Best Medicare

Choosing the Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

Social security and Medicare are two of the best government programs ever initiated by the United States congress for it’s older citizens. These programs insure that millions of senior citizens have a better quality of life as they age. Fewer seniors go hungry and more seniors get the health care they so badly need. Though the programs are not perfect, it is hard to imagine living without them. There is Medicare supplemental insurance to bridge the coverage gaps. Medicare Supplemental options are limited to three of the 10 options available nation wide. Medicare supplemental insurance has options for seniors to choose from.

What is Medicare supplemental insurance? Is MediGap insurance the same?
To bridge the coverage gaps in Medicare there are 10 Medicare supplemental insurance programs. These plans are sold by private insurance agents and are often called MediGap. These policies are meant to provide additional health care coverage in areas like extended health care, prescriptions and extended hospital or home care. The plans are plan A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I AND J with each offering a different set of supplemental coverages for senior citizens on Medicare. The government does not sell supplemental plans so they need to be bought from independent insurance companies. Medicare supplemental insurance New Mexico has several plans available through independent insurance agents.

Are all medicare supplemental insurance plans the same?
It is important to do some research on the 10 MediGap programs available from private insurance companies to find the plan that is right for a given set of needs. Premiums, deductibles, coverage and requirements vary from agency to agency and state to state, so shop around before buying a policy. Each state has the right to limit the types of MediGap policies that can be sold by insurance companies in their state. Not every one of the 10 Medicare Supplemental Insurance plan types will be offered in each state. Medicare supplemental insurance only offers 3 plans.

What medicare supplemental insurance is available?
only plans H, I and J are allowed to be sold. They are the MediGap plans with the most comprehensive coverage. Medicare supplemental insurance plans are more limited than in some states, but there are other health insurance options to consider. Plan H covers most of what plans A, B, C, D, E, F and G cover which is basic benefit plan, supplement to plan A and B of Medicare, in patient and at home long term care, foreign travel emergency health care, and part B excess charges. Plan I covers basic benefit, prescription drugs, part A inadequacies, foreign travel emergency health care and at home recovery among other things. Plan J has the basic coverage, supplemental coverage to medicare plan A and B, preventive care, prescription coverage and choices in deductibles to keep cost of premiums down.

Can one get help choosing a medicare supplemental insurance plan?
Medicare supplemental insurance New Mexico information and help is available through the New Mexico State health Insurance Assistant Program. Phone #s are 1-800-432-2080 or 1- 505-827-7640. Internet access is http://www.nmaging.state.nm.us/. If you need more help call the National Medicare hot line at 1-800- MEDICARE or go on line at http://www.medicare.gov.

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