Complete Guide to Medicare Advantage Plans in Mississippi

Learn about plan options and how to choose the best Mississippi Medicare Advantage Plan for your needs

One of the reasons people find Medicare so confusing is because there are so many different options. First, you choose between staying on Original Medicare and switching to a Medicare Advantage plan. Regardless of which you choose, you have more options to consider. If you stay on Original Medicare, you can choose to add a Medicare Supplement plan to limit your healthcare costs. You can also choose to add a Medicare Part D plan to cover your prescriptions. If you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you’ll have multiple plans to choose from, each with different pricing, out-of-pocket costs, and benefits. 

Choosing the best Medicare coverage is a personal decision. You’ll need to prioritize your unique health and financial needs and compare the plans available to you. This guide will give you a good overview of the options you have for Mississippi Medicare Advantage plans. We’ll cover some key statistics, give you an overview of Medicare Advantage pros and cons, and share the important steps to take to ensure you enroll in the best Medicare Advantage plan in Mississippi for your specific situation! 

Key Takeaways:

• 44% of Mississippi Medicare enrollees have chosen to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.

• There are a total of 42 Medicare Advantage plans in Mississippi.

• Medicare Advantage plan benefits may help enrollees save money and get more benefits.

• Medicare Advantage plan drawbacks may limit your access to care and cause delays in receiving the treatment you need.

• When choosing the best Mississippi Medicare Advantage plan, you need to account for your specific situation.

Quick facts about Medicare Advantage plans in Mississippi

Below are some quick facts about the Medicare Advantage market in Mississippi. Keep in mind that plan availability and enrollment rates vary by county.

• 44% of Mississippi Medicare enrollees have chosen to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.

• Medicare Advantage enrollment varies by county. Alcorn County, MS, has the lowest Medicare enrollment rate at 21%. Holmes County, MS, has the highest rate at 60%. 

• There are a total of 42 Medicare Advantage plans in Mississippi.

• A few counties have 31 Medicare Advantage plans available—this is the highest number of options in one county.

• With six options, Lowndes County, MS, has the lowest number of Medicare Advantage plans available.

Overview of Medicare Advantage

When deciding if you should enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan in Mississippi, it’s important to know how Medicare Advantage plans work. Be sure to understand the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage to make sure you choose the right Medicare coverage for your unique needs. 

Pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans

The two key advantages of Medicare Advantage plans are that they limit your out-of-pocket costs and provide extra benefits:

• An out-of-pocket maximum puts a cap on the amount you will spend out of pocket in a year. Original Medicare does not come with an out-of-pocket maximum.

• Extra benefits are important to Medicare Advantage enrollees looking for bundled prescription coverage or dental, vision, and hearing coverage. Learn more about Medicare Advantage’s extra benefits in our Medicare Advantage overview. 

There are two key disadvantages to Medicare Advantage plans that can cause delays to the care you need or even limit your access to care.

• Prior authorization requirements can result in delays or lack of coverage for treatments that Medicare Advantage enrollees need. Learn more about Medicare prior authorization practices.

• Provider networks limit your choice of providers. They can also cause delays in receiving care if an in-network doctor has a full schedule. 

When to enroll in Medicare Advantage

Most people first enroll in Medicare Advantage after they sign up for Original Medicare or during Medicare’s annual Open Enrollment Period. You can also use Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period to switch between Medicare Advantage plans. If you’re already on a Medicare Advantage plan, you may also switch plans once during the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which occurs every year between January 1st and March 31st. 

Outside of these set enrollment periods, you’ll need a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in or switch between Medicare Advantage plans. 

Top-rated Medicare Advantage plans in Mississippi

Each year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issues all Medicare Advantage and Part D plans a rating from one to five stars. A one-star rating is the worst rating, and a five-star rating is the best. Humana has the only 5-star Medicare Advantage plan in Mississippi. Humana, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna are among the insurance companies that offer 4.5-star Medicare Advantage plans in Mississippi.

Remember that plan availability varies by county, so these plans may not be available to you. Get in touch to get detailed plan information and help comparing options! 

How to choose the best Mississippi Medicare Advantage plan

The best Mississippi Medicare Advantage plan is different for everyone. Your best plan will take into account the plans available in your county and your personal needs. Below are three key things to consider when comparing Medicare Advantage plans in Mississippi.

1. Do you have doctors who you prefer to see? 

If so, make a list of those doctors and discuss the list with your Medicare agent. Your agent will help you narrow your plan options down to those that have your doctors in network. 

2. Do you take prescriptions? 

Most Medicare Advantage plans include Medicare Part D (prescription drug) coverage. If you’re considering a plan that includes Medicare Part D coverage, make sure to check that all of your prescriptions are covered and that the plan is saving you the most money on your prescription needs. 

Not all Medicare Advantage plans cover prescriptions. If you’re interested in a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t include prescription coverage, make sure to also look at Mississippi Medicare Part D plans. 

3. Are there extra benefits you’re excited about? 

Many people choose to enroll in Medicare Advantage plans because of the extra benefits. Think about the different benefits that Medicare Advantage plans can offer and make sure you have an idea of which are most important to you. Because there’s a lot of variance between Medicare Advantage plans, it’s important to make sure your healthcare needs are met first—then you can maximize value with the right set of extras.

When choosing the right Mississippi Medicare plan, it’s important to understand the different types of coverage and the pros and cons to watch out for. Comparing each individual plan and your estimated costs can be tricky, especially if you have multiple health issues to consider. That’s why we’re here to help answer your questions and compare your options. Give us a call at (855) 900-2427 or schedule a time to talk to get Medicare checked off your list today!