Medicare Advantage Plans in New Hampshire

Seniors in New Hampshire can choose between Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan to provide their insurance benefits. People over 65 across the country can enroll in Parts A and B of Original Medicare, but Medicare Advantage offerings vary depending on your ZIP code. Private insurance carriers offered a total of 42 Medicare Advantage plans in New Hampshire in 2024, each with its own combination of benefits and coverage.

Private insurance companies provide Medicare Advantage plans (also called Medicare Part C) with guidance from the federal Medicare program. Most of these plans are associated with networks of healthcare providers. When you choose providers in your network, you experience the greatest cost savings.

Medicare Advantage plans frequently feature benefits that go beyond Original Medicare. These may include dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Some plans provide gym memberships, health incentive programs, or stipends to buy over-the-counter health items.

All New Hampshire residents who are eligible for Medicare have access to a Medicare Advantage plan in 2024.

The average Medicare Advantage monthly premium A premium is a fee you pay to your insurance company for health plan coverage. This is usually a monthly cost. was $16.69 in 2024. All New Hampshire residents have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan with a $0 premium.

Remember that when you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll still pay your Part B premium ($174.70 in 2024). So it’s important to consider the premium you already pay, plus potential costs from a Medicare Advantage premium when selecting your plan.

One of the benefits of choosing a Medicare Advantage plan is greater certainty in costs since they can protect you with an out-of-pocket maximum. If you meet this maximum, your plan takes over your usual out-of-pocket costs. Original Medicare does not have an out-of-pocket maximum, although two of the 10 standard Medigap plans that you can add to Original Medicare for supplemental coverage do feature an out-of-pocket maximum.

Most people qualify for Medicare based on age. Your Initial Enrollment Period for Medicare is the three months before, the month during, and the three months after your 65th birthday.

If you already receive Social Security benefits, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare. If you do not, you can enroll via the Social Security Administration in-person or via phone or online. You can sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan once you enroll in Parts A and B of Original Medicare.

Current Medicare enrollees can also sign up for Medicare Advantage plans at other key times throughout the year.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period, also known as the Annual Enrollment Period, is October 15 through December 7 each year. During this time, you can enroll in a new Medicare Advantage plan or switch from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage. If you are happy with your current plan, you do not need to re-enroll every year. If you enroll in a new plan, it will take effect on January 1.

Each year, January 1 through March 31 is the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you are currently enrolled in Medicare Advantage, you can switch to a different plan or return to Original Medicare. However, if you are enrolled in Original Medicare, you cannot switch to Medicare Advantage at this time.

All Medicare Advantage plans in NH fulfill Part A and Part B coverage, and many also include Part D Medicare Part D is prescription drug coverage for people enrolled in Medicare. Part D is optional and is offered by private insurance companies. prescription drug coverage.

Part D plans offer a listing of covered medications called a formulary. When you search for a Part D plan, you can usually review the covered medications to ensure the medications you typically take are covered. Medicare offers search functions to allow you to input your current medications. Choosing a plan that covers most of your medications will provide the most cost-savings.

If you’re diabetic and on Medicare, you should not pay more that $35 for a one-month supply of insulin.