406 Insurance · Hamilton, Montana
Medicare Advantage
A private alternative to Original Medicare, with its own network and its own rules.
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Who this is for
The people we usually see for this
People new to Medicare, people retiring, people who just moved to the Bitterroot, and people who already have a plan and want to know it still covers their doctors and prescriptions.
If the mailers and TV ads have you wondering whether Advantage makes sense, we'll help you find out.
What people get wrong
Prior authorizations and referrals catch a lot of people by surprise, and so does the difference between an HMO and a PPO.
Networks deserve a close look. The doctors, hospitals and pharmacies in a plan's network, and whether specialists in Missoula are included, can decide whether a plan works for you here. Every plan also has a service area, and that's worth understanding before you choose.
Before you call
What people worry about
Three things come up almost every time.
What in all this mail applies to me
The mailers and ads are written for everyone. Very little of it is about your situation, and some of it is simply wrong.
Are my doctors in the network
Networks vary by plan, so it's worth checking that your local doctors, clinics and specialists are in network. Some plans also require a referral or prior authorization.
What if I'm away for part of the year
Advantage plans are built around a service area. If you spend long stretches somewhere else, sort that out before you enroll.
Our work
Where we come in
Education comes first. Then we check each plan's network and drug coverage against the providers and prescriptions you use, and we listen for what matters most to you.
We lay out the options and the trade-offs. You choose. Afterward, we're your advocate for the rest of the year and every year after.
What working together actually looks like
It starts as a conversation about your health, your doctors and your budget. We explain how Advantage works before we compare anything.
If you decide to enroll, we help with that too. Each fall we review your plan with you, because plans change and so do people.
Carriers we compare
Questions about this coverage
What people ask most often about this one, answered the way we would answer on the phone.
Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement, also called Medigap, are two different ways to manage your Medicare coverage and your out of pocket costs.
Which one fits depends on your healthcare needs, your providers, your prescriptions, your budget and your own preference. We lead with education so you understand the differences and the options available in your state and county.
Provider networks are an important part of choosing health insurance. Depending on the plan you may have an HMO, a PPO or another type of network, and the rules for getting care outside that network can vary a great deal.
If keeping your current doctors, specialists, hospitals or care team matters to you, we make provider access part of the coverage review. We research the available plan networks and explain the differences between HMO and PPO options so you can make an informed decision.
Provider participation can change, so we also recommend confirming network status directly with your providers and your insurance carrier.
No. 406 Insurance is an independent, licensed insurance agency. Our agents maintain the required licenses and complete annual carrier and Medicare certifications.
We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare, CMS, the Social Security Administration or any government agency.
There is typically no additional cost to work with us. As independent insurance agents, we are generally compensated by the insurance carriers we represent.
Our role is to help you understand your options, answer your questions, and help you look at the bigger picture of your health insurance and protection planning.
You might also want to look at
People who buy their own health coverage often end up asking about these.
Term, permanent and final expense coverage sized to the people and the home, land or business you'd leave behind.
Coverage that pays an agreed amount directly to you after a covered diagnosis, so you can put your energy into getting well.
For people who want steady, predictable costs and access to providers anywhere Medicare is accepted.
Still deciding whether this is right for you?
That is the conversation, not the paperwork. Tell us what you have now and what you are trying to protect, and we will walk through whether this fits.
