Medicare Advantage Eligibility Requirements

It’s essential to understand Medicare Advantage eligibility terms and rules before seeking to enroll in a plan. Depending on your situation, a Medicare Advantage plan could be the coverage you need.*

Your location determines which options are available to you. Eligibility can be a tricky thing to understand. We’re going to dive into Medicare Advantage eligibility and give you all the tools you need to make the best choice for you.*

Further, you must live in the plan’s service area and continue to pay your Part B premiums. You’ll pay the Advantage plan’s premium – if it has one – in addition to your Part B premium.*

Low-income or Medicaid-eligible beneficiaries may qualify for extra help paying for premiums, deductibles, and copayments.*

Those with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) may qualify, too. For beneficiaries who enroll in Medicare with ESRD, coverage generally starts on the fourth month of dialysis. But there are instances in which coverage can start within the first month of dialysis:*

• If the beneficiary plans on completing home dialysis training to carry out self-dialysis treatments at home
• Beneficiaries who start home dialysis training early (before the third month of their dialysis treatment)
• Beneficiaries who participate in a home dialysis training program

If you have Medicare due to ESRD, your coverage stops under two conditions: 12 months after the month your dialysis treatments end or 36 months after receiving a kidney transplant.*

There are also Special Needs Plans available for those with chronic issues. Depending on where you live, a Special Needs Plan may or may not be available.*

Medicare Advantage Eligibility Checklist

There are a few things you must do to qualify for a Medicare Advantage plan.*

1. Know your Part A and B effective date
2. Have your Medicare card number
3. Live in the plan’s service area

Those unsure of Medicare eligibility can always call Social Security to ask.*

Several Medicare Advantage enrollment periods exist. These are instances when you’re eligible to change plans, such as the Annual Enrollment Period, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, and during a Special Enrollment Period.*

If you move out of the service area or the plan leaves Medicare, you can switch policies using Guaranteed Issue Rights.*

Further, if you have a Medigap plan and want to try a Medicare Advantage plan, you have eligibility for trial rights. You get to try out the Advantage plan for up to 12 months.*

Then, before the 12 months end, if you decide the Advantage plan isn’t right, you can switch back to Medigap. You must first see if your original policy is still available through your previous company.*

If not, you can choose any policy of equal or lesser value with any company.*

The Annual Enrollment Period is every fall from October 15 through December 7. Then, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period is one last chance to make changes to Advantage plans.*

Finally, there are Special Enrollment Periods that allow you to switch plans during life-changing or policy-changing situations.*

How to Enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan

Before you enroll, you’ll want to research the best Medicare Advantage plans in your area. It’s always a good idea to consult an agent about your options. Our agents are Medicare experts.*

It’s important to consider if your doctor is in-network, note that you’ll need a referral to see specialists, and whether your prescriptions are on the plan’s formulary. Further, you’ll want to compare costs.*

Our agents work with the top carriers in the nation for Medicare. We can compare Medigap to Advantage and answer all your questions.*

Something to keep in mind is that you HAVE to use the network of doctors they allow. So, if you live in New York and you’re visiting family in Florida, a doctor’s visit could be 100% your responsibility. Or, if you see a specialist that isn’t in the network, the cost is all on you.*

While there are many reasons to say Medigap is more comprehensive than Advantage, but some coverage is always better than no coverage. With that said, it’s important to understand the differences between the types of plans.*

FAQs

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