Find the BEST Medicare plan for you
Medicare Coverage Plans
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn’t cover everything. Medicare recipients are still responsible for copayments and deductibles, which tend to add up pretty quickly. Medicare also doesn’t cover a lot of benefits like dental, prescription drugs, routine vision checks, and out of U.S. emergency health situations. With original Medicare, our clients have to pay for all of this out of pocket. This is where the Medicare advantage plans, or Medicare Supplements (Medigap) insurance come in to play. These plans are significantly different in costs and benefits. This is why it’s so important for agents selling these products need access to quality training and continuing education. I can’t tell you how many of my clients have called asking me for help with their MAPD plan because a greedy insurance agent convinced them to switch. As always, it’s important to do what’s best for our clients first, before everything else.
Medicare advantage works hand in hand with original Medicare because an MAPD plan will cover certain costs that original Medicare doesn’t cover. With Medicare advantage plans, you’re still in the Medicare program and are only paying the $185.00 monthly for part B. The difference is, you get the Medicare benefits through the insurance companies and not from the federal program. Some of the plans will include paying the $185.00 for you. These plans are designed to replace the government plan with the intent of covering certain costs that original Medicare doesn’t cover. For example, your client has a Medicare Advantage plan that doesn’t help them with eye doctor visits. They are having vision issues and need to see an eye doctor but can’t afford to do that. You switch them to a plan that covers part of their eye doctor visits and now they can fix their vision.
Medicare Advantage Supplements and More
With Medicare supplements, the client usually has to pay a much higher monthly premium than the $185.00 and they can’t be used with MAPD. The Med Supp plan simply covers certain cost sharing expenses that are required by Medicare like deductibles and copayments. Part D covers prescription medication costs. They also tend to cover things like Part B excess charges and emergency medical coverage while traveling outside the states. A lot of folks would rather pay a few hundred dollars out of pocket for these Medigap plans as they feel more comfortable with them. In many cases they have more options with doctors, specialists, and medications. We see people with higher income go with Medicare Supplements over MAPD because of the extra (safety net). If you’re income is fixed and limited, a Medicare advantage plan is usually the best and only option.