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Protecting yourself from the potential runaway costs associated with Original Medicare.
Medicare Services
Protecting yourself from the potential runaway costs associated with Original Medicare.
Do you have fairly frequent doctor or hospital visits? If so, you may already know that Medicare Part A and Part B come with out-of-pocket costs you have to pay. You might be able to save money with a Medicare Supplement insurance plan. Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, insurance plans fill in “gaps” in basic benefits left behind by Original Medicare, Part A and Part B, such as deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.
In 47 states, there are up to 10 standardized Medicare Supplement insurance plans that are denoted by the letters A through N (plans E, H, I, and J are no longer sold). The private insurance companies offering these plans do not have to offer every Medicare Supplement plan, but they must offer at least Plan A.
Please note that although the names may sound similar, the “parts” of Medicare, such as Part A and Part B, are not the same as Medigap Plan A, Plan B, etc.
Each Medicare Supplement insurance plan offers a different level of basic benefits, but each lettered plan must include the same standardized basic benefits regardless of insurance company and location. For example, Medicare Supplement Plan G in Florida includes the same basic benefits as Plan G in North Dakota. Please note that if you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, your Medicare Supplement insurance plan options are different than in the rest of the country. Medicare Supplement insurance plans do not have to cover vision, dental, long-term care, or hearing aids, but all plans must cover at least a portion of the following basic benefits:
Some plans include additional basic benefits. For example, Medicare Supplement Plan F*, the most comprehensive standardized Medigap insurance plan, carries the following additional benefits:
Some plans may include additional innovative benefits.
*Medicare Supplement plans that may cover the Medicare Part B deductible – Medicare Supplement Plans C and F – will be phased out. If you’re not eligible for Medicare until January 1, 2020 or later, you won’t be able to buy Plan C or Plan F. You won’t generally have to give up your Plan C or Plan F if you already have one. If you’re eligible for Medicare before January 1, 2020, you might be able to buy Plan C or Plan F.
Although private insurance companies are required to offer the same basic benefits for each lettered plan, they do have the ability to charge different premiums. You might want to shop around to find a Medicare Supplement insurance plan that may fit your medical and financial needs. Insurance companies may price their plan premiums in any of the following ways:
Please note that no matter what rating method an insurance company uses, premiums may increase over time for reasons other than age, such as inflation.
To be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan, you must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. A good time to enroll in a plan is generally during the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins on the first day of the month that you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, and lasts for six months. During this period, you have a guaranteed-issue right to join any Medicare Supplement insurance plan available where you live. You may not be denied basic benefits based on any pre-existing conditions** during this enrollment period (although a waiting period may apply). If you miss this enrollment period and attempt to enroll in the future, you may be denied basic benefits or charged a higher premium based on your medical history. In some states, you may be able to enroll in a Medigap plan before the age of 65.
**Pre-existing conditions are generally health conditions that existed before the start of a policy. They may limit coverage, be excluded from coverage, or even prevent you from being approved for a policy; however, the exact definition and relevant limitations or exclusions of coverage will vary with each plan, so check a specific plan’s official plan documents to understand how that plan handles pre-existing conditions.
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Not affiliated with the U.S. government or federal Medicare program. This is a solicitation for insurance. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 12 organizations which offer 83 products in southern Nevada, 11 organizations which offer 57 products in northern Nevada, 10 organizations which offer 71 products in New Mexico, 10 organizations which offer 66 products in Texas, and 7 organizations which offer 46 products in Utah. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1–800–medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. Not for use in CA, FL, or NE.
About The Medicare Store
themedicarestore.com is privately owned and operated as a non-government resource for those who depend on Medicare. We provide Medicare information in a simple and straightforward way. If you’re looking for the government’s Medicare site, it is located at: www.medicare.gov
A Note on Cost
The costs associated with Medicare plans are highly regulated by the federal government. The plans have the same costs regardless of where you purchase them. Whether you purchase your Medicare plan through the Medicare Store, a government website, or directly from a carrier, there will be no difference in costs to you.
This website and its contents are for informational purposes only.
Nothing on this website should ever be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult with your medical provider regarding diagnosis or treatment for a health condition, including decisions about the correct medication for your condition, as well as prior to undertaking any specific exercise or dietary routine.
The purpose of this communication is the solicitation of insurance. Contact will be made by a licensed insurance agent/producer or insurance company. Medicare Supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We sell insurance offered from a number of different Medicare Supplement insurance companies.
Aetna – Aetna Medicare is a PDP, HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal.
Anthem Blue Cross – Anthem Blue Cross is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Anthem Blue Cross depends on contract renewal.
Cigna – Cigna-HealthSpring is contracted with Medicare for PDP plans, HMO and PPO plans in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in Cigna-HealthSpring depends on contract renewal.
Humana – Humana is a Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO and PFFS organization and a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in any Humana plan depends on contract renewal.
Molina Healthcare– Molina Healthcare is contracted with Medicare for HMO and PPO plans in select states, and with select State Medicaid programs.
Prominence Health Plan – Prominence Health Plan is an HMO Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Prominence Health Plan depends on contract renewal.
SCAN Health Plan –SCAN Health Plan is an HMO Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in SCAN Health Plan depends on contract renewal.
SelectHealth – SelectHealth is an HMO, HMO-SNP plan sponsor with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in SelectHealth Advantage depends on contract renewal.
Senior Care Plus – Senior Care Plus is a Medicare Advantage organization and a stand-alone Prescription Drug Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Senior Care Plus depends on contract renewal.
UnitedHealthcare – Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a contract with the State Medicaid Program. Enrollment in the plan depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare.
WellCare – Wellcare is the Medicare brand for Centene Corporation, an HMO, PPO, PFFS, PDP plan with a Medicare contract, and is an approved Part D Sponsor. Our D-SNP plans have a contract with the state Medicaid program. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal.
