Idaho Medicare Supplement Insurance

The Parts of Medicare

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides coverage for the elderly and disabled. It covers hospital care, medical services in doctors' offices, outpatient prescription drugs, nursing home care, hospice care, dental work, eye exams, hearing aids, physical therapy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, chiropractic treatment, mental health counseling, and other benefits.

• Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or limited time at a skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay). Part A also pays for some home health care and hospice care. (ssa.gov)

• Medicare Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventive services.
  
• Supplemental (Medigap) policies help pay Medicare out-of-pocket copayments, coinsurance, and deductible expenses.
• Medicare Part D (Medicare prescription drug coverage) helps cover the cost of prescription drugs. (ssa.gov)

Should I Sign Up For Medical Insurance (Part B)?

If your income is below certain limits, you may be eligible to sign up for Medicare part B. This means you will have access to free doctor visits, prescriptions, and emergency room treatment without having to worry about paying any costs yourself. You can still use your own money to buy supplemental insurance if needed.

You must meet specific requirements before signing up for this program:

• Your age has to be between 65 and 70 years old on January 1st of the year you apply.
• Special Enrollment Period (SEP). You might need to take advantage of an SEP if: You lose eligibility for certain government programs; You move outside the area where you get your healthcare; Or You become disabled. In these cases, you'll receive special notice about when you can apply for Medicare.

What is Medigap?

A supplemental policy provides extra protection against high costs. It covers what Medicare doesn't—such as deductibles, co-payments, and uncovered charges like emergency room visits.

How To Apply Online For Just Medicare

Parts A & B?

You can use this link to get started applying for just Medicare Parts A and B. The process takes about 15 minutes.

What Is My Eligible Monthly Premium?

Your monthly premiums depend on several factors including where you live, whether you smoke, if you've had certain conditions, and other things we'll explain below. We also offer an estimate of what your monthly premium might be.

Where Can I Apply For Medicare Part A & Part B?

Find out how to manage your benefits If you are enrolled in Medicare Part A and you want to enroll in Part B, please complete form CMS-40B, Application for Enrollment in Medicare – Part B. If you are applying for Medicare Part B due to a loss of employment or group health coverage, you will also need to complete form CMS-L564, Request for Employment Information.

Go to “ Apply Online for Medicare Part B During a Special Enrollment Period ” and complete CMS-40B and CMS-L564. Fax or mail your CMS-40B CMS-L564, and secondary evidence to your local Social Security office.

What Happens After I Apply?

After you file an application, we may ask you some questions about your income, assets, family size, etc., so we know what kind of benefit package you qualify for. We then send you a letter telling you whether you were approved or denied. The decision depends on many factors including your age, marital status, number of dependents, earnings history, and other things. We review each case individually and give special consideration to people who lost their jobs because of illness or injury.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

Find out which plan is right for you. Visit AARP.org/medicaresupplementinsuranceplans If you have trouble signing in, please contact us by phone 1-800-333-4357.

General features of Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans

The following is general information only; please refer to each individual policy's terms and conditions for complete details.

What does Medicare supplement insurance do?

Medicare Supplement plans work alongside your Original Medicare coverage to help cover some of the costs you would otherwise have to pay on your own. These plans, also known as "Medigap", are standardized plans. Each plan has a letter assigned to it, and offers the same basic benefits. The basic benefit structure for each plan is the same, no matter which insurance company is selling it to you.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Costs

The cost of Medicare Supplement insurance varies depending on where you live and which insurance company sells it. In general, premiums range from $0-$100 per month, with some plans costing more than others. Premiums can also vary based on whether you choose a PPO or POS network provider.

Some insurers charge higher monthly premiums when you use their services more frequently. Other factors affecting premium prices include age, gender, tobacco usage, health status, and other personal characteristics.

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan Enrollment and Eligibility Requirements

The application process is simple; it takes about 10 minutes to complete. Once you've completed the application form, you'll receive a confirmation email with information regarding how much money you need to pay toward your monthly Premiums. This amount varies depending upon which Medicare Supplement insurance plan you choose.

To be eligible to enroll in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan, you must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Part B. A good time to enroll in a plan is generally during the Medigap Open Enrollment Period, which begins on the first day of the month that you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Part B, and lasts for six months.

During this period, you have a guaranteed-issue right to join any Medicare Supplement insurance plan available where you live. You may not be denied basic benefits based on any pre-existing conditions** during this enrollment period (although a waiting period may apply).

If you miss this enrollment period and attempt to enroll in the future, you may be denied basic benefits or charged a higher premium based on your medical history. In some states, you may be able to enroll in a Medigap plan before the age of 65. (ehealthinsurance.com)

You can choose from among four types of Medicare Supplemental insurance policies: Standard, Preferred, Comprehensive, and Extra Help. Each has its own set of coverage rules and limitations. The table below lists some key differences between them.

• Standard Medicare supplement insurance plans
• Preferred Medicare supplemental insurance plans
• Comprehensive Medicare supplemental insurance plans
• Extra help Medicare supplemental insurance plans

Coverage Period

The length of time during which you'll receive benefits under your Medicare Supplement insurance plan. If you are moving into Idaho from another state, you may qualify for a special election privilege or guaranteed issue rights. Please contact the office so we may help you with you all your health insurance needs. 

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