Is a Medicare Advantage PPO Plan Right for You?

Medicare Advantage PPO plans are a form of Medicare, but with additional feature enhancements.

In this article, we’ll start by giving you a quick overview of what these plans look like. Then we’ll walk you through what you can expect of a Medicare Advantage PPO plan and give you some pointers to help you decide if one of these plans may be a good fit for you.

By the end of this article, we hope you’ll be better equipped to find the right kind of coverage for your unique health needs.

What is Medicare Advantage PPO?

Before we explore whether Medicare Advantage PPO plans will be a good fit for you, it’ll help to understand the principal components of these plans. As you research Medicare, you may notice that the service is separated into parts. Part A covers hospital insurance, Part B provides medical insurance, and Part D makes provision for prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Part C is a bundled package of insurance drawing from parts A, B, and D. This all in one alternative is called Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage PPO plans are a form of Medicare Advantage in which you use health care services offered through a preferred provider organization or PPO. A PPO adds both convenience and cost savings to the versatility of this Medicare plan.

Is It Right for You?

Generally, Medicare Advantage PPO plans are worth considering if you meet one or more of these three criteria:

1. You’re looking for a balance of convenience and cost savings

Most Medicare Advantage PPO plans build in the convenience of comprehensive coverage that includes hospital stays, health consultations, prescription drug coverage and often other benefits such as vision and dental. Moreover, by being part of a PPO, you enjoy financial savings every time you seek care within your preferred network.

Medicare Advantage PPO plans are, therefore, an excellent choice for medical insurance if you’re seeking a balance of convenience and cost savings.

2. You need some treatment flexibility

Sometimes — and especially if you need regular treatment for a range of ongoing conditions — you may need the flexibility of seeking care outside of your network. Medicare Advantage PPO plans acknowledge your need for flexibility, and many such plans allow you to find out-of-network care with no referrals required.

A flexible plan better equips you to handle new health issues as they arise with old age, and knowing you’re not locked into a network may offer some peace of mind.

3. You’re looking for prescription drug coverage

Most Medicare Advantage plans build in prescription drug coverage. Having drug coverage built into your Medicare plan will make it easier for you to gain coverage for every facet of health care. You can eliminate the hassle of being tied to an additional plan or the extra costs of not having prescription drug coverage.

Explore Your Options

As you’re shopping around for medical coverage, Medicare Advantage PPO plans are well worth a close second look.

Not only are these plans highly customizable, they’re also an excellent plan if you’re seeking a well-rounded balance of health care convenience and the potential for significant savings.