Medicare Advantage Plans cover all Medicare services

What is a Medicare health plan? A plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide Part A and Part B benefits to people with Medicare who enroll in the plan. Medicare health plans include all Medicare Advantage Plans, Medicare Cost Plans, Demonstration/Pilot Programs, and Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).   

In all types of Medicare Advantage Plans, you're always covered for emergency and urgently needed care. Medicare Advantage Plans must cover all of the services that Original Medicare covers except hospice care. Original Medicare covers hospice care even if you're in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

The plan can choose not to cover the costs of services that aren't medically necessary under Medicare. If you're not sure whether a service is covered or not, check with your provider before you get the service.

Medicare Advantage Plans may offer extra coverage, like vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs. Most include Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D). In addition to your Part B premium, you usually pay a monthly premium for the Medicare Advantage Plan. Most people pay the Part B premium of $104.90 each month in 2013. 

If you need a service that the plan says isn't medically necessary, you may have to pay all the costs of the service, but you have the right to appeal the decision.

You can also ask the plan for a written advance coverage decision to make sure a service is medically necessary and will be covered. If the plan won't pay for a service you think you need, you'll have to pay all of the costs if you didn't ask for an advance coverage decision.