One of the most hotly contested debates in the country today revolves around Medicare reform. It is certainly no secret that Medicare alone is not sufficient to cover all of our health care needs. Medicare supplement insurance is one step the government has taken in order to address the need for more medical coverage for the average person at as low a price as possible.
The twelve Medigap plans have been put into place in order to help close the gaps in the standard Medicare package. These 12 plans have been named "Medigap Plan A" through to "Medigap Plan L." Not all of them are available in every state, but there are twelve in total.
It is very important that you understand from the outset that they are called "plans, " because Medicare comes in two different "parts." Part A is the basic Medicare health package, while Part B must be paid for in monthly premiums. Bear this in mind for two important reasons.
When you start looking into Medigap plans, you will discover that it is generally necessary to first purchase Medicare Part B before you can qualify for Medigap plans. One of these plans is "Plan B." It is not the same as Medicare Part B.
Another aspect of this that sometimes creates confusion and misunderstanding is that when you purchase a Medigap plan, that does not exempt you from also paying for your Medicare Part B policy. You must pay these two separate premiums separately. Sometimes people get the mistaken impression that if they opt for the gap program's "Plan B, " they no longer have to participate in Medicare's "Part B."
Another thing to remember is that the Medicare supplement packages are the same. Whatever plan you choose will be the same, whoever you purchase it from. Your first order of business, therefore, is to understand what is included in the plans and to choose the one that is right for you. If you choose a more comprehensive plan, such as Plan J, is will naturally cost more than Plan B, for instance, but even so, one insurance company may charge more or less for it than another. Insurance companies are not bound by law to charge the same premium for the same policy.
For this reason, choose your plan first and only then do your price comparing through the different insurance companies. If you want Plan J, you know that no matter which company you get it from, it will be the policy you want, though one company may offer it to you cheaper than another.
Keep these facts about Medicare Supplement Insurance firmly in mind when you start comparing prices. This way, you can save money on your Medigap insurance and get the coverage you need.
No comments:
Post a Comment