Can a person have 2 Medicare Advantage plans at the same time?

Asked by: Ethan Schowalter I  |  Last update: June 24, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (43 votes)

In other cases, if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may still be able to use your employer or union coverage along with the Medicare Advantage Plan you join. Your employer or union may also offer a Medicare Advantage retiree health plan that they sponsor. You can only be in one Medicare Advantage Plan at a time.

Why are seniors losing Medicare Advantage plans?

Medicare vs Privatized Medicare Advantage

Beneficiaries are tossed aside because they live in an unprofitable market for their insurer or because they are actually using the insurance they signed up for to access services.

Which two Medicare plans cannot be enrolled together?

A Medicare Advantage Plan is another way to get your Medicare coverage besides Original Medicare. A Medigap policy is a supplement to Original Medicare coverage. When you're getting started with Medicare, you can either buy Medigap or enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan, but you can't have both.

What is a dual Medicare Advantage plan?

Medicare Advantage Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) D-SNPs are a type of Medicare Advantage plan that provide specialized care and wrap-around services for dual eligible beneficiaries. Enrollment is limited to dual eligible beneficiaries with Part A and Part B Medicare.

Can you have Medicare and UnitedHealthcare at the same time?

Most UnitedHealthcare dual-eligible plans do not charge a separate monthly premium. People eligible for Medicare may also qualify for the program that helps lower the cost of prescription drugs. The Extra Help program may help pay your Medicare Part D monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription copayments.

Medicare Advantage vs Supplement | Most Get This Wrong

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Can a patient have 2 Medicare Advantage plans?

In other cases, if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may still be able to use your employer or union coverage along with the Medicare Advantage Plan you join. Your employer or union may also offer a Medicare Advantage retiree health plan that they sponsor. You can only be in one Medicare Advantage Plan at a time.

Why are people leaving Medicare Advantage plans?

Key takeaways: People leave Medicare Advantage plans because out-of-pocket costs vary between plans, network restrictions can cause frustration, prior authorization requests can delay care, and it can be difficult to use the additional benefits they provide.

Do you need a secondary insurance if you have a Medicare Advantage plan?

Supplemental insurance is advisable for those with Medicare to help cover out-of-pocket costs and gaps in coverage, offering financial protection for deductibles, coinsurance, and other medical expenses not fully covered by Medicare.

Is UnitedHealthcare Dual Complete the same as Medicare Advantage?

Dual Special Needs plans are a type of Medicare Advantage plan.

Can I switch between Medicare Advantage plans?

If you joined a Medicare Advantage Plan during your Initial Enrollment Period, you can change to another Medicare Advantage Plan (with or without drug coverage) or go back to Original Medicare (with or without a drug plan) within the first 3 months you have Medicare Part A & Part B.

What is the biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?

The biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage is that you have fewer doctors to choose from when you get medical care.
  • Plans can also cost more overall than Original Medicare if you have complex medical needs. ...
  • With some plans, you don't have any coverage if you use a doctor that isn't in the network.

What is the best Medicare plan that covers everything for seniors?

Original Medicare with Medigap likely offers the most comprehensive coverage, but it may also be the most costly. A person can consider their income and how much they are able to spend before choosing a Medicare plan. Original Medicare with Medigap also offers a lot of flexibility when choosing a doctor or specialist.

Can you have two Medicare replacement plans at the same time?

You can't have a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement insurance plan at the same time. That means if you're interested in these types of Medicare coverage, you'll need to choose between the two. Here's some information about them that might help you decide. Compare 2025 Medicare Advantage plans.

Why are doctors dropping Medicare Advantage?

Health systems have cited delayed reimbursements, cumbersome prior authorization requirements and high rates of patient claim denials for their decisions to drop Medicare Advantage plans.

Who is the largest Medicare Advantage provider?

Why we picked it: A large network of medical providers means it may be easier to find a doctor or specialist who takes your insurance.
  • UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans. ...
  • Aetna is a CVS Health company and is the fourth-largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans.

Is Humana pulling out of Medicare Advantage plans?

Humana declined to name the areas; about 560,000 Medicare Advantage beneficiaries impacted. Humana will stop offering Medicare Advantage (MA) in 13 counties in 2025, Humana CFO Susan Diamond said in a published report in Becker's Payer Issues dated Sept.

What is the disadvantage of UnitedHealthcare?

Cons About UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage

You may only have access to certain HMO or PPO plans in your area. And while UnitedHealthCare has competitive pricing, your location may only have access to plans with higher deductibles, more copays, and fewer additional benefits.

Can I have Medicare and UnitedHealthcare at the same time?

Yes — but you have to enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Part B. For a Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan, you must have both Medicare Part A and Part B to apply.

Why are hospitals refusing Medicare Advantage plans?

Among the most commonly cited reasons are excessive prior authorization denial rates and slow payments from insurers. In 2023, Becker's began reporting on hospitals and health systems nationwide that dropped some or all of their Medicare Advantage contracts.

Why is it not a good idea to have supplemental insurance?

One of the most significant drawbacks of supplemental insurance policies is the coverage limits. For instance, with Mechanical Repair Coverage, you'll typically need to pay out of pocket until your deductible is met on your primary policy before supplemental insurance takes over to cover a costly vehicle repair.

Can I drop my employer health insurance and go on Medicare Part B?

Once you stop working (or lose your health insurance, if that happens first) you have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when you can sign up for Medicare (or add Part B to existing Part A coverage).

Do all hospitals accept Medicare Advantage plans?

While most hospitals do accept Original Medicare, there may be some that do not accept Medicare Advantage Plans. However, if you have a medical emergency while you're enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can seek care at any ER or hospital in the country.

Can I drop my Medicare Advantage plan and go back to original Medicare?

If you're already in a Medicare Advantage plan and you want to switch to traditional Medicare, you should contact your current plan to cancel your enrollment and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Note there are specific enrollment periods each year to do this.

What companies are pulling out of Medicare Advantage plans?

Plan Exits and Closures

Humana, CVS Aetna, and UnitedHealthcare collectively impact over 1.2 million members due to their plan closures. Eighteen marketing brands — including Premera Blue Cross and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City — are exiting the market entirely in 2025, affecting tens of thousands of ...