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Treating clients as if they were our own family members
Treating clients as if they were our own family members
Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the oldest insurance providers in the U.S., having been founded in Minnesota in the 1930s. With its extensive experience in the industry and operations in dozens of markets across the country, it is also one of the most stable and reliable. Among its wide range of insurance products and services are Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap).
If you are currently enrolled in both Original Medicare Part A and Part B and you are turning 65 years old, you are qualified for any of the Medigap plans created by the government. There are 10 Medicare Supplements in total and these are taken optionally, in addition to the coverage the Original Medicare provides. Medigap is acquired through private insurance agencies like Blue Cross Blue Shield and is named like so because it covers the “gaps” that the state cannot shoulder under the original plan.
The ideal time to sign up for a Medigap policy is during the six-month Open Enrollment period that begins on the first day of your birth month in the year that you turn 65 years old. For instance, if you are already enrolled in Part B and then turn 65 years in April, the window begins in April and ends in September.
During this time, you can purchase any of the 10 Medigap policies without any judgment from the insurance provider. This means that although you have an underlying medical condition or are not physically fit, insurers are required to approve your application without any question. Take note that the absence of any medical underwriting happens during this period only. When it lapses, insurance providers can choose to reject or charge a higher fee.
Federal policy does not require insurance agencies to sell Medicare Supplement plans to those who are under 65 years old, but if you acquire one before you turn 65, you might not get the policy you want or it might come with higher premiums.
Medicare Supplements are standardized everywhere in the U.S. This is the government’s way of safeguarding its citizens, by making sure everybody qualified gets the same level of coverage wherever they purchase their Medigap policy. However, because it is sold by private insurance companies, the premium rates and the add-ons may vary.
Blue Cross Blue Shield offers seven of the 10 Medigap plans: A, F, high-deductible F, G, K, L, and N. All of these offer the following:
– Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital fees (up to an extra 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted)
– Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment (100%, except for K, 50%, and L, 75%)
– Blood (first 3 pints: 100%, except for K, 50%, and L, 75%)
– Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment (100%, except for K, 50%, and L, 75%)
Not all Medicare Supplement plans include skilled nursing facility care coinsurance, Part A deductible, Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, and foreign travel emergency coverage. In fact, only high-deductible F and Plan G offer 100% Part B excess charges, which is why they have the highest premiums.
Speak to your preferred Medicare Supplement advisor about the best Medigap plan for your needs. Take note that while you may be in good health now, you should consider your medical forecast at least for the next five years so you can decide on the best policy to purchase. You can always change your plan during the Open Enrollment period that happens every year, but the peace of mind in knowing that you are secured for the long-term and don’t have to keep switching is priceless.