Aetna Medicare, Humana and AARP are just a few of the many Medicare providers available to you if you qualify for coverage under this federal health insurance program. For instance, with Humana Medicare, you may enroll in an Advantage, Supplement Insurance or Prescription Drug Coverage plan, depending on your specific medical needs. Within the Humana Supplement Insurance Plan, you may choose from Plans A through N, depending on your finances. Humana Plans A through G offer fewer out-of-pocket expenses and higher premiums, while Plans K through N offer greater out-of-pocket expenses and lower premiums.

Before choosing a provider such as AARP Medicare or Aetna, it is beneficial to compare the companies and the different types of plans they offer. It is also important to consider the maximum out-of-pocket expenses you may need to pay, as well as the amount of your monthly premiums. Read on for additional information on these providers and to learn how to find physicians that accept Medicare insurance.

Discover AARP Medicare, AETNA, Humana and More

According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, there were approximately 1,403,879 non-institutional Medicare providers nationwide in December 2020. This total number of providers included 223,298 primary care specialists, 111,695 surgical specialists and 176,699 medical specialists. Among these providers were private companies such as Aetna, Humana, AARP and United Healthcare. Learn more about these different providers below.

Aetna Medicare

Several types of Aetna insurance plans are available to you if you qualify for Medicare insurance. These include Medicare Advantage Plans, Prescription Drug Plans (Part D coverage) and Supplement Insurance Plans (Medigap). However, your eligibility for each type of Aetna plan will depend on whether:

• You want Medicare Part A and B.
• You live in a participating region.
• You have end-stage renal disease.

Humana Medicare

Like Aetna, several Humana Advantage, Supplement Insurance and Prescription Drug Coverage plans are available to you if you qualify for Medicare. These insurance plans include:

• Advantage plans, such as the Humana Gold Plus HMO, Humana Choice PPO, Humana Gold Choice PFFS and Special Needs Plans (SNPs).
• Prescription drug coverage, such as Humana Walmart RX, Humana Preferred RX and Humana Enhanced.
• Medicare supplement plans, such as Humana Plans A through N.

AARP Plans

Several AARP plans are available from United Healthcare Medicare, including the Advantage, Supplement and Prescription Drug plans. An Advantage Plan provides you with the same types of coverages as Original Medicare, in addition to other benefits such as dental services and prescription drug coverage.

An AARP Medicare Supplement insurance plan, however, covers certain out-of-pocket expenses that are not covered under Original Medicare. If you only need coverage for your medications, a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan may be the best AARP plan for you.

Palmetto and Noridian Medicare Services

Noridian Healthcare Solutions is a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). On average, the company processes more than 264 million Part A and B Medicare claims for beneficiaries throughout the U.S., including those residing in states such as Alaska, California, Connecticut, Maine, New York and Vermont.

While Palmetto GBA is another MAC for the CMS, this company processes Part A and B Medicare claims for beneficiaries residing in states such as Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Virginia and certain parts of West Virginia. The company also processes Home Health and Hospice Claims for residents of several states throughout the U.S.

How to Find and Compare Medicare Providers

When choosing between AARP Medicare, Humana or any other private company, it is crucial that you take the time to compare each provider’s ratings. This helps to ensure that you receive the best quality of care for your specific medical needs. To get started, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides you with access to its online Quality Care Finder, which allows you to compare hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and other medical providers in your area.

To find hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies or dialysis facilities, simply click on the type of provider you wish to compare, enter your zip code, city or state, and click “Search” to obtain a side-by-side comparison of Medicare providers near you. Once you obtain a list of providers accepted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, select as many as three that you would like to compare. After doing so, you will obtain a side-by-side comparison of each provider’s overall ratings, contact information, available services and more.

Moreover, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also provides you with access to its online Physician Compare Tool. With this electronic tool, you can enter your location and the name of a physician, medical condition or specialty area to obtain a list of providers in your region. Alternately, you may search by specialty area or body part to obtain a list of Medicare providers near you. Find out more about the different Medicare plans available when you download our comprehensive Medicare assistance guide.

What to Consider When Choosing a Medicare Provider

Whether you are choosing between Original Medicare, Humana Medicare Advantage or another type of policy such as the AARP Medicare Supplement plan, you can learn more about insurance costs and the quality of care you will receive by contacting each health care provider directly. When you speak with each provider, remember to ask the following questions:

• Which types of plans are available and how much do they cost?
• Is the provider accepting new patients?
• What steps does the provider take to ensure and improve the quality of care that each patient receives?
• In which cities does the provider practice in?
• Does the provider accept Medicare Assignments, also known as Medicare-approved payment amounts?

Moreover, you may also wish to find out if the provider will cover you while you are traveling outside of the state. It helps to ask whether the plan automatically includes prescription drug coverage as well.

Note: To receive assistance in comparing plans approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, contact the office of your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). Your local SHIP office can provide you with free, personalized assistance to help you make the best choice for your medical needs. To learn more about how to apply for Medicare, download our complete Medicare assistance guide.