Read on to get the information you need to make a more informed choice.

Dan Caplinger: Medicare Advantage plans are a popular option for those over 65, with more than a quarter of all Medicare beneficiaries signing up for the privately-run plans. By choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, eligible participants can often get all their Medicare coverage, including Part A hospital care, Part B medical services, and Part D prescription drug coverage, in a single policy from a private insurance company.

Many Medicare Advantage plans are designed to provide more complete coverage than traditional Medicare, resulting in fewer upfront costs for healthcare expenses. This feature allows Medicare Advantage participants to avoid having to get separate supplemental Medicare coverage, also known as Medigap policies, in order to reimburse expenses that traditional Medicare won't pay. As Selena describes below, insurance companies typically use managed care options such as health maintenance organizations or preferred provider networks to cut costs, and this can limit the flexibility that traditional Medicare gives its participants.

Navigating some of the ins and outs of when you can or can't join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage coverage can also be a bit more confusing than the simpler options that Medicare offers. Nevertheless, for those who look to consolidate all of their health-insurance needs in their retirement years within a single policy, Medicare Advantage remains an attractive option that millions of Americans use to protect themselves against expensive healthcare costs.

Selena Maranjian: Despite all the appealing characteristics of Medicare Advantage plans, there are some downsides, too. One well worth considering is that the Medicare Advantage plans available to you in your state may be more restrictive than you're used to or than you prefer when it comes to seeing doctors.

Medicare Advantage plans are offered mainly in the following formats: Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plans, and Special Needs Plans (SNPs). You'll have to review your options carefully, since each insurance company's Medicare Advantage plan(s) will likely vary from those of other insurers in terms of their rules and what they charge and provide, and not all kinds will be available in each state either.

Medicare Advantage plans with the HMO format will typically mandate that you have a primary care doctor who must refer you to specialists, rather than your simply finding and seeing specialists on your own. HMOs will usually only cover services provided within their own networks, which can be rather limited in terms of which doctors you can see. In exchange for these restrictions, though, you often pay less.

Medicare Advantage plans with the PPO format will typically let you patronize any doctor or hospital, but will offer favorable terms if you choose those that are in-network. These plans can cost more, but also offer more freedom, and that might matter a lot to you if it's very important to you to be able to continue seeing a certain doctor or doctors. Keep up with your plans, too, as sometimes the doctor networks change. , for example, has cut thousands of doctors from its Medicare Advantage networks in recent years.

This downside might have you rethinking Medicare Advantage plans, but don't dismiss them without seeing just what kinds of plans are available to you and what they offer.

Sean Williams: Medicare Advantage plans come with a number of pluses and minuses, but one of the best perks of these plans is the peace of mind they can bring people in their golden years when it comes to defining their out-of-pocket expenses.

Under Medicare Advantage plans you're entitled to the same coverage as you would have received had you enrolled in original Medicare (Plan A hospital coverage, and Plan B medical coverage). However, for added premium, deductible, and copay costs that come with a Medicare Advantage plan (which are determined by your private insurance company) you can put a ceiling on your out-of-pocket expenses.

As Selena describes above, there are numerous types of Medicare Advantage plans, but Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) and Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) are the most common. Although out-of-pocket limits can vary wildly, in 2015, the average out-of-pocket limit for an HMO is $4,869 and $5,250 for a local PPO. As a whole, out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare Advantage enrollees is capped at $6,700. By comparison, there are no out-of-pocket limits under the original Medicare.

Additionally, Medicare Advantage plans ensure that certain services won't cost a patient more than under the original Medicare. For instance, dialysis, chemotherapy, and skilled care in a nursing facility won't cost more than the maximum charge under the original Medicare.

Ultimately, you'll pay more in premiums for a Medicare Advantage plan than you would under the original Medicare, but there will also be little chance of an out-of-pocket cost surprise.

The article The Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage Plans originally appeared on Fool.com.

Dan Caplinger has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sean Williams has no position in any stocks mentioned. Selena Maranjian has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.