Tom Milonas » supplemental

How You Can Get Affordable Supplemental Health Care Insurance For Seniors

Tom Milonas — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:15:44 +0000

Our older years are supposed to be our golden years, yet many seniors are faced with financial burdens they shouldn’t have to deal with – especially after long lives of education, taking care of families, working, and paying taxes! Where’s the fun in the golden years if they’re spent worrying about how to pay for the left over health care costs that Medicare failed to pick up?

That’s where affordable supplemental health care insurance for seniors comes into the picture. By purchasing an affordable supplemental health care insurance policy, seniors can rest assured that all of their health care costs will be covered, and not just the health care Medicare covers.

When seniors purchase an affordable supplemental health care insurance policy, they can stop stressing about the next health care bill the mailman drops off. After all, if you already have health care insurance, you shouldn’t have to worry about health care coverage and costs, right? Wrong. Some health care insurance, such as Medicare for seniors, doesn’t cover all health care costs. Luckily, with an affordable supplemental health care insurance policy, seniors won’t have to stress anymore.

Many health insurance companies offer affordable supplemental health care insurance policies that are perfect for seniors; however, Medicare offers several affordable supplemental health care insurance policies for seniors as well. When choosing an affordable supplemental health care insurance plan for seniors, the goal is to choose a plan that isn’t going to cost anymore than paying for the additional health care costs out-of-pocket would cost. Many seniors are on limited incomes as it is, so considering one of the plans Medicare offers is a good start.

Medicare plans include the original Medicare with Medicare Supplement plan; the Medicare Part D plan which offers prescription drug coverage; the managed care plan, which includes HMOs, PPOs, POS, and cost plans; the Medical Savings Account Plan; the Religious Fraternal Society Benefit Plan; and the Private Fee-for-Service plan.

By Guest Writer: Elizabeth Newberry

Comparing Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Coverage

Tom Milonas — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:48 +0000

For seniors who want supplement insurance, many private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans with low premiums. Eligible seniors include those enrolled in Medicare Part B. Premiums are offered at lower rates because the federal government provides insurance companies subsidies to enroll seniors in the medicare supplement plans.

The Medicare Advantage medical coverage is offered by private insurance companies and is an alternative to Medicare. The following types of Medicare Advantage plans all offer medical and drug coverage together, making it simpler to purchase one policy instead of several separate policies.
1)Medicare health maintenance organizations are less expensive, but there are limitations about going outside of the network of doctors and hospitals for medical treatment.

2)Preferred-provider organizations, have a network of preferred doctors and hospitals within a state. They allow patients to see providers out of the network at increased copayments.

3) Private fee-for-service plans allows the most freedom by letting the patient see any doctor of choice that accepts the health insurance. If you already have a doctor, make sure they participate as a provider before deciding on this type of coverage.

Many Medicare Advantage plans also include vision and dental coverage and have lower copays than Medicare. Although the co-pays for more expensive services such as hospitilization and surgery tend to be higher. If seniors have had hospitalizations in the past, make sure to check out the limitations on hospital coverage with the Medicare Advantage plans.

It is important to understand all the restrictions for Medicare Advantage plans before choosing. Take the time to ask a reputable insurance agent about all the Medicare options available and compare them with other types of supplemental insurance to make an informed decision about your medical coverage.

By Guest Writer: Elliot Bigman

what is the difference between an advantage plan and a Supplement?

Tom Milonas — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 15:20:29 +0000

Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare Advantage Plans are health plan options that are part of the Medicare program. If you join one of these plans, you generally get all your Medicare-covered health care through that plan. This coverage can include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans include:

Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs)
Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
Private Fee-for-Service Plans
Medicare Special Needs Plans

When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you use the health insurance card that you get from the plan for your health care. In most of these plans, generally there are extra benefits and lower copayments than in the Original Medicare Plan. However, you may have to see doctors that belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get services.

To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare. In addition, you might have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits that they offer.

If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, your Medigap policy won’t work. This means it won’t pay any deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing under your Medicare Health Plan. Therefore, you may want to drop your Medigap policy if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan. However, you have a legal right to keep the Medigap policy.

To compare Medicare Advantage Plans, go to the Medicare Options Compare.

Medigap (Supplemental Insurance) Policies

A Medigap policy is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Medigap policies help pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’t cover. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan and have a Medigap policy, then Medicare and your Medigap policy will pay both their shares of covered health care costs.

Insurance companies can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy. These Medigap policies must all have specific benefits so you can compare them easily.

You may be able to choose up to 12 different standardized Medigap policies (Medigap Plans A through L). Medigap policies must follow Federal and State laws. These laws protect you. A Medigap policy must be clearly identified on the cover as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Each plan, A through L, has a different set of basic and extra benefits.

It’s important to compare Medigap policies because costs can vary. The benefits in any Medigap Plan A through L are the same for any insurance company. Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell.

Generally, when you buy a Medigap policy you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium. In addition, you will have to pay a premium to the Medigap insurance company.

You and your spouse must each buy separate Medigap policies. Your Medigap policy won’t cover any health care costs for your spouse.

For additional information on Medigap policies, including why you would want to buy a Medigap policy and information about what Medigap policies cover, please read our publication, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare.