Tag: Medigap policies - page 4

2018 Medigap Plans

Medigap policies are health insurance plans that are designated by the federal government.  This policies help to supplement Original Medicare Plan A and Plan B.  Medigap policies are different than Medicare Advantage as it covers most of the costs originally covered by Medicare plans.  These payments include paying some of the health care costs that normal Medicare plans fail to cover such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Medicare is a health insurance policy for people over 65.  It also includes options for people under 65 with certain disabilities and people of any age with ESRD, a permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Diverse Medigap Plans To Choose

The different parts of Medicare help cover specific services.  There are a whole lot of Medigap plans available across all the states in US lettered A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, N, and an high-deductible version of plan F. All these Medigap plans actually cover at least part of these costs:

  • Medicare Part A Hospice Coinsurance or Copayments
  • Medicare Plan B Coinsurance or Copayments
  • The First 3 Pints of Blood Received as a Hospital Inpatient

It is important to note that Medigap part A is the most basic plan because it only covers these benefits.

 

Of all the available Medigap insurance plans, the most widely chosen is Medigap plan F.  In 2018, there are a good number of people who have begun to rapidly understand the benefits of choosing Medigap plan G due to its added benefits. You can check the 2018 Medigap plans and choose the one that best fits your needs.

Understanding Medigap Plan G

Medicare supplement plan G, Medigap plan G, is a standardized Medicare supplement plan that can be purchased in most states in the United States to help close financial gaps for those things that original Medicare would not fully cover.

Medigap plan G for 2018 works with Medicare Part A by paying for all of the costs in Medicare part A and these include:

  • Coinsurance for Hospital Stays
  • Coinsurance for Skilled Nursing Facility Stay
  • Copayments or Coinsurance for Hospice Care
  • Medicare Part A Deductibles

Medicare Supplement Plan G also works with Medicare Part B by also paying the costs in part B and these include:

  • Charges Over the Amount Medicare Allows
  • Foreign Travel Urgent Care
  • Medicare Part B Usually Co-Pays and Coinsurance Every Year
  • Medicare Recipients Have to Pay An Annual Deductible before Medicare Part B Pays Medical Services

Be Aware Of The Medigaps Coverage

It is also important to understand that Medigap plan G doesn’t pay for everything. Just like most Medigap plans, it doesn’t cover: long-term care, vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, and private-duty nursing.

 

Hence, it is expedient to understand exactly what you want and check Medigap plan to see and understand the one suitable for you.

 

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!

 

 

Making the Right Choice In Medigap

Medigap is an extra medical insurance plan that you purchase from a private company to pay for costs not originally covered by Original Medicare such as deductibles, copayments, and medical care when you travel outside the United States. However, Medigap policies do not cover long term medical care, hearing aids, dental care, eyeglasses, vision care, private duty nursing, and most plans do not also cover prescription drug benefits. If you are a regular user of the healthcare system, it would be ideal to buy a Medigap plan as it would save you costs in the long run.

Be Educated On All Medigap Plans

Before choosing the right Medigap plan, you must be well informed about your choices. 10 Medigap benefits (A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N) have been designed by the government with each varying slightly in their coverage. You can make Medigap comparisons using medicare.gov. There you would find all the details you need in a single chart. Your choice of Medigap policy should not be affected by the alphabet designations as government regulations ensure there is a standard design for any plan despite the insurer covering it.

Items To Look For In Medigap Coverage

So what are the differences among the Medigap Policies? How do they compare? While some cover more costs, others are high deductible, and still others demand higher cost sharing. To decide on the best Medigap policy for you, you must weigh your options so you can look out for the plan that best fits your needs and one that you can reasonably afford. It would be ideal to focus on a plan that covers more big-ticket items. These items include:

  • Covering the coinsurance of your hospital stays or stays in a specialized nursing facility after a hospital stay
  • 20% of your share of doctor visit costs
  • 20% of your share of costs involved in lab tests
  • The deductible involved any time you are admitted into a hospital.

There are other items covered under the different plans you must consider before making your choice. Medigap Plan F is more popular today as it is considered the most comprehensive plan. However, Plan F has two plans – with one having a high deductible. So it is important to consider each option carefully before making a decision.

Pricing System Of A Medigap Plan

Remember that prescription drug benefits are not covered under Medigap policies. Also worthy of note is the pricing system. There are three pricing systems which determining the cost of a Medigap plan. They include:

Issue-age Rated – This plan is based on the age of the individual when the first plan is bought. The younger the individual is, the lower the initial premium. Any increment in premium charges in future will not be as a result of advancing age.

Community Rated – This pricing system does not consider the age of an individual.

Attained-age Rated – Although this premium is initially based on an individual’s age, it could increase as the person gets older.

Finally, before you sign any agreements with a company and agent selling a Medigap policy, ensure you contact the local insurance department of your state to ensure the company is licensed and they have a clean complaint record. Also note that changing a Medigap policy can be a really daunting task. Consider your options very carefully and ensure it does not only cover your current needs, but even your potential future 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!

 

Advantages Of Using An Independent Medigap Broker

You are on the right track if you understand that with Medigap insurance plans you are required to pay a monthly premium rate for a policy.  These policies help you pay for certain health care costs that are not covered by the Original Medicare Part A and Part B such as health care if you travel overseas, co-payments, and deductibles. You also cannot buy a Medigap insurance plan if you are under the age of 65 or if you already have Medicare Part A and Part B, which essentially cover hospital services and the cost for doctor services.

Why Choose a Medigap Policy

Additionally, Medicare policies do not cover private duty nursing, long-term care in a nursing home, routine dental and vision care, eyeglasses, or hearing aids. If you are planning to purchase a Medigap plan, the open enrollment period is six months from the first day of the month of your 65th birthday. You can buy a Medigap insurance plan from a private insurance company or through an independent agent who represents that company.  While the benefits of a Medigap policy are equally the same regardless of whom you buy it from, there certainly are many advantages of comparing rates between independent Medigap brokers.

Consider the following:

Training and Knowledge About Health Insurance

Independent Medigap brokers are sales agents who are not only conversant with different types of policies their carriers sell to help customers determine which plan best suits their needs, but they are also required to complete a pre-licensing training course, where they learn everything about insurance ethics, different types of insurance policies, as well as how different state’s laws apply to the type of insurance customers want to buy.

One of the main jobs of an insurance agent is to help insurance companies generate new business by contacting potential customers and selling them insurance. Therefore, an independent Medigap broker is able to provide you with some insights on the most reliable insurance companies. It is not uncommon to find one broker representing multiple insurance carriers that vary greatly in cost and coverage. A Medigap broker is well vast in the features of various policies, and he or she can explain in detail about the various plans to help you choose one that suits you best.

Helping You Find The Right Policy For You

Most people find very challenging when shopping for health insurance is understanding all the various Medigap plans. Not only will an independent Medigap broker assist you in deciphering some of the insurance lingoes, but also help you make discerning Medigap comparisons, including how they work, how they benefit you and your family, and how much they cost

Independent Medigap brokers can also help fine-tune your Medicare options that fit with your financial obligations, plans, and lifestyle and will give you access to the quality healthcare you deserve.

Using an independent Medigap insurance broker will save you time you would otherwise spend on Medigap comparisons and research, better yet, it costs you nothing to use a broker, and they can provide you with a 24/7 support.

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!

 

Switching from Medicare Advantage to a Medigap Plan

If you have Medicare Advantage, you know there can be many limitations. There can be many advantages to switching to a Medigap plan. By learning a bit more about this insurance coverage, you’ll better be able to determine if you should make the switch to Medigap.

Comparing Medigap and Medicare Advantage

Medigap is a bit different than Medicare Advantage. You’ll still need your basic plan. Medigap is basically extra help insurance that will cover the extra costs that are not covered by your original Medicare.

 

Medigap is sold by private insurance companies. The meaning of its name covers what it does, “covering gaps in your regular insurance plan”. Let’s cover some comparisons between the two types of insurances so you have a better understanding if you need Medigap.

 

Many Americans are facing escalating medical costs and have discovered that Medicare only covers some of them. Medigap covers the costs that aren’t covered by your other plan. Just some of the costs that Medigap covers include co-payments, deductibles, and healthcare coverage outside the USA.

What Medigap Doesn’t Cover

What doesn’t the Medigap insurance plan cover? They don’t cover long-term care, so that will need to be covered by your regular insurance provider, which is Medicare, in this instance.  Medigap also doesn’t cover dental care or vision care, or the related costs, such as eyeglasses, nor hearing aids. You also won’t get private duty nursing. Almost none of the Medigap insurance plans cover prescription drugs.

 

In order to sign up for Medigap, you will pay a monthly premium for one of the Medigap insurance plans.  Policies are only available to people who already have Medicare Part A or related type, which covers hospital services. Other plans may cover people who have Medicare Part B or similar. This covers doctor services.

Choose One Plan- Not Both

For people who have a Medicare Advantage Plan, they will not qualify for a Medigap plan at all. This means that you are going to have to decide which plan is right for you. In fact, it can be illegal for an insurance company to sell you both plans together.

 

Medigap will generally run at a higher monthly premium, but overall, your out-of-pocket expenses will be decreased, particularly if you have a disease or condition that requires extra clinic visits.  Medicare Advantage plan can be more affordable.  It can also cover more services. If you’re on a tight budget, this may be the plan for you, particularly if you’re pretty healthy.

 

You should also know that while regular Medicare and Medigap allow you to visit any facility that accepts these providers, with Medicare Advantage, you are limited to specific doctors or facilities within the plan. This type of plan doesn’t cover out-of-network care at all. This may be an issue if you live in the suburbs and aren’t near participating providers.

 

If you need assistance in deciding if you should switch from Medicare Advantage to Medigap, or with choosing the right Medigap plan to complement your Medicare, please contact us today.

 

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!

 

Which Medigap Supplemental Insurance Plan Works Best For You

Are you 65 or about to turn 65 years of age, but are unsure of which health plan works best for you? If you already have a comprehensive retiree health plan that provides additional and generous benefits, or benefits not covered by Medicare or Medigap policies, you may not need a Medigap plan. However, it is advisable to review your health insurance plan annually and evaluate whether it’s right for you based upon cost, convenience, and coverage. It is time to reconsider your current health plan if you are paying too much for benefits you don’t necessarily need or your health is worsening and you need more benefits.

Depending on the type of health insurance plan you are looking for, your risk factors and how much insurance you want, or what you want to be insured for, a supplemental health insurance plan can be purchased to cover additional expenses that are not covered by the basic health insurance plan such as co-pays, deductibles, and co-insurance.

Eligibility For Medigap

Supplemental health insurance policies such as Medigap supplemental insurance offer disease-specific insurance. While there are possible exceptions, but, if you are on Medicare, Medicare Advantage Part C health plan, have a disability or pre-existing medical condition and are under 65, you aren’t eligible to enroll in a Medigap plan. Available, contingent on the state you reside in, are eleven Medigap policy plans from A through G and K through N that offer different groups of benefits, filling different gaps in Medicare Parts A and B coverage.

It is a general rule that by law, insurers can’t sell you more than one Medigap supplemental health insurance plan. If married, your husband or wife will need to purchase a separate policy if they too need a Medigap coverage, but only if they have Original Medicare Part A and B. Generally, Medigap supplemental insurance plans do not cover any out-of-pocket costs for Part D plans, long-term care, private-duty nursing, dental care, vision care, eyeglasses, or hearing aids.

Standard Medigap policy will cover are some or all the costs of the following:

  • About 20% of what Medicare doesn’t cover, such as your Part A hospital deductible and coinsurance
  • Part A lifetime reserve coinsurance for 91 to 150 days
  • A portion of Part B services such as your doctor’s bills
  • Part B deductible
  • Part B 20% coinsurance
  • Part A and B first three pints of blood annually
  • Hospice care and coinsurance
  • Foreign travel emergency coverage
  • Up to 365 lifetime hospital days beyond Medicare coverage

Rights You Have With Medigap

A few changes have also been made to Medigap rules that require companies to issue a Medigap policy without both a health screening and a new waiting period limitation. For example;

  • You now have the right to purchase a Medigap policy without health screenings or a new waiting period if you no longer have insurance that covers all of the cost of Medicare’s 20% co-insurance
  • Insurance companies cannot request, require or obtain medical information as part of the application process if you are applying under “open enrollment” rights or if you are entitled to “guaranteed issue” coverage
  • “Open enrollment” rights are now extended to include COBRA and CalCOBRA

Regardless of the changes to the law, those who bought their Medigap plans before June 1, 2010, can rest assured that their plan is not only guaranteed renewable every year, but their benefits will remain the same as long as you want to keep it and the premiums are paid.

Bearing in mind that insurance companies are required to offer the same benefits for each lettered plan, but it is your prerogative to shop around and find a Medicare Supplement plan that may fit your medical and financial needs. In essence, insurers have the ability to charge higher premiums for this coverage, they are, after all, trying to make a living too. The following are what they base their costs when they price their plan premiums:

How Premiums Are Priced

Community-rated pricing – also known as No-Age-Rated pricing, the age of the beneficiary does not affect the premium price, but it may still go up due to factors, such as inflation, high deductibles, discounts, and whether you have a guaranteed issue right. Therefore, regardless of your age and overall health condition, the charges are the same premium to all beneficiaries

Attained-age-rated –  they are the most common as they represent the largest group of insured policyholders and the monthly premium rate for this policy is based on your current age at policy start. While they increase gradually over time, they are reasonable increments that must first be approved by the Department of Insurance as a way to keep up with inflation.

Issue-Age-Rated – premiums are priced based on the age at which you bought the policy. Depending on your state of origin, these policies will every so often have much higher premiums to start out and are subject to annual rate increments.

It is, therefore, important to do a little research pertaining to how your state rates this policy and also check an insurer’s rate increase propensities over the years before you purchase an issue-age policy or any other policy for that matter.

Medigap plans cover a range of benefits, with some providing more coverage than others. And while Medigap Supplemental insurance plans are standardized in most states, understanding how they are priced will ensure that you are not paying double for the same basic benefits. You may also be subject to medical underwriting that most insurance companies use to collect detailed information about your health and medical history when evaluating your application. It is during this evaluation process that an insurance company will decide whether or not to accept your application for insurance and how much to charge you. They, however, can’t use your health problems to deny you a policy or charge you more for it during your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. Therefore, be extra vigilant not to miss your Open Enrollment Period to avoid medical underwriting and extra costs.

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!

 

Getting The Coverage You Deserve With Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans

Medicare Supplement Insurance policy or Medigap is a private insurance policy sold by private companies to help pay for some of the high out-of-pocket care expenses that are not covered by the Original Medicare such as copayments, coinsurance, deductibles, at-home recovery, as well as foreign travel and emergency care.

There are eleven standardized plans lettered from A through G and K through N – and are regulated by the federal and state governments. Every Medigap insurer offers both Plan A and Plan B, but it is important to know that while Medigap policies must provide coverage for the expenses that are not covered by Medicare, not every insurer offers all twelve standardized plans.

Medigap Enrollment Requirements

You don’t necessarily need a Medigap policy if you already have a supplemental retiree health insurance through a former employer or union or if you opt for a Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as Medicare Part C. In order to be eligible for Medigap supplement plans, a few things should be in place and it will also depend on the state you live in because not every state offers Medicare Supplement plans to beneficiaries under 65 years of age. Consider the following enrollment prerequisites:

  • You cannot be a Medicaid recipient
  • You have guaranteed enrollment in a Medigap policy if you are 65 years old
  • You must be and stay enrolled in Part A and Part B in Original Medicare for your hospital and medical coverage
  • Depending on your specific state and you are eligible for Medigap coverage if under 65 living with disabilities or certain conditions, such as end-stage renal disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease
  • A Medigap policy only covers one person. You and your spouse must purchase separate policies
  • In addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay for Medicare, you will be required to pay a monthly premium for your Medigap policy
  • Provided you keep up with the premium payments, the insurance company cannot cancel your standardized Medigap policy, and they must renew it annually
  • Medigap plans do not cover private-duty nursing, long-term care, dental care, hearing aids, vision or eyeglasses, Medicare Part D, which is a prescription drug coverage plan

Open Enrollment Period

You would face late enrollment penalties if you didn’t enroll when you turn 65. Therefore, you want to sign up for a Medicare Supplement plan during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. It is the six-month enrollment period that starts three months before the month you turn 65 or at the end of 3 months after the month you turn 65.

While you can apply anytime if you missed your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Deadline, but will not only be required to go through medical underwriting, but chances are you may not be guaranteed coverage. You will also be required to pay a late enrollment penalty if you want a completely different Medigap policy or to switch to a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers prescription drug coverage but you decide to drop your old policy, and the drug coverage wasn’t a creditable prescription drug coverage.

Choosing The Right Plan For You

Depending on the policy, Medigap plans A through J include the following benefits:

  • Medicare Part A covers coinsurance and deductibles
  • Medigap Part B covers doctors’ bills
  • Medigap policies K and L include coverage of similar services as plans A-J and provide benefits that supplement those covered under Medicare Parts A and B
  • First three pints of blood annually
  • Foreign travel emergency
  • At-home recovery
  • Preventative care
  • Excess doctor charges
  • Hospice care coinsurance

While the services offered under each Medigap plan are standardized, the premium rates charged for coverage under the plans vary by insurance company and sometimes by geographic region. Additionally, Medigap policies may impose a pre-existing condition limitation of up to a six-month before the effective date of coverage. However, the waiting period can be reduced or waived completely, depending on your circumstances.

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!

 

How Medigap Will Benefit You

Medigap, also known as Supplemental Insurance for Medicare offers a variety of plans that help fill in missing Medicare coverage. They are supplemental insurance policies for Medicare beneficiaries that they can use to cover the rest of the expenses that Medicare cannot cover. Medigap Insurance works as a specialist insurance in a specific area and is related to Medicare, which means that one is linked to the other. The expenses generated by one can be covered by the other and vice versa.

Medigap insurance begins once you have verified that Medicare paid your share. Then the Medigap policy pays its share of Medicare and so on.

Each Medigap policy must be fully legal and meet the requirements required by state and federal laws to better protect the client. Medigap can only be paid through the person who made the contract and requires payment of a monthly premium.

Medigap is actually supplemental insurance; it means that Medigap supplements Medicare and that one cannot work without one. There are several things you should know when you have or purchase Medigap insurance. All standardized policies have a constant renewal service as long as you keep paying the premium. It is important to know that a person cannot sell you a Medigap policy if you already have a Medicare action plan.

The supplemental Medigap does not cover long-term general expenses, dentistry or ophthalmology, expenses incurred by hearing aids, eyeglasses or private nursing services. Medigap has a variety of plans that fit any type of person.

There are several things that you should consider when purchasing a Medigap insurance policy. It is important to know the limits and coverage that will have the necessary tools. Know the price of premiums, know if the price is related to the coverage and know if it is really worth paying the money for the services offered.

In case the person wants to move away from Medigap insurance and Medigap supplements should be absolutely sure to do so as it is a fairly large help for all people who could buy at some point. If you just want to change your policy for another you can also do it. Or you could decide to purchase and maintain a Medicare Advantage plan that has drug coverage.

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 888.404.5049 today!

Do you need Medigap Coverage if I’m Healthy?

Healthy eating Medigap is additional health care insurance provided by private insurance companies to cover the gaps in the Original Medicare Plan.  Medigap policies are regulated by Federal and State laws in order to protect you as a beneficiary.  Medigap policies have to be clearly labeled as Medigap and are standardized.  Medigap was designed to help pay the costs that Medicare does not cover.  Medigap is also known as Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans.

Do you need Medigap coverage if healthy?  The answer is yes because Medigap is an extra health insurance plan to keep or make you feel safe as it covers costs not covered by Original Medicare such as co-payments, deductibles, and health care if you travel outside the U.S. This coverage is very ideal for health issues outside the country.

With most Medigap plans you can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare.  You will give them your Medicare card and your supplemental plan ID card.  Original Medicare will pay its share.  Your Medigap plan will pay your share of the costs depending on what the plan covers that you have chosen.  It may also coordinate payment with Medicare and your health care providers.  That means you will not have to bother with claim filing or paperwork.

Medigap insurance is available to help you cover those expenses that either fall through the cracks of Medicare or aren’t fully covered under the government plan.  Medicare was never intended to be a full coverage plan but rather to cover those retirees who could not afford full health insurance.  It best you get it even when you are health that when you are ill.  Don’t wait until you have a major medical emergency!

Now you can find Medigap right from the convenience of your computer.  It is recommended that you enroll in this type of insurance soon after reaching retirement age so don’t dely.  Every year will bring an increase in premiums if you delay signing up.  There is no excuse not to get coverage when you can enroll in this vital insurance program without even leaving your home.

How It Works

Generally, before you can Medigap plan, you have to be at least 65 and enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.  You apply for a Medigap plan offered by a health insurance company.  These plans only cover one person, so if you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you will each need a plan.  It does not have to be the same plan.

Before you get Medigap coverage you should be familiar with what it is.  Remember, Medigap is structured in a way that all the plans of the same name offer the same coverage regardless of the company that offers it.  Therefore, your challenge boils down to being familiar with what each of the coverage benefits are so that you know exactly what to expect from the available options.  This will help you determine which is best for you.

 

Medigap Eligibility Requirements

Medigap coverage works only in conjunction with Medicare Part A and Part B.  Acceptance of your Medigap application is guaranteed if you are 65 or older and apply within six months of your initial enrollment in Part N of Medicare.  Pre-existing conditions are usually waived during this period of time as well.

Here are the most common Medigap coverage benefits and what each does for your medical needs.

Medicare Part A Coinsurance

  • Available in all Medigap Plans A through N
  • Requires participants to pay for a share of the costs of the services needed
  • Applicable after your deductible has been covered

Example: Suppose you have a Medicare Part A service and your coinsurance states that you pay for 20% of the fee for that service; in terms, this means that your Medigap coverage takes care of the remaining 80% of the bill.

Medicare Part B Coinsurance
  • Available in all Medigap Plans A through N with limitations specific to Plans K and L
  • Similar to coinsurance for Medicare Part A except that it pertains only to service that fall under the Medicare Part B classification
  • Using medical services that falls under Medicare Part B you pay the coinsurance rates as specified in your plan while your Medigap coverage shoulders the remaining charge of the bill
Blood Coverage
  • This coverage comes with all Medigap Plans from A to N with special limits to Plans K and L
  • All Medigap offers blood transfusions of up to 3 pints
  • Patients must pay for any additional blood that is needed after they use their 3 pints
Medicare Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance
  • This coverage comes with all Medigap Plans from A to N
  • Similar to Part A and Part B coinsurance except it is specific to hospice care
  • If hospice eligible your insurer pays for the charges remaining after you paid your share
Skilled Nursing Facilities
  • Certain limited care that is provided at skilled nursing facilities
  • Most cover 50 to 100% of the coinsurance for hospice care
  • Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B do not include this benefit on their own
Foreign Travel
  • Medicare provides coverage only in the U.S. and its terriorties
  • Medigap plans are purchased to cover foreign travel emergencies as limited on their plans
  • If you are traveling outside of the U.S. often consider Medigap Plan C, D, F, G, M, or

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 today!

What Is a Medigap Plan?

A Medigap plan covers costs associated with Original Medicare including copayments, deductibles, and other out of pocket expenses.  These plans are designed to work in combination with Original Medicare and cannot be used as stand-alone health coverage.  Medigap plans do not include prescription drug coverage but participants can choose to have prescription drug coverage by enrolling in Medigap Plan D, prescription drug coverage.

Medicare nurse

As of today there are ten different standardized Medigap plans to choose from.  Each plan is denoted by a letter of the alphabet starting with Plan A.  Medigap Plan A provides the most basic set of core benefits.  All of the other Medigap Plans include the benefits that are offered in Medicare Plan A along with additional coverage options.

The Medicare program is currently divided into four specific parts including: Medicare Part A, hospital coverage, Medicare Part B, physician’s coverage, Medicare Advantage Program, HMOs and PPOs, and Medigap Plan D, prescription drug coverage.

Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance

  • Services related to inpatient centers such as:
  • The hospital
  • Nursing facilities
  • Hospice
  • Home care

Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance

  • Service related to physician’s care such as:
  • Doctor’s visits
  • Outpatient care
  • Preventative treatments

Medicare Advantage Program: HMOs and PPOs

  • Private insurance companies for you to choose from if you do not want Medicare

Medigap Plan D: Prescription Drug Coverage

  • Provides coverage for prescription drug coverage
Medigap Standardized Plans
  • Medigap Plan A – Basic core benefits
  • Medigap Plan B – Basic core benefits and the Medicare Part A deductible
  • Medigap Plan C – Basic core benefits, the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, the Medicare Part B deductible, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country
  • Medigap Plan D – Basic core benefits, the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country
  • Medigap Plan F – Basic core benefits, the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, Medicare Part B deductible, 100% Medicare Part B excess charges, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country
  • Medigap Plan F Prime – Offers a high deductible option, increase every year and premiums are typically lower than other Medigap, deductible must meet the deductible before the policy covers your health claims
  • Medigap Plan G – Basic core benefits, the Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, 100% Medicare Part B excess charges, and medically necessary emergency
  • Medigap Plan K – Basic core benefits, provides 50% of the cost sharing for Medicare Part A covered hospice expenses, first three pints of blood, pays 50% of the Part B coinsurance after meeting annual deductible, after meeting your annual out of pocket spending limit Medicare Plan K will pay 100% of all Medicare Parts A and Medicare Part B deductible, copayments, and coinsurance
  • Medigap Plan L – Basic core benefits, provides 75% of the cost sharing for Medicare Part A covered hospice expenses, first three pints of blood, pays 75% of the Part B coinsurance after meeting annual deductible, after meeting your annual out of pocket spending limit Medicare Plan K will pay 100% of all Medicare Parts A and Medicare Part B deductible, copayments, and coinsurance
  • Medigap Plan M – Basic core benefits, Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country
  • Medigap Plan N – Basic core benefits, Medicare Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility care, and medically necessary emergency care in a foreign country

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 today!

Understanding Medigap Plаnѕ

Medigap is a tуре оf ѕuррlеmеntаl іnѕurаnсе thаt hеlрѕ to fill іn gaps that you mау hаvе in your Medicare соvеrаgе. Medigap рlаnѕ аrе usually provided bу private hеаlth insurance рrоvіdеrѕ in addition tо your Medicare plan. Thеѕе рlаnѕ are optional. Thеу аrе dеѕіgnеd tо provide additional coverage for уоu fоr any expenses thаt аrе nоt соvеrеd by уоur Mеdісаrе рlаn. Thеѕе рlаnѕ рrоtесt уоu and аrе rеgulаtеd bу the fеdеrаl government. Thеrе аrе several plans, and each рlаn hаѕ іtѕ own bеnеfіtѕ.

Thоѕе who vаluе аddеd ѕесurіtу wіll fіnd it in Mеdіgар рlаnѕ whісh ѕеrvе tо аugmеnt thе fіnаnсіаl, mеdісаl rеԛuіrеmеntѕ bеуоnd a Mеdісаrе соvеrаgе. Of соurѕе, this іѕ greatly useful еѕресіаllу thеѕе days whеn есоnоmіеѕ around the wоrld аrе nоt аt thеіr bеѕt. Prісеѕ of commodities аrе soaring еvеrуwhеrе, аnd this includes even mеdісаl trеаtmеnt and the соѕt of mеdісіnеѕ. While іt may not pose a ѕіgnіfісаnt рrоblеm fоr those аbоvе thе ѕосіаl lаddеr, аvеrаgе іndіvіduаlѕ аnd families have сlеаrlу been аffесtеd. Tо avoid hospitalization соѕtѕ, some would еvеn орt tо stay hоmе and ѕеlf-mеdісаtе simply. But with a Mеdісаrе supplement plan tо bridge оnе’ѕ Mеdісаrе coverage аnd actual hospital bіllѕ, the рrоblеm is еlіmіnаtеd.

However, аlthоugh the promise of a Mеdіgар policy саn be a truе lіfеѕаvеr, choosing thе rіght рlаn іѕ not something one саn do indiscriminately, especially іn tеrmѕ of thе рrоvіѕіоnѕ оn medicines. Whіlе thе іntеntіоn tо mislead mау nоt bе there, ѕоmе реорlе are асtuаllу mіѕlеd bу whаt an insurance рrоvіdеr mау offer. In fасt, thеrе соuld bе a numbеr оf рhаrmасеutісаllу related іѕѕuеѕ іn tурісаl supplementary рlаnѕ whісh еvеrу роtеntіаl buуеr must examine.

Onе of thе mоѕt common ріtfаllѕ that реорlе fіnd thеmѕеlvеѕ in соnсеrn actual drug рrісеѕ whісh mау bе оffеrеd іn a ѕоmеtіmеѕ dесерtіvе wау. Whеn looking іntо thіѕ, іt іѕ important to соnѕіdеr the average соѕt of еасh drug thrоughоut a уеаr as individual costs саn differ depending оn hоw the рlаn is designed to соmрutе рrісеѕ. Anоthеr thіng thаt ѕhоuld bе lооkеd into іѕ the асtuаl соvеrаgе оf a drug thаt іѕ рrеѕеntеd to be раrt оf thе рlаn. Sоmеtіmеѕ, іnѕurаnсе providers advertise drugs аѕ included in a рlаn расkаgе but there іѕ actually another rеԛuіrеmеnt thаt has to be fulfilled bеfоrе those drugѕ саn be соvеrеd ѕuсh аѕ the purchase оf оthеr drugѕ оr getting a physician’s аuthоrіzаtіоn bеfоrеhаnd. Another роѕѕіblе ѕоurсе of confusion соuld bе thе соѕt оf mail-order drug dеlіvеrу whose cost varies grеаtlу frоm рlаn tо рlаn. It is аlѕо important tо сhесk whаt pharmacies wоrk wіth whаt plans tо bе ѕurе that you саn take advantage of a сеrtаіn bеnеfіt thаt іѕ claimed bу thаt plan thаt you are соnѕіdеrіng tо buу.

Althоugh thе general соnсерt of Medigap insurance іѕ beneficial to аll, thеrе аrе dіffеrеnt рlаnѕ thаt will be ѕuіtеd tо реорlе wіth varying nееdѕ аnd сіrсumѕtаnсеѕ. Bесаuѕе medicines рlау a significant part in аnу соurѕе оf trеаtmеnt, they should bе a mаjоr соnѕіdеrаtіоn whеn lооkіng fоr thе best рlаn to buу.

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 888.404.5049 today!