Understanding Medicare

Maximize Your Health Care with Medicare Advantage

At CHRISTUS Health Plan, our Medicare Advantage plans offer more than just basic healthcare. You’ll enjoy comprehensive coverage that goes beyond Original Medicare, including vision, dental, hearing, and even prescription drug coverage. Plus, with additional benefits like On Demand Care, fitness programs, and transportation services, we’re here to help you stay healthy, active, and covered—no matter where life takes you.

Explore how CHRISTUS Health Plan can offer you more benefits, more convenience, and better care under one plan.

5 Reasons to Choose a Medicare Advantage Plan

Medicare Advantage plans provide several key benefits that go beyond Original Medicare:

Yearly Out-of-Pocket Limit: Once you reach your annual limit for Part A and B services, you pay nothing for covered services for the rest of the year.
Comprehensive Care: Enjoy additional benefits like vision, hearing, dental, and even prescription drug coverage.
Unified Coverage: Simplify your health care by consolidating all your coverage (Parts A, B, and D) into one plan.
Private Insurance Approved by Medicare: These plans are offered by private companies and approved by Medicare, ensuring you get the coverage you need with oversight.
Coordinated Care Network: Access a network of doctors and specialists for enhanced coordination, improving the quality of care.

How Does Medicare Advantage Compare with Original Medicare?

While Original Medicare covers many medical expenses, it does not cover everything, such as prescription drugs.

A Medicare Advantage plan can provide you with these valuable added benefits:

Prescription Drug Coverage
Routine Vision Coverage
Routine Hearing Exams and Hearing Aid Coverage
A Limit on Annual Out-of-Pocket Costs

Original Medicare is health insurance provided to seniors by the federal government.

Insurance provided by the federal government offers two parts. When you turn 65 and receive Social Security benefits, you are automatically enrolled in Part A and B.

PART A

Hospital Insurance

Covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice, and some home health care.

PART B

Medical Insurance

Covers doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services, and medical supplies.

Please Note: You automatically qualify for Part B when you turn 65, but it requires a monthly premium. If you don’t sign up when first eligible (and you're not automatically enrolled), you may pay a late enrollment penalty.

CHRISTUS Health Plan provides additional coverage that Original Medicare does not.

Private insurance companies offer three types of Medicare coverage:

Medicare Advantage Part C: This plan includes everything Original Medicare covers (Parts A and B) and may offer extra benefits like vision, dental, hearing, and sometimes prescription drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Part D: This plan covers prescription drugs and can be added to Original Medicare.
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap): This plan helps cover out-of-pocket costs from Original Medicare, like deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. If you have a Medicare Advantage Part C plan, you cannot use a Medigap plan.

So, if you choose Medicare Advantage Part C, it may include Part D for prescriptions, along with extra benefits like vision and dental. If you stay with Original Medicare, you can add a Part D plan for drug coverage and/or a Medigap plan to help cover costs like copayments and deductibles.

Medicare Advantage

PART C

Combines the benefits of PART A and PART B

PART D

Our PART C plans may also include PART D.

Additional Benefits

Vision, dental, hearing aid, and fitness benefits

PART D

Drug Coverage

Plans cover prescription drugs that are not covered by Original Medicare (Parts A and B).

Offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare.

Plans vary in terms of premiums, deductibles, and copayment amounts.

Medigap

Medicare Supplement Insurance

Helps cover out-of-pocket costs from Original Medicare.

Can’t be used with Medicare Advantage.

Does not cover prescription drugs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare Advantage cover prescription drugs?

Does Medicare Advantage offer virtual care?

Are dental services covered under Medicare Advantage?

Yes, many Medicare Advantage plans offer dental coverage. At CHRISTUS Health Plan, all of our plans include preventive and comprehensive dental care through our partnership with Delta Dental. You’ll enjoy a $0 copay for preventive services and a $20 copay for non-Medicare covered dental services, with annual maximum benefits ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on your plan.

Does Medicare Advantage cover hearing services?

Is vision care included in Medicare Advantage?

Is fitness included in Medicare Advantage?

Yes, fitness benefits are included in many plans. At CHRISTUS Health Plan, members get access to the Silver & Fit program, which includes membership at thousands of fitness centers, access to on-demand workout videos, and a yearly fitness kit with items like a Fitbit or yoga kit.

Does Medicare Advantage cover meals after a hospital stay?

Can I get transportation to medical appointments?

Yes, transportation benefits are included in some Medicare Advantage plans. With CHRISTUS Health Plan, you can schedule rides to your healthcare appointments through our partnership with SafeRide Health, ensuring you get to your doctor’s visits on time. The benefit includes 48 one-way trips to approved medical appointments within 100 miles.

Does Medicare Advantage offer a 24-hour nurse line?

H1189_WEB25MM3012_M | Last Updated 2/5/25