Category: 123Medigap

Medigap Supplement Plans are different from Medicare in that they are policies that are offered by private insurance companies where as Medicare is offered through the government.  Medigap is purchased to do just what the name suggests, fill in the gaps left by Medicare Part A and Part B.

When you are looking into purchasing a Medigap Supplemental Insurance Policy it is important to realize that the policy you purchase should be designed to fit your needs.  This is why it is so important to compare the different plans available to your lifestyle to see which policy works best for you.

It is important to remember that Medicare Part A and Part B only pay for a portion of your care.  This includes part of the hospital care and physicians fees.  Medigap fills in for the services that are needed but not covered to help ensure complete coverage for seniors. One medical disaster without proper coverage could literally bankrupt some seniors living on a small limited budget.

It is worth the time to compare the Medigap Supplemental Insurance policies available in the market.  Remember that the policies that are sold by private insurance policies are all the same and regulated by the United States government. The price you pay may be different depending on the markup from each individual insurance companies but the coverage will always be the same.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – but an education is worth a million. When it comes to dealing with insurance companies, a little education could be worth drastically more than that. Every day, more and more people – the baby boomer generation – are becoming eligible for Medicare, and will need to wade through the morass of coverage available to seniors through various insurance agencies. And there is no shortage of people to tell you what to do with your money; when it comes to buying Medigap Supplemental Insurance Plans, though, it is best to deal with someone who is an advocate for you, not the insurance companies and other corporations which make their money off directing you to a specific set of insurers.

That is not the mission of Senior Health Direct. For over twenty years, this agency has been focused on Medicare and Medigap programs and insurance products in the senior market. Early on, Senior Health Direct recognized that internet sales would increase exponentially. While most of the net is simply designed to sell a product, their plan is to provide the customer with a one stop portal for buying and understanding what can be a confusing array from a variety of companies offering Medigap Supplement Insurance Policies.

Senior Health Direct’s mission is to help you navigate the Medigap supplemental insurance policies that you will be exposed to; they will help you evaluate the different plans available in your area, and work to secure you better rates than you could normally get, and to easily check the rates from various companies that operate in your area. Their job is to be an advocate for all their customers – not the insurance companies, but you, and to help you choose the best product at the best price.

When it comes to getting Medigap supplemental insurance plans, Senior Health Direct has a series of high value videos which will allow you to quickly learn the ins and outs of the Medicare and Medigap system. These videos should answer nearly any questions you might have, but they also have an excellently trained staff standing by at their number, 855-696-3344. Once you enter a bit of information, it is also very easy to shop the rates of the companies that offer this insurance in your area. This is the best way, along with comparing exact service details of the plans, for an individual to make the best choice.

Don’t base your insurance needs on the first insurance company you talk to – look at them and learn about the different policies and you will have a much better experience both in the short term and in the long term.

Senior Health Direct has made it their goal to act as an advocate to you, not the insurance companies, and your happiness is their success. They have a multi-step process to make sure that you are getting the exact coverage you need, and will help you wade through the fine print of any of the contracts which are available.

Medicare originally is understood to be Part A, which is hospital insurance and Part B, which is medical insurance.  This original coverage allows for many but not every medical or health related service and supply.  There is insurance available, called Medigap or Medicare Supplemental Insurance that covers expenses that are not covered under the general Medicare Part A and Part B. This includes things such as copayments, coinsurances, deductibles and expenses when traveling outside of the United States.  Believe it or not the out of pocket expenses can add up very quickly and before you know it you could have easily paid the monthly premium of a Medicare Supplement Plan.

Many Medicare participants don’t understand exactly how Medicare and Medigap work together.  First it should be understood that when you do choose a Medigap policy, Medicare will still pay their approved share upfront and then the Medigap policy pays its share of the cost.

It is best to understand that Medigap policies are sold by private insurance companies. The policy itself is the same no matter who sells it however the cost to participants might change. When you buy Medigap Plan G at one insurance company is the exact same coverage you will receive through another insurance company. The difference being the premium you pay them to offer you the insurance. This is one of the reasons it is so important to do research before settling on a Medigap plan and provider.

Each plan covers a variety of services to their participants. Below is a list of options you should look for when choosing a Medigap policy to suit your diverse needs.

• Inpatient Hospital Care: This piece will cover the coinsurance for Medicare Part A not the deductible though.
• Medical Costs: This piece will cover the coinsurance for Medicare Part B and copayments for hospital outpatient services. This can save a lot of money as the coinsurance amount left from Part B is twenty percent of the Medicare approved amount.
• Blood: Believe it or not without a Medigap policy, blood is not covered.  The right Medigap policy will cover the first three pints of blood you need each year.

Other benefits that are included in Medigap Policies can include a variety of services some of which are in the list below.

• The annual hospital deductible
• Coinsurance for skilled nursing facilities
• The annual deductible for Medicare Part B
• During travel abroad emergency care coverage
• Recovery at home
• Care not covered by Medicare
• Excess charges from the doctor above and beyond the pre-approved Medicare amount

If you are enrolled in the Medicare Advantage Plan you will not purchase Medigap insurance. It is unnecessary as the items covered by the Medicare Advantage Plan are equivalent to the items covered within Medicare Supplemental Insurance.   If you would like more information on Medicare and Supplemental Insurance a great online resource is run through the government although you are not able to purchase Medigap policies directly through the government. To purchase a policy it is best to research insurance providers in your area that offer Medigap insurance.

The world of Medicare is one in which is ever changing and always a bit confusing for those embarking on it for the first time. Below is a quick guide to enrolling in Medicare and Supplemental Insurance Plans.

When it comes to Medicare Part A enrollment is fairly easy as this is something you don’t have to actively participate in.  Once you become sixty five you are automatically enrolled in the program if you have elected to receive Social Security or a railroad retirement disability.  If you are holding off on receiving social security it is super simple to fill out and file an application.  You can call and have one sent or go to the government site which offers information about Medicare.

Medicare Part B is also a plan in which participants are automatically enrolled when participants become eligible. Part B of Medicare is one that is optional and can be declined.  Part B requires a monthly premium be paid for coverage.  Remember you may have to apply for coverage if you are not receiving social security are employed by the government or have kidney disease.

You are only able to enroll without penalty if you enroll during open enrollment.  Three months before participants turn sixty five and three months after is the period in which open enrollment for Plan B takes place.  After that or if you previous declined insurance there is a ten percent plan increase per twelve month period you could have signed up but didn’t.  This changes however if participants are covered under a separate group health plan in which case you have up to eight months after that coverage ends as open enrollment for Medicare Part B.

The Medicare Advantage Plan takes the place of Medicare Part A, Part B and Supplemental Medicare Insurance.  You can take part in this plan or stop taken part of the Medicare Advantage program during the annual coordinated enrollment period which is November 15^th through the 31^st of December.  While Medicare Part A and B are enrolled through Medicare direct the Medicare Advantage plan requires enrollment through individual companies that offer the plan.

Next is the step involving supplemental plans.  In order to purchase a Medigap policy you must be enrolled in Medicare coverage.  Enrolling in Medigap begins on the first day of the first full month that you are sixty five or have enrolled in Part B Medicare and ends after six months.  This is the period in which an insurance company must waive all exclusions such as pre-existing conditions and accept all participants.  The must also allow your coverage to begin immediately.  After the six months insurers have the right to deny selling you a particular Medigap Supplemental Plan.

This article contains the basic enrollment information for the general arenas for Medicare.  There are other areas to consider such as prescription drug coverage plans, otherwise known as Medicare Part D.  For more in depth information is a good idea to contact an insurance agent that sells Medicare Supplemental Plans.  They will be able to guide you through the complex maze of Medicare and all that encompasses it.

The Medicare maze is long and twisting. Understanding the reason you are taking the path you are on is something that is necessary to ensure your coverage is up to par with your needs.  The reason Medicare is often confusing to many is because of the choices you are given in regards to health care plans.   One major obstacle is to determine if you would rather choose Medicare with Medigap Supplement Insurance plans or choose an all inclusive option such as Medicare Advantage.  It is important to understand both options thoroughly to know if you are making the right choice.

First let’s talk about Medicare Advantage.  Often times at first glance the Medicare Advantage program looks like a cheaper option for better coverage.  This may not always be the case though.  The one thing about the Medicare Advantage program is that the premiums may increase over time and you are locked into them.  Another item to think about is the often higher co-pays that come along with the Medicare Advantage plans.  This plan is ideal for candidates whom already have a doctor in the network caring for them.  With Medicare Advantage you need to choose who you see based upon who contracts with Medicare to provide you coverage.  Not all doctors are covered.  This is true in regards to specialists as well.  You must see a doctor that has a contract within the Medicare network of doctors.

Medigap refers to the plans that fill in the holes left with traditional Medicare Part A and Part B.  Medigap Supplemental Policies are identified using a letter of the alphabet.  It is insurance that is sold through private insurance companies.  Something to be aware of however is that the government has standardized each Medigap Plan.  This is important because although the health insurance companies may have a different price on the plan the coverage and benefits you receive are the exact same from company to company.

This makes comparing policies a bit easier because you know that no matter what the Medigap Plan is going to be the same no matter where it is purchased.  The decision really comes down to a company and price you are willing to purchase the insurance from and which plan out of the available plans fills in the holes left by Medicare that you need filled in.

When looking into insurance companies to purchase a Medigap policy from make sure to compare the rates of several companies. It is important to note that some insurance companies add in a clause that the premiums will or will not rise with age.  Many plans increase rates with inflation however it is best to find a company whom has a reasonable price for their coverage, good service and a clause that the premiums will not raise because of the participants age bracket.  Otherwise the limited income you are living on could need to feed a higher Medigap premium in the future.

Choosing a Medigap Supplement Insurance plan is not an easy thing to do.  Many online sources offer side by side comparisons of the different options available with not only a plan comparison but a cost comparison quote from several insurance companies.  IT is best to work online with a company that offers online support as well as telephone support when look into compare rates and view Medigap plans.  This was if a question come up you will be able to have it handled promptly.  It also helps remove impassable paths  to get you to the finish line sooner in the Medicare maze.