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Choose the right Medicare plan
Thursday, April 30th 2026

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Choose the right Medicare plan

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By | Special to The Denver Post
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Getting your player ready...

The first three months of 2008 still offer seniors a great chance to ensure they’re covered by the Medicare Advantage plan that’s best for them.

Until March 31, Medicare allows its beneficiaries, in most cases, to change the medical coverage they receive. (It’s important to note that there are exceptions, and that the Open Enrollment Period does not allow beneficiaries to add or drop Medicare prescription drug coverage.)

Now is the time for Medicare-eligibles to consider this option, because on April 1, with rare exceptions, they’ll be locked into the medical coverage they have chosen for the rest of the year. Currently, beneficiaries still have a golden opportunity to find the right type of coverage for their needs – even if they selected another type in 2007.

For example:

  •  People who currently participate in traditional Medicare coverage (Original Medicare) as well as a Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) may enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage (MAPD).
  •  Those already in an MAPD plan may change to another MAPD plan, or enroll in Original Medicare and a PDP.
  •  Enrollees in a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan that does not offer drug coverage may enroll in another plan without drug coverage, or change to Original Medicare.
  •  Today, roughly 9 million seniors participate in the Medicare Advantage program, which provides members health coverage – including benefits generally not found in Original Medicare – through private health plans. So how do people eligible for Medicare go about selecting the best plan type?

    1. Perform a “health care audit”

    Regardless of a Medicare member’s existing Medicare coverage, he or she should determine what their actual health care costs have been in order to anticipate future expenses.

    Consider charges for physicians, hospitals and prescription drugs, as well as the cost of existing coverage. If the Medicare member does not have good records, information may be available from the member’s current health insurer or Medicare Advantage plan, or from his or her doctor or pharmacy. Future out-of-pocket costs may also be calculated with tools posted on .

    2. Think!

    Consider some basic questions about the type of coverage needed or preferred. These are a few questions to ask:

  •  How much is the Medicare member willing to pay in out-of-pocket costs, including premiums, deductibles and copayments?
  •  Does he or she need coverage for a specific treatment or disease?
  •  Do his or her doctors and other providers accept the plan? If not, can he or she choose a new doctor from a large network of physicians? Where is the network located?
  •  Is the Medicare enrollee interested in wellness benefits (fitness, health coaching, smoking cessation, etc.) as part of the plan?
  •  Is he or she interested in tools to help manage the cost of prescription medications – such as mail-order service, or recommendations for using generic drugs?

    3. Do the homework

    Before selecting any plan, make sure to completely understand what it offers. Review the benefits, services and costs involved. Medicare members should talk with their doctor and with family members. And don’t forget to check out information available online. Here are just a few of the resources that may be helpful:

  •  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services offers tools to find and compare Medicare Advantage plans in your area. Visit . or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
  •  Medicare & You 2008, a handbook published by CMS, also is a good resource. Go to .
  •  America’s Health Insurance Plans, a national association of health insurance companies, offers ., a helpful online publication.
  •  The site . offers the Benefits Check-Up tool from the National Council on Aging, and co-sponsored by Humana Inc.
  •  The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation provides a wealth of useful news, background and details regarding Medicare at .

    The Medicare Advantage program is designed to ensure that beneficiaries have plenty of choices. The new year offers an opportunity to make the most of them.

    Michael Frost is director of MarketPOINT, Senior Product Sales, for Humana of Colorado.

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