A Medicare Supplement policy is a health insurance policy sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Medicare Plan coverage. These policies must cover certain expenses, such as the daily coinsurance amount for hospitalization.
There are 10 standardized plans called “A” through “J”. Each plan A through J has a different set of standardized benefits. Plan A offers the least amount of benefits and Plan J offers the most benefits. Some policies may offer additional benefits, such as coverage for preventive medical care, prescription drugs, or at-home recovery. Plan F is the most popular plan.
When you buy a Medicare Supplement policy, you pay a premium to the insurance company. As long as you pay your premium, a policy bought after 1990 is automatically renewed each year. This means that your coverage continues year after year as long as you pay your premium. You must still pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium.
The best time to buy a Medicare Supplement policy is during your Medicare open enrollment period. Open enrollment lasts for 6 months. It starts on the first day of the month in which you are both:
1. Age 65 or older, and
2. Enrolled in Medicare Part B.
During this period, an insurance company cannot deny you insurance coverage, place conditions on a policy (like making you wait for coverage to start), or change the price of a policy because of past or present health problems.
Please contact our office for more information.
FORMS
Medicare Supplement Application
Outline of Coverage/Rates on Page 4