If you are over the age of 65, or you are younger but have certain disabilities, you should be aware that you are now eligible for Medicare. Medicare is a federal health insurance program that seeks to serve the needs of those who are not receiving healthcare benefits because they are retired or cannot work due to a disability. While Part A and B plans can be an excellent fit for many people, a large majority of the population wants more than just the bare minimum coverage. A private insurer such as Kaiser Permanente offers Medicare Parts C and D coverage, which build on the basic Medicare plans and still adheres to federal guidelines. These quality plans can give patients even more options than they would under traditional Medicare, without charging them massive amounts of money.
Kaiser Permanente stands apart from other Medicare health plans. We not only provide your health coverage, but also provide your medical care. By offering health coverage and medical care together, we can offer you a coordinated circle of care that includes doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and X-ray and lab technicians, all working together for you – See the official website.
Kaiser Permanente Medicare Part C Plans
With a MostMedicare.com Advantage plan from a private insurer such as Kaiser Permanente, you will pay a copayment for covered services and will see doctors that are within the network of the plan. You will also receive all of the benefits of Medicare Parts A and B, along with these other covered services:
- Vision services
- Hearing services
- Dental health services
- Emergency and important urgent care services
- Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage
- Certain health and wellness programs for continued health
With a Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage plan, you will have varying out-of-pocket costs and will have various guidelines as to how your services will be received. You can expect to pay your Part B premium, in addition to a monthly health plan premium; however, some Kaiser plans do not have monthly premiums other than the Plan B Medicare ones.
If you are considering a Medicare Advantage plan from Kaiser Permanente, there are various plans that you should be aware of. These plans include the following:
- Medicare Advantage HMO plans - These plans have a number of features, such as additional benefits on top of Medicare Parts A and B and they may include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. You will have a list of providers in your network to choose from, and if you should select a provider out of the network you will need to pay the costs. These plans from Kaiser Permanente are called Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (HMO) and are offered in California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii and Oregon.
- Medicare Cost Plans - If you have a Cost plan, you can see a non-network provider, and the services will be covered under Original Medicare. You will be required to pay the Part B premium and any Part A or Part B deductible or coinsurance that is required as part of your individual plan. These plans may include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. The following options are allowed with a Cost plan:
- You can join anytime new members are being accepted
- You can join even if you only have Medicare Plan B
- You can leave anytime you want and switch back to original Medicare
Kaiser Permanente offers Medicare Cost Plans to those who live in Ohio, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Learn more about this here.
More tools to track and manage your health - Our unique online service,* My health manager, makes you the boss of your health. More than 3 million Kaiser Permanente members now manage their health online, viewing lab results, refilling prescriptions, scheduling appointments, securely e-mailing their doctors’ offices, and much more. In just a single visit to kp.org, you can activate your online personal health record, where your information is protected according to the strictest standards of Internet security.
More options - We believe the choice of a doctor should be yours, not ours. That’s why you have the freedom to select your Kaiser Permanente physician from an extensive list—and change at any time. If you ever want a second opinion, one is always available to you within the Kaiser Permanente network.
Medicare Special Needs Plans
This type of Medicare Advantage plan is offered for those who have health care needs that are more advanced than what would fit in with the standard Medicare Plans. You are eligible for these plans if you have a chronic or disabling condition, live in a nursing home, or are eligible for Medicaid and Medicare state benefits.
These plans are offered by Kaiser Permanente to residents in California, Georgia, and the Colorado-Denver/Boulder region.
Learn more about available Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plans by contacting a broker near you.
