Aetna Offers Low-Cost Medicare Advantage Plans With Plenty of Perks
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Aetna is one of the largest and most well-known health insurance providers in the United States. Just under 40 million people rely on Aetna for their insurance, and that number continues to grow every year. If you are in the market for a Medicare Part C provider, Aetna is a trusted and reliable option. In today's review, we will take an in-depth look at Aetna's Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans, including the pros and cons, pricing, and additional benefits.
All Medicare Advantage plans, including Aetna's, are required to provide the same coverage as Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). Most Aetna plans also bundle Part D prescription drug coverage and extra benefits that are not covered by parts A, B, or D.
Did You Know: While you can get an Aetna Medicare Advantage plan without prescription drug coverage, some of their best discounts come from packaging Part C and Part D together into one simple plan.
Below are the different kinds of Part C plans that are currently available through Aetna.
Aetna's traditional Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) functions like any HMO insurance plan; you will need to seek treatment within a network of preapproved doctors and medical facilities. You may also need prior authorization to visit a specialist or to acquire certain medical services. With a standard HMO, you do not have coverage outside of your network unless it is for medical emergencies or certain predetermined treatments. The standard HMO plan is best for older adults who do not plan on traveling out of state often, as this can increase the risk of expensive, out-of-network treatment.
Aetna's HMO Point-of-Service (POS) plans still operate within a network. However, with the POS option, you can go outside of your network and still get partial coverage. You will be covered for most out-of-network treatments, but you will pay more than you would for in-network treatments. HMO-POS is a good option for those who want a little extra freedom to travel out of their network of health care providers without the risk of having zero coverage.
Aetna's HMO Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) is only available to people who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. These plans are often best for seniors with disabilities, low fixed incomes, or both. Typically, a D-SNP plan covers more and requires fewer out-of-pocket costs than a standard HMO or HMO-POS plan.
Aetna's Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) allows you to see any doctor that accepts Medicare. You are not required to stay in-network to get your full coverage. That said, you still have a network in which you can save on treatment costs. As an added bonus, PPO plans generally do not require preapproval or referrals to see specialists or undergo special treatments. Aetna's PPO plan is best for older adults who want more freedom to choose their doctor and have greater coverage wherever they go. In some cases, an Aetna PPO plan will even cover emergency care and treatments outside of the U.S.
Since most seniors are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare if they have been receiving Social Security benefits, private insurance companies add “extra” benefits to entice consumers to apply for Medicare Advantage plans. With Aetna, you can expect some or all of the following perks with your plan:
Did You Know: Aetna is one of the few major providers to offer plans with worldwide emergency coverage. You can get covered treatments even if a medical emergency occurs abroad (assuming that you have the right plan).
The availability of benefits varies based on your location and plan type, so be sure to review what perks you will actually get before finalizing your enrollment.
Medicare Advantage costs depend on various factors, including your location, the type of plan you choose, and the treatments you need. However, to give you a better idea of what to expect, here are a few sample plans available to seniors in Miami, Florida.
Plan name | Monthly premium* | Annual deductible | Copay** | Maximum annual out-of-pocket | Benefits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aetna Medicare Credit (HMO) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,450 | Part D, dental, vision, hearing, OTC, fitness |
Aetna Medicare Select (HMO) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,500 | Part D, dental, vision, hearing, OTC, fitness |
Aetna Medicare Choice (HMO-POS) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,700 | Part D, dental, vision, hearing, OTC, fitness |
Aetna Medicare Assure (HMO D-SNP) | $34.30 | $0 | $0 | $3,450 | Part D, dental, vision, hearing, OTC, fitness |
Aetna Medicare Assure Plus (HMO D-SNP) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,450 | Part D, dental, vision, hearing, OTC, fitness |
Aetna Medicare Premier (PPO) | $0 | $0 | $0 | $6,700 | Part D, dental, vision, hearing, OTC, fitness, worldwide emergency coverage |
*Premiums listed do not include Part B premiums. Depending on your plan, you may need to pay some or all of your Part B premium each month.
**These plans only offer $0 copays for certain routine visits, particularly for preventive check-ups and treatments. Not all doctors' visits are free of copayments under these plans.
Aetna is very appealing to seniors who want their coverage to kick in immediately, as opposed to many providers with high deductibles that must be met before the coverage starts. This means that you will only have to pay for 20 percent of your covered treatments right from the start.
Did You Know: Though Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans can help save on out-of-pocket costs, it is important to remember that you cannot combine them with a Medigap plan that helps cover costs like copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
Currently, Aetna Medicare Advantage plans are available in all 50 states. As of 2022, Aetna serves more than 2.7 million customers with its Part C plans. This makes Aetna one of the largest and most popular Medicare Advantage providers in the country.
FYI: Want to learn more about signing up for a Part C plan during Medicare annual enrollment. Read our Medicare enrollment guide.
Your experience with Medicare Advantage can be very different based on the provider. It is important to look at reviews and ratings from reliable, third-party organizations and agencies. Below are ratings of Aetna from some of the country’s most reputable business and insurance rating agencies.
Each agency uses different factors when reviewing companies, ranging from customer satisfaction to the diversity of product offerings. Aetna generally performs well, particularly when it comes to Medicare Advantage. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) specifically rates Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans, with a weighted average of 4.29 out of a possible 5. It is also important to note that CMS ranks many of Aetna's individual Medicare Advantage plans at or above 4.5, making them some of the best-reviewed plans on the market.
Aetna provides excellent customer service options, including online chat for existing customers, social media communication, mobile app chatting, customer support via phone, and other contact resources on Aetna's website. You can reach Aetna by phone seven days a week, any time between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. If you need additional help reaching Aetna or want to learn about their customer service options, check out their online customer service center.
Aetna is a popular choice among seniors who want low-cost, comprehensive Medicare Advantage plans. With low premiums and deductibles, Aetna makes it easy to get quality health insurance without spending a fortune every month. However, since the company does not fully cover Part B premiums, your monthly costs may be higher than expected. Additionally, if you visit the doctor often, you may find that these low costs are negated by copays, specialist fees, or other less common expenses. Nonetheless, $0 deductibles and a plethora of extra benefits make Aetna's Medicare Advantage plans a great choice for most older adults.