Can You Have Medicare and Humana at the Same Time?

When it comes to Medicare coverage, you may have heard of Humana, a well-known private insurance company that offers various Medicare plans. If you’re considering enrolling in a Humana plan, you might be wondering if you can have both Medicare and Humana at the same time. The answer is yes, you can, but it depends on the type of plan you choose.

Understanding Medicare Plans

Before we dive into the details of having Medicare and Humana simultaneously, let’s quickly review the different types of Medicare plans available:

1. Original Medicare (Parts A and B): This is the traditional Medicare program provided by the federal government. Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care services. Part B covers outpatient medical services, preventive care, and durable medical equipment.

2. Medicare Advantage (Part C): These plans, offered by private insurance companies like Humana, combine Parts A and B into a single plan. Many Medicare Advantage plans also include prescription drug coverage (Part D) and additional benefits like vision, dental, and hearing services.

3. Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D): These stand-alone plans provide coverage for prescription medications. They can be added to Original Medicare or certain Medicare Advantage plans that don’t include drug coverage.

4. Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap): These supplemental plans, sold by private insurance companies, help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs not covered by Original Medicare, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

Can You Have Medicare and Humana at the Same Time?

The answer to whether you can have Medicare and Humana at the same time depends on the type of plan you choose:

1. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) + Humana Medicare Advantage Plan

Yes, you can have Original Medicare and a Humana Medicare Advantage plan at the same time. When you enroll in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, you are still enrolled in Original Medicare (Parts A and B), but you receive your Medicare benefits through the Humana plan.

In this scenario, you would pay your Part B premium to Medicare, and you may also have to pay an additional premium to Humana for the Medicare Advantage plan. The Humana plan would then provide you with all the benefits covered by Original Medicare, and potentially additional benefits like prescription drug coverage, vision, dental, and hearing services.

2. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) + Humana Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)

Yes, you can have Original Medicare and a Humana Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) at the same time. If you have Original Medicare but want to add prescription drug coverage, you can enroll in a stand-alone Humana Medicare Part D plan.

In this case, you would pay your Part B premium to Medicare, as well as an additional premium to Humana for the Part D plan. The Part D plan would provide you with prescription drug coverage, while Original Medicare would continue to cover your hospital and medical services.

3. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) + Humana Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan

Yes, you can have Original Medicare and a Humana Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan at the same time. Medigap plans are designed to work alongside Original Medicare to help cover some of the out-of-pocket costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance.

In this scenario, you would pay your Part B premium to Medicare, as well as an additional premium to Humana for the Medigap plan. The Medigap plan would then help cover some of the costs that Original Medicare doesn’t pay, providing additional financial protection.

4. Humana Medicare Advantage Plan + Humana Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plan

No, you cannot have a Humana Medicare Advantage plan and a Humana Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan at the same time. Medicare Supplement plans are designed to work with Original Medicare, not Medicare Advantage plans.

If you have a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, you don’t need a Medigap plan because the Medicare Advantage plan already combines Parts A and B, and often includes additional benefits like prescription drug coverage and vision, dental, and hearing services.

Considerations When Choosing Medicare and Humana Plans

When deciding whether to enroll in a Humana plan alongside your Medicare coverage, there are a few important factors to consider:

• Coverage needs: Evaluate your healthcare needs and compare the benefits offered by different plans. Medicare Advantage plans may provide additional benefits beyond Original Medicare, but they typically have more restrictions on provider networks and may require referrals for specialist care.

• Costs: Compare the premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance costs of different plans to determine which option is most cost-effective for your situation.

• Provider networks: If you enroll in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, make sure your preferred doctors and hospitals are in the plan’s network. Going out-of-network can result in higher out-of-pocket costs.

• Prescription drug coverage: If you take prescription medications regularly, consider a plan that includes prescription drug coverage (either a Medicare Advantage plan with drug coverage or a stand-alone Part D plan).

• Additional benefits: Evaluate the additional benefits offered by Humana plans, such as vision, dental, hearing, and wellness programs, and determine if they meet your needs and preferences.

It’s essential to carefully review and compare the different plan options available to ensure you choose the coverage that best fits your healthcare needs and budget.

Conclusion

Remember to carefully evaluate your healthcare needs, compare plan benefits and costs, and ensure that your preferred providers are in the plan’s network. By understanding the different options available, you can make an informed decision and choose the coverage that best meets your healthcare needs while maximizing your benefits and minimizing your out-of-pocket costs.