Horizons Medicare Advantage Safe Options
You have many options when comparing Medicare Advantage plans. Some plans are recognizable because they have a nationwide presence and others are not because they are offered in limited service areas.
Secure Horizons is a division of United Health Care and offers Advantage plans, Medicare Supplements, and Part D drug coverage for people with Medicare. Secure Horizons Medicare Advantage plans are popular because of the variety of options offered nationwide and have plans that are both affordable and rich in benefits.
types of plans
Medicare Advantage plans are generally classified based on two criteria: first, what type of network (if any) is required and whether or not the plan includes Part D drug coverage.
Secure Horizons Medicare Advantage includes all types of plans relative to network status.
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
- Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
- Private Fee for Service (PFFS)
- Health Maintenance Organization – Point of Service (HMO_POS)
All plan types have options that include Part D drug coverage and medical benefits only.
HMOs, PPOs and HMO-POS have the Medicare Complete brand. PFFS is branded as Medicare Direct.
Not all options are available in all service areas and some options may not renew for the next year. Advantage plans are available as annual plans and insurances that offer Advantage contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to offer a particular option for the calendar year.
Looking at the differences of the Secure Horizons Medicare Advantage plan
HMO, PPO, and HMO-POS plans are all network-based plans. PFFS plans do not require a network and members are not required to choose a plan doctor.
PPO plans will generally give the member more freedom of choice. As a PPO member, you can choose to receive your services from a network provider or go out of network to receive services. If you use a network provider, you will generally have a lower cost share for copays and coinsurance.
The main benefit of the HMO is lower cost sharing when using network providers. HMO plans often have additional benefits that may not be found in other types of plans. HMO plans are often available in metropolitan areas with a larger population and a comprehensive network of providers. Make sure you are comfortable with the provider network before choosing this type of plan.
PFFS plans allow you to choose any provider that accepts assignment from Medicare, as long as the provider agrees to the plan’s terms and conditions of payment. The provider may accept the plan on a visit-by-visit basis.
Beginning in 2011, all companies that market PFFS plans must provide plan members with access to a network of providers. This has caused many companies to leave the PFFS market or announce that they will not renew plans for the following year.
If you have a PFFS plan from Secure Horizons Medicare Advantage or any other provider, be sure to check your mail to see if your plan won’t be available next year. Too many people just assume their plan will renew only to find they’ve lost their coverage when they try to use it the following year.
Regardless of the type of Advantage plan you have, when it’s time to renew, it may be worth taking a look at Secure Horizons Medicare Advantage plans. Just keep in mind the type of plan you’re enrolling in so you don’t have any surprises when it comes time to receive your benefits.
