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Medicare Insurance Brokerage …

If you are celebrating your 65th birthday soon, you might have already started mapping out your retirement options. Healthcare, Medicare in specific, is one of the most asked-about topics by those who are entering this new life stage….and rightly so. Medicare is the US federal government’s way of safeguarding its aging citizens and those who have disabilities. It is designed to help ease the financial burden related to healthcare and medical expenses from conditions that arise after a person becomes separated from the workforce or is unable to work.

Medicare is provided directly by the state, so its coverage is the same no matter where you are in the country. However, there is one caveat—Medicare’s benefits are limited, and people who need more than the basic healthcare products and services will need to enroll into an additional insurance policy to ensure that they will have a safety net when the time comes. This is why Medicare Supplements are brought up whenever Medicare is discussed.

National Guardian Life has been in the insurance business since 1909 and started out with its first insurance plan (valued at $5,000 in 1910. As the company expanded its mergers and acquisitions operations, it became more equipped to venture into other forms of business and to strengthen its insurance line. At present, the insurer services 49 US states and the District of Columbia, focusing on pre-need, individual life and annuities, plus group markets and specialty products.

In the year 2018, National Guardian Life added Medicare Supplements to its offerings, initially serving 11 states, namely Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Mississippi, S. Carolina, West Virginia, and Utah. By June 2020, the firm made Medigap plans available to 34 states, including California, with the goal to reach 36 by 2021.

As per government mandate, private insurance agencies are allowed to choose which among the 10 standardized Medigap plans they want to sell in their areas, depending on the demand. However, all companies are required to make Plan A available. 

In addition, since January 1, 2020, Plans C and F are no longer being sold to those who are new to Medicare because they will no longer cover the Part B deductible. However, if you already have these, then you can continue to enjoy the benefits of your plan until you want to. 

National Guardian Life offers the following Medicare Supplement products: A, F, G, and N and is partnered with agents affiliated with Secure Care 65, LLC of Clearwater, FL aka: SecureCare65. Here is a comparison table of their benefits and coverages.

National Guardian Life is approved to sell Medicare Supplements in the following states:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming
  

National Guardian Life offers a 7% household discount for those who want to enroll in any of its offerings as a couple or as a family and a point-of-sale underwriting engine. You can apply in person via its agents or offices nearest you, but given the challenging times, you can also apply via its e-application channel with e-signature and voice signature capabilities. 

In addition to Medigap plans, the company also has a wide range of insurance products dedicated to senior citizens, including funeral planning, long-term care, and estate planning.

• You cannot purchase any Medicare Supplement plan if you don’t have both Medicare Part A and Part B.
• A Medigap plan covers just one person, which means spouses should purchase separate policies. They can also have different plans, depending on what they need.
• You play for your Medicare Supplement plan monthly, in addition to what you are already paying for your Part B premium
• Medigap does not include drug coverage
• Be sure to compare the prices and coverages of Medigap policies offered by different providers in your area. Private insurers are allowed to set their own pricing as they see fit. 

The most ideal time to buy a Medicare Supplement plan is during your IEP, or Initial Election Period, of the called the Open Enrollment. This six-month window starts on the first day of the month when you celebrate your 65th birthday and are enrolled in Original Medicare Part B. During this period, you can buy any Medigap policy you want at the regular rate and without being required to go through medical underwriting. 

After this period lapses, you might not be able to purchase any policy, especially if you have an underlying condition. If you do get approved for a plan, there’s a risk that the monthly premium will be higher than the usual rate. 

Also, the law does not require insurance companies to offer Medicare Supplement plans to those who are under 65 years old. If you are younger than 65, you might not be able to purchase any plan. However, there are some states that require companies to sell to this age group—though it might cost higher. Be sure to check with your SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) or State Insurance Dept. to find out more about your purchasing rights in your area.