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
Utah Medicare Supplement Plans & Medicare Advantage Plans
Choosing between the seemingly endless variety of Utah Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage companies and plans can be quite complicated. The choice of Medicare supplement plans and Medicare Advantage plans, as well as their costs and coverage vary by county in Utah. Our goal is to make this process if not easy, at least understandable. We research and study all the available plans so you don’t have to. We believe an informed consumer is a better consumer. There is no cost or obligation to receive any of the help wading through all of the available information.
One only needs to be a Medicare beneficiary to apply for most Utah Medicare Supplemental Plans. Many people believe you must be at least 65 to receive Medicare but this is not always the case. Medicare provides benefits to permanently disabled people under age 65 as well. Not every person over 65 has to take Medicare Part B either. If you are still working, and have coverage through your employer, you certainly want to weigh all your options, and make sure you make the right choice for you. In the State of Utah, there are currently no carriers that offer Medicare Supplement coverage under the age of 65, so those on Medicare due to disability need to look at a medicare Advantage plan to help supplement their Medicare coverage.
Utah Medicare plans available include:
- Medicare Supplement (MediGap)
- Medicare Advantage (Part C)Part D (Prescription drug plans)
- Medicare Advantage HMO
- Medicare Advantage HMO-POS
- Medicare Advantage PPO
- Medicare Advantage PFFS
- Dual Eligible
- special needs plans
You would be well served to review your costs and coverage every year. As a Medicare advisor, it is also in our best interest to make sure you are on the right plan as well. Utah Medicare Supplement prices usually go up annually and a good deal last year may not be a good price this year.All Medigap plans are standardized so the difference between companies boils down to cost.
The same is true for the Utah Medicare Advantage Plans, including HMO, PPO, SNP plans and extends to your drug plan. Typically when it comes to Medicare in Utah – benefits and costs will change every year. So we can help you review you coverage to make sure you still are receiving all the benefits Medicare has to offer at the lowest possible overall cost to you.
You can review your options on your own or turn this job over to a professional Utah Medicare insurance agent. Senior Services of Utah represent virtually every carrier doing business in Utah and will help you make the best choice for you. There is no cost for our services, so don’t hesitate to contact us. We have years of experience helping clients navigate through their insurance issues and are here to help.
Call us at 1-801-979-6365 at your convenience and let us help you find the right Medicare Supplement or Advantage Plan.
Utah Medicare Advantage Plans, Utah Medicare Supplement Plans, FAQ’s
Utah Medicare Advantage Plans……
When it comes to Utah Medicare Advantage plans there are many options for Utah Medicare beneficiaries. Another issue that may arise is that not all Utah Medicare Advantage Plans are available in all counties throughout Utah. In fact many of the more rural counties may have as little as one option or even no options. This is when you need an adviser who focuses on both Utah Medicare Advantage and Utah Medicare supplement plans. The other issues folks in the more rural areas face is that these very same plans that are available often have less benefits and higher co-pays on services because of the lack of a large number of providers within their area.
There are many types of Utah Medicare Advantage plans available which include, PFFS or Private fee for service plans, PPO or preferred provider organization plans, and HMO or health maintenance organization plans. Each of these plans vary by coverage area and the ability of the Utah Medicare
Advantage beneficiary to access care. PFFS plans work in that any provider who is willing to accept the terms and conditions of the plan will accept it. PPO’s are usually the type of plans which have the largest network availability, with some out of network coverage, and HMO plans usually ask you to follow a strict network with limited ability to go outside that same network.
When it comes to Utah Medicare Advantage plans, the most popular plans along the Wasatch Front are plans termed as HMO-POS. These plans are HMO is design whereas they adhere to a fairly strict network, but the POS part of the plan allows a beneficiary to go outside the network with a higher out of pocket cost or co-pay. With the introduction of these plans, Utah Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have great options when they are looking for coverage.
Another great benefit of these Medicare Advantage plans is that many of them include Medicare Part D or prescription drug coverage at no additional cost to the beneficiary. The extent of this drug coverage is typically the deciding factor when a Utah Medicare Advantage beneficiary is deciding on which plan to go with. A few of the provider options for Utah Medicare Plans are:
Humana Medicare
United Healthcare
Altius Healthplans
SelectHealth Advantage
Molina Medicare
Regence Blue Cross/ Blue Shield
University of Utah
Each of these Utah Medicare Advantage plans offer the same basic outline of coverage, but co-pays, drug coverage, and even supplemental benefits vary from plan to plan. Make sure you work with an agent who knows the differences between these plans in order to get you the appropriate coverage for your situation.
Utah Medicare Facts And Statistics May Surprise You
Utah Medicare is an insurance program for seniors age 65 and over and certain other individuals who qualify based on disability, and this insurance is offered by the federal government if you meet the eligibility requirements. The original medicare plan offers coverage for hospital and medical insurance, also called Part A and Part B, but this insurance has many restrictions, limitations, and gaps. Many residents in Utah who are eligible for Utah medicare also choose a medigap, supplement, or Medicare Advantage plan from a private insurance company as well. These private policies are regulated by state and federal government concerning what coverage must be offered, however the premiums for a policy can vary from low to high depending on the specific insurance company that you choose a policy through. Utah Medicare Supplement plans are standardized and each plan covers exactly the same items while Utah medicare advantage plans may have different co-pays for each service.
Utah Medicare Statistics
Across the USA there are over 44 million people who are enrolled in the medicare program, and 1 in 5 also have medicare advantage insurance coverage. 1 in 4 individuals who have medicare in the USA will also choose a medicare Part D policy, which offers coverage for prescription medications. It is estimated that 1 in 10 people in the state have Utah medicare coverage of some type, and this means that more than a quarter of a million individuals in Utah have this type of insurance in some form. More than 70,000 of these residents also pay for a Medicare Advantage policy through a private insurance company. It is estimated that more than 266,000 people have Utah Medicare Part D, which provides prescription drug coverage for eligible individuals.
Utah Medicare Components
Utah medicare offers the same components that are offered in the other 49 states as well. Medicare Part A provides hospital and there is no premium charged for this insurance as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. Utah medicare Part B is also offered by the federal government but there is a premium charged for this medical coverage if you choose to take it. If you are eligible for Part A you automatically become eligible for Part B as long as you enroll and pay the premiums due. Part C involves medicare advantage plans, which are policies that are somewhat standardized regarding coverage, but these policies are offered by private insurance companies and each one may have different co-pay and premium amounts. Each of these policies must meet the standards for coverage set by federal and state laws, and the premiums and co-pays charged by each insurer can vary even though the policy outline of coverage is the same. Utah medicare Part D offers prescription drug coverage, and this is also offered by private insurance companies.
Get The Best Utah Medicare Coverage At An Affordable Price
It is possible to get Utah medicare supplement or medicare advantage plan coverage at reasonable prices, if you are willing to spend some time and effort evaluating all of your possible options or you consult a local insurance expert. The best way for you to get the lowest possible rate on your private Utah medicare supplement or advantage policy is to shop around and compare premium and co-pay prices. A qualified local insurance expert in this area can help you locate the policy type and coverage that you are looking for without having to pay more for the policy you choose. At Senior Services of Utah we offer all the major insurance plans and are happy to take the headache out of choosing a plan.