If you make the switch during January, the change will take effect on February 1. If you do it during February, the change will take effect on March 1. When you want to sign up for a Part D plan and drop your Advantage plan, you simply need to enroll with the Part D plan and Medicare will automatically disenroll you from the Advantage plan. The effective date will be the same for both of these changes.

Once you return to Medicare coverage, you may want to expand that by adding a Medigap plan. There are 10 different plans from which to choose and they all pick up charges that Medicare doesn’t cover. Plan A starts with the fewest benefits and Medigap Plan F comes with the most comprehensive benefits.

You can learn what each type of the Medigap plan covers here on our website. Just let us know if you’d like our help in determining which one will best fit your situation. We can also help you compare prices from different insurance companies for the same Medigap plan. Companies do charge different rates and comparison shopping can save you hundreds of dollars.

It leaves you to pay for 20 percent of your doctor bills and requires you to pay for a lot of hospital care.  In 2012, you need to spend $1,156 to meet the Part A deductible before Medicare covers hospital bills.  Once that deductible is met, Medicare will cover the first 60 days in the hospital of each benefit period.  It’s not an annual deductible like the Part B deductible on doctor care is.  If you need more than 60 days of hospital care, you are charged $289 a day for days 61 to 90, and then $578 a day for days 91-150.  You’re on your own after 150 days.

By supplementing Medicare’s coverage, you can make your retirement more secure.  Having Medicare Supplement Insurance not only protects your assets and savings, but also gives you access to quality health care services because you won’t have out-of-pocket costs.  For example, with Medicare Supplement Insurance plans (Medigap plans), you won’t have to pay for 20 percent of your doctor bills.  The situation is similar when you need hospital care.  If you have a Medigap plan, you can get reimbursement for the deductible and help with the co-insurance charges should you need hospital care beyond 60 days.

Keep in mind that you are guaranteed acceptance when you apply for Medigap policies at the time you initially become eligible for Medicare, which could mean substantial savings if your health is not perfect.  During this open enrollment, your right to purchase a Medigap plan is guaranteed regardless of any pre-existing health problems you may have.  You cannot be charged higher than standard rates, either, during this period.  Here on our website, you can find more information about Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans and Medicare Advantage Plans.

These plans do have some restrictions, though. With the exception of emergency situations, Medicare Advantage plans require you to get services through their network of providers. There’s usually no coverage when you go outside of the network. Needing a doctor who’s not in your plan’s list of providers is one of the reasons why you may need to rethink your choice of plans.

If you decide that, for whatever reason, the rules of your plan don’t fit your situation, you can switch back to traditional Medicare between January 1 and February 14, 2012. You may also join a Medicare Prescription Drug plan at the same time, since you’ll be losing the drug coverage of the Advantage plan.

Before you make any decision, take a few minutes to find out how Medicare coverage will be different next year. We’ll be happy to answer questions for you whether you call us directly or join us for our Question and Answer Medicare Teleseminar. Just sign up on our website for free and bring your questions. We’ll be discussing Medigap insurance, as well as Medicare Advantage plans.

One of the big selling points behind the growth in Medicare Advantage plans’ enrollment is the low premiums. In some areas, plans are available that cost nothing beyond the regular cost of Medicare Part B premiums. Another major attraction is that Medicare Advantage plans accept all health problems except End Stage Renal Disease.

There are some things that you need to understand about these plans to get complete coverage, though. Most plans only cover non-emergency care through their own list of doctors and hospitals. Since Medicare Advantage plans replace Medicare’s coverage, you won’t have any coverage through Medicare either should you need an out-of-network doctor.

It’s rare for health insurance to offer trial periods, but that’s just what you get with dozens of different Medicare Advantage plans. If you change your mind about your plan, you can switch back to Medicare between January 1 and February 14 next year. Not sure? As Medicare specialists, we provide complimentary consultations to compare options from different insurers. We can let you know what Medigap plans are available in your state so you can make an informed decision about which plan will best fit your situation.

As with conventional health insurance, insurers are permitted to decline applications for Medigap Plans if the applicant has a pre-existing condition. There are certain periods when Medigap Plans are “guaranteed issue.” That means your application cannot be declined no matter what pre-existing conditions you have. If you enroll during the first six months after turning 65 and they have Part B Medicare, no health questions will be asked. For those who are eligible for Medicare due to disability, You may find some other open enrollment opportunities, but it varies by state.

Medicare Advantage Plans provide another way to manage medical costs not covered by Medicare. These plans are guaranteed issue for anyone except people who have end-stage renal disease. Premiums may be $0 because insurance companies receive federal subsidies. Unfortunately, Advantage Plans are not available in all locations.

In addition, Medicare limits the time period when beneficiaries may switch from Original Medicare to one of the Medicare Advantage Plans. You can sign up when you are first enrolling in Medicare Part A and B, or during the annual open enrollment period. That is from October 15 until December 7. You can find all the information you need to get free Medicare Advantage quotes and a professional consultation to help you compare your options here on our website.

While the military’s budget was increased by over 70 percent just since 2001, this year is the first time that Medicare has paid for preventive health care. To be fair, it was paying for 80 percent of fixed fees for doctor care that could be deemed necessary to detect and/or prevent common diseases. Still, beneficiaries had to supplement their Medicare benefits with a Medicare Supplement insurance plan (a Medigap plan) to cover that last 20 percent or pay for it themselves. In tough economic times, that 20 percent could block access to essential preventive health care.

With health care reform, Medicare beneficiaries got more for their Medicare, but it’s hardly a freebie. Remember that people have to pay for Medicare Part B and they also have a monthly premium for teh Medicare Supplement Insurance that fills in the gaps in Medicare.

As we await the outcome over who will ultimately be hit by budget cuts, getting the most from Medicare takes some research. You don’t have to become an expert on Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, though. With our years of researching how to supplement Medicare, we’ve built up vast resources to help you navigate the Medicare maze.

Give us a call when you have a few quick questions, or set up a complimentary consultation. You may also want to sign up for our monthly teleseminar. We cover the basics of how Medicare works, then discuss the major differences between supplemental plans and give you a chance to ask questions and get answers from leading experts.

When you first become eligible for Medicare, whether from a disability or by virtue of turning 65, you can choose any one of the Medicare Advantage plans operating in your area. After that initial sign up period lapses, there is a yearly open enrollment from October 15 until December 7. Many people think these plans are available throughout the year, but that only applies to a handful of Advantage plans.

The federal government, which subsidies Medicare Advantage plans, rates them. A five-star rating is the best, and plans achieving that can sign you up when you prefer. This rating system is brand new, and few plans have succeeded in getting the top ranking yet. Powerful monetary incentives are offered and insurance companies are working to improve their rating.

For most people, the annual October 15 to December 7 enrollment is the only chance to get one of these plans. There’s a big demand for them because they cover more than traditional Medicare, including dental care, hearing and vision services as well as prescriptions. Just confirm that the medicine you need is covered by a plan. Not all of the Medicare Advantage plans will pay for every prescription.

You may find a few open enrollment periods on Medigap insurance, but that’s up to the discretion of the insurance companies. Anthem, for example, is offering Medigap open enrollment until the end of 2011. They will let you change from your current Medigap plan to one with fewer benefits regardless of your health problems.

This can be a great opportunity if your current plan is eating up too much of your monthly budget, but you don’t want to give up all Medigap benefits. Outside of this open enrollment, most insurers would not accept an application for any Medigap plan from someone with serious pre-existing conditions. That only leaves the choice of continuing to pay high premiums or dropping all Medigap coverage.

Since there are 10 different forms of Medigap insurance, you may be able to find one that fits your budget and saves you the money you would have to spend on health care that’s not covered with Medicare alone. Medigap Plan A has the fewest benefits and is priced accordingly. The plan with the most comprehensive coverage is Medigap Plan F, and there’s a range of coverage options in between. You can learn more about Medigap policies here on our website and even call us to get our professional opinion, for free.

Medicare Advantage Plans combine your Medicare Part A, Part B and Part D benefits.  To enroll in a MA Plan, you must be enrolled in Part A and B and live in an area where MA plans are available. Medicare Advantage Plans may not cost any more than your Part B premiums because federal subsidies go directly to insurance companies offering Advantage Plans.

These plans also provide coverage for dental, hearing, and vision needs.  All Medicare beneficiaries are guaranteed acceptance regardless of pre-existing health conditions except for End Stage Renal Disease.  If someone has one of the Medicare Advantage Plans before developing this disease, he could keep the coverage, though.

Medicare Advantage Plans have restrictions when it comes to selecting which doctors and hospitals you may use in non-emergency situations.  In addition, you need to have a referral in order to see a specialist or your claim will not be paid.  Our website provides you complete information on the plans and pricing available in your area. Enrollment is permitted when you first become eligible for Medicare and from October 15 through December 7 each year.  If You can find out which plans are available where you live and get free quotes through our website, or call us and request a free confidential consultation.

It does pay to shop around for the best way to meet your health care needs, and that’s true whether you’re looking at Medigap Plans or Medicare Advantage Plans.  But, it doesn’t have to be confusing or time-consuming.  It’s easy to request instant quotes to see what’s available in your state and what the prices are running.

Medicare Supplement Insurance does just what it says: it adds benefits to make your coverage complete.  For example, if you need a doctor who charges more than Medicare’s pre-determined rate, you’ll be stuck paying for the difference without a Medigap Plan to cover those excess charges.

Is Medigap more important now?  In an uncertain economy compounded by debate over the future of Medicare, maybe it’s worthwhile to cover as much of your medical expense with insurance as possible.  It’s going to depend on your individual situation, but if plan premiums are less than your out-of-pocket medical costs, a Medigap Plan could save you money.  You can learn more about these plans here on our website. If you’d like a second opinion on your options, we offer free, private consultations. Our friendly experts can answer your questions and take the confusion out of Medicare coverage options.