As we step into 2025, it’s time for Medicare beneficiaries in Delaware to make important decisions about their healthcare coverage. The process of selecting the right Medicare Advantage plan can feel overwhelming.
However, with the right understanding of the options available, including Humana Medicare Advantage Plans Delaware 2025 tailored to Delaware residents, the decision-making process can be simplified.
Let’s embark on this journey to understand and evaluate Humana Medicare Advantage Plans in Delaware for 2025.
Humana, a leading health insurance provider, offers various Medicare Advantage plans to meet the diverse healthcare needs of Medicare beneficiaries in Delaware.
These plans include Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, and Special Needs Plans (SNPs). Each plan type has its distinctive characteristics, benefits, and coverage options.
However, be aware that starting from January 1, 2025, ChristianaCare services will no longer be in-network for Humana Medicare Advantage plans due to the contract expiration. This could mean increased out-of-pocket expenses for policyholders who utilize ChristianaCare services.
Humana’s HMO Medicare Advantage Plans in Delaware come with a variety of benefits that extend beyond the basics offered by Original Medicare. These plans encompass prescription drug plans and improved dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
However, they may also entail network restrictions, including a limited selection of healthcare providers and facilities, and a potential lack of coverage for out-of-network services unless explicitly stated.
Within an HMO plan, the primary care physician (PCP) is significant. They are the central point of contact for healthcare services, overseeing:
Typically, a referral from your PCP is required to schedule an appointment with a specialist within Humana’s HMO Medicare Advantage Plans. However, certain services, such as yearly screening mammograms, may not necessitate a referral.
A Medicare Advantage HMO PPO plan under Humana Medicare Advantage in Delaware offers more flexibility in selecting healthcare providers compared to an HMO plan. You have the liberty to access any Medicare-approved doctor, whether they’re in-network or out-of-network.
The freedom offered by PPO plans allows beneficiaries to make more personalized healthcare decisions, ensuring they can access the care they need from the providers they trust.
Humana’s PPO plans offer a comprehensive range of benefits. They combine the coverage offered by Medicare Parts A and B, along with the additional benefits of dental, vision, and hearing coverage.
This allows beneficiaries to manage their healthcare needs more effectively, with the added convenience of having various types of coverage within a single plan.
Humana’s Special Needs Plans (SNPs) are designed to cater to individuals with specific health conditions or financial needs. These plans offer specialized healthcare benefits, customized to address the unique needs of such individuals. They may include:
To qualify for a Special Needs Plan, individuals must have Medicare Part A and Part B, and their doctor must confirm that they have a qualifying health condition. Furthermore, for the Dual Eligible Special Needs Plan, proof of Medicaid coverage is required.
These plans provide specialized care for chronic conditions and, starting in 2025, will incorporate dental, vision, and hearing benefits. Additionally, some plans may cater to those with a status military or veteran.
Compared to Traditional Medicare, Humana’s Special Needs Plans provide a more specialized and comprehensive healthcare approach for Delaware beneficiaries.
Choosing the right Medicare Advantage plan involves more than just understanding the types of plans available. It requires a detailed comparison of these plans based on several factors, including plan ratings, costs, and prescription drug coverage.
Each of these factors is influential in determining the quality, affordability, and comprehensiveness of coverage offered by the plan, thereby affecting their suitability for your specific needs.
One of the key factors to consider when comparing Medicare Advantage plans is the plan rating. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rate Medicare Advantage plans on a 1–5-star scale, with 5 being the highest rating.
These ratings provide a quick and easy way to assess the quality of the plans offered by different providers.
In 2025, the CMS star ratings for Humana Medicare Advantage Plans in Delaware vary, with some plans receiving a 4.5-star rating and others receiving a 4-star rating.
These ratings are based on a variety of quality and performance measures, including health plan ratings, health care quality ratings, and member satisfaction ratings.
While the quality of coverage is important, many Medicare beneficiaries also place significant emphasis on cost. The costs of Humana’s various Medicare Advantage plans in Delaware may differ. However, the average monthly premium for a Medicare Advantage plan in Delaware is $15.65.
When considering costs, it’s important to look at not just the monthly premiums, but also the deductibles, copayments, and out-of-pocket maximums. For instance, the average monthly cost of Humana Medicare Advantage HMO plans in Delaware for the year 2025 is $15.65, while for PPO plans, it’s $17.80.
The standard deductible for Humana Medicare Advantage plans in Delaware is $240 for Part B coverage.
Another key aspect to consider when comparing Humana Medicare Advantage plans is prescription drug coverage. Humana’s Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO Plans in Delaware both provide prescription drug coverage through lower cost preferred pharmacies.
However, their Special Needs Plans offer extra benefits, such as $0 copays for numerous covered prescriptions.
Prescription drug coverage in these plans is determined by the plan’s formulary, which is a list of approved prescription drugs chosen by Humana in consultation with healthcare professionals.
Humana Medicare Advantage plans in Delaware use a tiered system to classify covered drugs, with each tier associated with different copayment or coinsurance amounts.
After selecting the Humana Medicare Advantage plan that suits your needs, the subsequent step is enrollment. Enrollment can occur during the Open Enrollment Period or Special Enrollment Period, depending on your eligibility.
We will now explore these enrollment periods and the eligibility requirements for enrolling in Humana Medicare Advantage plans.
The Open Enrollment Period for Humana Medicare Advantage Plans in Delaware for 2025 is scheduled from October 15th to December 7th.
During this period, individuals have the option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or discontinue their Medicare Advantage plan.
However, you should be cognizant of the consequences of missing this period. If you miss the Open Enrollment Period, you may have to wait until the next enrollment period to make changes to your plan, unless you qualify for an alternative enrollment period such as a Special Enrollment Period.
Fortunately, there’s an exception known as the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which takes place from January 1 to March 31 annually, allowing individuals to adjust their plan.
Special Enrollment Periods provide additional opportunities for individuals to enroll in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan. For instance, the Initial Coverage Election Period (ICEP) allows individuals who are first becoming Medicare-eligible to enroll in a plan.
Additionally, the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (OEP) runs from January 1 to March 31 each year, during which plan adjustments can be made.
The duration of the Special Enrollment Period for Humana Medicare Advantage Plans lasts for the first two months of enrollment in both Part A and Part B. To apply for a Special Enrollment Period, you can contact Humana directly or seek assistance through the online request process.
Certain eligibility requirements must be fulfilled to enroll in Humana Medicare Advantage Plans. Firstly, individuals must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. Medicare Part A provides hospital insurance, while Part B covers medical insurance.
Having both parts is essential to ensure comprehensive coverage, which is a requirement for enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Additionally, eligibility for certain plans, such as Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), requires proof of Medicaid coverage. It’s also essential that you reside within the plan’s service area.
This requirement is especially significant for Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs) as they are exclusively offered in specific locations where Humana operates these plans.
All residents of Delaware who are over the age of 65 are eligible to enroll in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan. Importantly, there are no income restrictions for enrolling in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan in Delaware.
If you are a Medicare beneficiary currently enrolled in Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan from another provider, you might consider switching to a Humana Medicare Advantage plan. To make an informed decision, it’s important to understand:
When comparing Original Medicare and Humana Medicare Advantage, several key differences emerge. While Original Medicare covers hospital and medical insurance through Part A and Part B, it generally entails higher out-of-pocket expenses and lacks additional benefits such as vision or dental coverage.
On the other hand, Humana Medicare Advantage plans may offer enhanced coverage, reduced out-of-pocket costs, and supplementary benefits and services, often within a required provider network.
In addition to the basics offered by Original Medicare, Humana Medicare Advantage plans provide supplementary benefits including regular dental, vision, and hearing care.
They also offer an allowance for eligible groceries and over-the-counter products, which are not encompassed by Original Medicare. Furthermore, Humana Medicare Advantage plans may have varying premiums, co payments, or coinsurance, providing the flexibility to choose a plan that suits your financial needs.
If you’re currently enrolled with another Medicare Advantage provider and considering switching to Humana, there are a few key factors to consider.
The procedure for disenrolling from a Medicare Advantage Plan generally includes identifying the disenrollment period, reaching out to Medicare directly, filling out the disenrollment form, and then submitting the form.
Then, to enroll in a Humana Medicare Advantage plan, you can visit the Humana website and utilize their search tools to locate and enroll in a plan that aligns with your specific requirements.
However, certain challenges might arise during this process. Potential challenges include the need to navigate a new network of providers and the possibility of encountering coverage denials for care that was previously covered.
This transition may necessitate a thorough review of Humana’s network and coverage policies. It’s also worth noting that there are no penalties associated with transitioning from a Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare, and individuals are entitled to modify their coverage within the designated enrollment periods.
Several additional resources are available to assist Delaware residents in selecting the right Medicare Advantage plan.
These resources, including the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) and Medicare.gov, provide valuable information and support to help you make an informed choice.
The State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) in Delaware offers the following services to Medicare beneficiaries and their families, including free language interpreter services:
Delaware residents can access SHIP by reaching out to the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (DMAB) at their customer service number, 1-800-336-9500, which offers complimentary Medicare counseling and assistance.
Through this program, residents can receive comprehensive one-on-one insurance counseling and support, including personalized guidance on Medicare, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage benefits in various states like CA, CT, DC, DE.
Medicare.gov is another valuable resource for Delaware residents interested in Humana Medicare Advantage Plans. The website offers comprehensive information about the different aspects of Medicare coverage, including:
This information can help you make well-informed decisions about Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Advantage coverage.
The site allows users to compare the benefits, costs, and coverage of the plans offered by Humana to make an informed decision based on their specific needs and preferences, and how much they need to pay.
To find information about Humana Medicare Advantage Plans on Medicare.gov, simply input ‘Humana Medicare Advantage Plans’ into the search bar on the homepage and initiate the search.
Choosing a Medicare Advantage plan is a significant decision that affects your healthcare coverage and out-of-pocket expenses. As we’ve seen, Humana offers a variety of Medicare Advantage plans in Delaware for 2025, each with its unique set of benefits, costs, and coverage options.
Whether it’s the network restrictions of HMO plans, the flexibility of PPO plans, or the tailored benefits of Special Needs Plans, understanding these nuances can help you make an informed decision.
Additionally, resources like SHIP and Medicare.gov can provide valuable support in this process. Remember, the right Medicare Advantage plan for you depends on your specific healthcare needs, preferences, and financial situation.
In 2025, Humana Medicare Advantage plans offer $0 monthly plan premium, Part B giveback, dental, vision, and hearing coverage, and access to Customer Care specialists with special training.
Additionally, all Humana MA plans now include dental, vision, and hearing benefits.
The disadvantages of Humana Medicare Advantage include limited choice of doctors and medical offices and higher overall costs for complex medical needs.
It’s best suited for those who don’t require expensive treatments or tests.
In 2025, Humana offers a $100 quarterly allowance for over-the-counter health and wellness products available through their OTC Mail Order provider, with unused amounts expiring at the end of the quarter.
Humana offers Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans, and Special Needs Plans (SNPs) in Delaware, providing a range of options for Medicare Advantage coverage.
The main difference between HMO and PPO plans is that HMO plans have a specific network of healthcare providers and require a referral from a primary care physician for specialist care, while PPO plans offer more flexibility in choosing healthcare providers, whether in-network or out-of-network.
ZRN Health & Financial Services, LLC, a Texas limited liability company
Russell Noga is the CEO of ZRN Health & Financial Services, and head content editor of several Medicare insurance online publications. He has over 15 years of experience as a licensed Medicare insurance broker helping Medicare beneficiaries learn about Medicare, Medicare Advantage Plans, Medigap insurance, and Medicare Part D prescription drug plans.