Choosing the Right Medicare Coverage
Health coverage is a personal matter, and each person’s needs are different. That’s why you have choices for how to get your Medicare health and prescription drug coverage. For instance:
- If you choose to join a Medicare Supplement plan and you want prescription drug coverage, you must join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D).
- If you choose to join a Medicare Advantage plan, the plan may include Medicare prescription drug coverage.
- If you do not make a choice, you will have Medicare alone with very limited prescription drug benefits.
Here are some considerations to keep in mind when making your choice:
Cost
Do you prefer paying a lower premium or are you more concerned about keeping your out-of-pocket costs for health care (deductibles, copayments, coinsurance) lower?
Benefits
Do you want extra benefits beyond Medicare? Some plans include benefits for outpatient prescription drugs, vision, dental and hearing care.
Choice of Doctors
Is it important for you to have the freedom to choose any doctor? Are you comfortable with having a Primary Care Physician (PCP) coordinate your health care?
Travel
Do you spend part of every year in another state? If so, do you need a plan that will cover you while you are away?
Prescription Drugs
Are prescription drug benefits included in the plan? If so, are the medications you take on the plan’s list of covered drugs (also called a formulary)? Are the participating pharmacies convenient?
To assist you in making your choice, here is a chart showing a general side-by-side comparison of your coverage options:
OPTION 1 |
OPTION 2 |
Original Medicare Plan (Part A and Part B)
Medicare Supplement
Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)
|
Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
|
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Medicare Supplement plans are provided by Horizon Insurance Company and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Horizon Insurance Company (“HIC”) contracts with CMS to offer HMO, HMO-POS, PPO and Part D Medicare plans. Enrollment in HIC Medicare products depends on contract renewal. Products are provided by HIC and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, both of which are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Communications are issued by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey in its capacity as administrator of programs and provider relations for all its companies.
Medicare Beneficiaries may enroll in Horizon Medicare Advantage and Medicare Rx Drug plans through the CMS Medicare Online Enrollment Center. For more information, contact Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey at 1-877-234-1240, 8 am to 8 pm, Monday to Friday, Eastern Time. If you are speech or hearing-impaired, please call TTY# 711.
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