Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage plans?
This can be very confusing especially because both are technically “Medicare Plans,” but they are both very different and serve different purposes. In this article, we will go over the pros and cons of both, so you or your loved one can make an informed decision and how you can receive our In-Home Physical Therapy at virtually no cost using Original Medicare!
What is Original Medicare?
We’ll first start off with Original Medicare, some of the greatest benefits is that you are able to choose ANY provider in the US, do NOT need a referral to see a specialist, and pay virtually 0% out-of-pocket for Part B (Outpatient) services when using a Medicare Supplement (MediGap). Some of the cons with Original Medicare is that it only covers necessary services and supplies (hospitals, doctor visits, etc.), but does NOT cover vision, dental, and other routine exams.
What is Medicare Advantage?
With a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan, some benefits include coverage in all medically necessary services (same as original Medicare + vision, dental, hearing, and drug coverage). The cons of MA is that you MUST go with a provider that is In-Network, do NEED a referral for specialists, and out-of-pocket costs are variable.
Why does it matter?
At No Limit PT, we want to help inform our patients and potential clients about Original Medicare. To conclude, we encourage our people to consider switching over to Original Medicare because it allows versatility in care and the ability for our patients to CHOOSE their providers. It is financially very similar to a MA plan. In addition, with Original Medicare, you can see ANY provider or specialist in the US that accepts Medicare (almost everyone does). For example, if you want to see a world-class oncologist in New York, you may do so with Original Medicare, but may not be able to with an MA plan. But the key difference is that Original Medicare authorizes more visits and does NOT require authorization to see your chosen provider while MA Plans force patients into their network and can limit the amount of care you’re able to receive.
When you’re ready to start in-home physical therapy with NO REFERRAL NEEDED, please call or fill out the form below!
If you want to skip the reading, these 2 videos will go over why NLPT also believes Original Medicare will be the Best Option!