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Saturday, February 15th
HealthCare is a unique option in that it functions solely as a comparison service. It doesn't serve as a broker or agent and (most importantly) doesn't sell Medicare Advantage Plans. This means we couldn't find clear prices from HealthCare, even using details about our made-up 65-year-old customer. Since the company doesn't manage things on its own and simply directs you to external insurers and brokers, you can't get anything done for Medicare Advantage Plans on the site. Plus, this makes it tricky to determine which states the company serves or how many choices you might have.
Either call or answer personal questions
Getting started on HealthCare requires that you add in your zip code. Once you've done this quick step, HealthCare promptly informs you if there are licensed insurance agents in your area available through their toll-free number (844-874-1250). If you don't feel like making a phone call right away, you can answer HealthCare's online questionnaire. This covers questions about existing coverage, date of birth, gender, and personal contact information, including your name, street address, email address, and phone number. However, if you're expecting this quiz to lead to a quote, you're going to be disappointed. Plus, the fine print discloses that HealthCare's partner companies and their commercial partners may also contact you, and this will likely lead to lots of scam calls or unwanted communication.
HealthCare outsources the quotes
If you decide to proceed and share your contact information, the next step shows you "quotes” online. But, we found that to be a loose term. The quote page listed just 2 plans with no financial information or details accompanying them. Instead, when you click on the plans, it will redirect you to the insurance page for the company offered. For example, we were shown an option for Medigap and MyMedicare. Clicking the "view details” button redirects you completely to the partner website where you have to start the process of submitting your personal information all over again.
Calls are outsourced to third-party agents
When we dialed for a quote, the agent who answered provided a clear explanation for our example customer (a 65-year-old woman in Illinois looking for coverage including a Xarelto prescription). However, the twist was that the agent worked for a third-party company, and he wasn't affiliated with HealthCare. The lack of transparency was concerning, as we expected to be talking to a member of the HealthCare team. With this bait-and-switch, it became clear that we couldn't get any quotes from HealthCare specifically even with our detailed fictional persona. This lack of transparency knocked HealthCare down to our lowest rating.
F-rating and security concerns
While the company used to have a "B" rating from the Better Business Bureau, it now holds an alarming "F” rating instead. The third-party broker we were connected to in our call didn't appear in a BBB search either. Basically, you may never know who will handle your coverage and whether they provide honest details and pricing. On top of these other concerns, HealthCare only has an average rating of 1.2 stars from customer reviews on third-party sites. Complaints included distress about being called constantly by scam numbers. For example, one review noted receiving over 300 different calls within a few days. While we did receive several scam calls, it wasn't nearly this many. But, your personal security is something to safeguard, and HealthCare sure doesn't seem to do that.
HealthCare is not trustworthy
Due to questionable methods, poor ratings, and concerns about scam calls, HealthCare receives our lowest rating. We highly suggest checking out other companies on our list for a more reliable experience with Medicare Advantage Plans. Since you can't purchase Medicare Advantage Plans directly through HealthCare and or obtain clear pricing without visiting a completely different website, coupled with the likelihood of receiving numerous third-party contacts, calls, and emails, we strongly recommend you skip HealthCare altogether.
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.
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:
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!
Select any 2 Medicare Advantage Plans to compare them head to head