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Medicare includes: (2014)
Part | Description | Cost/ mo |
Part A | covers hospital inpatient care, some types of home health care, hospice care, and care in skilled nursing facilities. | free |
Part B | covers doctor services, outpatient hospital care, preventive care, and some types of home health care. | $105 |
Part D | covers prescription drugs. | $40 |
Medicare does not cover all of your medical expenses.
Medicare Parts A and B do not cover all of your health-care expenses. For example, you'll still pay a $1,184 deductible for the first 60 days of a hospital stay, and 20 percent of the cost of Part B services such as doctor visits, outpatient treatments, and laboratory tests.
There are basically two ways to handle the difference.
Medigap | Medicare Advantage |
Typically More Expensive | Typically Less Expensive |
Offers significant additional coverage to Medicare | Usually offers same coverage as Medicare |
Larger Network of Doctors | Smaller Network of Doctors |
Does not cover RX | Can include RX coverage |
Recommended for those who can afford it | Recommended for those on a tight budget |
Source: Medigap vs Medicare Advantage: Which is the Best Medicare Supplement ? - Medicoverage.com
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Medigap
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Medicare Advantage
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How it relates to Original Medicare Parts A & B
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Private supplemental coverage that pays all or most Part A & B deductibles and co-insurance.
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Private health plan that provides Part A & B benefits directly in place of Original Medicare.
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Premium
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Average of about $150 to $200 a month. Can vary by age, health history, or both.
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$0 to more than $100 a month depending on the plan. All plan enrollees pay the same regardless of age or health history.
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Out-of-pocket costs
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Low to none (not counting premium).
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In-network medical deductibles and copays of up to $3,400 to $6,700 a year, depending on the plan.
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Choice of doctors and hospitals
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Any that participate in Medicare.
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HMOs: Plan providers only.
PPOs: Any provider, but out-of-network providers cost more.
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When you can buy
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First six months after you sign up for Part B and are at least 65 years old. After that, in most states you can be turned down or charged extra for pre-existing conditions.
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When you first enroll in both Medicare A and B and annually thereafter during Open Enrollment (Oct. 15-Dec. 7).
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Part D (drug) coverage
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Not ibncluded. You must buy a separate Part D plan for this.
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Most plans include a Part D add-on. If not you can buy a separate plan.
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Quality information available
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No.
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Yes. Medicare.gov has star ratings (5 stars are the best). Consumer Reports has Medicare Advantage quality rankings from NCQA.
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Cards in your purse or wallet
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Three. 1. Red, white, and blue Medicare card. 2. Medigap card. 3. Part D card. |
Usually just one Medicare Advantage card (two if you have a standalone drug plan). Red, white, and blue Medicare card can stay in your desk drawer.
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Paperwork
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Little to none. Medigap almost always automatically cuts a check to providers after Medicare pays its share.
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Some, because you pay deductibles and copays directly to providers.
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Source: Comparing Medigap and Medicare Advantage - Consumer Reports News
Compare Medigap plans side-by-side
The chart below shows basic information about the different benefits Medigap policies cover.
Yes = the plan covers 100% of this benefit
No = the policy doesn't cover that benefit
% = the plan covers that percentage of this benefit
N/A = not applicable
Medigap Benefits |
Medigap Plans |
A |
B |
C |
D |
F* |
G |
K |
L |
M |
N |
Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used up |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Part B coinsurance or copayment |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
50% |
75% |
Yes |
Yes*** |
Blood (first 3 pints) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
50% |
75% |
Yes |
Yes |
Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
50% |
75% |
Yes |
Yes |
Skilled nursing facility care coinsurance |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
50% |
75% |
Yes |
Yes |
Part A deductible |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
50% |
75% |
50% |
Yes |
Part B deductible |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Part B excess charges |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Foreign travel exchange (up to plan limits) |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Out-of-pocket limit** |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
$4,940 |
$2,470
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n/a |
n/a |
* Plan F also offers a high-deductible plan. If you choose this option, this means you must pay for Medicare-covered costs up to the deductible amount of
$2,140 in 2014 before your Medigap plan pays anything.
** After you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your yearly Part B deductible, the Medigap plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance, except for a copayment of up to $20 for some office visits and up to a $50 copayment for emergency room visits that don't result in inpatient admission.
Source: Compare Medigap policies | Medicare.gov
See Medigap Plan Benefits | www.medicarerights.org
Why can't medicare patients participate in Pharmacy discount programs:
Many drugstores offer savings programs for people who pay for prescription medications out of pocket; in some cases, the pharmacy discount price is cheaper than the insurance co-pay.
A broadly worded Social Security statute that prohibits physicians, pharmacies, and healthcare providers from offering valuable giveaways to entice Medicare and Medicaid patients.
Source: Secret to Getting a Pharmacy Discount With Medicare - Consumer Reports
Agents:
Generally, agents/brokers receive an initial payment in the first year of the policy (or when there is an "unlike plan type" enrollment change) and half as much for years two (2) and beyond if the member remains enrolled in the plan or make a "like plan type" enrollment change.
An agent at our Senior Center vendor fair said they all get the same compensation whether you use an agent or go directly to the insurer directly and the compensation is the same for all companies.
At Senior Benefits Group they say this is not true.
- In most states, the first year you purchase a Medicare Advantage Plan, the agent is paid $429. If you renew a previous plan, the agent is paid $215.
- In DC, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania those rates are $483 the first year and $242 for renewals.
- In California and New Jersey the rates are $536 the first year and $268 renewals.
- Part D drug plans pay a $63 commission the first time and $32 for renewals.
See:
Agent Broker Compensation - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS.gov
State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) provide free advice.
3 Mistakes You CanŐt Afford to Make | Senior Benefits Group
do-I-need-an-insurance-agent-for-Medicare - Written by an agent
A report by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), based on data from the 2012 and 2011 plan years. Specific plan-demographic data is supplied by the 2013 Directory of Health Plans published by Atlantic Information Services, Inc. (AIS)
(at ConsumerReports)
Listed Aetna (HMO), Horizon (HMO/POS) and AmeriHealth (HMO) as the best in New Jersey
NCQA > Directories > Health Plans > Health Insurance Plan Rankings > Medicaid and Medicare Health Plan Rankings 2013-14
Most states have an helplines.
See Find your State's State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) | SeniorsResourceGuide.com
Glossary:
Glossary at the Medical page here
Glossary | Medicare.gov
Medicare Interactive - Glossary
Links:
HiCAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) 916 376-8915
Medicare & You | Medicare.gov
Secret to Getting a Pharmacy Discount With Medicare - Consumer Reports
Medicare Plan Finder for Health, Prescription Drug and Medigap plans | medicare.gov
Medicare Rights Center | medicarerights.org
Compare Medigap policies | Medicare.gov
Medicare.gov Plan Finder Tutorial from www.Q1Medicare.com
Health Insurance Ratings & Reviews - Consumer Reports
3 Mistakes You CanŐt Afford to Make | Senior Benefits Group
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last updated 19 Dec 2013
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