Posted on August 31, 2018 by admin

What Is Medigap Insurance and Why is It Useful?

Medicare is a good basic health coverage program for the elderly, which helps eliminate some of the high cost of medical care. However, while Medicare covers a lot of the health care costs it does not cover all the costs which is where the Medigap insurance comes in.

What is Medigap Insurance?

Medigap insurance is insurance you buy from a private insurance company that is licensed to carry this type of insurance. Like other types of insurance, you pay monthly premiums to the insurance company for this additional insurance.

In order to get Medigap insurance you must have both Medicare part A and part B but cannot have a Medicare Advantage policy or have a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan. Your Medigap insurance premium must be paid in addition to the premium you pay for your Medicare part B. In addition, Medigap insurance only covers one person, so if both you and your spouse have Medicare and want Medigap insurance, you both must carry a policy, and both have to pay premiums for the coverage.

Why Is Medigap Insurance Useful?

Medicare pays 80% of your medical bills after you have paid the Medicare part B deductible. That means 20% of your medical bills need to be paid by you. Medigap insurance helps cover the other 20% of the health care costs that is not covered by your Medicare insurance including those co-pays and deductibles and health care you receive when you are visiting outside the United States.

There are some things that Medigap insurance won’t cover including:

Prescription Medication- (since 2006)
Vision care
Dental care
Hearing aids
Eye glasses
Private Duty Nursing care

Medigap Insurance is Renewed Even if Your Health Deteriorates

As long as you continue to pay your Medigap insurance on time every month, your Medigap insurance can’t be denied even if your health deteriorates and your medical bills rise. This gives you a feeling of security when seeking health care.

Additional Information Regarding Medigap Insurance

There is some additional information regarding Medigap insurance you should be aware of if you are considering getting a Medigap insurance policy. Any Insurance company that sells you a Medigap insurance policy must clearly identify the policy as Medicare supplement insurance.

There are several Medigap insurance policies available and all Medigap insurance policies must offer the same basic benefits, but some policies offer additional benefits along with the basic benefits.

In addition, any insurance company that sells Medigap insurance must offer Plan A and either Plan C or plan F. However, they do have to offer every Medigap plan that is available, so you need to learn about the various plans so that you choose the plan that is right for needs.

Medigap insurance can help you offset the rising costs of medical care as you grow older. While you do have to pay monthly premiums for your Medigap insurance the cost of these premiums may be offset by the amount of money you save in medical bills. Only you can decide if Medigap insurance is right for and which policy will best meet your needs.

Learn more about Medigap plans and rates at http://emedigap-plans.com. Medigap Insurance brokers will help you compare Medigap Insurance rates and plans. To talk to an expert in Medigap coverage call toll free 888-452-7949!

Posted on August 15, 2018 by admin

Health Insurance Plans Available Through Medicare

Medicare and Medigap are health insurance plans sponsored by the federal government. Being regulated by the government means that there is not a lot of leeway. Much of Medicare is standardized and is the same throughout the United States however, Florida is unique.

The state of Florida is one of four states that allows the pricing of Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans to be based on the age of enrollees. “Issue Age” standard states that your Medicare Supplement rates cannot increase every year as you age. The price can fluctuate because of normal inflation which on average is between three to four percent each year.

Medicare enrollees also have the option to enroll in Medicare Advantage instead of Original Medicare and the addition of supplemental insurance. Only 3 out of 10 Medicare participants choose Medicare Advantage. Most participants choose this option especially when they are on a limited, fixed income. The state of Florida has a rate higher rate of enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans. In fact, two out of five Florida enrollees participating in Medicare choose Medicare Advantage. The insurance coverage with Medicare Advantage is often not as comprehensive as what participants would have with Medicare and Supplemental Insurance Plans however, it is a more affordable option.

As mentioned previously, Supplemental Insurance Plans are standardized throughout the United States. Thus, meaning no matter what insurance company the insurance is purchased through or what state it is purchased in the coverage of the plans remains the same. Unlike with Medicare Advantage, Supplemental Insurance Plans do not limit the doctors and specialists you can visit. Another major difference is that Medicare Advantage Plans are not standardized, although they are regulated. With Advantage Plans you are limited to doctors and specialists within your network. There are higher co-pays and deductibles than with Supplemental Plans however the premium each month is lower.

Unlike other states, Florida has a different pricing structure on their Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans. The plans that are priced the best are those with the best coverage. These plans include, Medigap Plan F, Plans N and Plan F-HD. If you are new enrollee within Medicare in Florida it is vital to investigate these three different supplemental plans before committing to a Supplemental Insurance Plan. Medigap Plan F covers one hundred percent of your Medicare expenses; other than your premium enrollees do not have to cover out-of-pocket costs. So, although the initial policy can be quite expensive it can pay off in the long run.

Posted on August 10, 2018 by admin

Does Medigap Cover Issues with Mental Health

As people get older and become eligible for Medicare, they may be concerned about which parts of their health care costs will be covered and which parts they will be completely responsible for. This is especially true when it comes to coverage for mental health, as those visits can become quite expensive over time.

Medicare Part A does cover mental health care, but each inpatient service will require the patient to pay their deductible. There is also a coinsurance charge for any days of hospitalization past sixty, and no one will receive benefits for over one hundred and ninety days of mental health hospitalization in their lifetime.

Medicare Part B will cover outpatient mental health services, but there is a deductible that everyone is required to meet as well as copays. However, one mental health screening is allowed each year at no cost to the patient.

At this point, many seniors will be wondering how they will be able to afford to pay for their medical bills, but that is where Medigap insurance can be a huge help.

Inpatient hospitalizations are still the same with Medigap as they are with Medicare Part A as to how many days are covered. However, there is a chance that extended visits will be approved through a person’s Medigap coverage. Medigap will cover all of Medicare Part A’s coinsurance and copays, and most of the Medigap plans will cover the deductible as well.

The exceptions to the inpatient deductible being paid out by Medigap are that Medigap Plan A will not cover it at all, and Plan K requires the patient to pay fifty percent while Plan L requires a person to pay twenty-five percent.

Almost every Medigap plan will cover the copays and coinsurance that a person is responsible for from their Medicare Part B coverage, but only Medigap Plans C and F will cover the deductible portion of Medicare Part B. Medigap Plan N will require the patient to pay a copay for each of their doctor’s visits, while Plan K requires the patient to pay fifty percent, while Plan L requires a payment of twenty-five percent from the patient.

As for all the excess charges that a person receives, mainly from a doctor that doesn’t accept Medicare assignments, those are only covered by Medigap Plans F and G.

This shows how important it is for seniors to purchase the proper Medigap insurance as soon as they are eligible for it. Everyone will want to do their research to see which option will benefit them the most, so that they do not find themselves drowning in medical debt due to purchasing the wrong type of Medigap insurance plan.

Posted on July 26, 2018 by admin

Costly Mistakes That Are Made When Choosing a Medigap Plan

When it comes to selecting the right Medicare plans it is important that you do your due diligence. With so many options out there, it is not hard to believe that so many seniors find out after they have made a mistake when choosing their Medigap plan. Unfortunately, once you sign up for a Medigap plan, you are locked in and have to wait an entire year to make any changes.

This mistake could end up being very costly and is irreversible until the enrollment period begins next year. Not only could it cost a lot of extra money, but it could even cost you by not covering certain services that you or your spouse may rely on.

5 Common Mistakes Made Wen Choosing a Medigap Plan

Taking advice strictly from television ads:

Unfortunately, we all are exposed to the many advertising on television and on the radio regarding the Medicare plans. This is especially true during the enrollment periods and as the ending of the signup comes around every. The problem comes in when you listen to a well-intentioned relative armed with the knowledge that they saw in on the TV. This can be a bit dangerous when they don’t know all of the details.

Not taking the time to thoroughly investigate Medigap prescription coverage:

One of the worst feelings is to find out at the wrong time that your Medigap plan does not cover all of the cost of a new medication that your doctor has prescribed. Since chances are great that your doctor is prescribing the medication that you really need it.

Not checking to see if the Medigap plan covers the gaps most likely needed:

Some people end up hurting themselves by not checking to be sure that they know if the Medigap plan that they probably rushed into signing up for did not actually completely fill in the gap of their Medicare plan. This mistake could be doubly bad if you end up without necessary coverage and that it costs too much.

Selecting the wrong insurance company for your Medigap plan:

The insurance company you chose is ultimately the most important. If you end up selecting the wrong insurance company it might not even matter if you choose the best plan that they have. If you cannot trust the company to be there when you need it, they are not the right company.

Choosing straight Medicare:

Signing up for the original Medicare plan and assuming that the Part A and Part B will suffice your needs could be the right choice, however, be sure that you ensure that you select a cap on expenses. This could easily end up costing you a lot of money.

Posted on July 23, 2018 by admin

Which Medigap Plan is Right for You?

In the United States, Medigap is also known as Medicare Supplemental Insurance. Unlike Medicare which is administered largely by the government, Medigap insurance programs including the benefits are contracted to private insurers. Recent statistics show about 20% of Medicare beneficiaries are also covered by Medigap.

Medicare typically covers enrollees who are 65 years old or over. Enrollees under 65 must either be covered because of a disability or other qualifying condition. Although they cannot simply buy Medigap some states have recently begun requiring some Medigap plans to be made available for this group of people.

There are three options for enrollees, Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Original Medicare with Medigap Supplemental Insurance Plans. One glaring difference between Medigap and the Medicare Advantage plans is that Medigap does not make any decisions about what to cover, the federal government states what is covered within each Medigap Plan. Medigap features no networks of hospitals or doctors for the enrollee to select. It merely directs them to the specified share of their medical bills that Medicare doesn’t cover (for co-pays or deductibles for Medicare part A or Part B). To simplify the process, if an enrollee’s healthcare benefit was paid for by Medicare, but there is an outstanding bill, Medigap steps in to offset it.

With the exception of Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, Medigap is available in 10 distinct benefits packages. These vary according to how much of the healthcare expenses the enrollee is being covered for. Premiums are determined by the number of healthcare benefits covered or the amount of the bill to be covered.

The most popular Medigap plan is F which is not rated. When browsing Medigap plans, enrollees are sometimes taken aback by this, but the absence of a rating is simply because the benefits are the same regardless of which private insurer the enrollee purchases coverage from. It pays for everything that Medicare doesn’t. It even goes further and pays for the outstanding bill that is assessed by hospital systems and doctors who don’t accept payment-in-full by Medicare

Unlike the Medicare Advantage plans, the rules governing Medigap may vary from state to state. All the Federal government does is regulate the minimum consumer protection rules, but individual states are free to decide to modify or add any additional consumer protections.

After each hospital visit, the private insurance companies administering Medigap contact Medicare to compute the amount of the outstanding bill and automatically pay their share. No hospitals or networks are involved.

Posted on July 12, 2018 by admin

Medigap in Michigan

Medigap, also referred to as Medicare supplement insurance or Medicare supplemental insurance, refers to the various private health insurance plans that supplement Medicare in the United States. Supplemental Medicare policies are designed to share in the costs not covered by Original Medicare Part A and Part B, including deductibles and coinsurance amounts.

There are similarities in coverage especially when it comes to the Medicare-covered hospital, home health and skilled nursing care, ambulance, durable medical equipment, and doctor charges. But Medigap was essentially envisioned to cover those areas where there are “gaps” in Medicare coverage. According to statistics, approximately 20% of Medicare recipients have Medigap.

Medicare Supplement Policies

Medicare supplement policies are often referred to as “Medigap” policies. Michigan residents who are not covered by employer-based insurance or any retiree health package but can afford to pay premiums can get Medigap.

One insurer participating in Medigap In Michigan is Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has been a fixture in the Michigan insurance landscape for decades. Today, the company has participated in the Legacy Medigap plans which have been subsidized. For the past 5 years, insurance rates have been more or less frozen or price below market value. It is helpful to note however that as of January 1, 2017, new rates took effect.

Subsidizing Medigap

It is important to note that in the State of Michigan, The Michigan Medigap Subsidy program is administered by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. It is tasked with helping to defray the costs of providing Medigap in the state. As of January 1, 2017, applications are screened (for instance, single applicants must not make more than $26,730 a year) and if the applicant is found eligible, the program pays a subsidy directly to their Medigap insurance company. This amount offsets the actual premium thus lowering it.

Posted on July 6, 2018 by admin

What Happens to Your Medigap Coverage When You Move to a New State

Medigap plans have become immensely popular in recent years because of numerous added advantages they offer over Original Medicare, Part A and Part B. Many people, across the US, are opting for this coverage so that they more of their healthcare costs that are generally not included in the coverage of their original Medicare insurance.

A general question that many people have related to their Medigap supplement insurance is that what will happen to it if they are moving to another state. If you are looking for an accurate answer to this question, you have landed at the right place.

In case you have purchased a Medigap plan and are planning to move to another state, there is no requirement to buy a new plan. This is due to the fact that Medigap supplement insurance plans are the same across the US, apart from three unusual states. However, people who have enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans, they may face certain issues as it comes with some limitations. They can only use health care providers that are located within the network of this plan.

If you have relocated to an area that doesn’t fall within in the network of your Medicare select plan, the sole option you have is to buy a new Medigap supplement insurance plan that offers similar, if not the same, benefits you were obtaining from the Medicare select plan. The added advantage here for you will be that you won’t be required to undergo medical underwriting. This will save you from paying extra charges due to your health condition. In worst case scenarios, the insurance company may refuse to offer you a Medigap plan. However, this advantage can only be obtained if you had purchased Medicare Select plan 6 months prior to relocating to a new state.

In the case where you have a Medigap plan and have moved to a new state, you may have to pay a higher or lower premium after relocation. This depends on the Medigap rates in the states you have moved to. If the rates are more expensive, the premium value you pay monthly will increase and vice versa.

There is also a possibility of finding a Medigap policy in the new state you have moved in that is less expensive as compared to the one that you already one. In such a situation, all you have to do is to submit a new application for getting a new Medigap policy.

As stated above, Medigap plans are standardized in most of the states of the US. However, if you are moving to one of these states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts, you may have to buy a different Medigap policy as these states have individual standardized plans.

To sum it up, if you want to continue obtaining the added advantages of your Medigap plan, do complete research on the state you are moving to regarding the rates and plans offered there and take the decision accordingly.

Posted on June 28, 2018 by admin

What is the Difference Between Premiums, Deductibles, and Coinsurance?

Everyone needs to pay something for their health insurance, but the amount is different depending on the type of plan that a person has. Once a person reaches retirement age, they are eligible for Medicare, which may or may not have a charge for premiums but does require everyone to pay a deductible and coinsurance each year. Medigap supplement insurance plans are a great way to save on the deductible and coinsurance of Medicare, but there is often a premium for them.

If you are unsure of the difference between premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance when it comes to Medicare and Medigap plans, it is fairly easy to figure out. A premium is the money that you pay for your medical policy. You may not have to pay a monthly premium for your Medicare insurance, but every Medigap supplement insurance plan has a premium. The amount of that premium is determined by the plan that you choose.

A deductible is the amount of money that you will need to pay before your insurance will pay out anything. Your deductible can be quite high with Medicare, but your Medigap plan will allow you to pay less money, as that plan normally covers most of the amount that you would owe.

Once you have fulfilled your deductible, you are almost always required to pay a coinsurance for any other services that you receive. The coinsurance is normally a percentage of what Medicare or Medigap pays, but it could also be a specified dollar amount. While a coinsurance is guaranteed with a Medicare plan, you may not need to pay the coinsurance in full if you have a Medigap supplement insurance plan that will cover some of it.

You may not think that it is worthwhile to purchase a Medigap supplement insurance plan when you become eligible for Medicare, because it would be one more premium that you would need to pay every month. However, you may find that the amount of the premium is negligible compared to the amount of money that you are saving in deductible and coinsurance payments.

The savings might not be significant in the beginning when you are healthy, but one long-term illness or multiple short-term illnesses will allow you to see the savings more clearly. Don’t lose out on saving money in the future from not understanding the importance of Medigap insurance, because your health could depend on it.

Posted on June 21, 2018 by admin

The Benefits Of Working With A Medigap Broker

You have guaranteed enrollment in a Medigap supplement insurance or Medigap policy if you are 65 years of age, are enrolled in Original Medicare and if any of the plans are offered in the state where you live. Medicare Supplement plans are sold by private insurance carriers to help pay for some of the services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, such as coinsurance, copayment, deductibles, as well as emergency overseas travel coverage or Part B excess charges.

You can sign up for a Medigap policy either through an insurance company or an independent Medigap broker. Using an independent Medigap broker has significant benefits that most folks may not know or even want to know out of fear that it may cost them more in broker fees. It doesn’t cost to use an independent Medigap broker and consulting one will not change your premiums or the policy benefits.

Additionally, understanding how each plan works and each of their benefits or lack thereof can be extremely confusing, even to the best of us. An independent Medigap supplement insurance broker is able to do all the legwork for you, compare various options from multiple insurance carriers on your behalf, advise you accordingly and save you a considerable amount of time and headache of doing it alone.

A Medigap supplement insurance broker is able to provide you with an unbiased and independent opinion of all Medicare plans, owing to the simple fact that they represent a handful of insurance carriers and they are well-versed on how the workings of the insurance business. They are better equipped to compile and compare all available options and Medigap rates without adding any monetary value to the process until you are satisfied.

You are already indirectly paying for the services of an independent Medigap broker since they are paid by the carriers they represent. Therefore, using their services to the fullest can benefit you and your loved one and save you money while at it. Most importantly, Medigap brokers are compensated on an ongoing basis, consequently, they also offer personalized after sale services that you wouldn’t otherwise get from a large insurance company.

Having an ongoing relationship with an independent Medigap broker will ensure that the services they offer you are unlike no other, and because they do this for a living, a broker will not rest until you’re contented.

Posted on June 14, 2018 by admin

When Do I Enroll in Medigap Coverage?

Medigap is an insurance policy that will cover the health care costs that you incur that regular Medicare, Part A and Part B, does not cover. These costs can include co-payments, deductibles, and travel outside of the United States. However, Medigap supplement insurance does not cover costs that are associated with dental care, vision, hearing aids, or private duty nursing.

Medigap supplemental insurance is available to anyone that has Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, and the best time to purchase Medigap is during your open enrollment period. You are automatically eligible for a Medigap supplement insurance plan the month that you turn sixty-five and your eligibility continues for a period of six months.

That six-month time frame is the best time to purchase Medigap, simply because you can get it from any Medigap supplement plan that is available in your area. None of them can turn you down for any health issues that you may have, nor can they charge you more if you have certain health problems. Instead, during this time you are guaranteed to find coverage at a reasonable price.

The only thing that you will need to keep in mind is that a Medigap supplement plan can make you wait six months before they will pay for anything relating to your pre-existing conditions, although some plans will waive that waiting period. Once that six month waiting period is over, they will pay for your medical expenses, including ones for your pre-existing conditions.

If you decide to wait to apply for Medigap until after your six-month open enrollment period, a Medigap plan has the right to deny you coverage or make you pay a higher rate.

It is unusual to be able to apply for a Medigap supplement insurance plan when you are under the age of sixty-five, but some states will allow you to do so. However, you will want to be prepared to pay more for the policy or take the chance of being denied for pre-existing conditions.

A disabled person, who has Medicare, can apply for Medigap before they turn sixty-five, but they might not be able to purchase the exact policy that they want and there are no guarantees that they will even be approved.

If you are approaching the age of sixty-five, you will need to be aware of your options when it comes to Medigap supplement insurance plans. You’ll want to act quickly and purchase your Medigap plan within your six-month open enrollment period, so you do not miss out on the benefits that you will need.

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Category: Medigap Insurance Plans