How to Compare Medicare Advantage Plans, Step by Step

Chapters

• 0:00 — Introduction
• 0:35 — Checking your doctors and pharmacy
• 1:40 — Comparing total yearly cost, not just premium
• 2:50 — Reviewing extra benefits
• 3:45 — When to talk with an agent

Full Transcript

Hi, I'm James O'Neal with O'Neal Insurance Group. Today I want to walk through how to compare Medicare Advantage plans, step by step.

The first thing I always tell clients to check is whether their current doctors and pharmacy are in a plan's network. This matters more than almost anything else, because a plan can look great on paper and still not work if your doctor isn't in it.

Second, look at total yearly cost, not just the monthly premium. A plan with a low premium might have higher copays or a higher deductible that adds up over the year.

Third, review the extra benefits — dental, vision, hearing, fitness programs — but remember these vary a lot by plan and aren't guaranteed to be as generous as they sound.

And finally, if any of this feels like a lot to sort through on your own, that's exactly what a licensed agent is for. Reach out any time — by phone or online screen-share — and we'll go through it together.