Making a decision on the type of Medicare coverage that is right for you is an important decision. Individuals should seek the advice of a licensed health insurance agent or an agency specializing in health insurance information when making a decision on the right Medicare coverage.

For individuals in southcentral Minnesota there are primarily three different options to get your Medicare coverage:

Option 1: Get Original Medicare (Parts A and B) from the federal government and pay out of pocket for the costs not covered by Original Medicare

Option 2: Get Original Medicare (Parts A and B) from the federal government and purchase a Medicare Supplement plan from a private insurer and/or purchase a prescription drug coverage (Part D) from a private insurer

Option 3: Get a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C) from a private insurer for Parts A, B, and usually D, all in one plan — plus, possible extras.

Some Medicare health insurance plans have a network of providers, such as Medicare Advantage plans, meaning you will pay less to receive care at an organization that is ‘in-network’ and slightly more to receive care ‘out-of-network’. When considering a Medicare Advantage plan:

• Ensure New Ulm Medical Center and Allina Health are included as in-network providers if you select a Medicare Advantage plan.

• Meet with a local health insurance agent who can help you better understand what is available in your county and what health insurance best fits your needs while ensuring your relationship with New Ulm Medical Center and Allina Health is maintained with in-network coverage.

Overview of Medicare Advantage health plans offered in our area (note that each offering differs by county):

• In-Network – New Ulm Medical Center, part of Allina Health, is in-network with the following Medicare Advantage plans:

• Allina Health | Aetna – offered in Brown and Nicollet counties

• Blue Cross Blue Shield West Region – offered in western Minnesota, including the counties of Renville, Redwood, and Cottonwood.

• Humana

• Lasso HealthCare

• Medica

• UCare

• United HealthCare

* Note: Supplement/ Medigap plans (which are different from Medicare Advantage plans) offered in our area do include NUMC as in-network.

• Out-of-Network – New Ulm Medical Center, part of Allina Health, is not in-network with the Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage South Region–which is offered in southcentral and southeastern Minnesota, including the counties of Brown, Nicollet, Blue Earth and Watonwan.

Please note: There are exceptions, so to verify your specific doctor’s or hospital’s network participation with any Medicare Advantage plan, please contact your broker or the health plan directly.

If you are newly enrolling into a Medicare plan or want to better understand your options, please consider meeting with a licensed insurance agent who can help identify plans available in your county, find the best product to fit your needs and to ensure New Ulm Medical Center and Allina Health are included as an in-network provider.

New Ulm Medical Center will have a licensed insurance agent in the clinic lobby every Monday through Dec. 4 from 9-11 a.m. to answer your Medicare enrollment questions. No appointments are necessary.