Medicare Advantage Plans in Minnesota
Key Takeaways
- Medicare AdvantageMedicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) is health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older that blends Medicare benefits with private health insurance. This typically includes a bundle of Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). plans in Minnesota are sold by private insurance companies.
- Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, replaces Original Medicare (Parts A and B)Original Medicare is a fee-for-service health insurance program available to Americans aged 65 and older and some individuals with disabilities. Original Medicare is provided by the federal government and is made up of two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). , but offers the same Part AMedicare Part A is hospital insurance, which covers the care you receive while admitted to a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or other inpatient facility. Medicare Part A is part of Original Medicare. and Part BMedicare Part B is medical insurance that covers Medicare-approved services — such as medically necessary treatment and preventive services — and certain other costs, like durable medical equipment. Medicare Part B is part of Original Medicare. coverages as Original Medicare.
- Along with Part A and B benefits, Medicare Part C often bundles additional services like dental, hearing, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
Minnesota Medicare Advantage Plan Coverage
For 2024, there are 100 Medicare Advantage plans available to Minnesota residents.
Medicare Advantage plans are location-specific. This means if you search for Part C plans, you’ll need to focus on options that are available in your ZIP code. However, all Minnesotans have access to a Medicare Advantage plan.
With Medicare Advantage coverage, a private insurance company provides your Medicare benefits. Some people choose Medicare Advantage plans because they get additional benefits from their plans like dental, vision, or hearing coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota also offer innovative benefits such as incentive programs and wellness planning.
What Medicare coverage is right for my specific situation?
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MN Medicare Advantage Plan Costs
Medicare Advantage companies may charge a premium in addition to your monthly Medicare Part B premium. However, some companies offer premiums as low as $0.
The average Minnesotan paid $69.45 a month for their Medicare Advantage premium in 2024, but all had access to at least one $0 premium plan.
When evaluating Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota, you’ll want to consider three main costs:
- Monthly premium: Consider how much a monthly premium (if the plan has one) will cost you not just each month, but over the entire year.
- Out-of-pocket costs: Most Medicare Advantage plans have separate flat-rate copayments for primary care visits and medical specialists.
- Annual deductible: Some Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota require you to meet this spending limit before they start to pick up your costs.
Can I have Medigap if I have Medicare Advantage?
No; while both options are sold by private insurance companies, Medigap plans do not work with Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota. Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, is a group of private policies that help cover the out-of-pocket costs that come with Original Medicare.
Medicare Advantage Plan Eligibility & Enrollment in Minnesota
In order to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, you must first be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. This is known as Original Medicare. Once you sign up for Original Medicare, you can enroll in a Part C plan.
Whether you switch to Part C or stick with Original Medicare, you are typically first eligible for Medicare at age 65. However, you can sign up for Medicare starting the three months before your birthday, and your benefits will start when you’re first eligible. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration will automatically enroll you in Medicare Parts A and B.
If you aren’t receiving Social Security benefits, you’ll need to enroll in Medicare online, over the phone or in person at your local Social Security office. Following the month you turn 65, you have three more months to enroll. This seven-month window is known as your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). If you try to sign up after that, you may have to pay penalties for late enrollment.
Once you’ve enrolled in Parts A and B, you can enroll in Medicare Advantage. Your enrollment window coincides with your IEP; you can switch over to a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial seven-month sign-up period. This is known as your Initial Coverage Enrollment Period.
If you have enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan and are unhappy with your current plan, you are not stuck with this plan for the rest of the time you have Medicare. Instead, there are specific time periods throughout the year when you can switch your Medicare Advantage plan.
The first is the Medicare Open Enrollment Period. Also known as the Annual Enrollment Period, it runs from October 15 to December 7. During this time, you can enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan. Your benefits will start on January 1.
Medicare also has other times when you can switch your Medicare Advantage plan. These include:
- Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: From January 1 through March 31 each year, you can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan if you wish. You can also switch from Medicare Advantage back to Original Medicare. You cannot, however, switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage during this time.
- Medicare 5-Star Special Enrollment Period: The Medicare Advantage 5-Star Special Enrollment Period is a time from December 8 to November 30 that allows you to switch to an available 5-star Medicare Advantage plan if you are in a lower-rated plan. These are the most highly rated Medicare Advantage plans. You can only switch to a 5-star plan once during this period.
- Special Enrollment Periods: You can switch your Medicare plan if you qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You may qualify for an SEP if you move to a new address, move back to the United States after living abroad, or if you lose your current coverage. There are a number of qualifying events where you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.
Can People Younger Than 65 Enroll in Medicare Advantage?
While Medicare is generally known as healthcare for older Americans, it’s also available to people younger than 65 who are living with certain conditions. That means Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota are also available to:
- People who have received disability-based Social Security benefits for longer than 24 months.
- Those living with end-stage renal disease.
- People living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
What Medicare coverage is right for my specific situation?
Find The Right Plan Are There Minnesota Medicare Advantage Plans With Prescription Drug Coverage?
Medicare Part D provides prescription drug coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans in Minnesota offer Part D coverage in addition to Part A and Part B coverage.
As of 2024, a person with diabetes can get injectable insulin under Part D for no more than $35 per month.
Many people prefer a Medicare Advantage plan with Part D coverage over enrolling in a standalone Part D plan. Some $0 premium plans offer prescription drug coverage.
Medicare Learning Guides
Healthcare is personal. So is choosing insurance. If you are new to Medicare, a beneficiary researching options, or a caregiver, we have tailored Medicare Guides for you.
Before 65 Guide
Understanding health insurance before age 65, especially when considering early retirement
Medicare Plans Guide
Costs, coverage and enrollment details for each Medicare plan
Medicare Beneficiary Guide
For those currently enrolled in Medicare
Low Income and Medicare Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
A Caregiver's Guide
For individuals with a qualifying income status
Sources
- FACT SHEET. CMS.gov.
This website is operated by GoHealth, LLC., a licensed health insurance company. The website and its contents are for informational and educational purposes; helping people understand Medicare in a simple way. The purpose of this website is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by a licensed insurance agent/producer or insurance company. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Our mission is to help every American get better health insurance and save money.
Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.