How Can I Leave Medicare Advantage Plan and Return to Original Medicare?
Toni:
Last year, I made a mistake and changed to a Medicare Advantage Plan because I understood from talking with my friends that this PPO plan has an in-network and out of network provider and facility list. I was led to believe that a Medicare Advantage PPO plan was like a Medicare Supplement.
Boy, was I wrong! Many specialists and even the facility that does MRIs are out of network and this is costing me a fortune. I’ve been advised by my doctor’s office to return to Traditional Medicare. Is Traditional Medicare different than Original Medicare and how do I go back to plain old Medicare? Signed…Jerry from Kingwood area.
Jerry:
You will be happy to know that “Original Medicare” and “Traditional Medicare” are the same as “plain old Medicare”. The medical profession knows Medicare as “Traditional” Medicare not “Original Medicare”. Each year, the Medicare’s Annual/Open Enrollment period starts on October 15th, and it will end at midnight on December 7th (Pearl Harbor Day). For you to disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan, all you need to do is…
