Which health insurance network does Medicare use?

A recently retired reader with heart issues asked Medicare columnist Toni King which health insurance network Medicare uses, concerned about keeping her cardiologist after her employer coverage ends. King responded that original Medicare does not have a network of hospitals, doctors, or other medical providers, and nearly all providers accept Medicare nationwide.

The reader, who turned 70 and starts Medicare Part B on Dec. 1, is in her six-month Medigap open enrollment period. During this window, she can buy a Medicare supplement policy without answering health questions or facing medical underwriting.

King advised against enrolling in COBRA coverage, warning that once the six-month open enrollment period ends, the reader would have to answer health questions to get a supplement plan. Switching from original Medicare with a supplement to a Medicare Advantage plan can be done during the annual open enrollment period from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7.

Experts note that comparing plans each year is important because costs, drug coverage, and extra benefits can change. Medicare's open enrollment applies to people already enrolled in Medicare, whether they are 65 or older or under 65 with qualifying conditions.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal