​If you're eligible for Medicare, you can opt to receive your benefits through either Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or the Medicare Advantage Plan, also called Part C. With a traditional Medicare plan, your covered health benefits are paid for directly by the government. With Medicare Advantage, you receive benefits from a private insurance company, who is then paid by the government. Here's what you need to know about each route to ensure you have the coverage to stay healthy.

​Surveys show that most people who sign up for Medicare are overwhelmingly satisfied with their care. If you are eligible for Medicare but haven’t signed up yet, open enrollment for 2019 runs from October 15, 2018 to December 7, 2018. Now is the perfect time to talk to your Medicare broker in Santa Rosa about how you can enroll or make changes to your plan before open enrollment ends. 

​The dates for Medicare Open Enrollment have stayed the same since 2011. The annual enrollment period for 2019 runs from October 15, 2018 to December 7, 2018. If you want to choose a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll need to enroll during this period. Even if you’re currently happy with your plan, it pays to look into your options. You may find a more affordable plan that suits your needs even better. Here are some things to remember during the fall enrollment period. 

Just because you aren’t looking to retire in the next several years doesn’t mean that you should put off learning about Medicare Health Insurance. In fact, it’s better to understand how the government health program works well before you qualify for it so you can make the best of the coverage when you reach the qualifying age. With that in mind, your friends at Sackett & Associates Insurance Services would like to share four things you should know about Medicare 
 ​

It’s easy to get confused by the various health insurance plans available to individuals and groups in California. Many people become overwhelmed by the wide variety of coverage and premium options and don’t know how to find a plan that best meets their unique health needs. ​

If you are getting ready to celebrate your 65th birthday, you already have a gift waiting for you – Medicare! You may also already be getting offers for supplemental insurance, known as Medigap coverage. Before you make any decisions on your Medicare and Medigap coverage, make sure that you know the facts.

Medicare was signed into lay in 1965 by President Lyndon Johnson to help senior citizens pay for their basic health care needs. The coverage was then expanded to include younger people with disabilities. Prescription drug coverage was then added to the program in 2003 by President George Bush. All citizens who are 65 or older qualify for Medicare. However, you cannot have both Medicare coverage and health insurance through an employer or union.

The original Medicare plans consisted of both Part A and Part B. Part A will generally cover skilled nursing facility care, hospitalization, home health services, hospice, and certain types of nursing home care. Part B will cover doctor visits, services and supplies needed to treat or diagnose a medical condition, and services that are needed to detect an illness at an early age or prevent it.

Part C is offered through private insurers via a PPO or HMO network and is an alternative to the Original Medicare program. It will cover hospital and doctor services. Some of the plans will also provide coverage for prescription drugs. You cannot have both Original Medicare and Plan C coverage at the same time.

Part D plans are private health care plans that are approved by Medicare to help those with Original Medicare pay for their prescription drugs. 

For all of your health insurance needs and to ensure that you have the coverage you deserve throughout your life, contact Sackett & Associates Insurance Services in Sonoma County, California. 

Starting this year, Medicare Advantage plans will not be eligible to receive bonuses unless they have received a 4-star or more rating. This is causing many health plans to start feeling the pressure, since their business could take a serious financial hit if their rating falls below a 4-star rating. 

Although the new system may seem like a serious issue for many Medicare Advantage plans, it also comes with some benefits. Since health plans are starting to take steps to improve their ratings, more health plans are hoping to achieve the Triple Aim, which can help them move closer to the business results that they want.

The Triple Aim, which is embraced by many health plans, health care providers, and policymakers, is made up of three factors, including:

1. Improving the health of whole populations
2. Improving the patient care experience, including both satisfaction and quality
3. Reducing the per-capita cost of health care

Star ratings came about to ensure that Medicare Advantage plans are doing their best to make sure that all of their members are optimally managed and receive the best health care possible. One of the major improvements that is going to have a broad impact of the CMS rating is focus health management programs to help patients remove the personal barriers that will keep them from engaging and complying in healthier lifestyles. 

Helping health care patients remove the barriers to adherence will help to improve scores in various quality measures that deal with chronic condition management. When health providers are able to provide the type of personalized assistance that patients need to understand their underlying health issues it can help to improve adherence today and for years to come.

For more information on the rating systems for Medicare Advantage plans and how they will affect your health insurance coverage, contact the insurance professionals at Sackett & Associates Insurance Services in Sonoma County, California.   

Title Tag: Medicare Advantage Ratings Sonoma County CA

Meta Description: Medicare Advantage plans will not be eligible to receive bonuses unless they have received a Sonoma County, CA4 start or more rating.