Knoxville, Tennessee, is known as the Cradle of Country Music and is also home to many on Medicare. Currently, there are 327,044 beneficiaries in Knoxville. Just under 50% are on Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare plans in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville is one of the largest cities in Tennessee and has various supplemental plan options available for its residents. We’ll discuss the average costs of Medicare Advantage plans, followed by the cheapest Medicare Supplement plans.
Then, we’ll discuss affordable Part D and Special Needs Plans. Once we’ve covered that, we’ll answer some common questions and tell you how to get help choosing the right plan option for you.
The information provided throughout this article is based on a man that’s 70 years old.
Medicare Advantage plans
There are currently 162,227 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in Knoxville. 54% of women and 46% of men are choosing this option. There are 32 Medicare Part C options in Knox county.
Humana is always a great choice to consider for Medicare beneficiaries. In Knoxville, they have an HMO plan with the highest rating of 5 stars. In addition to the highest rating, the zero-dollar premium plan shown has the lowest maximum out-of-pocket.
Amerigroup, a smaller regional Medicare plan provider, has an HMO-POS option with an affordable out-of-pocket maximum of $4,900. The HMO-POS plans allow some out-of-network services, making this a good choice for beneficiaries living in rural areas.
UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare plan options in the nation. They have a zero-premium PPO that will give freedom to beneficiaries to choose their own doctors without needing referrals.
The average cost of Medicare Advantage plans in Knoxville, Tennessee
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Star Rating |
| Humana | $0 | $3,200 | HMO | 5 |
| Cigna | $0 | $6,700 | HMO | 4 |
| Wellcare | $0 | $5,500 | HMO-POS | 3 |
| Amerigroup | $0 | $4,900 | HMO-POS | N/A |
| UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $5,900 | LOCAL PPO | 3 |
Medicare Supplement plans
Medicare Supplements are the most comprehensive health coverage you can buy. These additional plans fill the cost left over for you. Depending on which of the Medigap plan letters you choose, you could pay little to nothing when you use your plans.
You have your choice of 10 Medicare Supplement plan options. Most people on Medicare choose between the top three plan options. The federal government standardizes Medigap plans, and the coverage must be the same regardless of where you live or which insurer you choose.
Plan N is the lowest cost of the top three plans. It’s very popular for healthy and savvy beneficiaries with their money. When on Plan N, the only Medicare cost-share you’re responsible for is the Part B deductible and excess charges. In addition, you’ll pay up to $20 for doctor visits and up to $50 for an emergency room visit.
Plan G is the most popular plan for beneficiaries that are new to Medicare. This option covers all your Medicare cost-share except for the Medicare Part B deductible. It also has a high deductible option called the HDG.
Plan F is the most popular plan for Medicare beneficiaries. It’s no longer available for new Medicare beneficiaries. Plan F covers all Medicare cost-share amounts you’re responsible for. Similar to Plan G, Plan F also has a high deductible option.
The average cost of Medicare Supplement plans in Knoxville, Tennessee
| LETTER PLAN | LOWEST PREMIUM | HIGHEST PREMIUM |
| PLAN A | $75.14 | $271.33 |
| PLAN B | $135.20 | $339.58 |
| PLAN C | $141.55 | $415.75 |
| PLAN D | $130.08 | $275.00 |
| PLAN F | $140.83 | $418.00 |
| PLAN HDF | $30.00 | $88.70 |
| PLAN G | $114.75 | $384.18 |
| PLAN HDG | $27.58 | $88.70 |
| PLAN K | $60.00 | $145.88 |
| PLAN L | $75.50 | $243.62 |
| PLAN M | $88.47 | $302.49 |
| PLAN N | $90.09 | $355.17 |
Medicare Part D prescription drug plans
When it comes to picking up prescriptions from the pharmacy, there are two ways to get Medicare drug coverage. Medicare Part C, mentioned above, is one way to receive drug coverage, and Part D is the other.
Part D is standalone prescription drug coverage not tied to any other plan. Medicare beneficiaries on Traditional Medicare or Medicare with a Medigap Plan typically purchase them.
These plans are regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and administered by private healthcare companies such as SilverScript and Wellcare. They consist of four phases of coverage.
The four phases are the deductible phase, initial coverage phase, coverage gap phase, and catastrophic phase. As you pick up your prescriptions throughout the year, you will move through the phases based on the costs of the medications and what you pay out of pocket.
The reigning top Medicare drug plan is SilverScript by Aetna. It has a longstanding reputation as one of the top drug plan companies. In addition, they also have the lowest premium.
Wellcare has quickly become one of the top Medicare providers. They have the second-lowest drug premium and are one of the premier Medicare insurance companies.
Clear Spring comes in third for premium. They have a lower-than-average star rating, but they’re a relatively new company. They have great coverage for the covered drugs.
The average cost of Medicare Part D plans in Knoxville, Tennessee
| PLAN | PREMIUM | DEDUCTIBLE | STAR RATING |
| Aetna | $6.50 | $480 | 3 |
| Wellcare | $12.90 | $480 | 3 |
| Clear Spring | $16.30 | $480 | 2 |
| Humana | $22.70 | $480 | 4 |
| UnitedHealthcare | $29.30 | $310 | 4 |
Special Needs plans
There are Medicare plans available to assist beneficiaries that have certain special circumstances. These plans are called Special Needs Plans, or SNPs.
There are three types of SNPs available. D-SNPs are designed to help low-income individuals that qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid. C-SNPs are for beneficiaries with one or more qualifying chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, COPD, and cardiovascular disease. I-SNPs are designed to help Medicare members living in an institutionalized setting.
Bluecare Plus is a BCBS of Tennessee company. BCBS is one of the most well-known insurers for group and individual plans. They do also have options for Medicare members to choose from.
Wellcare is one of the leaders in creative benefits to assist beneficiaries that have both Medicare and Medicaid. Centene Corporation owns them and have grown by leaps and bounds over the past several years.
The average cost of Medicare Special Needs plans in Knoxville, Tennessee
| PLAN | PREMIUM | MOOP | Plan Type | Eligibility |
| UnitedHealthcare | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| Amerigroup | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| Bluecare Plus | $0 | $7,550 | HMO | Dual |
| Wellcare | $0 | $3,400 | HMO | Dual |
| Humana | $0 | $3,450 | HMO | Dual |
Signing up for Medicare plans in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville has many supplemental plan options to choose from, but there can be confusion when comparing the options. We’re here to help guide you and ensure you understand how Medicare works and what the options can do for you.
Our licensed insurance agents are standing by to assist. They’ll share their knowledge and help guide you during the plan selection process.
So give us a call today. Or fill out our online request form to receive the best rates in Knoxville, Tennessee!
