Medicare Supplements Missouri
Medicare supplements were created to help cover the costs that remain after Original Medicare has paid their portion. They’re also referred to as Medigap plans because they fill in the “gaps” of Original Medicare. Medicare supplements can help pay for deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance costs.
What are Medicare Supplements?
Medicare supplement plans are secondary payers to Original Medicare. After Parts A and B have paid for services, Medicare supplements help pay the remaining costs. As long as the provider accepts Medicare assignment, they will also accept a Medicare supplement plan.
Medigap plans are sold to individuals only. While spouses can have the same plan, they each have to carry their own policy. Some insurance companies offer household discounts if both people are on the same plan with the same carrier.
Depending on the plan, benefits in a Medicare supplement may include payment for coinsurance costs, inpatient and outpatient deductibles, extra days for hospital stays, hospice care, blood transfusions, and more.
Medicare Supplements are
Standardized Insurance Plans
Medigap plans are standardized by the federal government. Standardization means that each plan, which is differentiated by a letter of the alphabet, is consistent across insurance carriers. Each Medigap plan remains the same, no matter which insurance company offers the plan. Since they are standardized, it is important to compare premiums among the different carriers. Why pay more for the same coverage?
Determining Medicare Supplement Premiums
Premiums for supplements vary based on the insurance company and state. The same plan under the same insurance company may cost more in one state than in another. Depending on which letter plan an individual chooses, the premiums range from approximately $50-$300 per month. There are several factors that can affect an individual’s monthly premium, but these plans can save Medicare beneficiaries from paying high medical costs.
Medigap Eligibility and Enrollment
Medicare beneficiaries who have enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B are eligible to apply for a Medigap plan. Individuals who are 65 years old, who have been collecting social security disability benefits for 24 months, or who have been diagnosed with ALS or ESRD are all eligible to enroll in Medicare.
The best time to enroll in a Medigap plan is during a person’s unique Open Enrollment Period, which begins on the Part B effective date. As long as an individual enrolls during this time, they have guaranteed issue rights to a Medigap policy. Outside of this enrollment window, they can still apply for a policy, but usually are not granted guaranteed issue rights, which means they may be denied enrollment into a plan.
Which Insurance companies sell
Medicare Supplements?
There are many insurance carriers offering supplement plans. Many of the well-known carriers like Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, Mutual of Omaha, and United Healthcare sell them, as well as some smaller insurance companies. This varies by state.
How to Compare Medigap Plans
There is a lot of information about each plan online, but to get an accurate quote, you’ll need to enlist the help of a licensed Medicare agent. Instead of calling each insurance carrier to get a quote, we can compare premiums across many different carriers, ensuring that you enroll with one that gives you the best rate. We’ll need to collect some information from you in order to provide quotes since your premium is based on your information and health history.
