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Medicare Advantage Plan Applications Connecticut 2014

In this post we will try to help you understand Medicare Advantage Plan Applications Connecticut 2014.  In fact, there are 5 companies offering Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut for 2014.  Those companies are United Healthcare, Connecticare, Aetna, Anthem BCBS as well as Wellcare.  The post below contains links to benefit summaries of all the popular offerings from each company.  We also include links to applications for those people that want to apply.    Please keep in mind, that we have not listed all  the plans that are offered in the state.  This is only a list of the most common plans people inquire about in Connecticut.

United Healthcare Medicare Complete Plan 2–

This is a Medicare Advantage plan offered by United Healthcare.  The plan has both a $0 monthly premium and is an HMO.

Click for United Medicare Complete Plan 2 Application

 For United Medicare Complete Plan 2 Summary Of Benefits Click Here

Aetna Medicare Value Plan-

This is a Medicare Advantage plan offered by Aetna.  The plan has a $0 monthly premium and is an HMO as well.

Click For Aetna Value Medicare Application CT 2014

 For Aetna Value Summary Of Benefits CT 2014 – Click Here

Wellcare Value Plan- 

Wellcare offers a $0 monthly premium HMO in Connecticut.

 To Enroll Online – Click here

 For Summary Of Benefits

Connecticare VIP Prime 1-

Prime 1 is a Medicare Advantage plan from Connecticare.  The plan has $0 monthly premium and is an HMO

Click Here For Connecticare Medicare Application CT 2014

 For Summary Of Benefits

All completed applications can be either faxed to Crowe and Associates at 203-567-6235 or sent by email to Edward@Croweandassociates.com.   Additionally,  if you want to send them by mail, the address is : Crowe and Associates,  304 Federal Road, suite 107, Brookfield, CT 06804.

We will review all applications before we submit them.  If in fact we need any additional information, we will let you know.  If you have any questions, please call us at 203-796-5403.

Medicare Supplement Plan Applications Connecticut 2014

In this post Crowe and Associates wants to make sure that you understand Medicare Supplement Plan Applications Connecticut 2014.  In fact,  there are a number of companies that offer Medicare Supplement plans in the state of  Connecticut for 2014.  Medicare Supplements (also called Medigap Plans) are standardized in Connecticut. This means that plan benefits must be the same regardless of the company offering it.  When it comes to supplements the two most important issues are finding which supplement you want and then finding the company with the best price.  Currently, the AARP branded supplement by United Health Care have great rates on plans F, N and L.  Links to rates, benefit summaries and applications have been included below.

Click Here For Medicare Supplement Rates CT 2014

 For AARP Medicare Supplement Application CT 2014

Click Here For AARP Medicare Supplement Benefit Summary CT 2014

All applications may be send to Crowe and Associates by mail, fax or email.   Crowe and Associates will review all applications before we submit them to your chosen carrier.  We will call  you in the event that we need additional information to submit your application.

Fax Applications to Crowe and Associates at 203-567-6235 : Email applications to Crowe and Associates at Edward@croweandassociates.com  : Mail Applications to Crowe and Associates at 304 Federal Road, Suite 107, Brookfield, CT 06804.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.  You can reach us either by phone at (203)-796-5403 or by email at Edward@crowenadassociates.com.

Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Comparison Connecticut

In this post we will give you Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement Comparison Connecticut.  Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans (also called Medigap plans) are very different.  There are positives and negatives of each depending on an individuals medical needs.  This post will provide a description of both and compare them in order to make an educated decision when choosing a plan.  The plans outlined in this post are applicable to Connecticut and may not be available in other states.

Medicare Advantage Plans  (CLICK HERE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE APPLICATIONS)

Medicare Advantage Plans are offered by private insurance companies.   They offer medical and Rx benefits in one plan and act as the primary insurance instead of original Medicare.  There are 5 companies offering Medicare Advantage plans in Connecticut.  The companies are Connecticare, United Healthcare (with and without AARP logo), Aetna, Anthem BCBS and Wellcare.

Positives:

• Many have $0 monthly premium.   You will still pay your part B premium to Medicare however.
• They include the medical and Rx benefit in one package.  You do not need/cannot purchase a separate Part D Rx drug plan when you have a Medicare Advantage plan.  The Medicare Advantage plans include the Part D Rx coverage in the benefits.
• Extra benefits- some Medicare Advantage Plans provide for extra benefits such as dental, visions, podiatry visits, gym memberships, etc….

Negatives:

• Medicare Advantage plans have networks. Since the Advantage plan is your primary insurance, the provider must be in network in order for his servicesnto be covered by the plan. There are a limited number of Medicare Advantage Plans in Ct that provide out of network coverage as well.
• Copays-  You do not pay a monthly premium with Advantage plans but you do pay copays for medical services such as doctors visits, lab work, inpatient stays, etc….
• The last negative is that Medicare Advantage plans are able to make benefit changes every January.  This means that they may have a major increase in co-pays and cost share on renewal in January.  You are able to make a plan change every January.  Although, you cannot change your plan after February 14th.

CLICK HERE IF YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ADVANTAGE PLANS

CLICK HERE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN APPLICATIONS

Medicare Supplements (Also called Medigap Plans)    (CLICK HERE FOR SUPPLEMENT APPLICATIONS)

Medicare Supplement plans are secondary to Original Medicare.  When someone purchases a supplement, the provider will bill Medicare first and then the supplement will cover a portion or all (depending on the supplement you choose) of the remaining costs.  Medicare Supplement plans cover Medical services only and do not include Rx coverage.  Those that want Rx coverage purchase a stand along Part D drug plan.   Supplements are standardized in Connecticut.  This means that there is no variance in benefits from insurance carrier to insurance carrier.  In Connecticut there are 10 supplement plan options with plans F, N and L being the most popular.

Due to the fact that the benefits are standardized, purchasing a supplement usually comes down to who has the best rates.   Currently in Connecticut the United Healthcare AARP branded Medicare Supplements have a large rate advantage over all the other companies.   In other words, it really doesn’t make sense to purchase a Medicare supplement through a different company.

Positives:

• Medicare Supplement plans are secondary to Medicare.  This allows you to see any doctor that accepts Medicare.  There is not a network to follow.  As a result, Medicare supplements are very convenient for people that travel.
• You can determine how much coverage you want. For example, if you want 100% medical coverage, Plan F supplement would provide it or for 75% coverage you could use a plan L.
• Medicare supplement do not have prior authorization requirements

Negatives:

• Medicare Supplement plans have monthly premiums in addition to the Part B premium.  For example, the lowest cost plan F in Connecticut is $220 a month.  (cost is per person)
• Medicare Supplements do not include Rx coverage.  You must purchase Rx coverage separately with a Part D Rx plan.  Part D plans range in monthly price from $14 a month to $100 a month depending on the plan chosen.
• Medicare Supplements will only cover a procedure that is covered by Original Medicare.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS

 FOR MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT APPLICATIONS – CLICK HERE

Please contact us if you have any questions.  You can either call Crowe and Associates at 203 796 5403 or email  us at Edward@Croweandassociates.com.

Medicare Advantage Plans Explained

This post is about Medicare Advantage Plans Explained.  Are you confused about Medicare Advantage plans and how they work? If so, the following post should help clear up any confusion.

Medicare Advantage Plans are insurance plans  offered by private insurance companies.  They are used as an alternative to Original Medicare A and B and/or a Medicare supplement plan.  When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, the doctors/hospitals and other medical providers will bill your Medicare Advantage plan instead of original Medicare.  Medicare Advantage plans are offered by a number of companies such as Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare, Aetna, Connecticare, Etc….  These plans are often offered as $0 premium plans.  This means that you pay nothing per month to enroll in them.

Medicare Advantage plans also include your Medicare Part D drug benefit. (There are some plans that come without the Part D benefit but they usually include it.)  When you enroll in the advantage plan, you use one insurance card for all you care.   You can not enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and a separate stand alone part D plan.  You also can not enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan and a Medicare Supplement at the same time.

Pros and Cons of a Medicare Advantage plan   (CLICK HERE IF YOU ARE JUST LOOKING FOR AN APPLICATION)

Pros

• The Plan includes your part D drug benefit.
• Many Advantage plans have no monthly premium (You will still pay your Part B premium to Medicare)
• You only need to use one insurance card
• They often have additional benefits such as optional dental,  Full annual physicals, limited eye care, Podiatry and foreign travel benefits.

Cons

• The insurance  company is primary which means the providers need to participate with that company in order to receive care.
• There are co-pays for the medical services you receive.
• The out of pocket limits on the co-pays can be as high as $6,700 per person per year.
• Plan benefits change every January.

Medicare Advantage plans change every January which and the insured needs to be aware of the changes.  What may have been the best Medicare Advantage plan on the market one year may suddenly be the worst choice the next due to benefit changes.   If you enroll in an Advantage plan, you will have the option to change out of one every January.

In general, I suggest Advantage plans to clients that are of relatively sound health and see doctors that participate with this type of plan.  If clients are of poor health or have a number of chronic conditions, I will usually suggest a Medicare Supplement and stand along part D  plan as an alternative.

Here are some quick points regarding Medicare Advantage plans

• They are not medically underwritten which means they can not decline you due to health
• Original Medicare does NOT act as a secondary coverage to a Medicare Advantage plan
• They have networks but the majority of doctors do participate with them.  There are more that do than don’t.
• Medicare Advantage plans are separate from VA coverage.  You can have both a Medicare Advantage plan and still utilize you VA benefits.
• In fact, You can change plans every year.
• You do not need to use a participating doctor or hospital if you have an emergency.

Questions?  Send me an email at Edward@croweandassociates.com  CLICK HERE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE APPLICATIONS

Medicare Advantage And Medigap Applications Connecticut 2013

This post contains information about Medicare Advantage And Medigap Applications Connecticut 2013.  The following post contains the Medicare Advantage applications for Connecticare, AARP/United, Aetna, Anthem and Wellcare.  Please note that Wellcare has an online enrollment process.  A link to the Wellcare online enrollment has been provided in this post. The applications contained here are for the 2013 plan year.  Anyone aging into Medicare for the months of October, November and December can use the applications.   You cannot use these applications for January 1 effective dates.   The 2014 applications will be available soon and we will add an updated link to this blog once they are available to us.

I have also added the Medicare Supplement (Also called Medigap) summary of plans and an AARP Medicare Supplement application.   We only put AARP on the post given that they have the best price point and 90% of our visitors are looking for the AARP information.  You may email us or call the office in the event you need information for any of the other supplement plans such as Anthem BCBS, Mutual of Omaha, Aflac, etc….

Applications:

May be filled out and sent to our office for processing.  You can either send it to our secure fax (203-567-6235) or by email to Edward@croweandassociates.com.  For those people who prefer to mail the applications, you may send them to Crowe and Associates, 304 Federal Road, suite 107, Brookfield, CT 06804    Attention: Enrollment   NOTE: We will review the application prior to submission to the insurance carrier.  We will contact you before we submit your application if there is any information missing or if there are errors on your application.  We will resolve any issues before we submit your application to ensure you have the coverage you need.

CLICK FOR 2013 AARP MEDICARE COMPLETE SUMMARY OF BENEFITS

FOR AARP MEDICARE COMPLETE APPLICATION 2013

AETNA VALUE 2013 SUMMARY OF BENEFITS CLICK HERE

AETNA VALUE MAPD APPLICATION 2013 CLICK HERE

ANTHEM MEDIBLUE SUMMARY OF BENEFITS 2013 CLICK HERE

ANTHEM MEDIBLUE 2013 APPLICATION CLICK HERE

CONNECTICARE SUMMARY OF BENEFITS CLICK HERE

CONNECTICARE ENROLLMENT APPLICATION CLICK HERE

WELLCARE LINK TO ONLINE ENROLLMENT AND SUMMARIES OF ALL PLANS

UNITED MEDICARE COMPLETE PLAN 2 SUMMARY OF BENEFITS CLICK HERE

CLICK FOR UNITED MEDIARE COMPLETE PLAN 2 APPLICATION

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