Medigap Medicare Supplement Insurance Blog

Did you realize that premiums may rise fastest on Medicare Supplement Insurance purchased before June 1? Analysts are concerned that because the risk pools on these plans have been closed, no new members will continue to balance the rising claims of existing members as they age and need more healthcare.

If you already have Medigap Insurance, it’s better to switch while your health doesn’t make insurers reticent to enroll you in newer plans. Imagine not being able to change plans as the premiums rise much faster than on the exact same plan just because it has an open risk pool. Read the rest of this entry »

Many seniors stick with the same Medicare Supplement Insurance even though new plans offer better benefits or lower premiums just because they are not aware of how the market is changing these plans. Don’t pay more than you need to for Medigap Insurance.

MediGap Advisors offer a free annual review when they compare your changing needs to current plans on the market. It’s free, effortless and ensures that you get the coverage you need at the lowest available rate. Read the rest of this entry »

Having a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan gives you greater access to healthcare because you don’t have to pay for all of Medicare’s co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles out of your own pocket. Medigap Insurance can also stretch your retirement assets to maintain your lifestyle for more years. Here’s another way you can cut your healthcare budget and keep more of your hard-earned money to enjoy your retirement years.

It’s always smart to do business with the most competitive companies, but whenever you’re using your savings for healthcare expenses, it’s really crucial. Did you know that several lab-testing companies will work directly with the public? With no middleman costs, these companies can offer you lower prices while still working with the same local labs that doctors use. You can often simply go to one of these labs without an appointment, have blood drawn and be done in no time. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know that geriatricians, who specialize in helping seniors, have advanced training in order to care for the most complex problems?  Don’t let the gaps in your Medicare coverage keep you from getting all the help you need to enjoy your retirement years.  In the summer of 2010, two more Medicare supplemental plans became available to pay for more of the Medicare coinsurance, copays and deductibles that steal your health care dollars.

If you’re not sure where to begin to compare the ten Medigap plans now available to your needs, MediGap Advisors are here to help.  We have an online Medigap “How To” Guide that explains how to find the best Medigap plan to fit your situation.  We have thousands of customers all over the country because we are known for providing very personal service, and for taking all the hassle out of the process. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s been estimated that about one in five seniors suffer with anxiety or depression.  That could mean a loss of appetite or enjoyment, as well as general sadness and being tired from difficultly sleeping.  Pervasive irritability and worrying along with a retreat into solitude are also indicative of depression.

It may surprise you to hear that depression is one of the most treatable problems we face, and people of every age overcome it.  Let a healthcare professional know right away that you’re experiencing lingering depression so you can take advantage of many good treatments for depression.  You may be surprised to learn that an inadequate diet or a lack of exercise, sleep or socialization may be contributing to your feelings of sadness.  These are all things you can change and get back to really enjoying life. Read the rest of this entry »

During open enrollment, you never have to answer medical questions about your health. Insurers are required to sell you a Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan regardless of any pre-existing health problem you currently have, or have had in the past.

Open enrollment will start on the first day of the month in which you are BOTH at least 65 AND you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. Your open enrollment period only lasts for six months, so it’s a good idea to learn about Medicare Supplemental Insurance before open enrollment, and be ready to apply.

Besides deciding which of the Medigap Plan A through Medigap plan N will provide the coverage you want, you also need to find the insurer licensed to sell that plan in your state at the best price available. Insurers are not required to sell every plan, and insurers can sell the same Plan F, for example, at different prices. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re confused by Medicare Part A and Part B, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement plans and Part D prescription plans, you’re not alone. The one thing most people say about Medicare is that it’s complicated and confusing! But if you don’t take some time to understand what Medicare will and will not cover, you could be blindsided by doctor and hospital bills that you’re not prepared to pay.

Here’s some help so you don’t feel like you’re wandering through an endless maze of Medicare jargon. It works like this…

There are two kinds of Medicare – Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.  Original Medicare is run by the federal government, while Medicare Advantage is privately run, though it provides coverage similar to the Original Medicare.  If you don’t enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you are automatically enrolled in Original Medicare. Read the rest of this entry »

A number of well-known, financially stable insurers offer Medicare Supplemental Insurance that’s also known as Medigap Insurance. These Medigap Plans range from Plan A through Plan N, and each offers a different set of benefits.

The prices can really be different, though, depending on which insurer you buy from so searching for the same plan from a variety of insurers is important. That’s where MediGap Advisors can save you hours of time. They have already gathered that information, and their search engine will show instant quotes on Medigap Plans from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Golden Rule, Humana Medicare Supplement, Mutual of Omaha, United Healthcare and others. Read the rest of this entry »

If travelling outside the U.S. is one of your retirement dreams, look into Medicare Supplement Insurance. Medicare will not cover medical care outside of the U.S., but many Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, Plans will help.

With the exception of Medigap Plan K, all of the Medigap Plans from C through N will pay for 80 percent of the medical care you need when you’re in a foreign country during the first 60 days of your trip, and there’s just a $250 deductible. Read the rest of this entry »

Medicare Supplement Insurance, called Medigap Insurance, helps seniors with the expenses that result from gaps in Medicare coverage, such as coinsurance, co-pays and deductibles.

Effective June 1st, the current Medigap Plans (standardized plans) will no longer be for sale. Only modernized Medigap Plans will be sold, but any pre-existing Medigap Plans will be grand fathered in so NO policies will be cancelled. If you have an existing plan, you can still find out if it makes sense to change to a modernized plan. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re like most Americans (according to surveys), you may not know much about Medicare.  Needless to say, you probably hadn’t even heard of “Part B Excess Charges,” much less understood how much they can cost you.  It turns out that there really are a lot of holes in Medicare’s coverage.  That’s why Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans are a booming business. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re enrolled in Part A and B of Medicare, Medicare Supplement Insurance is available to help pay for the medical costs that Medicare does not cover. For the first six months after you turn 65, an open enrollment period means you do not need to qualify or answer any questions about your medical history to apply.

The additional help of Medicare Supplement Insurance (also called Medigap Insurance) can do much more than reduce your out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Seniors with Medigap or Medicare Advantage coverage have shown fewer hospital admissions, fewer days spent in the hospital, and fewer hospital readmissions. Read the rest of this entry »

Seniors report they are more satisfied with their health care, and experience fewer problems accessing care and paying for care than people who get health insurance through their employers. These were the results of a survey by Commonwealth Fund researchers published online in the journal Health Affairs.

The seniors who participated in the survey reported fewer negative insurance experiences than people with employer-based insurance. That includes fewer problems like having expensive medical bills for non-covered services, being charged more than their insurance would pay, or doctors not accepting their insurance. Read the rest of this entry »

You have the right to buy the Medicare Supplement plan of your choice during your medicare supplement open enrollment period. Your medicare supplement open enrollment period lasts for six months. It starts on the first day of the month in which you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. Once you enroll in Medicare Part B, the six months medicare supplement open enrollment period starts and cannot be changed. During this open enrollment period, an insurance company cannot deny you insurance coverage, place conditions on a policy (like making you wait for coverage to start), or change the price of a policy because of past or present health problems.

If you apply for a medicare supplement plan after your medicare supplement open enrollment period has ended, the medicare supplement insurance company is allowed to use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application, and how much to charge you for the policy. Read the rest of this entry »

Medicare beneficiaries reported that they were more satisfied with their health care, and experienced fewer problems getting care and paying for care than Americans with health insurance through employers. Those finding come from the 2007 Commonwealth Fund Biennial Health Insurance Survey that was published online in the journal Health Affairs.

This nationally representative survey included 3,501 adults age 19 and older between June 4 and October 24, 2007. Only ten percent of Medicare beneficiaries said their doctor didn’t take their insurance, but 17 percent of those with employer-based insurance reported their doctor didn’t accept their insurance. Read the rest of this entry »

When you’re ready to enroll in Medicare, you may be surprised to see that both Medicare Parts A and B leave you with hefty out-of-pocket expenses. Part A, which addresses inpatient hospital services, will leave you with a $1,112 deductible for your first hospital stay in a calendar year.

Medicare Part B deals with doctor services and other medical services and supplies. You’ll be responsible to pay for 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amounts for these services, including ambulatory surgical and outpatient hospital care services in 2010. Read the rest of this entry »

In 2007, 37 percent of Medicare beneficiaries surveyed rated their coverage as excellent, and only eight percent rated their insurance as fair or poor. In contrast, 20 percent of the people surveyed who received health insurance through an employer rated their coverage as excellent, and 18 percent rated their coverage as fair or poor.

Medicare beneficiaries were less likely than those with private coverage to report negative experiences, such as having expensive medical bills for services that weren’t covered, or being charged a lot more than their insurance would pay. Medicare beneficiaries were even less likely to report that their doctors didn’t accept their insurance. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for ways to stretch your health care dollars farther, there are plans that work with Medicare to extend your coverage. Original Medicare pays for many, but not all, health care services and supplies.

A Medigap Plan, also called Medicare Supplement Insurance, is sold by private insurance companies to fill in some of the health care gaps you’ll face with original Medicare. That includes copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap plans also offer coverage for services that Medicare doesn’t cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S. Read the rest of this entry »

Medicare Supplement Plans (also called Medigap Plans) have been primarily the same for 17 years. On June 1, 2010, two new plans are being introduced, along with changes to the remaining Medigap plans.

The new Medicare Supplement Plans M and N offer lower-premiums than the existing Medicare Supplement plans. Plan M uses a coinsurance to keep your monthly premiums lower. That means you pay part of your bills, in exchange for a lower premium. In exchange for slightly lower monthly premiums, those on Plan M would split the Medicare Part A deductible with the insurance company 50/50. Read the rest of this entry »

Many illnesses, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, may require long-term care that exceeds what Medicare will cover. Medicare covers 80 percent for your initial mental health visit, and 80 percent for medication management. It only covers 55 percent for ongoing mental health treatment, though.

Medically necessary doctor visits, and laboratory tests needed to diagnose dementia or Alzheimer’s disease may include:

• Consultations with a primary care physician and other specialists
• A mental status evaluation to assess cognitive capabilities
• A physical examination
• A brain scan to detect other causes of dementia, such as stroke
• A psychiatric evaluation
• A positron emission tomography (PET) scan.

A PET scan can evaluate the cause of memory disorders that cannot be determined from any other diagnostic test.  Sounds overwhelming, doesn’t it? Read the rest of this entry »