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Medigap Plans CT

Medigap plans Ct are also called Medicare supplement plans.   They provides coverage for these “gaps” in your Medicare coverage and can save you money.  Medigap plans are not Medicare Advantage plans rather, they provide coverage after Original Medicare A and B benefits pay.  As a result, it is important to note that Medigap plans will only cover services that are approved by Medicare. They will not help cover costs that Medicare does not allow/approve.

Access all Medigap plans CT (Medicare supplement plans) with this link.  Site will show you all plans and rates in CT.

Are you a broker looking to sell Medigap plans?  If so, click here to learn more about Medigap sales.

Medicare supplemental plans are offered by private insurance companies.  These plans help to pay the ‘gap’ between costs covered by original Medicare and your out of pocket costs.  Medigap plans are regulated by national and state governments and therefore benefits are generally the same, regardless of the insurance company.   For example, Plan A has the same benefits regardless of the company you purchase it from.  As a result, rates and value add benefits are the only difference from company to company.

Medigap plans do not cover medication expenses.  If you enroll in a Medigap plan, you should also consider a Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan.  The rule is different for drugs under medicare part B. As a result, it is important to pick the right part D drug plan.  The pharmacy you like to use and the specific prescriptions you take make all the difference when selecting a drug plan.  Call our office to learn more or use the CMS drug plan finder tool. 

Want to learn more about the differences between a Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan? Click here to learn about all your medicare options.

We are one of Connecticut’s leading Medicare brokerage firms.  Please call us at 203-796-5403 or email us at edward@croweandassociates.com if you have questions.  Better yet, we can set a time to sit face to face and discuss all of your options.  If you aren’t able to travel to our office, we will gladly come to you.

What is Medicare?

This blog will attempt to answer “what is Medicare?” by  providing a basic understanding of the Medicare program and how it works. In addition, it will detail the other parts of Medicare such as C and D.  First of all lets start with the official definition:   Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. It is also for certain younger people with disabilities and with End-Stage Renal Disease.  Most people are eligible for Medicare at age 65.

Medicare is made up of four components which can cause confusion.  Original Medicare (Red, White and Blue care with a Medicare ID on it) is Medical coverage with parts A and B.    This is what provides basic medical coverage for those on the program.   Medicare Part C is different than Original Medicare.   Part C is a Medicare Advantage Plan and is something a member can enroll in if they want.  Medicare Part C replaces Medicare A and B for those that enroll in it.   Another part of Medicare is part D which is prescription drug coverage (Also called a PDP). You can enroll in Medicare part D using a stand alone drug plan or access Medicare part D through the drug benefits on an Advantage plan.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Coverage)

Medicare Part B (Medical Coverage)

Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)

Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage)

Medicare Plans Connecticut

Medicare Plans Connecticut is a broad term that can refer to a number of companies or plan types in Connecticut.  Insurance companies offer either Medicare Advantage plans (MAPD), Medicare Supplement plans (Also called Medigap)  or Medicare Part D Rx plans.  A summary of both plans and companies has been provided below.  Choosing the right plan means matching up the needs of the insured (current health, doctors, as well as Medications and volume of care) with the strengths of the given plan type.

Medicare Advantage plans-

Managed Medicare plans offered with (MAPD) and without (MA) drug coverage.  Medicare Advantage plans take the place of Original Medicare.  They are the primary insurance and have a network as a result.  There  in network only (HMO) and out of network (PPO) plans available. In Connecticut, most plans are HMO style plans.  Connecticare, United Healthcare, Aetna and Wellcare as well as Anthem BCBS offer plans in Connecticut.

There are two plans with a $0 monthly premium. Both require referrals to specialists. There are a number of plans in the $29 to $44 a month range. The higher end HMO and PPO plans have a premium from $99 to $128 a month. The positive points with MAPD plans are, they have a very low to no monthly premium.  These plans include Medicare part D coverage and they offer some benefits that Original Medicare does not.  Some of the negatives can be, the copay for medical services, provider networks as well as referrals for specialists.  Click the links for plan designs of some of the more popular plans in CT.

Connecticut does not have medical underwriting which is important to consider.  Medicare rules allow someone to change plans every January 1st during OEP.  Without checking health, a member can change from a Medicare Supplement to a Medicare Advantage plan.  If someone develops a health condition, they could change to a supplement without any issues.

Medicare Plans Connecticut 

United Healthcare Medicare Complete Plan 1

UHC Medicare Complete Plan 2

United Healthcare Medicare Complete Plan 3

Aetna Medicare Plan HMO Connecticut

Anthem Mediblue Plus HMO

Anthem Mediblue Select HMO

Medicare Plans Connecticut can also be Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap)– Medicare Supplement plans are offered by a number of companies in CT.  These plans are standardized. This means benefits are the same from company to company.  Common plans offered in CT are Plans F, High F, N, K, L and G.  AARP offered by United Healthcare tends to be the first choice in CT.  A number of companies including Humana, AARP, Anthem BCBS, Combined Life, United American and Cigna all offer a number of plan choices.

Click here for standardized Medicare supplement rates in CT

Medicare Part D plans (stand alone Rx plans)-  Medicare part D plans are offered by a number of companies in CT.  Some of the more popular choices are UHC branded Saver, UHC branded Preferred RX, Humana Walmart Rx, Silver Scripts, Express Scripts Rx.  There are too many plans to list them all.   You cannot purchase a stand alone Rx plan with a Medicare Advantage plan.  Clients can only purchase these plans along with a Medicare supplement.  You can also combine these plans with Medicare A and B.  If you buy a supplement plan, you do not have to use the same company for the Rx plan.  Clients can choose any company they feel is offering the best plan for them.  Note: The Humana Walmart Rx plan is  the current lowest cost (lowest monthly premium) plan in CT.

Need to sign up for Original Medicare A and B?  Click this link to sign up online through the Social Security Website.

States offer  programs to individuals in need of assistance.  In fact, you may qualify for assistance.  Click here to learn about programs offered and determine if you are eligible.

 If you have either additional questions or need a quote, Click here.

Medicare Supplement High Deductible Plan F

Medicare Supplement High Deductible Plan F includes cost-sharing features.  These features allow you to save on premiums while still receiving dependable coverage.

In fact, The high deductible Medicare Supplement insurance plan pays the same benefits as Plan F.   AFTER you have paid the annual deductible of $2,180.  Benefits  from the High Deductible Plan F will not begin until out-of-pocket expenses are $2,180.

What’s does Medicare include in a Medicare Supplement High Deductible Plan F?

• Your $1,260 Part A deductible and coinsurance
• The cost of 365 extra days of hospital care during your lifetime after Medicare coverage ends
• $147 Part B Medicare deductible
• Your Part B coinsurance and the cost of the first three pints of blood
• 100 percent of Part B physician charges that are in excess of the Medicare-approved amount (by law no physician may charge more than 115 percent of Medicare-approved amounts).
• Skilled nursing facility copayment
• Hospice care
• Foreign travel emergency care

Medicare Part A Coverage:

Medicare Part B:

CT Medicare Advantage and Supplements

There are many choices when it comes to CT Medicare Advantage and Supplements.  These choices can confuse anyone. We can help you feel comfortable not only with your choice of health care plans but the cost as well.  Crowe and Associates is one of the region’s leading Medicare brokerages.  Are you looking for CT Medicare Advantage and Supplement information in Connecticut?  We can help. Crowe and Associates is an independent brokerage agency that works with all major Medicare Advantage and supplement plans.  We work with clients everyday to help them understand the difference between Advantage plans and supplements. We use that knowledge to choose the best plan and company for them.  The insurance companies pay us so you will never receive any type of bill or fee for our services.

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How Medicare Supplements Work

Medicare supplements are insurance plans that provide coverage after Original Medicare A and B benefits.  Some people also call  these plans either Medigap or Med Supps.  There are many plans you can choose from.  All these plan options have standardized benefits from plan to plan.  This simply means that if a company is offering a plan F supplement, the benefits will be the same from company to company.  The only difference in the plans will be in the monthly premium.  As a result, it is very important to compare prices when you decide on which company’s plan you are going to use.

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This post has been updated.  Click here for information

Medicare Supplement Rates Connecticut 2014

Medicare Supplement  Rates Connecticut 2014.  The Medicare supplement plans (also called Medigap) are standardized in the state of Connecticut. This means that plan benefits can not vary from company to company.  If a company is offering a Plan F supplement, the benefits must be the same regardless of the company offering it.  The only difference is the monthly premium.  Traditionally, the most popular plan in CT has been plan F.  AARP currently holds the best plan F price at $218.50 a month but Combined has released a plan for $214.57 a month starting in April of 2014.  Plan N and L have started to gain popularity in the last 24 months with many consumers enrolling in them as a lower cost alternative to plan F.

The state of Connecticut is a guaranteed issue Medigap state. This allows the insured to change from one supplement to another anytime during the year.   The state of CT does not allow underwriting on Medigap plans.  There is a 3 month waiting period for those that did not have any type of plan (Medicare Advantage or Medigap) prior to signing up for a Medigap plan.  The 3 month wait would not be applicable to those with a qualifying event.

CLICK HERE FOR ACCESS TO MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT RATES 2014 CONNECTICUT

Crowe and Associates is always happy to help you with either healthcare or investment needs.  We want you to feel comfortable with the plan you choose. Your plan has to fit both your healthcare needs as well as your budget.

If you would like more information about Medicare, please contact us.  You can reach us either by phone at (203)796-5403 or by email at admin@croweandassociates.com.

Changing Medigap Plans

Changing Medigap Plans is not impossible.  Medigap plans (Also called Medicare Supplements) can be changed the first of any month in Connecticut.  This change can be made internally from one Medigap to anther in the same company.  You can also change from one company to a different company.  This is allowed because Connecticut is considered a guaranteed issue state for the Medigap plans.

As a quick example, if someone is in an AARP plan F and wants to move to an AARP plan N supplement, they may do so the first of any month.  Likewise, if they want to move from an AARP supplement over to an Anthem BCBS supplement, they may do this as well.  Again, the change will take place the first day of the following month.

People often confuse the rules regarding Medicare Advantage and Stand Alone Part D plans with Medigap plans.  The rules for making changes (Nov 15th to Dec 7th for a Jan 1 change) only apply to Advantage and Part D plans.  These rules do not include the Medicare supplement plans.

Looking for more information on Medicare supplement plans?  Click Here

Crowe and Associates is a full service brokerage.  In addition to Medicare, we offer our clients council on medical, dental, life, as well as home insurance products.  We also offer advice regarding investment products including both annuity and bridge loan products.

Click here to learn about all of our services.

Do not let health insurance scare you.  Crowe and Associates is here to help you  to choose a plan that suits both your medical needs and your budget.

If you have any health care coverage needs or questions, please contact us.  You can reach us either by phone at (203)796-5403 or by email at admin@croweandassociates.com.  We are also available to help you with investment opportunities or questions.

Medicare Supplement Medigap Plans

Medicare supplement Medigap Plans, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the health care costs that  Original Medicare A and B doesn’t cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Some Medigap policies such as Plan F, G and N also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. These services include, medical care when travelling outside of the country.  If you have Original Medicare A and B and you buy a Medicare Supplement policy, Medicare will pay its share of the  Medicare-approved amount for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share depending on which plan you purchase.

A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. (MA or MAPD)  A Medicare Advantage plan is primary instead of Original Medicare being primary.

If you are looking for Medicare Supplement (Medigap) applications, CLICK HERE or email Edward@croweandassociates.com

Important things to know about Medigap policies

1. You must have Medicare A and B in order for a Medicare Supplement to provide coverage
2. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, you can apply for a Medigap policy.  Although your Medigap plan will not work unless you dis enroll from the Medicare Advantage plan.
3. You pay a monthly premium for your Medigap policy in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.
4. A Medigap policy only covers one person. If there is a husband and wife, you must each buy a plan if you both want coverage.
5. You can buy a Medigap policy from any insurance company that’s licensed in your state to sell one.
6. Any standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed renewable.  You can not be cancelled due to health complications.
7. Medigap plans no longer include prescription drug coverage.  If you also want drug coverage, you need to purchase a Part D Prescription drug plan.

Medigap policies don’t cover everything

Medigap policies do no cover  long-term care , vision or dental care, hearing aids, eyeglasses, or private-duty nursing.

The following policies are not Medigap plans

Some types of insurance aren’t Medigap plans (Medigap plans are secondary to Medicare, the following are not)

• Medicare Advantage Plans (like an HMO, PPO, or Private Fee-for-Service Plan)
• Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
• Medicaid
• Employer or union plans, including the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)
• TRICARE
• Veterans’ benefits
• Long-term care insurance policies
• Indian Health Service, Tribal, as well as Urban Indian Health plans

Want To know the difference between Medigap and Medicare Advantage? CLICK HERE

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.