Medicare Plans
Find the coverage that is right for you.
Medicare Insurance Options
There are two plan types to choose from:
Medicare Advantage Plan / Part C
Medicare Part C is available through a Medicare Advantage plan and is an alternative to Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). These plans offer the same benefits as Original Medicare and usually include prescription drug coverage (Part D) as well as additional benefits not covered by Medicare, like routine dental and vision, health wellness programs (i.e. gym membership), and even benefits like meal delivery following an in-patient hospitalization and transportation to your doctor appointments.
- Must be enrolled in both parts of Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and continue to pay your Part B premium.
- Low or even NO monthly premium in many U.S. counties and pay copays when you use your plan
- Network plans, like HMO and PPO – we research your doctors to ensure your plan is accepted
- Includes Part D Prescription Drug coverage
- Extras (i.e. dental, vision, gym membership, etc.) come with most plans and carriers
- Enrollment and dis-enrollment can only occur during Medicare’s Annual Enrollment Period October 15 – December 7
- No health questions (except ESRD)
- Age and health do not impact rates
Medicare Supplement / Medigap Insurance
Medicare Supplement, or Medigap, insurance plans fill in “gaps” in basic benefits left open by Original Medicare (Part A and Part B), such as deductibles, coinsurance, and co-payments. The biggest “gaps” most people are concerned about are Part A (hospital) deductibles and out-of-pocket costs as well as the 20% coinsurance Part B (medical) does not pay. Medigap insurance is offered as Plans A through N (not to be confused as Parts A, B, C, and D of Medicare)
- Must be enrolled in both parts of Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and continue to pay your Part B premium.
- Pay a premium and you’re covered – the most benefit-rich plans have minimal out-of-pocket expenses and co-pays
- NO networks with freedom to go anywhere in the U.S. that takes Original Medicare.
- Does NOT include Part D Drug Coverage – we custom-tailor a standalone drug plan ensuring the lowest combination of premium, copays, and deductibles
- No extras – dental and vision can be obtained with a standalone plan
- Health questions later – when outside of your open enrollment period (when you are new to Part B), carriers ask health questions and can decline you based on certain health history
- Change from supplement to supplement any month you choose as long as you are healthy enough to qualify
- Rates increase as you age
Medicare Prescription Drug Plan / Part D Coverage
Medicare Part D is available to help with prescription drug costs and is available in two ways.
- Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), or
- Enrolling in a stand-alone Medicare Prescription Drug Plan that works alongside your Original Medicare benefits (Part A and Part B). With this option, most clients also have a Supplement (Medigap) plan to fill the “gaps” left open by Original Medicare.
- Each plan has its own formulary, or list of covered medications. These formularies specify the tier level of each covered drug, from preferred generic (least expensive), to brand, to specialty (most expensive). These formularies are all different carrier to carrier and can be very confusing, causing many people to enroll in the wrong plan resulting in dramatically overpaying for their medications.
- Requires a monthly premium and subsequent copays when filling your medications at the pharmacy or via mail-order
- There are dozens of plan options based on zip code, all with varying deducitlbes and copays. Each plan classifies generic and brand name meds differently; the wrong drug plan can cost you thousands.
- The coverage gap or “donut hole” is a very confusing concept for people that have expensive medications. Click here for details and examples.
Other Insurance
Standalone plans offer the most comprehensive coverage, giving you up to $5,000 per year of benefits covering preventative and major services. Some plans are network-based while others give you the freedom to choose any provider. Some plans are combination plans that include Vision and Hearing benefits.
If you’re not yet eligible for Medicare, or maybe you have a younger spouse that still needs ‘regular health insurance,’ we can help. We certify each year with the marketplace so we can offer our non-Medicare customers the best coverage possible, taking advantage of all the tax credits we can to save you money.
Even with the best health insurance cov-erage, there can still be large out-of-pocket expenses and unexpected costs when dealing with a hospitalization or serious illness. These plans fill more ‘gaps’ like deductibles and copays and can even pay lump sum cash benefits upon diagnosis of a critical illness like cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
A popular and inexpensive option, final expense life insurance, is a whole life, level term plan that does not require an exam. It tailors to those looking for an inexpensive way to cover burial expenses and to settle affairs upon passing. We even have plans that are guaranteed to be issued, with no health questions for those that have pre-existing conditions.