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Saturday, January 18th
If you're in the market for a Medicare Advantage Plan, Humana is a popular name with different Medicare brokers. You've probably already seen Humana pop up during your research.
Wide ranging coverage
The company offers coverage spanning across most locations in the US, and Humana stands out as a contracted partner with various brokers and referral services which makes it easy to find wherever you're browsing. Plus, all the coverage provided by Humana encompasses hospital stays, emergency transportation, telehealth visits, preventive care, specialist visits, lab work, x-rays, screenings, imaging, outpatient care, procedures, and medical supplies and equipment.
User-friendly experience overall
The Humana website offers valuable resources to learn everything you need to know about Medicare Advantage Plans. Whether you want to get into the intricacies of a PFFS plan or if you want to see how to be sure your plan will work with your normal physicians, Humana provides the answers. And, the site is very user-friendly, which makes it comfortable to find what you need at a glance.
Quick process for online quotes
To get a quote, you just start by entering your zip code. Right away you'll be directed to a page that shows all the plans from Humana available in your area. For our research, we looked at Lake County, IL for our example customer. The best part is that you can add your prescription medications right there online to get a full rundown of prices right away. All of the quotes include details about monthly premiums, copays for specialists, out-of-pocket maximums, and whether you'll get vision, dental, lab work, and other extras. Plus, with the "compare” tool, you can look at different plans side by side.
Online enrollment available
Humana offers the convenience of completing the entire enrollment process online. This is a huge benefit, meaning you can handle your own Medicare Advantage Plan without giving out your phone number. However, if you're interested in getting assistance from a representative, that's still an option with Humana. To complete the process online, you'll need to have your Medicare number, eligibility dates, and supporting documents for any other coverage you may have.
Somewhat higher pricing
Using our example client, a soon-to-be 65-year-old woman in Illinois who never smoked and takes Xarelto medication, we found some solid pricing options. Notably, our sample medication was covered in 9 out of the 12 plans from Humana. The prices range from $0 to $138 in monthly premiums and $743 to $1895 annually for the prescriptions. This shakes out to between $61.91 to $157.91 per month for prescriptions: somewhat higher than other providers in our review.
Mixed reputation between BBB and customer reviews
Humana has an "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). However, on third-party review sites, Humana doesn't do as well. The average rating for Humana is around 2.1 stars. Customer complaints particularly note that they had problems getting Humana to come through for dental work. Many of the most recent one-star reviews talk about paying extra for dental and Humana refusing to cover the work. Although Humana's Medicare Advantage Plans were frequently recommended by brokers, the abundance of complaints and feedback from customers who suggest avoiding Humana plans adds a layer of caution.
Mixed feedback earns it a mid-tier rating
At the end of the day, Humana is still highly competitive in the level of coverage available. However, it does lose a few points for the negative customer reviews, especially with customers having problems getting their dental work covered. Plus the prices aren't as competitive as they could be here. Still, with an "A+ rating from the BBB and being highly popular with brokers, Humana has some features that could make it a better-than-average option. The online enrollment and quoting features are definitely a plus. Balancing out the pros and cons, Humana receives an average rating in our review.
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