My mom is considering switching to a Medicare Advantage plan because her friends say it's better. She's scared of losing her current doctors. How can we check?

Question

Jon Maves · Accepted Answer

Having good, reliable doctors that you trust is really important. When looking into an Advantage plan, the first thing to consider is if a doctor is "in network". When a doctor is "in network" it means that the plan will cover those visits. If a doctor is "out of network" you will not be covered by the plan. When I meet with a person, I have a system that will narrow down plans that each doctor is covered by so that we can ensure the best coverage and benefits which is unique to each individual.

Answered by Jon Maves on April 14, 2025

Broker Licensed in TN, AZ, CA & 9 other states

Answered by Jon Maves Medicare Insurance Agent

Tony Capraro III · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/my-mom-is-considering-switching-to-a-medicare-advantage-plan-because-her-friends-say-its-better-shes-scared-of-losing-her-current-doctors-how-can-we-check#tony-capraro

Gary Church · Answer

When it comes to Medicare Medicare plan is important to the person who is choosing their Medicare plan for themselves not what it works for someone else. The most important thing when being on Medicare advantage plan is your doctor participate with that health plan Medicare advantage plans go from January to December with that offer this year may be different the following year so it’s important to be able to work with a Medicare agent who can help you guide through and look at different options each and every year.

Answered by Gary Church on May 19, 2025

Broker Licensed in Ca, AZ, NV & TX

Answered by Gary Church Medicare Insurance Agent

Joseph Bachmeier · Answer

One, no one should ever pick a plan because their "friends" say it's better. I cannot tell you how many people made that mistake. Medicare insurance needs are different for everyone.

Two, she should be concerned about her doctors accepting the insurance because Medicare Advantage plans are network plans. But that is why you have me as a broker to check all the networks to make sure your doctors accept the plan you may be switching to.

Jennifer McDonnell · Answer

Assuming she has a Medicare Supplement that allows her to go to any doctor who accepts new Medicare clients, the change to a Medicare Advantage plan might limit her doctor choices.
Best if she works with an independent trusted Medicare advisor prior to signing up to find out which Medicare Advantage plans might be accepted by her current doctors.

Dutch VanHoesen · Answer

Her friends may endanger your mother. Medicare Advantage may have authorizations, Dr networks, service areas, referrals, Etc. It's easy for any Medicare broker to check her current doctors and see if they are in network for various Medicare Advantage plans.

Answered by Dutch VanHoesen on March 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in FL

Answered by Dutch VanHoesen Medicare Insurance Agent

Charles Fletcher · Answer

Great question! Part of a complete review prior to making any changes is reviewing all doctors that will be potentially important for her in the future and making sure what plan, if any, they all fit into. There may be more than 1 plan to choose from once the doctors are known. I will also review prescriptions in a similar way to make sure the plans under consideration handle all current prescriptions on the formulary.

Answered by Charles Fletcher on June 2, 2025

Agent Licensed in WA, AZ, ID, NV & TN

Answered by Charles Fletcher Medicare Insurance Agent

Steven Whetstine · Answer

It is important to review doctors, specialists and medical facilities within a Medicare Advantage plan as Medicare Advantage Plans operate under a network.  Networks can change each year, so it is important to review your plan each year to make sure the specific plan covered doctors, specialists and medical facilities that are important.

Each Medicare Advantage plan will be different, so you will have to check the zip code where you file your taxes each year to verify the doctors are within the network.  Each plan will have something along the lines of a "Find a Doctor" or "Provider Directory" option on their website to verify the doctors within the network.

Also, you can contact the doctor's office directly.  However, it is important to not only check if they accept the insurance carrier, but also if they accept the plan or are within the plan's network.  Some doctors may accept some plans but not others under the same insurance carrier.  Perhaps, the doctors will accept HMO plans, but not PPO plans or PPO plans and not HMO plans.

Out of network costs can be costly.  Some plans may cover out of network costs while others do not cover out of network costs at all.

Daniel Maisel · Answer

Please reassure your mom, this is the reason to use a Licensed & Certified Insurance Agent/ Broker hear to assist her find the plan she deems best for her.

We will research her Doctors, Hospitals & prescriptions are covered and which plans cover them. 

Call us for complimentary assistance.

Sean Willingham · Answer

We have a computer system that compares Medicare Advantage plans for our customers. By inputting the doctors' names into the system, we can show you which plans the doctors are in-network with. It is important to note that provider networks with Medicare Advantage plans do change, but the Original Medicare program has no-network.

Answered by Sean Willingham on May 21, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AL, FL & 8 other states

Answered by Sean Willingham Medicare Insurance Agent

Sherah Beasley · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/my-mom-is-considering-switching-to-a-medicare-advantage-plan-because-her-friends-say-its-better-shes-scared-of-losing-her-current-doctors-how-can-we-check#sherah-beasley

Andrew Bennett · Answer

Every company will have a list of doctors in their network and you can look it up online.  That being said I'd encourage her to stay where she is if she can afford what she is paying for a Medicare supplement.  

They don't always affect everyone, but Medicare Advantage plans have a lot more prior approvals than Traditional Medicare does.  A prior approval is where the doctor has to go to the insurance company to make sure they will pay for a given test, procedure, hospital stay, etc.  It sometimes looks like they are more concerned with protecting their profit than protecting your health and finances.

Nydia Flores · Answer

Hello 
Your insurance agent should be able to check if her doctors participate with any plan she is concerning.  She should also make sure her prescriptions will be covered. 

Thank you
Nydia Flores

Kevin McIntire · Answer

You can contact a local, licensed agent, and they will be able to tell you what plans are considered in-network with her providers. If you're not comfortable reaching out to an agent, you can visit www.Medicare.gov, where you can review plans and in-network doctors as well.

Answered by Kevin McIntire on March 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in IN & OH

Answered by Kevin McIntire Medicare Insurance Agent

Scott Quintiliano · Answer

You can go to the companies website they all have doctor lookups in your zip code. Or call me I can help with Doctor look ups and medication look ups.

Steven Bleicher · Answer

“Friends” of your mom may have her health concerns at heart but they just don’t know how Medicare truly works. Since I am presuming that she has the opposite of an Advantage plan which is a Med. Supplement plan, (also known as a Medigap policy), there are NO networks whatsoever with that so her current doctors will never change unless she has lost faith in them. I hope that she doesn’t JUST have Parts A and B, because then she has only been covered for 80% of the health charges. When one picks up their “Secondary” insurance, by the acquisition of either a Medigap or an Advantage plan, all OR some of the remaining 20% is picked up by the choice she makes! A Medigap pays ALL of that 20% but the Advantage plan picks up part of her remainder.

Answered by Steven Bleicher on June 8, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Steven Bleicher Medicare Insurance Agent

Timothy Brown · Answer

The best way to confirm in-network providers is to verify via the insurance carrier’s website or to call directly.

Bill Wheeler · Answer

It is possible to keep your current doctor.
I alway check the doctor and the prescriptions
to make sure that your doctor is in network and your prescriptions are offered by the plan.
If not we find another plan that will meet your need.

Jim Willis · Answer

Part of the process of shopping for a Medicare advantage plan is to find a good agent who will check to make sure that all of your doctors are in the plan that you have chosen.
It’s far more likely her doctors are in the plan and available and more places than the current Insurance she has.

Joanna Gebhart · Answer

You may check with the Advantage plan she is interested in.  You can access the list of physicians from the Carrier's website.  This is an important step in every review of changing plans.

Chad Ahlberg · Answer

Get with agent to check network for her area and perception drugs. Make sure the agent does his/her due diligence and provides you this info

Gary Henderson · Answer

Tell your mom to stick to her Medicare supplement plan. Medicare advantage plans are not better. You have many, many more out-of-pocket costs. They bait you with the $0 premiums and so-called free dental which is very poor coverage along with some vision and hearing coverage and they may throw in a few other perks. What they do is they take more of your money when you get sick. So don't fall for these. If she has a supplement plan and is healthy enough, we could potentially savor some money by going with another company. Give me a call 
737-530-4626 and then pick option two 
Gary Henderson

Vachik Chakhbazian · Answer

To check if your mom can keep her doctors with a Medicare Advantage plan, you need to verify if they are in the plan's network. You can do this by contacting the plan directly, checking their website, or using Medicare's online tool. If they are not in-network, you'll need to consider whether the plan allows out-of-network care and what the costs would be.

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian on June 8, 2025

Agent Licensed in CA, AL, AR & 22 other states

Answered by Vachik Chakhbazian Medicare Insurance Agent

Mike Henry · Answer

Ask the agent. The company or your Dr’s office. If the Dr isn’t available under the new plan you might want to reconsider. Either stay with your current plan or find a different advantage plan your Dr does accept

Answered by Mike Henry on June 6, 2025

Agent Licensed in TX

Answered by Mike Henry Medicare Insurance Agent

Todd Bostic · Answer

If she switches to a PPO, she will be able to keep her doctors, but an HMO, she will need to double check to make sure that the plan accepts her doctors. Not all HMO's accept every doctor. My advice is to double check with the doctor to make sure that they accept the plan.

Answered by Todd Bostic on June 2, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AL, AZ & 12 other states

Answered by Todd Bostic Medicare Insurance Agent

Glenn Alterman · Answer

Unless there’s a financial reason to get a no premium or low cost MAPD plan, I would encourage her to stay on her med supp plan as all doctors accepting Medicare are in network and in an MAPD network, this may not be the case. She can call me at 7145858650 and I will help

Answered by Glenn Alterman on May 22, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AZ, CA & FL, NJ, OH & TN

Answered by Glenn Alterman Medicare Insurance Agent

Karen Ansell · Answer

You can go to the insurance plans website and check to see if her doctors are in network. 
I would always advise to work with a broker who can check all the plans in her area. This will save you time and you will have a professional to assist you in finding the best benefits and large network of providers.

Mel Stevens · Answer

Medicare Advantage can be a very good option for insureds. If there are primary care providers or specialists that are critical to your personal care, then it's a good idea to verify that docs and facilities that you like are in network. Plans vary in network sizes. Some insurance companies have very large networks and others have less docs and coverage available. Always be very careful because even within the same insurance company, doctors and facilities in network can vary greatly.

Answered by Mel Stevens on April 29, 2025

Broker Licensed in AZ

Answered by Mel Stevens Medicare Insurance Agent

Robert Remin · Answer

This answer is provided in a video format. Watch the agent's video response here: https://medicareagentshub.com/questions/my-mom-is-considering-switching-to-a-medicare-advantage-plan-because-her-friends-say-its-better-shes-scared-of-losing-her-current-doctors-how-can-we-check#robert-remin

Daniel Keane · Answer

You should consult a Medicare professional. I can look up your mom’s drs, prescriptions and hospitals to make sure she would be covered.

Humara Riaz · Answer

Each MA plan (often from private insurers like UnitedHealthcare, Humana, Aetna, etc.) will have a website where you can:

Use a “Find a Doctor” tool.

Search by provider name and specialty to confirm if they’re in-network.

You can also call the insurance company directly and ask if specific doctors are in-network for a particular plan.

4. Ask the doctors’ offices.
Call your mom’s doctors and ask:

“Do you accept [Plan Name] Medicare Advantage plan for next year?”

Kerwyn Jones · Answer

Go the the Med Adv plan website and select Doctor lookup and search them one at a time to verify if they are in network.

Darko Bozic · Answer

Before switching you need to make sure that her doctors are in the new network. Every Advantage plan requires you to ise the providers in their network and you can go to the insurance company's website and use their search tool to see if her doctors are in network.

Answered by Darko Bozic on April 28, 2025

Broker Licensed in OH

Answered by Darko Bozic Medicare Insurance Agent

Adriana De la Cruz · Answer

That's a great question! It's definitely important to make sure your mom can keep seeing her doctors. Give me a call, and we can check the plan's network together to see if her current doctors are included. We can also explore other options to ensure she gets the coverage she needs while keeping her preferred doctors.

Answered by Adriana De la Cruz on May 23, 2025

Broker Licensed in TX, AZ, CA & NM

Answered by Adriana De la Cruz Medicare Insurance Agent

Britania James · Answer

As an agent, I can check the providers that are in-network with that specific plan. Each carrier also has an online search tool that allows members and prospective members to see which providers are in-network.

Answered by Britania James on April 17, 2025

Broker Licensed in AL, CA, FL & 7 other states

Answered by Britania James Medicare Insurance Agent

Hollie Hittner · Answer

Each carrier has a provider tool to verify they will accept the plan. I would suggest connecting with an independent Agent, they can check across all the plans for your mom.

Veronique Kasbarian · Answer

Speaking with a Licensed agent is so important and to better advise, her friends needs & qualifications could be different from hers ,

Alyssa Scripter · Answer

You can go to Medicare.gov and shop plans to view the Medicare advantage options. Once you select plan details, you’ll find the direct website for the carrier. Once their website under find a provider to search or the doctors in network. You could always verify by calling her doctors office and asking if they accept the plan. I’m available to check for you by calling 4134559882.

Answered by Alyssa Scripter on May 31, 2025

Agent Licensed in PA, CO, FL & 10 other states

Answered by Alyssa Scripter Medicare Insurance Agent

Brittany Garrison · Answer

People often HEAR that Medicare Advantage is better because of all of the perks it has included in it but what will really matter for your mom is the doctors that she trusts being in network. 

Here's how to check:
1) Get the EXACT name of the Medicare Advantage plan she's looking into
2) Go to the insurance companys provider directory (they're all online) 
3) Search each of the doctors names 
4) Confirm they're in the network for that specific plan and network.

Medicare isn't one size fits all!

My mom is considering switching to a Medicare Advantage plan because her friends say it's better. She's scared of losing her current doctors. How can we check?

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My mom is considering switching to a Medicare Advantage plan because her friends say it's better. She's scared of losing her current doctors. How can we check?

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