MedicareBob

This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 and 70 in Woodbridge, Virginia (zip code 22193). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that. 

You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier. 

If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

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In order to switch a Medicare Supplement after the age of 65 you must medically qualify. You do not have to be as healthy as a 30-year-old but most carriers want at least a two-year stability of your health. In this post, we are going to go over the qualifications for most carriers with those that have diabetes. First thing is, from the carrier’s perspective there is no such thing as “pre-diabetic”. If you are taking medication for diabetes, in the carrier’s eyes, you are diabetic. The biggest thing they are looking for is at least two-years stability with your diabetes. 

The carriers are looking for:

· A two-year stability of your diabetes with any heart issues. For example, if you have high blood pressure in combination with diabetes, they want that to be consistent and stable for at least two years. 

· There is a limit on the amount of diabetic medications you can be taking in combination with a heart pillar blood pressure medication. For example, if you take a blood pressure medication or any medications for your heart, they are going to limit you to two diabetic prescriptions. 

· If you are not on any blood pressure or heart medications, carriers will be a lot more lenient when it comes to your diabetes. Some carriers allow up to 4 or 5 diabetic medications. 

If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

First, I would like to start with our office cannot make the determination if you qualify for extra help. We can answer any questions you have but when it comes to extra help, your best resource is going to be Social Security.  

If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for help to pay for some health care and prescription drug costs. Extra Help is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drug costs. If you qualify for Extra Help and join a Medicare drug plan, you’ll get help paying your Medicare drug plan’s costs, you will not go into the Coverage Gap (Donut Hole) and you’ll pay no late enrollment penalty fee. 

You may qualify for Extra Help if your yearly income and resources are below these limits in 2018:

· Single Person-you must make less than $18,210. If you have other resources, you must make less than $14,100.

· Married person living with spouse and no other dependents-you must make less than $24,690. If you have other resources, you must make less than $28,150. 

If you want to find out if you qualify for extra help it’s pretty simple. Normally, you are automatically enrolled based on your income but I recommend that you not depend on that. There are a couple resources that you can apply: 

· Visit socialsecurity.gov/i1020 to apply online. 

· Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. TTY users can call 1-800-325-0778.

When you qualify for extra help on your Part D drug plan, what it will do depending on the level of Extra Help you receive, it will lower your monthly premium on your Part D drug plan and it will also reduce your co-pays for your prescriptions (for generics you’ll pay no more than $3.40 per script and for brand-name medications you’ll pay no more than $8.50 per script). As far as the Coverage Gap, you will receive more subsidy funding so you’ll never have to worry about going into the Coverage Gap.

If you have any questions, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 and 70 in Virginia Beach, Virginia (zip code 23464). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that. 

You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier. 

If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

Two very common myths regarding Medicare Supplement Plans are as follows:

1. I can only change my Medicare Supplement plan during the Annual Election Period. This isn’t true. You are allowed to shop for your Medicare Supplement Plan all year long. The October 15th to December 7th deadline only applies to Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Part D Plans. 

2. I am automatically approved for a Medicare Supplement Plan. This isn’t true either. Unless you purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan within 6 months of starting Medicare Parts A and B, you have to medically qualify to get a Medicare Supplement Plan. Whether it be you have just Medicare and you want a Medicare Supplement, you have a Medicare Advantage Plan and you want to upgrade or you already have a Medicare Supplement and you want to shop for a lower premium. You have to medically qualify with any of these scenarios.  If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

There are two time periods of the year that you can upgrade from a Medicare Advantage Plan to a Medicare Supplement Plan. The first is the one we’re all familiar with, the Annual Election Period which is every year between October 15th and December 7th. The second is called the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period, which started January 1st and will end March 31st. 

You will not be automatically approved to go from a Medicare Advantage Plan to a Medicare Supplement Plan. In most cases, you will have to through the underwriting process which will require you to answer around 20 health questions and the underwriters will also cross reference your medications and look about 2 years back into your health history. 

Please feel free to call my office with any questions at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

Medicare has released a new app for your phone or iPad called the “What’s Covered” app. 

You can use this Federal app for the following: 

· Get answers to your Medicare coverage questions

· See how much you’ll pay

· Learn about the covered items and services

· See helpful notes and where to get more information

· Browse free preventative services, Original Medicare items and services

Find out exactly what your Medicare coverage has to offer by getting answers to questions like:

· When are Mammograms covered?

· Are specialists or home healthcare covered?

· Will Medicare pay for crutches, walkers or diabetes testing supplies?

If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

It’s the beginning of the year and most people are starting to receive their Notice of Increase from their Medicare Supplement carriers. It’s a very common misunderstanding that you can only change your Medicare Supplement once a year starting in October. However, that is untrue. The October to December annual enrollment deadline only applies to Medicare Part D drug plans and Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C) plans. 

If you have a Medicare Supplement plan, you can shop your plan all year long. One very important thing to remember about Medicare Supplement plans is that they are federally regulated plans. The letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier, so there is no reason to pay more with one carrier over another. 

If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages: 

https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/

https://twitter.com/MedicareBob

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

Medicare was not designed to cover long term care (nursing homes) insurance; therefore, it does not cover long term care. It does cover care in a skilled nursing facility. These are the differences between the two types of care: 

· Long-term care is a range of services and support for your personal care needs. Most long-term care isn't medical care. Instead, most long-term care is help with basic personal tasks of everyday life, sometimes called

· Skilled care is nursing and therapy care that can only be safely and effectively performed by, or under the supervision of, professionals or technical personnel. Its health care given when you need skilled nursing or skilled therapy to treat, manage, and observe your condition, and evaluate your care.

Medicare will cover your medical bills if you are hospitalized or have to see the doctor while living in the facility but it will not cover your actual stay in the nursing home. 

This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female between the ages of 65 and 77 in Dallas, Texas (zip code 75217). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that. 

You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier.