Choosing the right Medicare plan is easy.

If you are considering a Medicare plan, consider choosing one that includes Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist doctors and hospitals you trust.

If you are eligible for Medicare, you may be considering enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan.

Before choosing a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may want to compare several plans by asking the insurance company or a licensed insurance agent these questions:

What's my share of the costs for services and supplies?
Does the plan have a network of providers for some or all types of services? (You may still be able to see providers who aren't part of the plan's network if they accept the plan's payment terms. But, you may pay more.)
Does the plan offer benefits Original Medicare doesn't cover, like vision, hearing, dental, or prescription drug coverage? (You may have to pay more for these extra benefits.)

If you decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you should consider enrolling in a plan that enables you to continue getting care from your preferred Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist doctors and hospitals.

Talk to a professional

Call eHealth to speak with a licensed insurance agent who can guide you through coverage options for free, with no obligation to enroll.

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Hours: Monday - Friday, 7 am - 9 pm and Saturday from 10 am - 7 pm EST

Call 877-308-0514

Understand your options

Use eHealth’s free online tools to explore plans accepted by your Atrium Health doctors, find the right coverage and enroll when you’re ready.

Compare plans on eHealth

Confused about Medicare? Download our free Medicare Guide to learn about your options.

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Why Choose Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist?

When you choose a health insurance plan with Wake Forest Baptist you get:

Unmatched, world-class care from the region’s only nationally ranked health system which includes Heart & Vascular center, Orthopaedics and more.
Access to one of the largest primary care networks in the region, on-demand care including urgent care and online video visits, and the region's only Level I trauma center.
Peace of mind that you can keep your out-of-pocket costs down when you get care from us. And know that costs will vary depending on which plan you choose.

Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage

Learn about the 2 types of Medicare programs and what makes Medicare Advantage different.

Original Medicare

Original Medicare is the traditional Medicare program, where the government pays directly for the healthcare services you receive. You can go to any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare in the U.S. and buy supplemental coverage to help pay out-of-pocket costs.

Original Medicare includes:

Part A (inpatient/hospital coverage)
Part B (outpatient/medical coverage)

You can add:

Part D (prescription drug coverage)
Supplemental coverage / Medigap

Medicare Advantage

Instead of Original Medicare, you can get your Medicare benefits from a Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as Medicare Part C. Medicare Advantage bundles the coverage you get under Original Medicare and can include additional benefits.

Medicare Advantage includes:

Part A (inpatient/hospital coverage)
Part B (outpatient/medical coverage)

Most plans also include:

Part D (prescription drug coverage)
Extra benefits (routine dental, hearing and vision care)

Which plans include Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist providers in their networks?

Wake Forest Baptist is an “In-Network” provider for Medicare Advantage Plans offered by:

Aetna MedicareAdvantage
Alignment Healthcare
Blue Medicare from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina
Cigna Medicare Advantage
DevotedHealth
Healthteam Advantage
Humana Medicare Advantage
Liberty Advantage (Limited to institutional special needs only and North Carolina Baptist Hospital only)
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage
WellCare Medicare Advantage

Not all plans are offered in each county. Be sure to check with the plan when enrolling to confirm whether your preferred Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist doctors, clinics, and hospitals are included in your plan’s network.

Please note that not all plans are offered in each county. Consider choosing a plan in your county that includes Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist doctors and hospitals as part of its network.

Learn which health insurance plans Atrium Health accepts.

Learn more about Medicare.

Key Dates

Open Enrollment Begins:

October 15

Open Enrollment Ends:

December 7

Coverage Begins:

January 1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Medicare Advantage?

Medicare Advantage Plans are another way to get your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans are offered by private companies and in many cases, you’ll need to use healthcare providers who participate in the plan’s network and service area in order to have the lowest costs.

Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called "Part C" or "MA Plans," are an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you still have Medicare. These "bundled" plans include Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and usually Medicare drug coverage (Part D).

How do Medicare Advantage Plans work?

Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer coverage for things Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like some vision, hearing, dental, and fitness programs (like gym memberships or discounts). Plans can also choose to cover even more benefits.

For example, some plans may offer coverage for services like transportation to doctor visits, over-the-counter drugs, and services that promote your health and wellness. Plans can also tailor their benefit packages to offer these benefits to certain chronically-ill enrollees. These packages will provide benefits customized to treat specific conditions. Check with the plan before you enroll to see what benefits it offers, if you might qualify, and if there are any limitations.

Each Medicare Advantage Plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs. They can also have different rules for how you get services, like:

Whether you need a referral to see a specialist
Whether you have to go to doctors, facilities, or suppliers that are “in network” with the plan for non-emergency or non-urgent care

These rules can change each year.

What are the costs for Medicare Advantage Plans?

What you pay in a Medicare Advantage Plan depends on several factors, including the scope of benefits that are covered by the plan. In many cases, you’ll need to use doctors and other providers who are in the plan’s network and service area for the lowest costs. Some plans won’t cover services from providers outside the plan’s network and service area.

When is Open Enrollment?

Medicare Open Enrollment, also known as the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) will take place from October 15 – December 7, 2022. If you are over 65 (or turning 65 in the next three months), this is the time of year to review your health insurance coverage options.

During this enrollment period, newly eligible and existing Medicare patients can review Medicare coverage options and can choose to:

Switch from Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa
Change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another
Add or change Medicare prescription drug plans
Make no changes to current Medicare coverage

Which plan should I pick?

Do I have to renew my plan?

If you’re happy with your existing Medicare coverage, there’s no need to do anything during the annual enrollment period. But it’s always good to check that your current plan is still available, that your plan’s benefits still align with your current health needs, and that you can continue to see your preferred doctors and hospitals.

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