Medicare Advantage Plans in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin

Medicare Advantage, also called Medicare Part C, is a way to get your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company approved by Medicare. Instead of using Original Medicare (Parts A and B) on its own, a Medicare Advantage plan bundles your hospital and medical coverage into one plan. Most Medicare Advantage plans in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin also include Part D prescription drug coverage, and many add extras like dental, vision and hearing benefits.

You still have Medicare. You keep paying your Part B premium, and the plan you choose handles your covered care.

How Medicare Advantage plans work

• One plan, one card. Hospital, medical and (usually) drug coverage are combined.
• Provider networks. Most plans are HMOs or PPOs. HMOs usually ask you to use in-network doctors and get referrals for specialists. PPOs let you see out-of-network providers, usually at a higher cost.
• Copays and coinsurance. You typically pay a set amount for doctor visits, specialists and other services.
• A yearly out-of-pocket maximum. Every Medicare Advantage plan limits what you pay each year for covered medical services. Original Medicare on its own has no limit.
• Plans change every year. Premiums, copays, drug lists and networks can change each January, so it’s worth reviewing your plan every fall.

Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement

Medicare Advantage plans often have lower monthly premiums than Medicare Supplement plans, but you pay copays as you use care and usually need to stay in a network. A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan works alongside Original Medicare, lets you see any doctor in the country who accepts Medicare and makes your costs more predictable. It has a higher monthly premium and usually needs a separate Part D drug plan.

If you leave a Medicare Supplement for Medicare Advantage and later want to switch back, you may have to answer health questions to get a Supplement again. That’s one of the reasons it helps to talk it through before you decide.

Who can join a Medicare Advantage plan?

You can join if you have Medicare Part A and Part B and live in the plan’s service area. Plans are offered by county, so the options in Cook County can look very different from those in DuPage County, Lake County, Indiana, or Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

When can you enroll?

• Initial Enrollment Period: the seven months around your 65th birthday (the three months before, your birthday month and the three months after).
• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7 each year. Changes take effect January 1.
• Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 to March 31, if you’re already in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can make one switch to another Medicare Advantage plan or back to Original Medicare.
• Special Enrollment Periods: some life events, like moving or losing employer coverage, open a window to change plans.

How we help you compare Medicare Advantage plans

Chicagoland Medicare is an independent agency. Our licensed agents work with multiple insurance companies, so we compare plans side by side instead of steering you to one company. In a free consultation, we’ll:

• Check whether your doctors and hospitals are in network
• Look up your prescriptions on each plan’s drug list
• Compare premiums, copays and the out-of-pocket maximum
• Explain extra benefits like dental, vision and hearing
• Help you enroll if you find a plan that fits

There’s no cost for our help. We’re paid by the insurance company you choose, so your premium is the same whether you enroll with us or on your own.

Book a free Medicare Advantage consultation and pick a time that works for you.