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Medicare Supplement Facts

Q. Who can apply for Medicare online?
A. You can use our online Medicare application if you:
  • Are at least 64 years and 9 months old;
  • Want to sign up for Medicare but do not currently have ANY Medicare coverage;
  • Do not want to start receiving Social Security benefits at this time; and
  • Are not currently receiving Social Security retirement, disability or survivors benefits.
Q. When should I apply for Medicare?
A. You should sign up for Medicare three months before reaching age 65, even if you are not ready to start receiving retirement benefits. You can opt out of receiving cash retirement benefits now once you are in the online application. Then you can apply online for retirement benefits later.
 
With our online application, you can sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance). Because you must pay a premium for Part B coverage, you can turn it down.
 
If choose not to enroll in Medicare Part B and then decide to do so later, your coverage may be delayed and you may have to pay a higher monthly premium for as long as you have Part B. Your monthly premium will go up 10 percent for each 12-month period you were eligible for Part B, but didn’t sign up for it, unless you qualify for a "Special Enrollment Period."
Q. With a Medicare Supplement policy, do I have a list of doctors and hospitals I must use?
A. Medicare Supplements allow you to go to any doctor or hospital in the United States as long as they accept Medicare unless it is a Select plan, which specifies the hospitals you can go to.
Q. What about RX coverage?
A. That can be obtained through a Medicare Part D program. Please ask for our help!
Q. What can you tell me about Plan F?
A. Plan F covers all the deductibles and all the coinsurance. If it is a Medicare approved expense, the insured will pay nothing. Plan G is another good plan. The main difference is this Medicare Supplement does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible.
Q. What is an Open Enrollment Period?
A. Open enrollment is the six-month period beginning on the first day of the month in which you are enrolled in Medicare Part B.  If you are on Medicare under age 65, you will also have a six-month open enrollment period when you reach age 65.
Q. What kind of preventive services are covered by Medicare?
A. Medicare Part B covers diabetes and cardiovascular screenings, cancer screenings (Mammogram, colorectal, prostate) and some vaccination shots. This is only a partial listing.
Q. Should a person purchase a Medicare Supplement if one already has group insurance through an employer?
A. One should not spend money on a Medigap policy unnecessarily. Try to avoid being double covered. An agent can help you understand if a Medicare Supplement would put you in that position.
 
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period is the six month period beginning on the first day of the month in which you are enrolled in Medicare Part B. If you are on Medicare under age 65, you will also have a six month Open Enrollment Period when you reach age 65. This is the best time to purchase a Medicare supplement because an insurance company cannot turn you down and or charge more due to a health problem. Insurance companies can apply up to a six-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions to your Medigap policy, but that can be eliminated or shorten if you have had prior credible coverage.
 
A pre-existing condition is a condition for which medical advice was given or treatment was recommended by or received from a physician within six months before the effective date of coverage.
 
How to read the Medigap chart below: If a check mark appears in the column, this means that the Medigap policy covers that benefit up to 100%. If a column lists a percentage, this means the Medigap policy covers that benefit at that percentage rate. If no percentage appears or if the column is blank, this means the Medigap policy doesn't cover that benefit. Note: The coverage of coinsurance only begins after the deductible has been satisfied.
 
 
Medigap Benefit A B C D F* G K L M N
Medicare Part A Coinsurance and Medigap Coverage for Hospital Benefits
Medicare Part B Coinsurance or Copayment 50% 75% ***
Blood (First Three Pints) 50% 75%
Part A Hospice Care Coinsurance or Copayment 50% 75%
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance     50% 75%
Medicare Part A Deductible   50% 75% 50%
Medicare Part B Deductible                
Medicare Part B Excess Charges                
Foreign Travel Emergency (Up to Plan Limits)        
Medicare Preventative Care Part B Coinsurance
2018 out-of-pocket limit: $5,420** $2,620**

*Plan F also has a high deductible option. This high deductible plan pays the same benefit as Plan F after one has paid a calendar year $2,240 deductible. Benefits from a high deductible Plan F will not begin until out-of-pocket expenses exceed $2,240. Out-of-pocket expenses for this deductible are expenses that would ordinarily be paid by the policy/certificate.

**After you meet your out-of-pocket yearly limit and your $183 yearly Part B deductible, the plan pays 100% of covered services for the rest of the calendar year.
*** Plan N pays 100% of the Part B coinsurance except up to $20 copayment for office visits and up to $50 for emergency department visits.