BCBS Advantage no more Mayo

I understand that the Advantage Plans themselves say you can go out of network but will have to pay more. However, to be a Mayo patient, you could not be out of network and have an advantage plan. My letter from Mayo specifically stated that they will not schedule an appointment for a patient with Medicare Advantage out of network. Just be certain that whatever your insurance choice you can receive the care you want where you want to be treated.

@bajjerfan very few do this. The plan has to say part B premium payback. The ones I looked at were very expensive

@budisnothome

About how much on average does an advantage plan cost beyond the $185 Medicare premium? I had the apparently mistaken notion that the Medicare premium was your only cost in an advantage plan. For 2025 my approx OOP is $163 supplement $43 dental and $0.00 Part D on top of the $185 Medicare. My OOP costs after all claims have been processesd has been relatively modest. Are most advantage plans THAT much less expensive than what I pay?

@bajjerfan my bcbs advantage was 144 per month. Includes everything
But now not being offered in 2026

@mk52dk51 in most states you can't get a traditional medigap policy after 6 months of when you are first eligible for Medicare without medical underwriting, unless like you describe the company stops providing these plans.

This topic is very relevant considering the changes going on and health care is very important and personal. Everyone's situation is different.

I have a favorite to ask, if you mention Medicare Advantage or a Medigap (supplemental) plan, please include the insurance company and entire policy name.

As an example, BCBS has many policy and some are only available in certain states you live in. One reason is a state may have rules that insurance companies need to follow in addition to federal rules. BCBS in one state may not be available in other states or have different costs.

Example, I live in SE MN and I have original Medicare (part A & B) and a Medigap policy from BCBS MN and called "Basic Medicare Blue".
In addition I have Part D for medications from Wellcare: PDP-VALUE SCRIPT REG 25

Also, if looking for more general information about Medicare or Medicare Advantage differences, this booklet from Medicare may help:

"Medicare and You 2026"
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/10050-medicare-and-you.pdf

@skipper2 When I received my statement from my not-for-profit Advantage Plan (PPO) chosen by my former employer for their retirees, I was very surprised that my copay for the hospital bill at Mayo was the exact same amount that it would have been had I been a patient at the in-network hospital 4 miles from my house. Septal myectomies are not performed anywhere in the network, that's the reason, will pay for it elsewhere. Each year, members receive a summary chart of services along with coverage for in-network and out-of-network fees for comparison. in my case I may have a $10 copay in network and $20 out of network. Each of the dozens of Advantage Plans have different provisions which are always changing. A shakeup is underway because of ... won't get into that.

Yep, each is different. I would stay away from Advantage plans.

Are Mayo doctors required to accept any plan that Mayo accepts?

@bajjerfan
I suggest contacting Mayo Clinic Patient Account Services for that question. Few years ago I had problem with a specialty clinic at Mayo that did not accept Medicare.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/billing-insurance/contact-us