Pick a Medicare Cost plan for more benefits and more flexibility

Medicare Cost plans work alongside Original Medicare. This means if you go out of network for care, your Original Medicare benefits will kick in for covered services. You can also drop your Cost plan and go back to Original Medicare at any time.

Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, you don’t need to be enrolled in both Original Medicare Parts A and B to enroll in a Medicare Cost plan. You can enroll even if you only have Part B.

Medicare Cost plans often include features and benefits you don’t get with Original Medicare. Perks vary by plan but may include:

• Generally lower costs than Original Medicare for in-network doctor visits and covered services
• Coverage for dental care
• Travel coverage for domestic and international trips
• Additional vision and hearing benefits
• Fitness programs included with your Medicare plan to keep you healthy

Check the details of the private Medicare plan you’re interested in for more information.

Note that some Medicare Cost plans include Part D prescription drug coverage, but most don’t. If you want this coverage and your Medicare Cost plan doesn’t include it, you can get it by also enrolling in a stand-alone Part D plan that works alongside your Cost plan.

Like Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Cost plans have a network of doctors, providers, clinics and hospitals, which helps keep costs low.

Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, if you go out of your Cost plan’s network for covered care, your Original Medicare benefits will kick in. If that happens, you’ll pay Original Medicare’s Part A or Part B coinsurance and deductibles.

There are several times throughout the year when you’re eligible to enroll in or change your Medicare Cost plan:

• Annual Enrollment Period: October 15 to December 7 – During Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period (AEP), you can enroll in a Medicare Cost plan for the first time or switch to a different plan. You can also drop your plan and go back to Original Medicare. Coverage from any new plan starts on January 1 of the next year.
• Initial Enrollment Period: When you turn 65 – If you sign up for Original Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), you can enroll in a private Medicare plan any time after you’ve signed up for Original Medicare and are still in your IEP.
• Special Enrollment Period (SEP) – After certain events, such as moving or losing your current Medicare plan, you may qualify for an SEP that allows you to enroll in a different plan.