| The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | | | | percentage of the increase will vary from plan to plan. |
| (CMS) recently released information about Medicare | | | | The average weighted premium for continuing |
| Advantage plans available in 2010. The good news is | | | | Medicare Advantage Plans increased 22 percent for |
| that, on average, seniors will be able to choose from | | | | HMOs in 2010, 37 percent for local PPOs, 55 percent |
| more than 30 plans in 2010. Depending on where you | | | | for regional PPOs, and as much as 78 percent for |
| live, you can even select between more than seventy | | | | PFFS plans. |
| different Medicare Advantage plans. | | | | So it is probably a good idea to review your plan |
| While the total number of plans has declined with | | | | options, carefully comparing premiums, benefits, |
| fewer Private Fee-For-Service (PFFS) plan offerings, | | | | cost-sharing and provider networks, and selecting the |
| HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) will be the | | | | option that best meets your individual needs. However, |
| most common type. Insurance companies, such as | | | | you can only make changes to your existing plan each |
| HealthNet withdrawing from the PFFS market are still | | | | year between November 15 and December 31. |
| offering HMO plans and other Medicare Advantage | | | | I don't have a Medicare Advantage Plan yet - is this a |
| plans of various types. Other private Medicare health | | | | good time to enroll? |
| insurance carriers like Kaiser Permanente announced | | | | Many experts believe now is the best time to enroll. |
| there will be no changes in their plan offering in 2010. | | | | Fewer plans with zero additional cost over your Part B |
| If I already have an Advantage Plan, how does this | | | | premium might be available in the future and the |
| affect me? | | | | premiums are rising. With Medicare Advantage you |
| While fewer beneficiaries will be in plans with zero | | | | generally pay lower co-payments and get additional |
| premium in 2010 compared to 2009 (a decline of 7 | | | | benefits such as coverage for extra days in the |
| percent), a plan with no premium does not necessarily | | | | hospital, vision, dental, hearing, and preventing services |
| represent the best value. Out-of-pocket costs are | | | | like annual physicals and coverage for emergency |
| affected by a combination of premiums, covered | | | | services while traveling or even fitness programs. It is |
| benefits and cost-sharing requirements. | | | | definitely worth checking out your options of Medicare |
| When you decide to remain in your plan in 2010 you | | | | Advantage Plans available to you. |
| most likely will face a premium increase; the | | | | |