0
The "best" supplement is the one that you can afford. Here's how the supplements work: Medigap, also called a Medicare Supplement, basically pays the portion of medical expenses that Medicare expects you to pay. Medicare is an "80/20" plan, meaning Medicare pays 80% of the bill and you pay 20% of the bill. Medigap can pay the 20% for you. Depending on which Medigap plan you choose, the plan can also pay the (2009) $1068.00 hositalization (Part A) deductible for you and the $135.00 doctor's office (Part B) deductible for you.
Now, generally plans A-F are offered by insurance companies. The cost of the plans will vary from company to company BUT the overall coverage of the plan is the same as regulated by Medicare.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
A standard medigap policy must provide what?
A Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan, or Medigap Policy, helps cover your share of Medicare Part B cost. You can choose between Medicare Supplement Plans A-N. All plans offer Part B co insurance. Some plans offer skilled nursing benefits or foreign emergency travel while others do not. Consult with a Medigap provider to determine which Medigap Policy suits your needs.
Is Medicare Part C the same as Medicare supplemental?
No it is not. Medicare Part C plans otherwise known as Medicare Advantage Plans are private insurers that maintain a contract with Medicare to provide Medical Coverage and/or Prescription Drug Coverage plus in some cases added benefits not usually covered by Medicare (like dental, vision, etc) Medicare Supplement plans which have been standardized into various benefit plans labeled from A-N work in conjuction with Original Medicare and provide supplement coverage for costs that are normally the responsibility of the beneficiary. For more information on Medicare Supplement plan types, go to the publication 'Choosing a Medigap Policy, page 9:
Can you get Medicare supplement when you get insurance at work?
If you already have Medicare Part A and are enrolled in Medicare Part B, you can get a Medicare Supplement. When it comes to having insurance at work, take a look page 16 in the 2009 Medigap Book: http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02110.pdf
Can you buy Medicare supplemental insurance if you have Medicare carve out coverage?
Please explain your question more thoroughly if my answer does not suffice. I am unsure of what you mean by Medicare Carve Out Coverage. You can buy a Medicare Supplement at any time once you have received your Medicare Part A and Part B. If you do not enroll within 6 months of your Part B effective date you would be subject to underwriting. You can not join a Medicare Supplement if you already have a Medicare Advantage Plan as this is not allowed by Centers for Medicare. You would be required to drop your Medicare Advantage Plan prior to the Medicare Supplement effective date. If you had coverage through an employer, you would not need Medicare Supplement coverage as your employer coverage would be primary and then Medicare would be secondary for your out-of-pocket costs covered by Medicare.
What is a medicare supplement and a medicare replacement?
Medicare supplement pays part or all of your deductibles and copays that you have with Medicare parts A and B. A "Medicare replacement" is actually Medicare advantage. They are a Medicare option that combines your Part A, B and sometimes part D into one plan that is administered by a Medicare contracted insurance company. Many of these plans have very low or even 0 monthly premiums. You still have copays but they are generally much less than Original Medicare. (If this question relates to United States Medicare, there is no such thing as the concept of "Medicare replacement." I do not see anywhere to add an alternative answer so I put this here just as a warning. In the United States you are either on Medicare or you are not. If you are on Medicare in the United States, you will almost certainly feel the need to supplement it. Over 95% of the people on United States Medicare supplement it in some way. There is a wide choice of ways to supplement United States Medicare. The answer above describes only two of them.
Why does Medicare Part A not cover hospital expenses of American seniors abroad?
This is one of the many limitations with medicare, supplement policies often have coverage for travel.
What do the letters stand for at the end of medicare numbers?
Medicare part A = Hospital and Facility coverage Medicare part B = Professional (doctors and specialists) coverage Medicare part D = Rx Medicare part C = Part A B D combined After part C refers to supplement plans
Does Medicare have its own supplement ins?
Original Medicare Part A and Part B has proven to be a lifesaver for many American seniors by providing coverage for health care services. Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover everything. Original Medicare requires enrolled individuals to participate in cost sharing through certain out-of-pocket expenses:DeductiblesCopayment chargesCoinsurance requirementsLimits on how much Medicare will pay for certain expensesMany low-income Americans can get help with such out-of-pocket expenses through Medicaid. For all other Medicare enrollees, Medicare Supplement plans were created by private insurers to help address these other health related costs.Medigap supplements traditional Medicare Part A and B programs by covering many of these out-of-pocket costs, but it is not Medicare. Medicare Supplement plans are offered by private health insurance companies and regulated by the federal and state governments.Private Medicare Supplement Providers. Medigap insurance policies are provided by insurance companies, not by the federal government.Federal parameters. The federal government defines the Medigap plans that may be offered to Medicare enrollees. In most states the Medigap plans are standardized and range from Plan A to Plan N.State approvals. Individual states must approve insurance companies who can sell Medigap plans in their states, as well as which plans can be offered to their residents.Required Medigap BenefitsAll Medicare Supplement plans must offer a basic set of coverage:Coinsurance requirements on preventative care with Medicare Part B. Coinsurance is typically a percentage of the fees charged for service, supplies or care. All Medigap plans cover this coinsurance, with some limits based on plan options.Coinsurance on hospital stay with Medicare Part A. All Medicare Supplement plans cover the coinsurance on hospital costs, up to an additional 365 days after Medicare hospital benefits have run out. This is especially useful for lengthy hospitalization.THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE in the related link.Copayment or coinsurance on Medicare Part B. Medigap plans cover 50 to 100 percent of copayment and coinsurance requirements on Medicare Part B.Copayment or coinsurance on Medicare Part A hospice care.Medigap plans cover 50 to 100 percent of copayment and coinsurance requirements on Medicare Part A hospice care expenses.Blood. Most hospitals get their blood at no cost from subsidized blood banks. However, if a hospital has to purchase additional blood for you, it will charge you for that blood. Medigap plans cover up to 100 percent of the cost for the first three pints of blood.If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, the Medigap policies are different.Additional Medigap Benefits AvailableIn addition to the required benefits listed above, the various Medicare Supplement plans available offer some or all of the following benefits:Skill Nursing Facility Care CoinsuranceMedicare Part A DeductibleMedicare Part B DeductibleMedicare Part B Excess ChargesForeign Travel Emergency (up to plan limits)If you live in Massachusetts, Minnesota, or Wisconsin, the Medigap policies are different.Important Medigap ConsiderationsAs you start shopping for Medicare Supplement plans, here are a few issues you need to keep in mind:THIS INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE in the related link.Only One: A Medigap policy only covers one individual, which means that if you and your spouse need coverage, you will each need to purchase a policy.Premiums: Since you must have Medicare Parts A and B to qualify for a Medigap policy, you will have to pay monthly premiums for Part B to Medicare and monthly premiums for your Medigap policy to your private insurer
I have Medicare part A & B. I have received bills from a specialist and my PCP. Do I owe them money when they have have accepted Medicare assignment?
not if you inform them you can't afford a medicare supplement @ this time. Send 2 registered letter's with a return receipt for proof
Which part of medicare cover prescription drugs?
If you have straight Medicare A and/or B, the prescriptions would be covered by a Part D policy which you can add to your coverage for an additional premium each month.
Does Medicare Part B cover bedside commodes?
Medicare will cover these at 80%, so there will be a 20% co payment, unless the patient has a supplement that covers the other 20%, like AARP.
Do you need a health plan supplement when you have Medicare?
Yes. It depends on what is covered in your Medicare plan. There are supplemental insurance programs, like MediGap and other additional options provided either by Medicare itself, or by your own choice of providers. This answer is correct for the most part, but you don't HAVE to have a supplement when you have Medicare. It is up to you. Most people wouldn't go without a supplement. These nifty little plans can cover your deductibles and coinsurances that Medicare leaves for the patient. If your claim is high dollar, you could find yourself in trouble trying to figure out how to pay your portion of the bill. Also, Medicare itself doesn't offer any supplemental insurance. You have to shop for yourself and decide which sounds like it would help you the most. Part D supplemental coverage is for prescriptions. Medicare does not cover any prescriptions. You have to figure which drugs you are presently taking and then find a supplement that will cover most of those drugs. If your prescriptions radically change over the year, you may want to shop for a new Part D supplement when it's the time of year to add, delete or change your supplements or even purchase a Medicare Replacement Plan. Many, many choices.
