During the Medicare Advantage plan annual Open Enrollment for existing Advantage policyholder’s, the applicant may switch insurance carriers, return to Original Medicare and enroll in a Part D drug plan. It may be possible to switch from an Advantage plan to an Arizona Medicare supplement plan during the Open Enrollment period, though Medicare supplement plans are medically underwritten.
The reality is that most Advantage plans will cost you more in out-of-pocket expenses, fewer providers to choose from, and many more headaches than those on an Arizona Medicare supplement plan such as the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Senior Security Plan G. Keep in mind that Advantage plans spend millions in advertising offering “free” benefits such as dental, vision, rides to doctors, etc. These Advantage insurance companies are primarily for-profit (not BCBSAZ.) How can a for-profit entity selling Advantage plans afford to spends many millions in advertising and offer extra “free” benefits compared to a typical Medicare supplement plan, yet charge lower premiums than a supplement plan and remain in business? Easy… force those enrolled into narrow provider networks and expose them to much higher out of pocket expenses.