If you follow your Health Maintenance Organization’s (HMOs) rules and you do not need a lot of health care services, you may save money by being in an HMO. This is because you generally pay only a small copayment for most services and premiums may be lower than having Original Medicare and a Medigap plan. Medicare Advantage plans must have a limit of out-of-pocket costs. These limits can be high, but can protect you from excessive costs if you need a lot of care or expensive treatments.

You may also get extra benefits in an HMO that Original Medicare does not cover, such as dental and vision care.

For a list of questions to ask before joining a Medicare HMO, click on the link in the GO TO box.