What are my options for Medicare coverage?

Medicare is a federal program to help older Americans and some disabled Americans pay for the high cost of health care. Medicare health plans provide different ways to get your health care coverage. The Medicare health plan that you choose affects many things like cost, benefits, doctor choice, convenience, and quality. Need some help understanding your choices for Medicare coverage? Here is a brief explanation of the types of Medicare plans available to you.

• The Original Medicare Plan – The Original Medicare Plan pays for many health care services and supplies, but it doesn’t pay all of your health care costs. There are costs that you must pay, like coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles. These costs are called “gaps” in Medicare coverage. You might want to consider buying a Medicare Supplement policy to cover these gaps in coverage. You can also add prescription drug coverage by joining a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. With Original Medicare coverage, you can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. For more information about Original Medicare, visit www.medicare.gov*
• Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans – These are health insurance policies sold by insurance companies to fill the "gaps" in the Original Medicare Plan. Medicare Supplement policies help you pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn't cover. Learn more about Medicare Supplement Plans from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM).
• Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans – With Part D, you get prescription drug coverage no matter how you get your medical health coverage. These stand-alone plans add prescription drug coverage to the Original Medicare Plan and to some Medicare Cost Plans and Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans. Learn more about Blue MedicareRx, the Medicare Part D Plan offered by BCBSNM.
• Medicare Advantage Plans – Congress created the Medicare Advantage program to offer Medicare beneficiaries more choices, and in many cases, more benefits than those offered through Original Medicare. These plans, which include PPOs, HMOs, and Private Fee-for-Service plans, may cover more services and have lower out-of-pocket costs than the Original Medicare. With Medicare Advantage, you generally get all of your Medicare-covered health care through this plan, including prescription drug coverage. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you don’t need a Medicare Supplement policy. Learn more about Blue Medicare PPO, the Medicare Advantage Plan offered by BCBSNM.