Step 4 to Medicare Advantage: You're Almost There... and Almost Out of Time

• AARP/United  (one PPO)
• Blue Cross (two HMOs and three PPOs)
• Fallon (three HMOs)
• Tufts (five HMOs)

Simplistically, some are more expensive than others primarily because they have lower annual out of pocket medical-cost limits (the highest allowed by law is $6700) and/or they have broader "networks" (typically a PPO's is broader than an HMO's but that does not mean it covers the doctors you want). Secondarily some are less expensive because the insurer is trying to "buy" market share. 

All the plans have been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the beneficiaries are getting 85% of the premiums -- or more -- back in medical value -- AS A GROUP. (Of course, ideally, you INDIVIDUALLY don't want to get all your premiums back; it would mean you were sick or injured.)

There are also Part C Special Needs plans (dual eligibles, etc.) that do not show up in the Plan Finder and that your caregiver should know about if applicable to you.

There are also three Part C plans -- from Fallon (1) and Tufts (2) -- that include no built-in drug coverage. You can only choose one of these bo-drugs Part C plans if you have "creditable coverage" from a former employer, union, the VA or a similar source. You cannot mix and match Part C plans with no drug coverage from one insurer with another insurance company's Part D plan.