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A Medigap (also called Medicare Supplement Insurance) policy is private health insurance that is designed to supplement Original Medicare. If you are in Original Medicare and you have a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-approved amounts for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share. (Note: Medicare doesn’t pay any of the costs for you to get a Medigap policy.)
Also, a Medigap policy in Utah is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) because those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy in Utah only supplements your Medicare benefits.
Every Medicare Supplement insurance policy in Utah must follow Federal and state laws designed to protect you and the policy must be clearly identified as Medicare Supplement Insurance. Medigap insurance companies in Utah and in most states can only sell you a standardized Medigap policy identified by letters A through N. Each standardized Medigap policy must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company sells it. Cost is usually the only difference between Medigap policies with the same letter sold by different insurance companies.
It’s important to compare Medigap policies because costs can vary. The benefits in any Medigap Plan are the same for any insurance company. Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell.
Generally, when you buy a Medigap policy you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium. In addition, you will have to pay a premium to the Medigap insurance company.
You and your spouse must each buy separate Medigap policies. Remember, your Medigap policy won’t cover any health care costs for your spouse.
For additional information on Medigap policies, including why you would want to buy a Medigap policy and information about what Medigap policies cover, read this publication, Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare .
All Medicare Supplements (Medigap) in Utah have been standardized by the federal government since 1992. According the publication
Insurance companies can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy. Each type of Medigap policy offers the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company sells it. Usually the only difference between Medigap policies sold by different insurance companies is the cost.
The most popular Medicare Supplement is Plan F. Every Plan F is identical but the premium will vary depending on company. Some companies will offer up to a $20 discount for people turning 65. The lowest priced plan in Salt Lake may be one of the higher priced elsewhere.
Don’t just settle for Plan F. Other plans may be more cost effective. Make sure you use an agent who specializes in Medicare to show you all the options.
Let us help you choose the right plan. Most agents do not specialize in Medicare Supplement Policies. We do and would be happy to show you all your options. Contact Us here
Is Medigap Plan F right for you??
Many Medicare Supplement insurance agents place an emphasis on Plan F, but that does not necessarily mean it is the right plan for you. How do you find out if you should jump on the bandwagon or take the road less traveled because it suits you better? There are three main guidelines when conducting Medicare Supplement comparison that will help you make this important decision.
First, how does the premium of Plan F compare with other lower-tiered plans? Plan F is often set at a higher price than any other Medicare Supplement plan except Plan J. (J is no longer available)
With less expensive plans, you can end up saving quite a bit every month. This does not seem like much when looked at on a month-by-month basis, but over the course of a year you could save a bunch. We have saved some clients close to $100 a month, but the average savings will be $25 to $40 per month.
Of course, signing up for lower costing plan will result in more out-of-pocket expenses, but if you are in pristine health and have no family history of intense illness in old age, many times a less comprehensive plan is fine for seniors who are still paying the high premiums of Plan F. That is why it is important to take the time to conduct Medicare Supplement comparison.
Next, consider whether you can really handle a few extra out-of-pocket expenses in exchange for a more manageable monthly premium.
Plan F covers those excess fees that could be charged to you. Most doctors, however, do accept Medicare assignment so that particular benefit of Plan F is wasted. Because of this, we often recommend Plan D or G, because other than the $140 part B deductible, the coverage is essentially the same as Plan F at a significant cost savings. Make sure you have an agent that is willing to show you all of the options, not just the one that pays them best.
Utah Medicare Supplement Plans, is price really all that matters?
When it comes to choosing a medicare supplement or medigap plan in Utah, a lot of agents try to blindly lead you with the thought that all that matters is price. I am here to offer a different point of view. Now we know price is always a big deal and saving $15 or $20 can often be a big deal on a monthly basis, but what happens when that new discount Utah Medicare Supplement takes a 20% rate increase after the first year, and then again in year two. Did you realize you can often see two rate increases annually depending on when you sign up for your plan? Most agents don’t tell you this until it happens to you. Saving 10% to see a 30 to 40% increase over a couple years doesn’t make any sense, and if you have any major health concerns along the way, the option to change may not be there. At Senior Services of Utah, we understand Medicare and the companies that offer supplemental coverage. Our goal is to get you coverage that you don’t have to change or adjust every time the wind blows. Feel free to visit our page discussing Medicare Supplements, or Contact Us Today for a FREE QUOTE
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