Medicare Options in Minnesota: An Overview
Navigating Medicare in Minnesota: Your Comprehensive Guide
Healthcare in Minnesota for seniors and those with qualifying medical conditions is incredibly diverse, with several Medicare options to choose from, including Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medigap, and more.
First, let's clarify some key terms:
- Out-of-pocket cost: This refers to the amount a person has to pay for healthcare services when Medicare doesn't cover the entire expense. This costs include deductibles, coinsurance, copayments, and premiums.
- Premium: This is the monthly fee for Medicare coverage.
- Deductible: An annual amount a person must pay before Medicare starts to cover their healthcare costs.
- Coinsurance: The percentage of healthcare costs that a person must cover. For Medicare Part B, this percentage is 20%.
- Copayment: A fixed dollar amount a person with insurance pays for certain treatments, like prescription drugs.
Original Medicare (Part A & B)
Original Medicare consists of two parts:
- Part A (hospital insurance) covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and home healthcare.
- Part B (medical insurance) covers outpatient services, such as preventive care, doctors' visits, durable medical equipment, and more.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
Medicare Advantage, provided by Medicare-approved private insurance companies, offers the same coverage as Original Medicare. It often includes additional coverage for prescription drugs, vision, dental, and hearing. Some companies offering Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota are Humana, UCare, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.
Medigap
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) is available only to people who are enrolled in Original Medicare. It can help cover out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments. In Minnesota, Medigap offers a Basic Plan and an Extended Basic Plan with additional benefits like Part A deductible, Part B copayments, and more[1][4].
Discover more Medicare options
Explore Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) and specific Medicare Advantage plans for added benefits tailored to your needs. For unbiased Medicare help and plan comparisons, contact Minnesota's Senior Linkage Line at 800-333-2433 or Medicare directly at 800-633-4227, or engage via online chat[6].
For comprehensive resources on navigating the complex world of medical insurance, visit our Medicare hub[7].
[1] Minnesota Health Care Programs: Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance)[2] Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO)[3] UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plans in Minnesota[4] Basic Medigap Plans in Minnesota[5] Quartz Medicare Advantage in Minnesota[6] Contact Medicare or Minnesota's Senior Linkage Line[7] Medicare Hub for Guidance on Medical Insurance
- Medicare Advantage plans, offered by private insurance companies, provide the same coverage as Original Medicare and often include additional benefits like prescription drugs, vision, dental, and hearing, with providers such as Humana, UCare, UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota offering plans in Minnesota.
- Medigap, available to those enrolled in Original Medicare, can help cover out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, and in Minnesota, both a Basic Plan and an Extended Basic Plan with extra benefits like Part A deductible, Part B copayments, and more are available.
- For seniors in Minnesota looking for specialized Medicare benefits tailored to their needs, Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) and specific Medicare Advantage plans should be explored.
- For unbiased Medicare help, plan comparisons, and guidance, contact Minnesota's Senior Linkage Line at 800-333-2433, Medicare directly at 800-633-4227, or engage online chat for comprehensive resources on navigating the complex world of medical insurance.
