A Commitment in Care with Medicare Supplements
"Medicare Supplements are one of our commitments in care for our clients and one of my favorite educational topics to teach.
Too often, our office meets individuals who have accidentally made the wrong choices or missed an important enrollment timeframe. I can't emphasize enough how critical it is for individuals to understand plan details and deadlines. Let's work together to ensure you get what supplemental coverage you need, when you need it."
- Tim Bruner (GEORGIABenefits, Inc.)
What is a Medicare Supplement?
A Medicare Supplement (also referred to as Medigap coverage or Medigap policies) is a type of private insurance that helps you pay for some of the costs that Original Medicare does not cover. This may include help with coverage for copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
The term "Original Medicare" refers to:
- Medicare Part A (hospital insurance piece)
- and Part B (medical insurance [outpatient])
Today, you have a choice between the Original Medicare Part A and Part B OR a Medicare Advantage Plan.
Electing a Medicare Advantage Plan means you do not need, or can be sold, a Medicare Supplement. Electing for the Original Medicare Parts A and B option should carefully review their needs for a Medicare supplement.
How Does It Work?
If you have original Medicare Part A and Part B plus a Medicare supplement, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amounts for covered health care costs.Then, your Medicare supplement policy pays its share.
Note: This is only applicable when you have Original Medicare Part A and Part B in-effect in order to buy a Medicare Supplement.
What is Not Covered by a Medicare Supplement?
Anything that Original Medicare would not cover.
For example, neither Medicare nor Medicare supplements will cover long-term care (LTC), vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private duty nursing.
Are There Purchase Periods for Part D and Medicare Supplement Plans?
Yes. The best time to buy a Medicare Supplement is during your Medicare Open Enrollment Period, which:
- Lasts for 6 months
- Begins on the first day of the month you are age 65+
- and you are enrolled in Medicare Part B
It is critical for you to understand the value of open enrollment.
During that 6 months of your open enrollment period, insurance companies who issue Medicare Supplements cannot consider your health conditions and decline coverage. Your coverage is guaranteed to issue for the same price as healthy insureds during this time only.
