Medicare Review Time Is Here

It’s that time of year again, and this doesn’t refer to Christmas, but instead Medicare plans.

Every year it’s a very wise move to review all Medicare plans in the family. Certainly this can be done at any time of the year, but it’s even more critical right now since it is open enrollment time until December 31st, 2009. This is when seniors have the option to change their existing Medicare Part D prescription plans and Medicare Part C Advantage plans.

When dealing with Medicare Advantage Plans, make it a point to speak to an expert health insurance broker, as there are a number of changes relating to the Medicare Advantage plans that will directly affect coverage. Currently, many seniors are now scrambling to find other health insurance coverage since Medicare Advantage has been cancelled out from under them.

The open enrollment period lasts six weeks and it’s a good time to evaluate the four parts of Medicare – Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D. Most of the seniors in Medicare have Part A and that provides them with hospitalization and rehab after they get out. Part B includes visits to the physician, some home care services and medical equipment. In some instances, seniors will also have an employer sponsored supplement or a private pay Medigap policy in addition to Parts A and B.

Most seniors are also very familiar with Part D, the fourth plan, because it covers drugs. Part C is the infamous Medicare Advantage program that came into being in 2003. Parts C and D were both created at the same time and actually Medicare Advantage was a dusted off and jacked up combination of the Medicare and Choice programs that had been in existence since 1997. With Medicare Advantage, seniors got the private insurance version of Parts A and B. If they signed on for Part C, then A and B no longer covered them. Now, Medicare coverage is run by private health insurance contracts with various insurance companies.

With all the changes to Medicare coming in 2010 and the cancellation of Medicare Advantage, it’s time to speak to a knowledgeable Medicare health insurance agent and find out what’s new for the future, who it will benefit, how it will benefit them, and how to get signed up.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Senior Power

If seniors banded together to make a difference in their health care costs, silver power would be a new word for the future of health care in America.

It’s a fact that most seniors have limited resources and need to watch their spending carefully. Nowhere is that more apparent than when it comes to health care needs. The way it works in the U.S. right now is that when a person turns 65, they become eligible for Medicare.

Medicare Part A is the hospital insurance portion and seniors get this free if the individual or spouse has 40 or more quarters of Medicare-covered employment. The rest of the medical insurance part, which is Medicare Part B, is for individuals who enroll at 65, and it’s fairly minimal; for example Medicare Part B was an average cost of $96.40 for 2009.

What these figures mean is that the cost for Medicare premiums is less than people were paying before they turned 65, and that is good news. The bad news is that Medicare does not cover all health care costs, which isn’t exactly new, but a lot of people forget this point.

Most seniors definitely need supplemental coverage to fill in the gaps for extra money they pay out for things not covered by Medicare. While that may sound depressing, there are 12 different Medicare supplement plans and so many Medicare insurers and HMOs to choose from, that not only is there a lot of variety and different prices, it’s sometimes tough to figure out which way to go. Just because something is good for one person, does not make it good for another.

Seniors can definitely control the costs of their health insurance coverage by keeping up-to-date on the latest information that relates to their plans and by making it a point to speak to an expert health insurance agent. They will do best by talking to an agent that sells what they need, not just someone who has many things they are able to sell.

It’s time consuming for seniors to find plans that suit their budgets, but this is definitely a doable proposition with the right health insurance agent that works with seniors one-on-one and finds them what suits their needs. If more seniors got together and became a powerful voice for Medicare insurance they could count on and afford, silver power would be a new word in health care circles when it came to Medicare.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medical Homes Now in More States

Are medical homes a good idea and just what are they anyhow?

It appears that the current administration in Washington will be launching a 3-year medical home program that may be an option for qualified Medicare beneficiaries in states that are participating in this program. What it boils down to is those who do qualify will live in Medicare housing where they will be seen on a regular basis by primary care doctors and other health care providers. Those other providers would possibly include social workers, therapists and nurse practitioners.

This is initially a pilot program to see if all goes well and to assess if Medicare recipients do get a high level of care offered to them. Overall though, the main reason behind this pilot program is to ideally reduce costs. Evidently the new program will offer access to things like dietitians and physical therapists, something not usually covered by the “original” Medicare. So this program may just be a step in the right direction and be a benefit to Medicare recipients who need these kinds of specialized services.

What is happening right now is that if a senior is on Medicare and needs a service that isn’t covered under their plan, they have two choices – either pay for the service out-of-pocket or buy Medicare supplemental insurance. Generally speaking, it’s a smart move for seniors to have Medicare supplemental insurance so they are covered for things they may need. Buying this later often becomes more expensive.

To make this new program work, it seems that Medicare will be joining hands with Medicaid, state and federal health care programs, and private insurers in states that will offer the medical home program. For instance, Vermont already has a medical care home model in operation. By all reports, it seems to be doing what it was created to do, provide “uniform standards for advanced primary care.” It’s not just Vermont that has implemented this kind of a model either; so have Maine, Colorado and Massachusetts.

Never before has Medicare taken part in something this big and different. It breaks all the traditional rules and blazes some new trails. In addition to this it will be the first time that private insurance companies and primary care physicians will actually be on the same page when it comes to compensation. Of interest is that Vermont doctors get an extra patient bonus of $1.20 to $2.39 a patient, per month, to look after their care and get a further bonus if a patient’s health improves based on certain criteria.

If you’re making plans for the future, now is the time to call about making changes to your Medigap plans or improve your Medicare coverage. It is open enrollment until December 31, 2009.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Seniors Need to be Cautious About Medicare Ads

Despite what you may get in the mail, read everything you get with a grain of salt and lots of caution.
It’s that time of the year for seniors about to be eligible for Medicare. Your mailbox is going to be jam packed with ads about Medicare supplements and Medicare Part D drug coverage. Not that the information isn’t useful, but there is so much of it and it’s terribly confusing to boot. This is where you need to reach for the phone and call an expert Medicare insurance agent in your area and talk turkey about all the stuff you’ve been getting.

One thing you should definitely know right up front is that open enrollment for Medicare Part D started November 15th and runs right through to December 31st every year. You may or may not know this however, that Medicare supplements do not have an open enrollment period. The only open enrollment you make take advantage of is the one that relates to Medicare Part D drug coverage, period. The reason this is so important to know and remember is because a large portion of the senior population think open enrollment is for Medicare supplement plans. This is not the case.

This isn’t to say that you can’t attempt to make a change to your Medicare supplement at any time, but having said that, there are a lot of companies that will ask medical questions. The answers you give to those questions may either allow you to change plans or not, as the case may be.

Here is another area of confusion now, and likely in the foreseeable future, Medicare supplements are also called Medigap policies and they are identical by plan. So what that really means is that if you want to buy plan J from AARP, you will get precisely the same benefits with a plan J offered by American Progressive. In other words, it doesn’t matter where you buy the plan, it is the same plan.

The only thing that does tend to change is the premiums the various companies charge. Sure, you could shop for the cheapest deal, but you will want to know you are dealing with a company with a good reputation for honoring their claims. Just because the ads you get in your mailbox say company X is the biggest and best and is really aggressive about chasing your business, does not mean they “are” the best. So be wary.

The interesting thing here is that when you look in your stuffed mailbox, the ads you see are strictly regulated by the Center for Medicare Services. That may be all well and good, but that still does not help you sort out some very confusing and misleading ads. Remember this as well, that just because your banker or best friend has a plan that works for them, does not mean it is suited to your particular circumstances. Ask questions and don’t stop until you get answers that make sense, and get a plan based on your needs, health and budget.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Supplements and Guaranteed Issue

Federally mandated guaranteed issue periods allow people to enroll in Medicare supplement plans without being denied coverage.

If health problems exist and an individual has been unable to get Medicare supplement plans, there is hope in the form of guaranteed issue periods. These periods are federally mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and apply to “all” Medicare enrollees. What this specifically means is that the guaranteed issue period lets people apply for a plan without being denied coverage, charging more for any health condition, and excluding any pre-existing conditions.

As a stand-alone product, Medicare pays for roughly 80% of most covered services. This would mean an individual or family would then be responsible for the other 20% of the expenses that are not covered. While this 20% might not sound like much, it definitely adds up if the hospital bill is for things like strokes, heart attacks or cancer. Basically any major medical event will run the meter up and leave many people in a desperate situation financially. For seniors on a limited budget, this is not good news. This is why seniors need to be supplementing Medicare with Medicare supplements. It’s essential.

One reason why it is essential for those over 65 to supplement their Medicare is the fact that anyone needing health insurance needs to consider the monthly premium rate. The coverage itself is standardized, so that means what someone pays for it is critical. Shopping around for better rates makes sense and in the meantime if the insurance company that sold the Medicare supplement plans goes under, those left in the dust are allowed to sign up for a new plan under the guaranteed issue period.

Consider any value added benefits and other possible discounts when sourcing Medicare health insurance. Not a lot of people realize that some insurance outfits offer additional benefits as an attractive value-added part of their plan. If a company offers something worthwhile and it would be used, then it might be the place to buy Medicare insurance.

Take into consideration that waiting might not be a smart idea when it comes to getting Medicare supplements simply because a person might not be able to qualify for it later. Private companies have control over who they accept onto their plans and while some have more lenient underwriting guidelines, they may deny coverage.

The bottom line is shop around, ask questions and read the fine print in any policy purchased. It only makes good sense to know what the policy covers and does not cover.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare and Medicare Advantage Differences

Until 2010 when Medicare Advantage is discontinued, it pays to know the differences between Medicare supplement plans and Medicare Advantage.

It’s a fairly straightforward difference between Medicare and Medicare Advantage, and it basically boils down to the majority of an individual’s health care expenses is covered by Medicare. For example, Medicare part A will cover inpatient care at places like a hospice, skilled nursing facility or a hospital.

Medicare part B takes care of doctors and outpatient services, while part D handles prescription drugs. One thing to remember is that parts B and D mean paying a premium. While it looks like Medicare covers a whole lot, it doesn’t cover everything. This is where Medicare supplements or Medicare Advantage steps in if a person or family wants 100% of their health care covered.

If a person opts to buy Medicare supplements, they are purchasing a “gap” policy that fills in the holes in the original Medicare plan, usually referred to as a Medigap policy. With these particular policies, there are various levels of coverage in 12 different plans with alphabet designations A through L. Each one of these letters provides a different kind of supplemental health coverage and the prices are unique, based on the different levels.

Medigap health insurance is offered by private health insurance companies and there is a monthly premium to be paid. Usually the premium is dictated by the level of coverage, age of the insured and their zip code. As with many other things in life, these plans usually have a price increase yearly.

With the Medicare supplement policies there are usually open enrollment periods and a person is able to get guaranteed enrollment. If an application is not made during the open enrollment period, the usual health insurance underwriting routine applies.

Medicare supplements are additional coverage. Medicare Advantage is replacement coverage. To file a claim under a Medicare supplement policy, a person must file a claim with Medicare and the supplemental insurance company. In the case of Medicare Advantage, the claim is processed by the policy provider.

Medicare Advantage also currently provides many choices such as a PPO, FFS or HMO and right now plans are available to suit an individual’s personal preferences and what is still being marketed in the applicable zip code. All this will change when Medicare Advantage is no longer offered in 2010. Now is the time to speak to a local Medicare health insurance provider to find out what other alternatives will be available to replace Medicare Advantage.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Supplement Plans M and N Lower Premiums?

Is the news floating around in cyberspace true, that there will be lower premiums for Medicare supplement plans M and N?

For those of you that don’t know what Medicare supplementary plans are, they are meant to bridge the gap between the policy coverage of the original Medicare and the actual bill, when it arrives in the mail later.This “gapping” became necessary when it was discovered that the original Medicare plan didn’t pay for every medical service actually needed, and you were dealing with a medical disaster.

If you stop to think about that explanation, it will make a great deal of sense to find out that there is more than one “gap” between the original plan and your bill. In order to do something about that gap, you do need to have Medicare to begin with, and then supplement it with other plans to fill the gaps. This analogy is a bit like filling teeth in that the dentist takes the existing original tooth and fills in the gaps with supplemental material to make it whole again.

Notice the use of the term “gap” and it will come as no surprise that the plans to fill in the original Medicare are referred to as Medigap policies. Medigap policies are run by private insurance companies who sell them to the public for varying prices. While the plans themselves are standardized, meaning they are the same in every state, the prices tend to be different depending on what the insurance company wishes to charge for them.

Despite the fact that Medigap policies are controlled by private health insurance companies, they still must have common rules to be followed when it comes to actually selling the Medigap policies. First and foremost is there are only 12 standard policies running from plan A to L. Each of their policies has its own set of benefits as well.

What is often not clearly understood by many people is that most of the Medigap policies give consumers the basic benefits of plans A and B, and in addition to the basic benefits, they also have their own advantages.

The 12 plans (A-L) have been around since 1992, but now there may be two “new” plans introduced in June 2010, plans M and N. The main feature of these two plans will be that they are supposedly going to provide lower premium rates as an alternative to the existing Medicare Supplement plans. While it isn’t entirely clear what M and N may offer, it is predicted that they should sell well because of the lower premiums.
With any change in Medicare or Medicare supplements, make sure you take the time to read each policy you decide to buy so you “know” just precisely what health coverage you actually have.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Seniors Supplement to Boost Medicare Expenses for 2010

If all goes well in Washington, it looks like seniors getting social security will get a check for $250 next year instead of a cost of living increase.

Whether or not this will truly come to pass depends a great deal on what happens in Congress over the remainder of the year and into the first part of 2010. However, having said that, the Social Security Administration has already served notice that is won’t be giving recipients a cost of living adjustment in 2010.

For the first time in 35 years there will be no cost of living adjustment, simply because there has been no inflation; a shocking bit of information by itself, but when combined with the news that seniors will not get the adjustment, the news becomes dismaying and financially upsetting for seniors. This is one of the reasons why Washington may step in and try and make a difference.

The truth here is that any extra money that seniors may have is going to buy prescription drugs and pay for Medicare and Medicare supplements, both of which have increased in cost quite substantially. In light of that particular revelation, politicians have seen a chance to make a difference and are lobbying for extra funds to be given to seniors in 2010.

This “supplement” of sorts won’t come without a cost of roughly $14 billion, which makes one wonder where on Earth the money will come from during this recession. Apparently it will be gleaned from slapping Social Security payroll taxes on earnings between $250,000 and $359,000 a year. Currently workers only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,800 of their incomes.

While it’s obvious that this tax will not go over well with the people who have to pay it, it’s equally as obvious that something needs to be done to assist seniors in 2010, thanks to the absence of the cost of living adjustment. The theory behind the supplement payment is that seniors will spend it and help stimulate the economy.

There is no doubt seniors will spend it, and likely spend it on health care needs that would include medications and topping off their Medicare supplements for better health coverage. If you follow the news, you’ll likely appreciate that this kind of an economic boost for seniors will be a welcome relief as Medicare Part B costs are slated to increase as much as 9% in 2010 with Part D costs following along with an increase of about 11.1% for next year.

This extra help for seniors is timely and in light of bailouts for banks and other businesses, it only seems fair to provide funds for those most in need of decent health coverage.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Proposed Medical Home Pilot Program Raises Questions

Making the rounds on coffee row these days is the consternation over a concept called medical homes that are supposed to cut costs for Medicare and HMOs.

Medical homes seem to be a radical idea that no one wants to discuss and the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest (Center for Medicine) has some concerns about the concept. While they agree that there needs to be cost cutting measures to get a grip on Medicare expenses, they aren’t too enthralled with the idea of medical homes.

These “homes” are way, way back in the health care reform bill in the inevitable fine print. What the text proposes is the establishment of a medical home pilot program for disabled persons and for seniors. It seems the idea would mean providing a medical home for every person during the long process of America moving to a wellness based system, instead of remaining with the current sickness based model.

This idea begs the question of what would happen to Medicare, Medicare supplements and a whole host of other scary questions that people can’t really wrap their minds around. On the surface the idea sounds like a great one, with the homes being operated by nurse practitioners and doctors’ assistants who would use evidence based medicine.

These individuals would hand out treatment to those in the home, but without the supervision of a doctor. There is also a question of what precisely does the term “treatment” mean – handing out medications or performing other medical procedures? How would these costs be absorbed and by whom? What the Center for Medicine is wary of is the imposition of “one-size fits-all” medicine handed out by only partially trained medical staff to cut corners and save the government and private insurance carriers some money.

Here’s where Medicare comes into the picture. The proposed pilot program would be aimed at Medicare patients with a high medical risk score, and/or those needing constant treatment or supervision. This type of patient requires the care of a physician, not just a nurse. And herein lies the concern of many seniors on Medicare and the Center for Medicine. This will put the proposal into perspective sharply. Right now there are roughly 22 million individuals eligible for the proposed medical home program.

The logistics of a program of this nature are staggering and one wonders if the government has any clear concept of what that would mean in terms of trying to set it up. To contemplate caring for 22 million people with just nurses and doctors’ assistants is a sobering thought. More to the point, how will this really save Medicare and the health system any money?

Think about that for a minute and the realization will dawn that someone will need to pay for this kind of care and if it’s not the government and insurance carriers, then it would be private individuals. Seniors on

Medicare and Medicare supplements barely have the kind of money to afford what they have now, how would they afford a medical care home?

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

The Boom in Health Care Is Coming

The boom in health care is just around the corner. Not a boom in services, but the day when the health system sees thousands of senior baby boomers entering the health insurance market.
If you happen to be selling health insurance, the fact that thousands of new customers will be hitting the market soon will make your day. Baby boomers are poised on the leading edge of being eligible forMedicare in huge numbers, and this will forever change the face of Medicare.

It’s a fact that one in every five Americans is a senior. Come 2050 this will be one in four. If you take the time to do some math, you can see where this market will continually burgeon until even greater numbers of seniors are on Medicare. This is important news for insurance companies and the health system because seniors these days are living far longer than they did before – thanks to the marvels of new technology.

Wave one of the baby boomers will hit the marketplace in roughly a year and a half if they were born in the 20 year period after the end of WWII. The next wave will hit in approximately 2025. Medicare as we know it today will look nothing like it used to with the advent of all these new people becoming eligible to receive benefits. This also begs the question of just how the health system will cope with such an enormous influx of older people needing more care. Think of how expensive that is going to be. Given the state of the economy today, this might be viewed as a touch and go situation at best.

Keep in mind that seniors in the 21st century are leap years ahead of their predecessors. They’re alert, politically aware, highly motivated, intelligent and quite involved in advocating for their future. They’re prepared to take on the government and fight for what they perceive to be their right to adequate health care. They’re also far more financially secure than generations before them and they continue to generate revenue by way of annuities, pensions, social security, jobs (yes, seniors are indeed working past the age of 65) and investments.

Part of the reason that today’s seniors are far more aware of what is going on around them than ever before is that virtually one out of every five over the age of 65 is now online. Just about half of the seniors in the 65 to 75 year old bracket use the WWW. Those over 75 have also taken the plunge into exploring global connectivity.

If seniors are online, what do you suppose they are currently looking for as they surf? If you guessed they were trying to get information on Medicare, health insurance and Medicaid, you’d have just won the prize at the county fair. What a golden opportunity for brokers or agents that specialize in these forms of health insurance, as research reveals these same Internet savvy seniors are also starting their health insurance purchases online now as well.

If you’re prepared for the future and ready to serve the baby boomers as they become eligible for Medicare, etc. then you won’t have any trouble finding customers. In fact, they’ll likely be coming to you first. Make sure you have a highly interactive and easy to use website that has all the information seniors need and provides excellent service.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

The Confusion over Subsidies

So are the taxes going up in order to change Medicare or not; that is the burning question being asked in town hall meetings all across the United States.

One hand of the government says they are not going to raise taxes to fix Medicare. The other hand says the plan to reform Medicare will cost more because Medicare needs to change. So, which is the real story and what is the real definition of the word subsidy? Is it true that Medicare and Medicaid are the reasons the economy is so out of whack or is it the other way around?

Ostensibly a subsidy is a grant of public money that assists a private operator in serving the public or it is any financial assistance given by one person to another. The fact is that the government subsidizes Medicare and Medicaid, and what the government does not subsidize comes out of the pockets of seniors. Based on what many seniors hear in the nationwide town hall meetings, they feel that too much change will spell problems for them.

Seniors do not want “less” medical care and would be happy to keep what they have right now, and they most certainly do not want to pay more out-of-pocket for what they are currently getting. While it may all boil down to a matter of perception, the fact is that if changes are made to Medicare and Medicaid andMedicare supplements, it is virtually inevitable that costs will increase. It’s the nature of the beast.

Most frightening of all to seniors on limited budgets, even if they do have a comfortable income, is the fact that they feel the government is beginning to offload the increasing costs of Medicare and Medicare supplements to the one part of the population who can least afford it. Some have even been heard to say they feel they are being put out to pasture by the government’s rush to trim senior health care because their lives are shorter at that age.

Without going off the deep end on this subject, it would be best if seniors took the time to really make themselves familiar with the issues before making up their minds. Ask the tough questions, see what the answers are and then make an informed decision. There is no doubt that the cost of revamping Medicare is going to be tremendous and that it can’t be done until the economy is in better shape than it is right now.

There are still a number of unanswered questions relating to the high birth rate in the U.S. and how that impacts the health system, as well as questions about the immigrant population who moved here to take advantage of health care services. How will those costs be factored into a new health system without taking from Peter to care for Paul?

While things need to change in order to provide care for all, the question still remains: How will that be done and where will the money come from to accomplish it? In the meantime, don’t jump to conclusions until the whole picture becomes clear, as there may be more to understand before making up your mind that the government is out to “get” seniors. This may not be the case and like many items we have already heard about, it might only be “suggestions” to see the response.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

The Deductible that Bites

Make sure that Medicare deductibles are thoroughly understood to save finding out the hard way that deductibles are applied differently.

The major problem with Medicare and all the various deductibles is that it is extremely confusing trying to figure out which portion of Medicare – Part A and Part B – has which deductible kick in and when. For the record, Medicare part A offers hospital coverage, and part B provides medical coverage. If there is no Medicare supplement insurance involved then when the calendar year starts and a patient visits their doctor they would pay a deductible of roughly $150.

If this same person had to go to hospital and spent three days there, they would get in the mail a part A deductible bill of approximately $1,000. If for some reason the same patient had to return to the hospital for another short stay a few months later, they would once again get a part A deductible bill in the mail for the same amount as their first stay. At this point many seniors throw up their hands and wonder what is happening and why they are getting two bills in the mail.

The reason there were two deductibles in one year under Medicare part A is because the deductible is charged for a benefit period, and a benefit period starts the day a person goes to a hospital or other nursing institution.

The period typically ends when the patient hasn’t gotten hospital care for 60 days in a row. If that period ends and another trip to the hospital is required, this is classified as a new benefit period. On the other hand, Medicare part B only has the one deductible a calendar year.

If Medigap supplement insurance was in play in this scenario, then it would likely have covered the out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare part A and part B deductibles. At one time there was the option to consider the benefits of a Medicare Advantage plan. Unfortunately, this plan will no longer be offered in 2010.
Medicare isn’t always the easiest health care insurance to understand, but with a little due diligence and digging, most of the answers are readily available. Granted they may be confusing at first, but if seniors take the time to speak to a local Medicare insurance agent, they will have the answers immediately. A local Medicare agent will know the plans and benefits intimately and if budget is a concern, he will be able to tailor Medicare supplement insurance to go with Medicare that is affordable and actually delivers what it promises to deliver.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Without the Jargon

If only someone would take the time to teach seniors about Medicare, without all the jargon, how refreshing that would be.

Luckily, Medicare is a whole lot easier to understand than many people think. There are portions of their various policies that leave something to be desired in the comprehension and plain English department, but suffice it to say that for the most part, what someone needs to know is easy to find out and easy to understand.

There is a handbook available from Medicare if the spirit moves a person to ask for it. However, it is confusing at best and leaves readers with the vague feeling they missed something, and they usually did. To really narrow the focus of what is definitely needed for Medicare, do some pre-planning and have the various options selected by March.

Make critical decisions like going with an HMO as opposed to private insurance or a PPO. Perhaps an existing retirement plan offers health benefits after the age of 65. These are things that need to be taken into consideration when selecting Medicare plans and Medicare supplement insurance.

Other decisions that need to be made include deciding if it makes sense to take part A, which is free, and part B that is paid out of social security. Something that needs to be perfectly clear about part A is that it picks up 80 percent of the costs of a hospital stay, but it does not cover the doctors treating a patient during that stay. Alternatively, part B offers doctor/surgeon/specialist coverage that handles 80 percent of physician visits, lab tests, surgeons and other specialists. This is usually the plan that most seniors will use.

A smart move for seniors is to take advantage of open enrollment. This is when three months prior to the senior’s birthday and three months after it, they are considered to be in open enrollment. This is useful information because during this period of time there is no health underwriting with insurance companies.
HMO’s can definitely deny coverage based on the health of an individual. However, insurance companies cannot, not if the person is in open enrollment. This is a golden opportunity to take advantage of if one’s health isn’t that great.

Depending on what state a senior resides in, they may wind up paying between $100 and $175 for Medicare supplements. In other states there is the option to choose plan F or plan J which would mean no deductibles, co-pays and the Medicare supplement insurance would pay the remaining balance of the medical bills. It’s best to check with a licensed Medicare insurance broker who will be able to outline what plans are available in various states and their costs before making any decisions about what Medicare plan and Medicare supplements are needed.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Know Your Medicare Supplements

Many American seniors think that when they get to the age of 65 and are entitled to Medicare that their worries are over. This isn’t true.

Medicare is not the ‘be all-end all’ and all encompassing insurance program than many elderly Americans seem to think it is; far from it to be precise. It will not and cannot take care of all their medical needs. It was never designed as a program to handle every medical need a person has. It was initially designed to take care of life’s medical crisis moments such as heart attacks and things like seriously broken bones.

Unfortunately, Medicare somehow became the magic panacea to cure everyone’s aches, pains and illnesses when they got older. That meant that buying Medicare supplements didn’t make much sense to older people because they already had Medicare coverage. Many of them opted to not get Medicare supplements because the cost seemed out of line. This mistaken impression needs to be corrected before too many seniors realize their mistake later when they desperately need medical care they cannot get with Medicare.

If the elderly do not understand the differences between Medicare and Medicare supplements they will find themselves faced with medical bills later in life that they not only didn’t expect to have, but will have no way to be able to pay them. This isn’t to say the Medicare is flawed, but it should be noted that it does have limited coverage, and it’s the consumer’s responsibility to know what Medicare does provide and what it doesn’t. Having said that, often seniors need help understanding Medicare supplement insurance from their families, and also need to know where they can find pricing for Medicare supplement coverage that suits their budgets.

If you’re helping your older relatives understand the complicated tangle of Medicare and Medicare supplement insurance, make sure to explain to them why having this extra coverage is crucial for their medical care; that they need the extra coverage now to cover care needed later.

There are four levels of Medicare that you need to know about, and each of them deal with medical coverage differently. For instance, Medicare part A pays overnight hospital expenses; part B handles routine doctor’s fees/tests; part C is optional coverage in that if you have part A, B or Medicare Advantage part C (which will be phased out in 2010) you are eligible for part D (prescription drug coverage). With the changes to Medicare coming in 2010, it makes sense to have a heart-to-heart talk with a local Medicare insurance agent who will be able to outline more in-depth what the coming changes are and what they may mean to you.

Every part of Medicare has a variety of deductibles and limits in place that once reached will mean your Medicare coverage is exhausted. These limits and deductibles change now and then, so keeping up-to-date with the changes will provide you with the peace of mind that your elderly family member is fully covered in any event. Don’t hesitate to contact a local Medicare insurance agent and discuss what you need for your senior family member. They are there to help you.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Get Information on Medicare Supplements First

Confused about what Medicare supplements - Medigap - is and what it actually offers? So are many other Americans. Good news, it’s pretty straightforward.

In a hundred words or less, Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) is offered to the public through private insurance companies in order to fill in the “gaps” in Medicare coverage. This is because Medicare does not offer coverage for “everything” and most people find they need a bit extra to get the coverage they need.

In an attempt to make things relatively simple, the government dictated that Medigap policy carriers are only allowed to offer precise plans the government approved. Those policies are Medicare supplement Plans A through Plan L. Every company that sells Medicare supplements is selling the exact same policies; there are no differences between insurance companies on policy content. What does differ however, is the price charged for Medicare supplement insurance. This definitely does change from company to company, which means if you do some shopping around, you may be able to save yourself some money.

To put this another way, if you buy a Plan A Medicare supplement insurance policy from XX insurance company, it will be an exact match to a Plan A policy bought at insurance company AA. One thing that you really do need to do before you choose which Medicare supplements suits your needs is to compare not only the plans, but also compare the companies that offer you that kind of insurance. Sure you can get quotes online, but make sure they are from different types of insurance companies.

Pay close attention to what you are reading while you are online, as there are insurance companies whose methodology on selling health insurance dictates how they price their Medicare supplements. Next, closely examine each plan for the benefits you will receive. There will be some plans that have benefits that you will never use and therefore it won’t make any sense to buy them. This is one good way to save money, by choosing a plan you know without a doubt you will use and not shelling out money for unused benefits.
Remember, that the step where you do your benefit comparisons is crucial so that you know precisely what you are getting when you make your decision to buy a Medicare supplement. This is where it makes the most sense to call a local Medicare insurance agent and ask some pertinent questions about coverage.
Your life is unique to you and no one else can tell you what would suit you the best except you. This is why you need to ask questions and narrow your search parameters down to get the best possible combination of policies that deliver the coverage you need – minus the benefits you wouldn’t use.

Talking to a local Medicare insurance agent is a major step in understanding the community you live in, what the realities are for you as a healthcare consumer using networks and other information you will need to tailor a plan for your needs.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

The Medicare Policy Switch

There comes a time in just about everyone's life when they give some consideration to switching Medicare policies. This may be done, but the timing needs to be right.

If the Medicare policy an individual has is working well for them and they don't really have any major problems, there isn't much of a percentage in switching policies. However, if that same person has had nothing but problems with the coverage not being what they want, the service the insurance company offers and the rates are too high – it may be time to think about switching to another policy.

Although anyone may change their policy if that is what they want to do, it is not a "right" and it really needs to be done while an individual is in their six-month open enrollment period.

Before pulling the plug on one policy, it only makes good sense to shop around first and speak to a qualified insurance broker about the changes that might make sense to suit a changing lifestyle. Make sure the benefits between what exists now and what is under consideration are thoroughly compared. One of the first things to check is the rates to see if the new company is offering lower ones.

Comparing policies is the easy part, because Medicare is the same right across the nation, it won't matter what state it's purchased in. However, it will matter which insurance broker has the better price. Right now there are still 12 plans on offer, with the letters A through L. Again, all these plans are the same as well, so all a person needs to do is find a price that suits their budget.

If, after doing some price comparisons, the decision is made to switch carriers, don't make the mistake of canceling the existing plan until its certain the new company will accept the business. There will likely be the usual gamut of health questions and the poking about in one's medical background first. Keep in mind the new company does not have to accept new business if they find anything that concerns them. If they do accept the new business, then the old policy may be canceled.

A quick tip here for those who aren't sure they want to keep a new policy after all. There is a 30-day period to decide if the switch to the new policy fits the bill. This is referred to as the "free look" period, and it starts when a person gets their new Medicare supplement policy.

For those who have had their first policy for a period of less than six months, the new insurance broker might insist on a six month wait for coverage on pre-existing conditions. On the other hand, if the policy was in effect for more than six months, any new ones will have the same coverage with no waiting period.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

The Difference Between Medicare Insurance and Medigap Insurance

Confusion is a four letter word when it comes to trying to figure out the difference between Medicare insurance and Medigap insurance.

There is a fairly common tendency for people to lump Medicare and Medigap insurance together, but they are actually two different plans that do two different things. So it's best to know the differences before trying to select what is needed for coverage.

Medicare insurance is a government-sponsored program that a person is eligible for when they reach 65 years of age or have Medicare due to a disability. All of the coverage is standardized, in other words, it's all the same for each individual, unless they want to change something. This is where the differences come into play. If a person wants to add something to the basic Medicare insurance, they need to buy Medicare supplement insurance.

Of course, if the standardized version of Medicare suits a person's circumstances, there is no need to get Medicare supplement insurance. That is as rare as hen's teeth though, as most people need their health benefits tailored to meet their circumstances. So, the deal is that Medicare supplements do just that – supplement the main Medicare program. Don't get confused here by the term Medicare supplement insurance, as it's just another term for Medigap, simply because it fills in the "gaps" the main program leaves open.

The usual difficulty becomes what Medigap plan will work the best, and provides the greatest coverage. This isn't something that a lot of people like to try and do on their own because they find it too confusing. This is where an expert insurance broker comes into the picture. Find a broker with a sterling track record to assist with making the right choices for each person that requires coverage. Finding one that truly understands all the ramifications of each different situation is precisely the answer to a Medicare insurance shopper's prayers.
Be aware that when requesting quotes for various options, the results will overwhelm the inbox on the computer, or the snail mailbox. This of course means hours of comparison work and this is where most people opt to speak to a trusted insurance broker to help them whittle down their extensive choices. It's best to deal with brokers who have a large number of insurance companies on board, because this will ultimately provide everyone with what they need.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Reduced Prescription Costs for Seniors Soon a Reality

The good news for seniors in America is that pharmaceutical companies have agreed to cut the prices of prescription drugs for seniors.

It's quite the landmark announcement to say the least, that seniors will be able to take advantage of lower prescription drug costs in the near future. This thanks to a recent announcement by President Obama. The behind the scenes story has to do with the Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons (AARP) working a deal with Big Pharma to implement the cuts. What this means for seniors (those 65 years of age and older) is significant assistance meeting their Medicare prescription drug costs.

Just recently, a survey was released that indicated seniors would have to do some serious revamping of their retirement funds to make all the projected health costs for the future. This newest announcement has added a ray of hope to that scenario by lowering Medicare prescription drug costs for seniors. It couldn't come at a better time when there are also some significant changes coming to the Medicare and Medigap plans in 2010.

Comprehensive health care reform, while a large task, may be accomplished in small steps, like this one. Certainly it will mean a significant break for seniors who are on Medicare and have Medigap coverage and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Being a senior and living on a budget is difficult enough these days in a recession. Trying to budget Medicare and Medicare supplement insurance premiums is even more arduous.

The idea behind this announcement is that seniors will likely see their prescription drug expenses cut in half – a compelling and motivating step towards changing the face of health care for older Americans. While Big Pharma has never really been a friend to the Medicare system (largely because of the high costs of drugs), the time has come for everyone to put aside their various agendas and make a difference to the community at large. It goes without saying that Medicare recipients overall will certainly benefit from lower drug costs.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

You'll Need More Money for Future Health Care

If you're 65 years of age or over, you might need to seriously re-evaluate your retirement funds to see if they will cover future health care expenses.

It's a no brainer that the costs of health care in this country are going to continue to increase. It's inevitable. So, what that means is even if Medicare and Medicaid do have lower premiums when the change in programs comes in 2010, you'll need more money to make your increased health care costs at some point in time. Traditionally, health care costs have shot up at twice the rate of general inflation.

While this may seem right off the wall, it actually isn't given the current state of the economy and the rising costs of getting medical services. If you retire this year you may need up to $378,000 in savings just to meet the demands of your insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. Quite eye opening isn't it? By the way, this particular figure is for a male; a female's calculation would have to be even higher simply because they live longer. How high? As high as $450,000. Sound like a lot? Perhaps, but health care usually represents 12% to 14% of expenses for seniors.

Salting away that kind of money might be a tad difficult to ensure you have enough coverage for the rough spots life throws at you. You could of course, shoot for a lower amount and take a risk that you have a 50/50 chance of having enough funds to cover health care bills. It's a tough decision to face when you hit 65 and think you have things under control.

What happens if some people retire first before becoming eligible for Medicare? Many of them think they can apply for Medicare early, just like they applied for Social Security benefits, but that isn't the case. What this means is that they will need more money to cover the gap between retirement and their 65th birthday.
So really, what are the options if you want to save that kind of money to ensure you have coverage later in life? Plan your retirement and what kind of health care benefits you will need well in advance with a qualified, knowledgeable insurance agent. There are so many different options available out there, that one should suit your situation.

Make retirement plans early, be smart and save aggressively like a squirrel storing nuts for the winter, work longer hours if you need to for the extra money and take care of yourself to reduce the number of problems that might crop up in later life.

Make it a point to know what Medicare covers, ask questions about Medigap (the insurance companion to Medicare), know how Medicare Part D works to your advantage, check out the prescription drug plan, and ask about long-term care. Knowledge is power and that power will help you redefine what you may need for your future health care needs.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

More Medicare and Medicare Supplements Misconceptions

It's amazing how many people think they can only switch Medicare supplements during the anniversary enrollment period of November 15th to December 31st. This isn't the truth. The reality is that they can switch at any time during the year, so long as they are medically qualified to do so. So make sure that detail is taken care of before trying to switch over.

In other surprising news, Medicare Advantage plans are losing their appeal from the point of view of the government. Well Care and Coventry, two big names in Medicare health insurance, will no longer offer Medicare Advantage as of 2010. They will be totally out of business, as they can't afford to offer the Medicare Advantage plan any longer. Why? The reason is because the government is reducing funds paid out to companies offering Medicare Advantage.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Supplement Realities

It's always best to be cautious about applying for the various benefits older people are entitled to, as many of them have certain restrictions or qualifications that those applying don't know. This is where you take the time to always check the requirements and never assume anything. When in doubt, contact a local Medicare insurance agent who has the inside information.

It's a lot easier to find out what the real scoop is than to find out at the last minute that what you assumed was the case (that you could possibly get Medicare at age 62, like Social Security) is a myth and you have to wait three more years and pay out a lot of extra money for insurance.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Read Your Policy

We tell people this all the time, "Read your health insurance policy and make sure you are getting what you think you are getting." Unfortunately many people just take the policy home and put it "someplace safe" and forget about it until they need it.

Most often these same people won't have any problems until one day when they hit the wall regarding something they thought they were covered for, and it turned out that they weren't. That meant they were forking out bucks for medical care and not happy about it. This could have been avoided if they knew what their policy really covered.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare and COBRA or Private Insurance

If you've tried to get Medicare at 62 and found out you have to wait until you are 65, think COBRA. COBRA offers temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. While this may be less expensive than private insurance, it is still a lot higher than those living on a budget may be able to afford. If you're thinking of buying health insurance from a private health insurance company, you may be facing up to $300 per person per month for coverage until you turn 65.

Do the math! For a single senior at age 62, the amount of money they would need to hand out to have health insurance would be up to $10,800 for three years or double that for a couple. Living on Social Security benefits and a pension may not allow people to find that kind of extra money.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Misconceptions

One misconception is you can get Medicare and Medicare supplements at the age of 62, just like applying for Social Security.

Nope – you can't do this. You cannot get Medicare and Medicare supplements at the age of 62. Don't make the mistake of planning your retirement thinking you have those supplements to go along with Social Security. If you do this, you will find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place.

You are only able to get Medicare and Medicare supplements when you turn 65, no earlier. The problem is people are assuming, without checking, that because they are able to get Social Security at 62, that the same is true for Medicare and Medicare supplements.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare and Early Retirement – Check Your Facts

We've seen many cases of couples and individuals who took retirement early thinking they'd have not only Social Security, but also Medicare to help defray the expenses. Unfortunately, those same individuals have found themselves in a real jam having to try and find other insurance to fill in the gap until they reach 65. You just can't get Medicare at 62, no matter what anyone tells you.

While sourcing other insurance isn't usually a problem, the price of the insurance, if you're 65 or over, is another matter altogether. In most instances you'd need the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) or to buy health insurance from a private insurance company. Always ask your local Medicare insurance agent the real facts.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Bigger Medicare Supplement Insurance Companies Have Better Doctor Networks

There is a myth floating around that bigger Medicare supplement insurance companies have much better doctor networks and take more patients on Medicare. This is a myth.

The truth of the matter is that any doctor that takes Medicare will accept any standard Medicare supplement insurance, no matter the size health insurance company offering it. This of course implies that there is non-standard Medicare coverage, something that needs to be discussed with a local Medicare health insurance agent.

There is a big difference in how health care operates with Medicare as compared to how it operates prior to age 65. When a person is under 65 and on a company or individual health insurance policy, they have to worry about seeing doctors within that particular insurance providers PPO or HMO network.

Once they have Medicare and a Medicare supplement it changes considerably. Because of the standardization of Medicare supplement plans, they no longer have to worry about whether one insurance provider is going to provide better access to a larger group of doctors; or if a doctor will choose to take one Medicare supplement insurance company’s plan versus another.

If the doctor accepts Medicare supplements he or she will accept a Standard Medicare supplement policy from any insurance company – whether it be a very large company everyone’s heard of or a very small regional insurance company providing Medicare supplements.

A lot of this has to do with the standardization of plans and claims processing by Medicare. What’s great about this is that, once a person has determined which plan they prefer, they may shop the market to determine who is going to give the best rate. This gives the peace of mind that the plan will work the same no matter from which company it was purchased.

So, go figure out which plan is the preferred one and find a reputable Medicare supplement insurance agent who brokers several companies to help people determine which company will provide the best rate for this standardized coverage.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Covers Everything – Not!

It's a well-known fact that Medicare covers everything. Actually, that isn't the case at all, and this is a very common misconception.

How many times has an overheard conversation brought up the fact that people think Medicare covers everything, almost and including the kitchen sink? It's interesting that people seem to regard Medicare as the Super Man of the health insurance industry with far reaching powers. To a certain extent this has a nugget of truth in it, however, Medicare is far from being the "be all, end all" of health insurance.

While Medicare does a yeoman's job of covering the general populace, they definitely have drawn some lines in the sand that they won't cross when it comes to coverage. For instance, Medicare does not cover long-term care. This would actually make some sense when the bigger picture is taken into consideration. They could not cover long-term care due to the nature of the enormous expenses involved.

Medicare also only partially covers preventative care, as there is a limit to some things when it comes to what is classified as preventative care. This area of the health care system could be abused with very little effort, and in order to keep a lid on soaring expenses, only some prevention is approved.

Check with your local Medicare health insurance agent for the whys and wherefore on this. Never assume something is the case without specifically checking it, as the Medicare system in the U.S. is in a state of transition right now and things are changing rapidly.

While Medicare is fairly reasonable when it comes to approving treatments for things that are considered medical necessities, there are exceptions to every rule. This is the time to be checking out the exceptions with a highly qualified Medicare health insurance agent. It's one call that will definitely save some hassle and confusion in the long run.

If the overall Medicare system is taken into consideration, it would be obvious that the number of people it must insure would be staggering. They realistically are not able to cover everything for everyone or the cost of Medicare, rather than being fairly reasonable, would be right out of line.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Common Misconceptions About Medicare

Misconception one is that you are able to get Medicare and Medicare supplements at the age of 62, just like applying for Social Security.

This is definitely a myth. You cannot get Medicare and Medicare supplements at the age of 62, so don't plan your retirement banking on having those supplements to go along with your Social Security. If you do this, you will find yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place.

The truth of the matter is that you are only able to get Medicare and Medicare supplements when you turn 65 – period, no earlier. The problem is that many people, without checking things out to confirm it, are assuming that because they are able to get Social Security at 62, that the same is true for Medicare and Medicare supplements.

We have seen many cases where people took retirement early, banking on having not only Social Security, but also Medicare to help defray the expenses. Unfortunately, many couples and individuals have found themselves in a pickle having to try and find other insurance to fill in the gap until they reach 65.

While sourcing other insurance isn't necessarily a problem, the price of the insurance an older person is able to find is another matter altogether. In most instances they would need to go with Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) or buy health insurance from a private insurance company.

COBRA offers retirees and some other categories of individuals temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates and typically this type of coverage, while less expensive than private insurance, is still higher than the budget may be able to afford. In the case of sourcing health insurance from a private health insurance company, retirees may be facing up to $300 per person per month for coverage until they turn 65.

If you do the math for a single senior at age 62, the amount of money they would need to fork out to have health insurance would add up to $10,800 for three years or double that for a couple. Living on Social Security benefits and a pension may not allow people to find that kind of extra money.

It's always best to be cautious about applying for the various benefits older people are entitled to, as many of them have certain restrictions or qualifications that those applying don't know. Always check the requirements and never assume anything. When in doubt, contact a local Medicare insurance agent who has the inside scoop.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

More Common Misconceptions About Medicare and Medicare Supplements

Many people think they are only able to switch Medicare supplements during the anniversary enrollment period of November 15th to December 31st. This isn't the case.

For some strange reason many people seem to think that they are only allowed to switch their Medicare supplements during the anniversary enrollment period. The actual truth is that they are able to switch at any time during the year so long as they are medically qualified to do so.

Medicare Advantage plan and Part D of the drug supplement are the only plans that can be switched between November 15 and December 31 of each year.

Furthermore, Medicare Advantage plans seem to be losing their luster. Well Care and Coventry, two of the biggest names in the Medicare health insurance business, won't be offering Medicare Advantage in 2010. They will be totally out of business because they can't afford to offer the Medicare Advantage plan. The reason is because the government is reducing the amount paid to companies offering Medicare Advantage.

Coventry handles Medicare Advantage benefits for well over 318 thousand people. It's safe to say that tens of thousands of Medicare Advantage recipients will be wondering what they are going to do with the demise of the Medicare Advantage plan.

Some good news about the death of Medicare Advantage is that you will be guaranteed issue for 63 days once your plan is no longer in effect. Talk to a local health insurance agent now to plan for the future. Choose one that knows their Medicare inside out and will be able to walk you through other alternatives.

Again, it is a common misconception about Medicare that people can only change coverage during the anniversary enrollment. This could easily be put to rest if people needing this kind of information took the time to do a little research on the Internet. In the alternative, they could make a call to their local Medicare health insurance agent and ask some pointed questions about qualifying dates and how those apply to their particular situation.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Advantage is Going Bye Bye in 2010

Well Care and Coventry, two of the largest companies in the Medicare health insurance business will no longer be offering Medicare Advantage in 2010.

Yes, they will be totally out of business, as they can no longer afford to offer the Medicare Advantage plan. Why is that? This is because the government is reducing the amount of money paid to companies who offer Medicare Advantage.

When things like that happen, it puts companies out of business, as they are no longer able to compete to retain the business. The bad part here is that Medicare Advantage was over funded by the government and thus paid out more to the doctors in various networks. This meant the program would hardly ever run a profit unless it were funded by the government.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Government Funding Ceasing for Medicare Advantage

If you think that cutting off government funding isn't a bad idea, think about the tens of thousands of people who will lose their Medicare Advantage when Coventry and Well Care shut their doors in 2010. Medicare Advantage recipients will be wondering what hit them not to mention asking themselves they are going to do for an alternative.

You will be guaranteed issue for 63 days once your Medicare Advantage plan(s) are no longer in effect. In order to get a jump on planning for the future, talk to a local health insurance agent now. Choose one that knows Medicare intimately and is able to walk you through what alternatives you may have left to choose.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Read All Health Insurance Policies

This is something people hear every day from their health insurance agents, "Make sure to read your policy." It's quite dismal how many people choose to ignore that piece of advice. They later find themselves in a total flap when they discover their insurance policy does not provide them with the coverage they "thought" it did.

"Not reading polices is so prevalent that unfortunately there are some insurance agents who don't offer this wise piece of advice and instead just tell their customers they're covered," said Richard Cantu, of GOMedigap in Texas. People really need to know what they are getting in their health insurance policies and also need to understand what is "not" provided either.

Take the time to get informed about the policy that seems to be the one that will offer the best coverage. "Read the actual policy, ask other friends about their experiences and policies and get their opinions and last, but not least, go online to the Medicare site and read all the articles to get an even better in-depth knowledge of the various benefits offered for the various plans/supplements," advised Cantu. Make it a point to also verify with the health insurance agent that the policy does provide certain things that are required by a family or individual.

While this might seem like a great deal of work to just buy a health insurance policy, it is work that will pay off later if that same policy needs to be used and it performs as expected. "There is nothing worse than buying a health insurance policy thinking it covers one thing and finding out later it does not and out of pocket expenses need to be paid," added said Richard Cantu, of GOMedigap in Texas.

Consider this as well when reading the fine print on various health insurance policies. Knowing what each one says, offers and doesn't offer is a valuable thing to understand when comparing current health insurance plans with future health insurance policies. Future health insurance policies? In 2010 things in the US health care system are going to get turned upside down, and nothing will be the same as it was. Be an informed health insurance buyer or beware.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

2010 Will Bring Many Health Insurance Changes

It isn't that just one or two things will be changing in the near future in the health care system, it's a whole bunch of things that will cause a cascade of confusion amongst those who have Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage and the list continues to grow as more planned changes are announced by the White House.

When change starts, it usually starts rather quietly and slowly. However, in 2010 there are some major changes coming that will impact on millions of Americans when it comes to their health care insurance, and on Medicare in particular. The first change is the old Medicare supplement plans A through G are being phased out and new plans A through G are being phased in.

While these "new" plans are not really new, they tend to create a split in coverage pools, meaning those before the June 2010 cut off date are in one coverage pool, and those who buy health insurance after the cut off date are in another coverage pool. This will mean both pools are closed and the chances are that insurance rates will go up in both pools when the novelty of competing health insurance companies wears off.

The second change is that two of the largest companies in the Medicare health insurance business will no longer be offering Medicare Advantage in 2010. This means that they will be completely out of business. This is because the government is reducing the amount of money paid to companies who offer Medicare Advantage, making it less than profitable for companies who carry it.

Since being in the insurance business means operating at a profit, the loss of government funding will likely put smaller companies out of business as well. It's been confirmed that the big two – Coventry and Well Care – will be defunct in 2010. This will leave hundreds of thousands of people scrambling for alternative health insurance coverage to replace Medicare Advantage.

The best way to handle the coming changes is to start asking pointed questions now about what to do when Medicare Advantage ceases to exist. Make sure to speak with a highly trained and knowledgeable health insurance agent who will offer advice on what other choices may be available to replace Medicare Advantage.

Don't wait until the last minute and find out that the clock is ticking. Knowing the alternatives now will make for a smoother and faster transition later.

To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Medicare Advantage Going the Way of the Dinosaurs

The more things change, the more they seem to – well, at one time that old saying ended with "the more they remain the same." This however can't actually be said of the coming changes to the Medicare system in 2010. This one change will rock your world if you happen to be 65 and over or under 65 and on Medicare disability.

Well Care and Coventry, two of the largest companies in the Medicare health insurance business will no longer be offering Medicare Advantage in 2010. Yes, they will be totally out of business, as they can no longer afford to offer the Medicare Advantage plan. Why is that? This is because the government is reducing the amount of money paid to companies who offer Medicare Advantage.

If you think that might not affect too many people, think again, as just Coventry alone handles Medicare Advantage benefits for over 318 thousand individuals. Suffice it to say that tens of thousands of Medicare Advantage recipients will be wondering what hit them. Well, and also wondering what they are going to do with the demise of the Medicare Advantage plan.

One thing you will need to know is that you will be guaranteed issue for 63 days once your Medicare Advantage plan(s) are no longer in effect. However, in order to get a jump on planning for the future, make the smart move and talk to a local health insurance agent now. Choose one that knows their plans intimately and will be able to walk you through what other alternatives you may have.

While the ink is not dry on this particular change for the future, it very much looks like, even though there may be some other alternative offered to those who will lose their Advantage plan(s), the alternatives may be more expensive and have higher premiums.

Those between a rock and a hard place would be best to start checking out Medicare supplement alternatives as soon as they can, and also making it a point to talk to a knowledge health insurance
agent.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.

Huge Changes Are Coming to Medicare Advantage

If you happen to be a Medicare Advantage fan, and feel the service has done right by you, you will not be too impressed to find out that in 2010, Medicare Advantage will no longer be offered by some of the largest health insurance companies in the US – which includes Well Care and Coventry.

Shocking isn't it? Will other smaller companies go the same route? Chances are smaller companies will indeed follow in the footsteps of their bigger competitors. If the big boys on the block can't afford to offer Medicare Advantage any longer, then it's not likely smaller companies will have much success staying afloat either.

You might be wondering what on earth is going on and why you are about to lose what you feel is a good health care plan. Well, here is the deal. The government has, since the inception of Medicare Advantage, seriously over funded it. In fact, the doctors in the various networks actually got paid more than Medicare paid under the auspices of Medicare Advantage.

Given the poor state of the US economy, the new administration in the White House, and the fact that President Obama is now trying to straighten up the health care system, over funding to this program (Medicare Advantage) will cease in 2010. Evidently there will be other programs faced with funding crunches in the year to come.

Will these funding changes make a difference in how those 65 and over or under 65 and on Medicare disability use the health system? Yes indeed, as they will need to be absorbed into the Medicare system in some other way, and use other alternatives for their health care needs.

This coming change will affect tens of thousand of people, and the health insurance system will be in a total uproar for the better part of 2010 trying to sort out all the new changes. Think smart and call a health insurance agent now and find out what you may do to switch from Medicare Advantage to something else.

Richard Cantu is with Medicare supplements resource, GoMedigap.com. To learn more about Medicare, Medicare supplements, or Medicare supplement insurance visit GoMedigap.com.