Thursday, December 5th
2024 Medicare Advantage Plan Reviews
GoHealth
- Broker model
- Coverage in all 50 states
- Online resources
- "A+” rating and accreditation from the BBB
GoHealth started out as an insurance marketplace in 2001. Since 2016, the company has expanded into the Medicare scene. GoHealth offers coverage in all 50 states, which makes it much easier to find a plan with this provider (theoretically) than with some of the more limited options.
Several red flags
However, during our deeper research into GoHealth, we ran into several snags. First, there's no way to see any details without calling the company, so it's already behind the times compared to other Medicare Advantage companies and brokers. Plus, once we got further into the customer experience, we realized this was one of the worst places to start your Medicare Advantage Plan journey.
Detailed resources on site
GoHealth's one strong point is that it offers a very informative website. This broker offers how-tos and resource pages about upcoming changes to Medicare to help you get started if you're new to Medicare and stay informed if you're a returning customer. However, when you get in touch with a representative, the positive aspects of GoHealth are almost forgettable. (Yes! Our experience was that bad!)
No online quotes available
To get started with GoHealth, you need to verify your zip code to make sure there are plans available in your area. Following this, you'll provide your name and phone number. Then, you submit the form that grants GoHealth permission to contact you via text or allow partner businesses to reach out on their behalf. While this seems like a form to ask them to call you, this wasn't the case during our research. Instead, we had to proactively call them. The worst part of this form, though, was the scam calls. For weeks after giving our number to GoHealth we received calls daily from unknown numbers. So, if you're not a fan of handing out your private number to all of GoHealth's partners (who probably pay GoHealth to disclose your contact info), you might want to steer clear.
Creepy AI feel from calls
After submitting the form, we got a text notification from GoHealth which directed us to make a phone call. At first, we weren't sure if we were talking to a real person or some form of bot or AI. The representative who answered spoke very slowly and seemed to be following a script. The initial interaction took almost 5 minutes before we were placed on a long hold. After sitting for almost 10 minutes on hold, we were finally transferred to a licensed agent, who, like the woman who answered initially, also sounded like an AI. We had to listen to a long legal disclaimer before we could even get to the quote process, which was time-consuming and frustrating.
Rude reps are insulting and unhelpful
The representative refused to answer our questions for the first 20 minutes of the conversation. When we asked specific questions the agent got belligerent and insulted us directly. For example, when we noted (politely) that we had done significant research on Medicare Advantage Plans, including the tier of prescription that we were looking for, he said rudely, "You're not a licensed insurance provider.” Further, when we stated that our example customer was not yet 65, he refused to tell us any information about prescription costs, and instead told us that we "didn't understand Medicare” and that we "needed to be properly educated.” All of this was in an extremely belligerent and belittling tone. Finally, near the end of the conversation, we were able to learn that GoHealth offers a $0 premium plan with Cigna and a $202 plan at BCBS. However, if we were calling for our own real insurance rather than research purposes, we would have hung up as soon as the rep began insulting us. We can't recommend GoHealth for any person looking for a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Surprisingly high-rated reviews
When it comes to credibility, GoHealth surprisingly holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and accreditation. Positive customer feedback showed 4- and 5-star ratings, which was a complete shock given our experience on the phone. However, after doing some digging into the reviews, we found that we weren't alone. There are a range of complaints about the call representatives being rude and unhelpful. And given the trouble involved with getting in touch with GoHealth in the first place, even the high BBB scores and star ratings don't make it worth it to waste your time here.
Deserve our lowest rating
We just can't recommend GoHealth. The complete rudeness of the call reps made it a miserable experience to just try and get a quote. We can't imagine any customer willing to put themselves through that treatment. Plus, with the creepy AI introduction, it feels like GoHealth doesn't really care about customers. After being on hold and insulted by the rep, we had to give up on ever getting a price for prescriptions for the Medicare Advantage Plans. If you're trying to find a Medicare Advantage Plan for yourself or for a loved one, the stress involved in dealing with GoHealth just isn't worth it. Bottom line? GoHealth gets our lowest rating. Do yourself (and your stress levels) a favor and check out the highly-rated options in our review instead.
More Medicare Advantage Plan Reviews
The 10 Best Medicare Advantage Plans
Which Medicare Advantage Plan Provider is the Best?
If you or a family member is approaching the age of 65, or if you are soon eligible for Medicare Parts A and B, now is the perfect time to start looking at coverage to go along with your Medicare. While standard Medicare covers many of your medical expenses, it may be somewhat expensive. So looking into another option, Medicare Advantage Plans, might be in your best interest.
Medicare Advantage, also known as Medicare Part C, is an alternative to traditional Medicare offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. These plans provide all the coverage of Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) and often include additional benefits, such as vision, dental, and prescription drug coverage. Some plans even offer health and wellness programs to encourage preventive care like fitness, chiropractic, and physical therapy.
Medicare Advantage Plan FAQ
Continued from above...
One way to think of a Medicare Advantage Plan is like an all-inclusive resort stay. While you need to stick with a particular hotel (or, in this case, medical network), everything is handled for you from basic meals to entertainment (or prescriptions and medical specialists). Much like an all-inclusive resort experience, Medicare Advantage consolidates various features of Medicare, so your prescription drug coverage and services like dental, vision, and hearing are all taken care of in one place. These elements would typically require piecing together separate standalone plans which can be complicated and frustrating. Instead, you can get everything you need at once.
Premiums for Medicare Advantage plans change based on the provider and the specific plan. While you might find policies with $0 monthly payments, they can come with increased out-of-pocket expenses, such as office visit copays and annual deductibles. However, basics like primary care and prescriptions are often partially (if not completely) covered. On the other hand, if you're looking to see a specialist, you might prefer a plan with a higher premium to cover the cost of those visits.
When it comes to signing up for a Medicare Advantage Plan, there are two ways to find what you need: approaching an insurance company directly or collaborating with a broker. Choosing an insurer you already know and trust, potentially one that has been your healthcare provider before, might be the best way to go if you're looking for peace of mind and security. Typically, you can rely on getting the lowest possible premium quotes from that particular company. However, going through a broker or referral service can help you compare policies from different insurers at a glance. In this case, you might find better coverage from a competitor, and you can trust the broker to work on your behalf.
Regardless of the path you choose, you'll want to familiarize yourself with the different Medicare Advantage Plans, their benefits, and average premium costs for your demographic (age, gender, location). This helps you avoid feeling pressured to commit to a policy that may not align with your needs. Keep in mind that to apply for any Medicare Advantage Plan, you'll need your Medicare number, so make sure you complete the necessary steps to enroll in Medicare (A and B) before selecting your Advantage coverage.
If all of this sounds like a lot, don't worry. We've got your back. To simplify the process of finding Medicare Advantage Plans that are worth your time, we've put together a few criteria that might help you sort it all out:
- Cost. When it comes to the cost of Medicare Advantage Plans, your health and your pre-existing conditions or your prescriptions may change the costs depending on which company you choose. While many options offer a $0 premium, you'll want to be sure that the premium includes all the benefits you're looking for. So, keep an eye on the deals and benefits to make sure the cost is worth it. Sometimes your prescriptions might cost less with different plans too, so watch out for those monthly costs as you research.
- Coverage. There are tons of different plans and different names to choose from. As you look through Medicare Advantage Plans, make sure that you spend your time researching providers that offer coverage in your state. You'll also want to make sure that if you need prescription coverage, that's included in the options, as well as your primary care physician if you don't want to switch to someone else "in-network”.
- Reputation. To get a smooth and stress-free experience, we recommend checking out reputable companies first. Whether you go through an insurance company directly or a broker, customer reviews and Better Business Bureau ratings can give you insight into a company's practices. If customers like you are happy (or unhappy) it can help you choose the best match for you.
To help you keep it simple and focus on your health and well-being, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best Medicare Advantage Plans available today. This way, you can save time and money as you join (or change to) a new plan. We hope our research will help you find the best deals, the friendliest reps, and the top coverage so you can enjoy your golden years stress-free!
Compare Medicare Advantage Plans
Select any 2 Medicare Advantage Plans to compare them head to head
Trending Medicare Advantage News
Related Medicare Advantage Plan Reviews
Since you're interested in Medicare Advantage Plans, here are some other reviews you might find interesting.
Newest Reviews
