Posts Tagged ‘medicare supplement’
Tuesday, July 27th, 2010
Medicare supplement insurance is meant to bridge the gap between the amount a provider charges and the amount Medicare covers. While Medicare covers the majority of your healthcare expenses, it does not foot the entire bill.
Medigap Plans aid in covering the rest of the amount that is owed. Some Medigap Plans even cover the entire amount that Medicare does not, leaving you with virtually zero out of pocket expenses (at least for your medical needs.)
Medicare supplement Plans are regulated by the federal government and thus made standard. Each individual Plan type must contain the same coverage. However, their prices are definitely not regulated in the same manner as Medicare supplements are provided by private insurance companies who can name their prices according to their own guidelines.
One very convenient trait of Medicare supplements is that you do not need to fret over whether your doctor is in or out of network. As long as the healthcare practitioner accepts Medicare, he or she will also accept a Medicare supplement. The claim will first be submitted to Medicare and will then go onto the supplement to pick up the specified remainder (the amount depends upon the Plan chosen.)
One of the most popular Medicare supplement Plans is the Plan F simply because it does pick up the entire remainder of what Medicare does not cover. No muss no fuss! However, due to Plan F’s all encompassing nature it is a bit more expensive than its also popular brethren the Plans G and N.
Please be sure to do your research before you decide which Medicare supplement to apply for, and make sure to start researching your options a good few months before you will need that extra coverage. You want choose a Plan that will be a good fit for you. If you choose wisely the first time, you may never need to go through the hassle of finding a new Plan and making a new application again.
Looking to find the best deal on a Medicare supplement policy, then visit www.gomedigap.com to find the best advice on a Plan for you.
Tags: health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement, medicare supplement insurance, medicare supplement plans, Medicare supplement quotes, medigap, Medigap plans, Medigap quotes
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Sunday, July 25th, 2010
There are many reasons that health insurance is a critical part life. For those who are living on a fixed income and are 65 or older or permanently disabled, Medicare is available to take care of medical costs. However, even this government plan is not perfect, which is why Medicare supplement plans were created. There are 12 plans in total, all created to offer varying levels of coverage and different types of coverage in each situation. However, many people don’t understand the critical need for this type of insurance when it comes to protecting themselves. To better help you understand why you need Medicare supplement insurance or Medigap plans, here are some helpful hints:
-Medicare Supplemental plans cover what Medicare doesn’t cover. There are varying types of plans and coverages that it doesn’t matter what things you’re covered for, because most plans cover everything. For those people who live on a fixed annual income, and need medical care, Medicare Supplemental can become very critical.
-Medicare supplement insurance is affordable. It generally has lower premiums and better coverage than typical insurance, as it is government regulated. You can find coverage of all types and sizes, no matter how big or small your budget might be. Plus, getting quotes is free so you can check out your options before you buy.
-This insurance takes all the guesswork out of getting healthcare coverage. Instead of choosing from limitless options and coverage types, you can enjoy only having 12 plans to choose from depending on what you need. You don’t have to make as many choices, and you can find plenty of resources to help with the few choices that you will have to make.
Medicare supplement plans are simple, affordable, and often critical to the medical care of those who are over 65 or disabled and living on a fixed income. By taking the time to learn about how you can supplement your Medicare coverage, you might realize that you need it more than you thought. Some plans will even offer extra benefits like preventative care and foreign travel emergency coverage, which can be priceless for those who want to live a full and happy life but don’t want to hassle with typical health insurance.
If you already have Medicare coverage, we suggest you check out some Medicare Supplemental coverage plans. Additional benefits like the ones in Medicare Supplement plans are proven to be essential to those who cannot afford to pay for health insurance.
Looking to find the best deal on Medigap Plans? Then visit www.gomedigap.com to find the best advice on Medigap Plans for you.
Tags: health insurance, medicare supplement, medicare supplement plans, medicare supplement rates, medicare supplemental plans, Medigap plans
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Sunday, July 25th, 2010
The PP&AC Act brings with it many new laws, some of which have already taken effect, while others will do so in the future. Many Americans are still oblivious to what all these new laws mean and the changes that will come as a result. Those Americans that are the most confused and concerned are senior citizens because the PP&AC will greatly affect health care issues very important to them, such as Medicare. This confusion and concern leaves seniors vulnerable to many types of scams by devious individuals who are looking at taking advantage of the situation.
Shortly after President Obama signed the PP&AC Act into law, there was a cable television advertisement that told viewers to call an 800 number to take advantage of a “limited enrollment” period to get special coverage that is now entitled to them by the passage of health care reform. There are also several news articles going around reporting that there are door-to-door salespeople going around selling “Obamacare” insurance policies.
Combine confusion about the new laws and the fear generated by the worst economy since the depression and you have a perfect mix for scammers to take advantage of consumers, especially senior citizens. As agents, we encourage you to talk to your clients and tell them to beware of any potential offers they receive in relation to their health care. This also means you’ll have to stay abreast of the latest scams as well. Here are some areas of the Act that could potentially be exploited:
The $250 prescription drug rebate for Part D - scammers may offer expedited payment for a price.
Better access to nursing home records - scammers may offer bogus data services whereby they try to get seniors and their families to pay a lump sum or for a subscription for data on nursing homes that is either falsified or that is freely available elsewhere.
Better access to nursing home records - scammers may offer bogus data services whereby they try to get seniors and their families to pay a lump sum or for a subscription for data on nursing homes that is either falsified or that is freely available elsewhere.
As more details of health care reform come out, there may be more areas that could be exploited, so continue to be on the lookout. The best way to verify the legitimacy of any offer received by your clients is to call your state department of insurance and see if the organization or person offering the deal is licensed to do business in your state. Once you verify a scam, report it to authorities and your state’s DOI, and then spread the news as much as possible. Stay vigilant my friends.
Want to find out more about medicare supplements? Then visit Alex Stone’s site on how to choose the best medicare supplement for your needs.
Tags: health, health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement, medicare supplements
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Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Precision Senior Marketing (PSM), a national Medicare FMO, announced today that it is providing rates and information for the new Medicare Supplement Plan N. PSM is a national distributor for the nation’s leading insurance companies, including Mutual of Omaha, Gerber Life, Woodmen of the World and/or Assured Life, and Sentinel Life.
The new Medicare modernized plans took effect on June 1, 2010 and many insurance carriers are in the process of rolling out their new products throughout the country. Medicare Plans N and M are brand new to Medicare and are expected by many in the senior insurance industry to take the market by storm, especially Plan N. Medigap Plan N introduces a new co-pay structure that requires a $20 co-pay for physician visits, and a $50 co-pay for emergency room visits. Another great feature is that Plan N offers minimal to no underwriting, increasing accessibility to seniors over traditional Medicare supplement plan, such as Medigap Plan F.
“We believe Medicare Supplement Plan N is going to be huge,” says PSM President Lucas Vandenberg. “The incredible combination of lower price and higher accessibility is going to make Plan N the choice for seniors in 2010, especially for those who are healthy and don’t often need medical care.”
Now that the Obama administration is doing its best to phase out Medicare Advantage, many low-income seniors will need a replacement product. PSM expects Medicare Plan N to compete directly with remaining Medicare Advantage plans and eventually become the best option for low-income seniors. Though Plan N is very similar to Medicare Advantage plans in that it mimics the cost-sharing structure and pricing, it differs in that it has no network restrictions and much lower out-of-pocket liabilities for seniors. Also Plan N has the stability Medicare supplement products offer since it is standardized, unlike Medicare Advantage plans where you really don’t know what you are going to get until you read the fine print.
Many other experts in the Medicare industry agree that Medicare Supplement Plan N will definitely attract seniors who can’t afford traditional Medigap plans, and those healthy baby boomers just becoming eligible for Medicare. “Word is spreading fast about Plan N among my clients,” says senior market insurance agent Jason Patterson. “Many of the initial rates I’m seeing are better than I expected, and when I pass on that information to my clients they are pleasantly surprised.”
With PSM’s licensing process, agents can get contracted to offer Medigap Plan N to their clients in as little as 5 minutes. To learn more about PSM and Medicare supplement Plan N, insurance agents should visit http://www.psmbrokerage.com and/or call 1-800-998-7715.
As the nation’s leading Medicare supplement broker, Precision Senior Marketing provides its agents with only the market’s best products that include Medicare supplements, life insurance, annuities, long term care insurance, final expense insurance, and other insurance products that provide security and a peace of mind for the nation’s exploding senior population.
Want to find out more about medicare supplement plan n? Then visit Alex Stone’ssenior insurance marketing site.
Tags: health, health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement, medicare supplement plan n
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Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
Precision Senior Marketing (PSM), an industry leading Medicare supplement FMO, announced today that one of its leading carriers, Sentinel Life, is now offering a significant commission increase to independent insurance agents where the Sentinel Life Medicare supplement product is available.
Lucas Vandenberg, CEO of PSM said “As an exclusive distributor of Sentinel Life’s new Medicare supplement product, we are committed to extolling the benefits of the product, such as its high paying commission level and competitive premiums for seniors. I’m confident this combination will greatly appeal to senior market insurance agents throughout the country.”
Since 1954 Sentinel Life Insurance Company has provided quality insurance protection and world class customer service to both agents and consumers alike. For 2010, Sentinel Life Medigap modernized plans are now available in 16 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
On Sentinel Life’s website, it states that its Sentinel Plans Medicare Supplement insurance product line will provide standard plans A,B,C,D & F and Select plans C, D, & F.
Annabelle Castillo, a PSM agent, had this to say about the increase, “With 40+ million seniors today and 8,000+ baby boomers joining every day, it’s no wonder why Sentinel Life is aggressively adapting its business strategy to attract more agents.”
PSM encourages independent, senior market insurance agents to visit its website at http://www.psmbrokerage.com and/or call 1-800-998-7715 to learn more about the commission rate increase by Sentinel Life Insurance Company. And with PSM’s electronic licensing process, agents can get a top-level, direct contract for this product in as little as 5 minutes.
Precision Senior Marketing, LLC, located in Austin, Texas, is a full-service, national insurance marketing organization dedicated to supporting, recruiting, and servicing, the best senior market insurance agents in the United States.
Looking for the best medicare supplement contracts, then visit Alex Stone’s medigap contracts site for details.
Tags: health, health care, health care reform, health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement
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Wednesday, April 14th, 2010
Medicare has passed and will put into effect the below described changes to Medicare supplements June 1, 2010:
Plans E, H, I, and J will cease to exist. These plans will not be provided by any insurance company after June 1, 2010. Yet, if you are currently enrolled in Plans E, H, I, or J, then you can be “grandfathered” in to retain the policy. Please keep in mind that some insurance companies will let you convert your coverage to one of the new “modernized” Medicare supplement policies. This may be a good opportunity as there could be higher renewal premiums for E, H, I, and J in the future caused by the lack of premiums from new recipients of that coverage. If you wait to convert beyond the allotted time period, then you may need to go through medical underwriting and thus risk decline.
Plans M and N will be introduced. Medicare supplement Plans M and N will have lower monthly premiums in exchange for higher out of pocket payments for medical expenses incurred. For instance, Plans M and N will not cover the Part B deductible and Part B excess charges. Plan M will cover half of the Part A deductible, while Plan N will cover the entire Part A deductible. Plan N also will have instances in which co-pays will be required. Plans K, L, M and N may be suitable low cost alternatives to Medicare Advantage Plans (minus the prescription drug coverage.)
New Medicare supplement policies will issue with lower premium rates. An advantage related to this modernization should be lower monthly rates for those who choose a conversion plan who are healthy (enough to pass medical underwriting qualifications.) As new plans are introduced they often offer lower rates as there are no claims associated with them. New risk pools equate to lower rates.
In contrast to all the above listed changes, Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K and L will have nearly the same benefits as before with Plan F now being the most comprehensive.
For more information, please be sure to do your research and contact a trusted Medicare supplement agent.
Learn more about Medicare supplements. Stop by Richard Cantu’s site where you can find out all about Medicare supplement policies and what they can do for you.
Tags: health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement, medicare supplement insurance, medicare supplement insurance plans, medicare supplement insurance quotes, medicare supplement plans, medicare supplement policy, Medicare supplement quotes, medicare supplemental insurance
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Tuesday, April 6th, 2010
Medicare supplemental insurance, in terms of the provisions and coverage offered, are made standard by the federal government. However, their prices and availability are not standardized.
Not every plan is offered by every company or in every state, and while the plans are standardized by the federal government, the government did not standardize the premium prices. Hence, the prices may be different for the same Medicare supplement plans with different providing companies. That’s right. You may buy Medicare supplement Plan F in your area from one company that charges $189 a month, or from a company that charges $95 a month. There truly is that much variation, because there is no cap or standard.
Compound that price variation to the already ingrained fear that people have of Medicare supplements, and that equals disaster. Most are in a rush to quickly and efficiently acquire a Medicare supplement policy as they wish to be done with the stress of it all. Ironically, this fear perpetuates these providing companies’ ability to charge exorbitant amounts for coverage that should not be that expensive. Plans for supplement insurance ARE the same. Prices for the plans are NOT the same.
So what’s the deal with parts? You hear about Medicare Part A or Part D, and then you hear about Plan A or Plan D. You are sitting there, staring at the screen, trying to figure out if they’re the same thing, or what type of person would name them something like that to create so much confusion. Just to be clear, they ARE different.
Part A is included in all Plans; Part B is as well. They are parts of Original Medicare Coverage. Part C acts in place of Original Medicare plans and is known as a Medicare Advantage Plan. Part D is prescription coverage. Plans A-L, on the other hand, are the supplemental plans that you can buy to increase the coverage that you have by supplementing the coverage already provided by Original Medicare, hence their name. Each plan has varying levels of coverage.
Medicare supplements, also known as Medigap, are designed to fit in with Medicare coverage and fill in the gaps where Medicare lacks to provide coverage. Speaking with an agent who has an allegiance to a specific insurance company will not behoove you as that person is most likely going to tell you that the policy and price they offer is the best all around. The simple truth is that they may just want the sale.
You should instead find a Medicare attorney, broker, or another objective source that can help you understand this confusing world of plans, parts, and headaches so that you can get the medical coverage you need.
Want to find out more about Medicare supplements, then visit Richard Cantu’s site on how to choose the best plan for your needs.
Tags: health insurance, medicare, medicare advantage, medicare supplement, medicare supplement plans, medicare supplement policy, Medicare supplement quotes, medicare supplemental insurance, medigap, Medigap plans, medigap policy, Medigap quotes
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Monday, April 5th, 2010
For those considering enrolling with a Medicare supplement and those already enrolled, worry concerning rate increase can seem consuming, confounding, and confusing. If you are looking for a guide to explain the who, what, when, where, and why of Medigap rate increases, then you have come to the right place! Read on….
Most Medicare supplement providers have a twelve-month rate lock-in period in which their new clients will not experience a rate increase. However, once that period is up and rate increases start occurring, many are perplexed as to why. In most cases, the why of rate increases can be attributed to one or more of the below causes:
The Post 12-month administrative rule: If a rate increase takes effect during the initial 12-month period the client owns a policy, the rate increase will occur for that client at the first premium payment date after the end of the twelve-month period.
Consecutive annual rate adjustments: This applies when there are consecutive rate increases within the first two years an individual is covered by a policy. In this case, both rate increases will go into effect at once.
Attained age: For policyholders in attained-age states, the premium payment amount goes up each year on the first policy payment date. However, if an attained age rate increase and an annual rate adjustment take place two months in a row, the later increase will go into effect three months after the first.
Please know that insurance premiums rise due to increasing health care costs (due to inflation) as well as increases in Medicare’s deductibles and copayments (which increase each year.) No single enrollee of a Medicare supplement policy is singled out for a rate increase.
For more information on Medigap, Medicare, and all other associated plans, you should do your research. Be prepared and comfortable with the information so that you are completely comfortable with the plan you purchase and are not caught off guard by its processes.
Looking to find the best deal on a Medicare supplement, then visit www.gomedigap.com to find the best advice on a policy for you.
Tags: health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement, medicare supplement plans, Medicare supplement quotes, medicare supplement rates, medicare supplemental insurace, medigap, Medigap plans, Medigap quotes
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Saturday, March 6th, 2010
Looking for health insurance can be confusing, difficult, and time-consuming. Fortunately, researching and shopping for Medigap insurance does not need to be.
Why?
The U.S. Government has created 12 standardized Medicare supplement plans for people who need gap coverage for their existing insurance. This means that no matter which private insurance company you choose, there will only be those 12 plans from which to choose. Gap coverage is often the sole way that some Medicare recipients are able to pay for their medical care, prescriptions, and other healthcare expenses.
Fortunately, you may find many different resources out there that will help you to understand the plans that exist and how to choose the best one. All that you need to know is your current coverage, which you can locate in your insurance paperwork on the sheet that is known as the declarations page. Once you are aware of what coverage you do have, you’ll be better able to get the Medigap coverage to fill in the missing spots with ease. The 12 plans are not given fancy names that can confuse you. They are kept simple and known as Plans A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L.
Still, it might seem overwhelming to have to go through the process of figuring out which coverage is best. The good news is that you don’t have to this alone. You can utilize the resources out there to help you choose the right plan, and you can even work directly with a private insurance company to pick out the best one.
Each private insurance company has the same standardized 12 plans for Medigap coverage; however, every one will have slightly different rates. This allows you to get the right insurance for the right price every time.
Understanding Medigap and Medicare supplement insurance can be challenging if you are unprepared. However, all you need to worry about is finding the coverage that complements the insurance that you already have and choosing the company that you want to get it from. You can do this based on rates, customer service, accessibility, or a combination. It is all up to you.
As long as you understand that you do have options and they aren’t hard to find, you’ll be on the right track to getting the coverage that you need in no time at all.
Looking to find the best deal on a Medicare supplement, then visit www.gomedigap.com to find the best advice on a policy for you.
Tags: health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement, medicare supplement plans, Medicare supplement quotes, medicare supplemental insurance, medigap, Medigap plans
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Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Purchasing health insurance can be a daunting task for anyone. However, if you take some time to check out all of your coverage options, you should be able to navigate the process with ease.
Medicare suplement plans are relatively easy to understand because there are a limited number of plans to choose from. The question that many have is whether they should get Medigap plans when they ‘age in’ to the Medicare eligibility or if they should wait to see if they need it.
You have most likely heard the phrase “you snooze, you lose” before, and it applies to this type of coverage as well. Here are some of the reasons why:
Medigap plans are immediately available to anyone who is eligible for Medicare coverage. These plans come in 12 varieties (made standard by the federal government) and can supplement any Medicare coverage to protect anyone from almost anything.
However, anyone who does not get one of these plans right away will need to beware. If you develop a chronic illness, you are not able to get Medicare supplement plans. Also, if you have or are diagnosed with a disease or chronic illness and drop your Medigap coverage, you can never get it back. You never know what will happen in the future, so it is always better to be prepared.
Medicare supplement plans are affordable, even for those living on fixed incomes. Since Medicare was never designed to cover every expense related to healthcare, it is nice that the government offers these standardized plans to help where it can.
You do need to take time to see which plans best suit your needs and then go from there to choose the one that works for you. Once you have chosen a plan, you can contact any private insurance company that offers the plan you need to get a free quote. Make sure that you shop around, because every company is allowed to set their own premiums and you need to find the best deal that you can.
When it comes to Medigare supplement plans, it is better to get them sooner rather than later. Later might come sooner than you think, and you might lose your eligibility before you are able to get a policy. Take the time to check out Medicare supplements and see which ones best suit your needs or might help you out in the future.
Learn more about Medigap. Stop by Richard Cantu’s site where you can find out all about a Medigap policy and what it can do for you.
Tags: health insurance, medicare, medicare supplement, medicare supplement insurance, medicare supplement plan, medicare supplement policy, Medicare supplement quotes, medicare supplemental insurance, medicare supplements, medigap, Medigap plans, Medigap quotes
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