Blog

Crowe & Associates will holding a number of seminars for Untied Health Care Medicare Advantage plans  and AARP branded Medicare supplement plans.  The meetings will run from 10:30 am to 12:00 and will provide a review of the Medicare offerings by United Healthcare for 2013.  The review will include basic information on Medicare A and B and, reviews of the United products and the enrollment rules for 2013.

THIS IS AN OLD POST: CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT MEETING DATES

The sessions will be presented by Edward Crowe and Paul Smith of Crowe & Associates. There will be ample opportunity to ask questions before and after the presentation.  The meeting dates, locations and times are listed below.  You must call or email in order to reserve a seat at one of the meetings.  

You may call one of two numbers 860-992-4494,  203-241-7261 or email Edward@Croweandassociates.com to reserve your seat.

Location:  304 Federal Road,  Suite 107,  Brookfield, CT 06804

Dates:  Tuesday, October 2, 2012  –  Tuesday, October 9, 2012 – Tuesday, October 16, 2012 – Tuesday, October 23, 2012 – Tuesday, October 30, 2012 – Tuesday,  November 6, 2012 – Tuesday, November 13, 2012 – Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Time:  All meetings are from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon

Location: Danbury Library (170 Main Street, Danbury, CT 06810)

Dates: Tuesday, October 2, 2012  –  Tuesday, October 9, 2012 – Tuesday, October 16, 2012 – Tuesday, October 23, 2012 – Tuesday, October 30, 2012 – Tuesday,  November 6, 2012 – Tuesday, November 13, 2012 – Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Time:  All meetings are from 10:30 am to 12:00 noon

Call or email to reserve you seat(s) today!

There are a limited number of Medicare Advantage plans available in Connecticut for 2012.  The list includes plans from Connecticare, AARP/United, Aetna, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield and Wellcare.   Our agency has clients with all companies and plan types in Connecticut and we are happy to share the good and bad of them with you.

Please click the link below to view the comparison.   Call or email with any questions or requests.  Email: Edward@Croweandassociates.com or phone at 203-796-5403   Review our BBB rating here   Click for BBB Rating

Medicare Advantage comparison 2012 CT

AARP Medicare Complete is a PPO Medicare Advantage plan offered by United Healthcare. (By the way, If you do not have a basic understanding of how Medicare Advantage plans work, please refer to our other blogs for a quick tutorial.) The plan is offered on a regional basis is Connecticut, Mass, RI and Vermont. It was a $0 monthly premium plan in 2011 but now has a $20 monthly premium for 2012.

Here is a basic summary of the strengths and weaknesses of the plan.                   (Looking for AARP Medicare Complete 2013 Info?  CLICK HERE)

Network- United has built up a strong network in Connecticut. The AARP Medicare complete network is second only to the network of Connecticare. Overall, they are very good with network.

In Network Benefits- The AARP Med Complete plan certainly had some benefit changes for the worse for 2012. The most notable changes are Hospital inpatient charge ($400 a day 1-4), Outpatient surgery and Major Radiology at 20% cost share. Copays went up slightly for a primary care doc ($20) and a specialist ($45). Many Advantage plan members, worry about about office copays but the concern should be with the Outpatient surgery and Major Radiology. At 20% cost share, there can be substantial out of pocket costs for the insured.

Out of Network Benefits-The out of network benefit feature is a plus due to the freedom it allows. The fact that the cost share is 30% to the insured is of a concern however. The combined in and out of pocket max for this plan is $10,000 which seems to be a bit excessive.

Overall- While this plan may not look as good as the Anthem PPO (click here for info on the Anthem PPO) on paper, it tends to run much more smoothly. We receive far more client plan and benefit issues from the Anthem PPO than we do with the AARP Medicare Complete PPO. Again, the benefits do not compare well with the Anthem PPO but the administration of the plan is far better on the United side.

If you have specific questions or need any additional information, please email Edward Crowe at Edward@CroweandAssociates.com or call at 203-796-5403

For a link to the Application, Benefit Summaries and Rates click the link below

Click here for Benefit Summaries, applications and rates

WANT TO LEARN MORE?  REGISTER FOR OUR “HOW TO CHOOSE A MEDICARE PLAN” WEBINAR:  CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

AARP offers a number of Medicare Supplement plans in Connecticut. The plan benefits and rates are uniform throughout the state. Connecticut does not allow underwriting of any type which means you can not be denied entry into a supplement nor can your rates be changed due to age or health.

For those not familiar with the set up, the AARP supplements are actually United HealthCare products with the AARP logo on them. Here is some basic info about supplements that the Medicare eligible crowd wants to know.

There are a number of options: Supplements in Connecticut range from plan A through N. Each plans covers a different amount of the services not covered by Medicare.

All supplements are the same: If a company is offering a plan F supplement it is going to be identical to every other companies plan F supplement. Supplements are standardized in Connecticut so the benefits for a certain plan are the same no matter which company offers it. The only difference is in the price that the companies offer.

Supplements do not have a network: As long as the doctor, hospital or facility accepts original Medicare, your supplement will also be accepted.

You can change a supplement any month of the year: You can change supplements the first of any month in Connecticut.

What are the most popular AARP options: (I am basing this off of my agencies experience with clients in Connecticut) Plan F is the most popular option because it covers most everything that Medicare A and B does not. This plan is also the most expensive however. ($214.50 a month) The next most popular plan is Plan N which has more cost share (There are 3 things you pay for on a plan N that you do not pay for on a Plan F) but the premium is lower. ($152.75 a month)

For answers to specific questions please Email Edward Crowe at Edward@Croweandassociates.com or call at 203-796-5403. Click the link below for AARP Supplement Benefit summaries, rates and applications

Rates, Summaries and Applications

Getting a Medicare Supplement plan is difficult for someone on  under age 65 that is medicare eligible due disability.  Most of the supplement plans available are only offered to those on Medicare at age 65 and older.   Although the options are limited there are still some good choices.

If you are on Medicare A and B and under the age of 65 you can still obtain an Anthem Plan A supplement for about $190.00 a month.  The plan covers basic benefits and the 20% part B coinsurance.  It does not cover the hospital deductible however. Even without the Part A hospital deductible covered, this is a legitimate plan offering strong coverage.

United/AARP will offer plans to those under age 65 as well but only down to age 50. For those on Medicare age 50 to age 64, AARP will offer plan A, B and C.   Plan A has the exact same benefits as the Anthem plan A discussed above.  Plan B covers the same thing as plan A supplement but also will cover the Hospital Part A deductible.  Plan C covers Basic benefits, 20% coinsurance, Part A and B deductibles and skilled nursing facility.  With the extra coverage comes additional cost as plan C with AARP costs over $230.00 a month

For an Anthem BCBS Plan A supplement summary of benefits click here

For an Anthem BCBS Plan A supplement Application, click here

For an AARP Plan A-C application click here

For an AARP plan A-C summary of benefits click here

Applications may be printed out and sent into Anthem or United HealthCare directly or they may be sent to Crowe & Associates for processing. Crowe & Associates will review applications to ensure they are complete prior to submission to United HealthCare. Applications can be sent to Crowe & Associates by the following methods

Fax- (203)-567-6235

Email- Edward@CroweandAssociates.com

Mail- Crowe & Associates, 155 Main Street, Suite 205 Danbury, CT 06810

Additonal questions may be emailed to Edward Crowe at Edward@CroweandAssociates.com or by phone at (203)-796-5403

AARP Medicare Supplment Plans had very low rate increases from 2011 to 2012.  As a result, they offers the lowest rates for most supplement plans in Connecticut and New York.  Here is a quick review of the most competative plans offered and the options Medicare Beneficiaries are choosing for 2012.

• Connecticut
• AARP Plan F Supplement-  Plan F has a 2012 premium of $216.50 ($214.50 after Bank Draft ) this represents the lowest cost plan F available in the state of Connecticut.  Plan F is the most comprehensive supplement covering the most services of any of the options.
• AARP Plan N supplement-  Plan N has been on the market for 2 years $154.75 and has quickly become the most popular supplement choice.  The plan covers the same services as plan F with 4 notable exceptions which are (Part B Medicare deductible, Part B excess, $50 charge for ER and $20 charge for doctor office visits)
• Plan K supplement– Plan K was brought into the market overpriced but is now worth taking a look at after 2 years of rate reductions.   This plan offers a much lower premium but leaves much more potential for out of pocket cost vs. Plan F and N.   Those seriously considering a plan K would likely be better suited to choose the Anthem BlueCross BlueShield Plan F High Deductible Supplement with a monthly premium of about $35.00 a month at this point
• New York
• Plan F Supplement- AARP has a rate advantage over all competitors in the NYC, Long Island, Westchester area and most all of NY.  AARP plan F is the choice in NY for those that want the least out of pocket expense possible.
• Plan N Supplement- AARP also has the lowest plan N supplement rate in NY but they do have more competition with Empire BCBS within a few dollars of the premium they offer.
• Plan K supplement-As is the case with CT, plan K is now a bit more attractive for those willing to have more out of pocket risk.  Those interested in a plan K may want to look at the High Deductible F supplement offered by First United American

Applications and full benefit summary links below

AARP Medicare Supplements Summary 2012

AARP Medicare Supplement Application CT

AARP Medicare Supplement Summary NY 2012

AARP Medicare Supplement Application NY 2012

AARP 2012 Medicare Supplement Summary and Rates CT

AARP Medicare Supplement Rates NY All Areas

Applications may be printed out and sent into United HealthCare directly or they may be sent to Crowe & Associates for processing. Crowe & Associates will review applications to ensure they are complete prior to submission to United HealthCare. Applications can be sent to Crowe & Associates by the following methods

Fax- (203)-567-6235

Email- Edward@CroweandAssociates.com

Mail- Crowe & Associates, 155 Main Street, Suite 205 Danbury, CT 06810

Additonal questions may be emailed to Edward Crowe at Edward@CroweandAssociates.com or by phone at (203)-796-5403

One of the biggest points of confusion for seniors seems to be making a decision between a Medicare Advantage Plan and Medicare Supplement Plan. I receive phone calls on a daily basis from people either turning 65, moving from an employer plan to Medicare or just trying to decide what to do for the Medicare Annual Election period. Often they are confused and feel overwhelmed by the amount of information and plan choices available.

The reality is that it is actually very easy to learn enough to make an educated decision. This article is going to point out the basic differences between the plans and point out the strengths and weaknesses of each. With this info, anyone will be on their way to having enough information to make a confident decision on the best plan for them. (This Article is for people in Connecticut and NY- I will write one for other states in the next few days)

First, we need to break down the differences between the two types of plans and also dispel some myths about both.

Medicare supplement plans-

-They are secondary to your Medicare A and B (In other words, providers bill Medicare first and then your supplement covers some or all of the remaining costs depending on the plan you choose.

-They are for Medical only. You buy Rx coverage separately

-There is not a network. You can go to any doctor that accepts Medicare

-There are plans A-N available but only a few are popular. They Plan F, Plan N and High deductible F

-The plans are standardized in both Ct and NY. If a company offers a plan N, the benefits are identical regardless of the company offering it. Price is the only difference. Once companies plan N is not better than other companies. Just go by the price.

-There is no medical underwriting for them and in Connecticut and New York you can change them the first of any month at any time during the year.

Supplements are a good choice for people that do not want to have any network constraints. They also work well if you have doctors that do not take managed care plans (Medicare Advantage Plans) or if you travel to other states often.

Some clients like the fact that some of the supplements basically cover all of their costs for medical care. (Plan F and Plan C, Plan J for those whom still have it)

Finally, supplements work well for people that are very sick and receiving a high volume of care such as multiple injections at an outpatient facility or in the doctor’s office or people going to a number of physical therapy visits on a weekly basis. If you are on a plan F, you will not be billed for the services

I hear a tremendous amount of incorrect information being given out on a daily basis when it comes to Medicare Supplement plans. Here are some of the major areas where bad info tends to be most prevalent.

-” Such and such a company has the best Supplement plans”- In the world of supplements, there is no such thing as one companies supplement being better than the others. Supplements are mandated to have identical benefits. If United offers a plan F supplement, it has the EXACT same benefits as every other companies Plan F benefits. Supplement plans A-N are subsidized in Connecticut and New York. All plan benefits are the same. The only difference is the price that the company charges for them. If you have decided on a supplement and know which plan you want, take the company with the lowest cost for that supplement. (Example: You decide to take a plan N, Simply choose the lowest cost plan N being offered at the time.)

– “I can’t find all the companies offering supplements and the prices” – This is easy. Each state has a list of all companies in the state offering supplement plans and the prices of them. They can be found on the insurance websites of each respective state. Here is a link to Connecticut Supplement plans and prices for 2011

https://croweandassociates.com/images/stories/Medicare_Supplement_Rates_Connecticut_2011.pdf

“Supplements have underwriting outside of the guaranteed issue period”- There is no underwriting for supplements in Connecticut and NY. Both are guaranteed issue states even outside of the election periods.

“High Deductible F is not a good plan” – This could not be more off base. In Connecticut and Ny there are plans that have very low high deductible F plans. In fact, in Connecticut, Anthem BCBS offers a high deductible F plan for $39.00 a month. This math cannot be beat by any other supplement plan offered in CT. For more information on High Deductible F go to… https://croweandassociates.com/blog/?p=223 for NY

Although there are many good things about supplements, there is also a negative or two. First off is that they do not cover RX, you need to buy a separate drug plan if you want coverage. The going rate for Rx plans is about $32.00 a month. Secondly is the price of the supplements. The lowest cost plan F in CT is about $219.00 a month. When you add your Rx cost to that it brings you to about $250.00 a month for a plan. Keep in mind that you are going to be paying $3,000 in premium for the year no matter what. Even if you have a very healthy year you will have $3,000 less at the end of the year.

Medicare Advantage Plans
Medicare Advantage plans are managed care plans being offered by private insurance companies. They give you your A and B coverage, secondary coverage and Rx coverage all in one package. With a Medicare Advantage plan, your Medicare A and B is administered by the insurance company. As a result, when you go to the doctor you show them your Medicare advantage plan instead of your A and B card.

There are many positives and also negatives about an advantage plan. Here are the positives….

-They are included in your Medical and Rx in one package. You do not need to go and purchase a separate PDP plan.

-They are very inexpensive. All major carriers even offer $0 monthly premium* plans.

-They have out of pocket maximums.

-Preventative care is covered at no cost to the member.

*They can offer you a plan for $0 monthly premium because Medicare is paying the insurance company money to handle your enrollment and care for the year.

-Some carriers have national networks and plans with out of network coverage.

Some negatives about advantage plans…

-They have networks. If you take an HMO advantage plan (Which does not have out of network coverage) and you try to go to an out of network doctor, you will NOT be covered. Many people believe that Medicare will still cover them for the usual Medicare A and B amount if they go to an out of network doctor but it does not. You will need to pay the full cost.

-They have copays for services. You need to be aware of the copays on the plans you choose. Some plans cover certain services better than others. For example, one carrier may cover Major Radiology at 80% while the other covers it for an $80 copay.

-They have pre-certification requirements for some procedures. Your doctor is responsible for obtaining pre certs but they can hold things up at times.

Advantage plans tend to work very well for people in relatively good health that see a reasonable amount of doctors. You need to check to see that all your Docs and any hospitals you go to are in the network. There are now a number of plans with out of network coverage and national networks. This is good if you have a doc or two that is out of network.* The copays on most plans are reasonable and with $0 premium plans available, they can save the right person a lot of money for the year.

*Make sure your out of network doctor will bill your insurance company for you and not make you submit yourself.

Often clients get upset when they go on an advantage plan and incur a large copay. (For example, a CAT scan which is a $150 copay on some advantage plans) They will say “If I was on a supplement, I would not have paid anything”. They tend to forget that the supplement is costing them money every month when the advantage plan is not.

The math on advantage plans actually makes sense for the majority of people but not everyone. Make sure you review the benefits and check networks prior to enrolling. Do the math and see how much you will save in monthly premium vs. how much exposure you have to copays. In the end, the advantage plan will likely win out but a little time needs to be devoted to make a comparison before you make a final decision.

*Make sure your out of network doctor will bill your insurance company for you and not make you submit yourself.

This article relates to 2011 AARP branded Medicare Products. Click this link for  information about 2012 Medicare Products.

United Healthcare has made some minor changes to their current suite of AARP branded Medicare Complete plans for 2011. They have also added new plans in some counties in order to better accommodate potential Healthnet members who will need to move to a new plan for January 1, 2011.

The AARP Medicare Complete RPPO $0 premium plan will essentially stay the same for 2011. The plan still features $0 monthly premium and is set up in the same manner as last year. The Inpatient hospital copay has been changed to $320 a day for 5 days vs. $275 a day for 6 days last year. The Rx benefit copays have increases slightly to $6.00, $45.00 and $85.00. As a result, there should still be strong migration into this plan with the relatively small benefit changes.

In most counties there has also been the addition of a $119.00 HMO option that looks to be geared toward catching Medicare enrollment leaving Healthnet Ruby 1 and Ruby 3. It is not likely that the new HMO plan be overly appealing to Ruby enrollees as the benefit structure does not look strong. It will be interesting to see if the new $119.00 option still only covers outpatient surgery and major radiology at 80%.

Medicare Supplement Plan N was approved for enrollment on June 1, 2010. The plan is offered at a competative price point by Anthem BCBS and United Healthcare “AARP Branded”. They both offer plan N for around $150 a month depending on availability of discounts.

Plan N is a departure from other supplements in that is allows the physician to bill up to a max of $20 per visit. It also has a $50 emergency room copay and does not cover the part B deductible (disappointing) of $155 a year. Many seniors have been willing to give the plan a try in order to save $50 a month in premium. This has been especially true of those in plan F supplements. Plan J enrollees need to be careful as plan J is a closed plan an they will not be able to go back to it in the event they try plan N and decide they do not like it.

The most suprissing part plan N has been the low number of providers that actually bill any type of excess on the plan. Providers are allowed to bill up to $20 dollars but seem not to do so often. (That has been our limited experience so far anyway)

People switching from their current plan to Plan N do not need to pay the $155 part B deductible as it has already been met for the year. They will however be subject to the Part B deductible in 2011.

AARP Supplement Changes For June 1, 2010

AARP released the new supplement changes for 2010.  Plan changes and Rates are as follows…

Supplement Plan M- Will not be offered in CT for 2010 Read more