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33 percent of Medicare beneficiaries in Maine were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plan in 2019.1
There are 310 different Maine Medicare Advantage plans in 2019.1
A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the availability, benefits and costs of Medicare Advantage plans in your area of Maine. Read below to learn more about Medicare in your state.
The average monthly premium paid by a Medicare Advantage beneficiary in Maine was low in 2019, at $10 per month.
This weighted average was affected by the 140 available plans that feature $0 monthly premiums.
The premiums and other costs of Medicare Advantage plans may vary depending on where you live and the plan you have.
Refer to the chart included lower in this guide to view the 2019 average Maine Medicare Advantage plan premiums listed by county.
A licensed insurance agent can help you compare Medicare Advantage plan costs in your area.
Compare Maine Medicare Advantage plan costs
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
Before you’ll be able to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan in Maine, you’ll need to enroll in Original Medicare (Medicare Part A and Part B).
In order to sign up for Medicare at age 65, you must meet the following requirements:
You may also be eligible for Medicare before age 65 if:
You may not qualify for most Medicare Advantage plans if you have ESRD. You may be able to enroll in a Maine Medicare Special Needs Plan (SNP), however, that is specifically designed to help meet your health care needs.
Your first opportunity to enroll in a Maine Medicare Part C plan is typically during your Medicare Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).
Your seven-month Medicare IEP begins three months before you turn 65, includes the month of your birthday and continues for three more months after your birthday.
Once your IEP ends, you may be able to sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan during one of the following enrollment periods:
Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period: January 1 – March 31
If you're already enrolled in a Part C plan, you may switch Medicare Advantage plans or drop your Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare from January 1 to March 31 every year.
If you return to Original Medicare during this period, you'll be able to join a Medicare standalone prescription drug plan (Medicare Part D).
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): October 15 – December 7
You may be able to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another from January 1 to March 31 every year,
This period is sometimes also referred to as the Annual Election Period. During AEP, you may also drop your existing Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare.
You may also join, switch or drop a Medicare Part D plan during Medicare AEP.
You may qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you meet certain specific requirements. If you qualify for a Medicare SEP, it could potentially happen at any time during the year.
A licensed insurance agent can help you find out if you qualify for a Medicare Special Enrollment Period.
Find a Maine Medicare Advantage plan
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
Every year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issues Star Ratings for all Medicare Advantage plans. The Medicare Star Ratings use a system of one to five stars.2
If a Medicare Advantage plan has four or more stars out of five stars, it may be considered a top-rated plan for that year.
There are 223 top-rated 2019 Medicare Advantage plans in Maine that are rated four stars or higher, which is 72 percent of all MA plans in Maine in 2019.
Star Ratings | |
---|---|
★★★★★ |
Excellent |
★★★★ |
Above Average |
★★★ |
Average |
★★ |
Below Average |
★ |
Poor |
Medicare Advantage plans are rated in the following five categories:
The information for the star ratings is gathered from information that is submitted to Medicare, Medicare’s regular monitoring activities and member surveys.
To view a list of plans offered in your area within Maine, use our plan comparison tool.
Find a Maine Medicare Advantage plan
Compare PlansOr call TTY Users: 711 24/7 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.
Depending on where you live in Maine, you may have access to one or more insurance carriers that may offer Medicare Advantage plans in your area.
Private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans that are typically unique to the plan area they serve.
A licensed insurance agent can help you compare Medicare Advantage plans that are sold by insurance companies in your area.
When you’re shopping for Medicare Advantage plans in Maine, you can also consider some of the following information:
The chart below provides some more information about 2019 Maine Medicare Advantage plans by county.1
County | Total of County MA Enrollees | % of Medicare Beneficiaries Enrolled in MA | Number of Plans Available | Number of $0 Premium Plans Available | % Enrolled in a $0 Premium Plan |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Androscoggin | $8 | 10688 | 26 | 14 | 80.4% |
Aroostook | $16 | 4339 | 15 | 6 | 73.5% |
Cumberland | $6 | 27146 | 23 | 13 | 85.2% |
Franklin | $13 | 3250 | 17 | 6 | 72.1% |
Hancock | $29 | 4160 | 15 | 6 | 68.8% |
Kennebec | $8 | 12622 | 24 | 13 | 83.4% |
Knox | $17 | 4016 | 24 | 11 | 71.1% |
Lincoln | $15 | 4217 | 23 | 10 | 74.2% |
Oxford | $10 | 5614 | 23 | 10 | 80.7% |
Penobscot | $19 | 11612 | 21 | 8 | 67.8% |
Piscataquis | $14 | 1282 | 13 | 4 | 77.6% |
Sagadahoc | $8 | 3639 | 21 | 12 | 83.5% |
Somerset | $8 | 3588 | 14 | 4 | 89.2% |
Waldo | $15 | 3549 | 25 | 11 | 75.8% |
Washington | $95 | 1378 | 6 | 1 | 1.6% |
York | $7 | 17410 | 20 | 11 | 81.9% |
The chart below illustrates the percentage of 2019 Maine Medicare Advantage enrollees that are enrolled in each primary type of Medicare Advantage plan.1
Plan type | Percentage of Maine enrollees (2019) |
---|---|
Local PPO | 67% |
Local HMO | 26.2% |
PFFS | 6.6% |
Regional PPO | <1% |
The major types of Medicare Advantage plans include:
Not all of these types of plans may be available in your area. A licensed insurance agent can help you compare the types of 2019 Maine Medicare Advantage plans that are available where you live.
1 MedicareAdvantage.com's The Best States for Medicare in 2021 report. (Oct. 27, 2020).
2 Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5- star rating system.
Compare your Medigap plan options by visiting MedicareSupplement.com
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