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3 Tips To Finding Medicare Supplement Insurance In Fort Myers, Florida


Introduction

Are you at least sixty-five years old and looking for supplemental insurance in the state of Florida?  Finding the right Medicare supplement plan could go a long way to providing you with the stability you need in your retirement.
Knowing this, let's go over the basics of Medicare supplement coverage as well as 3 important tips to acquiring a good Medicare supplement or Advantage plan in Fort Myers, Florida.

Before we leap to acquiring your Medicare supplement plan, or Medicare advantage plan, Let's quickly touch upon what Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage coverage is.  Simply put, these coverages are additional insurance to cover costs for portions of services that are not covered by Medicare.  In other words, these supplement plans help pay medical costs that are not included in your base Medicare plan.
What does this mean for you?  Basically, it means that Medigap coverage could help bear costs in the following areas: insurance deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and more.
It's important to know that Medigap plans are offered through private companies.  Keep in mind that Medicare Supplement plans are not the same as Medicare Advantage Plans. (For the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans, click here.)

Good to know:  Talk to an independent agent.  An independent insurance agent is an essential resource when purchasing insurance.  An independent agent works with multiple different carriers, which is different from captive agents who can only sell insurance from the carrier they work for.  Working with an independent agent can help make sure that you are getting the best coverage, for the best price.



Who is eligible.
To be eligible for a Medigap plan in Fort Myers, you must meet certain requirements.  For starters, you must be enrolled in Part A and Part B of Medicare.  If you are not enrolled, you will not be able to buy a supplement or advantage plan.

Tip #1. Start your search now.
When it comes to Medicare supplement, or Medicare Advantage coverage, (sometimes referred to as Medigap Plans), the sooner you can begin researching your options, the better.  The first thing you will want to do is to make certain that you are eligible to purchase a Medicare Supplement, or Medicare Advantage Plan.  To be eligible, you will need to be enrolled in both Part A, and Part B of Medicare.  If you are eligible, there is an initial enrollment period of seven months.  This enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday.  This is the time to get your Medicare Supplement or Advantage plan policy in place.

Tip #2. Thoroughly research options.
In Fort Myers, there are 10 general Medicare Supplement plan types to choose from.  These plans are designated by letters of the alphabet (A-N).  Each option provides coverage for a distinct level of medical fees that are not covered by Medicare.

 

Medicare Supplement Plan Comparison

Benefits Medicare Supplement Plans
  A B C* D F* G K L M N
                     
Medicare Part A Deductible No 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 75% 50% 100%
Medicare Part B Deductible No No 100% No 100% No No No No No
Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are exhausted 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%
Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 75% 100% 100%**
First three pints of blood 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 75% 100% 100%
Medicare Part A hospice coinsurance or copayment 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 75% 100% 100%
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) coinsurance No No 100% 100% 100% 100% 50% 75% 100% 100%
Medicare Part B Excess Charges No No No No 100% 100% No No No No
Foreign Travel Emergency (Up to Plan Limits) No No 80% 80% 80% 80% No No 80% 80%
Out-of-Pocket Limit*** None None None None None None $5,880 $2,940 None None

*Plan F is also has a high-deductible option.  The F high deductible plan pays for all Medicare-covered expenses after you meet a $2340 annual deductible. Plan C and plan F are only available to those who are not new to Medicare.
**Office copay exceptions: Some office visits may require a copayment of up to $20.  Emergency room visits may require a copayment of up to $50.
***Plan pays 100% of covered Medicare costs for the remainder of the calendar year once the out-of-Pocket limit is reached.


Good to know:  Ask for a discount.  You can potentially reduce the cost of your medical bills by asking for a discount upfront.  It may seem unconventional, but many hospitals and practitioners offer certain discounts for which you may be eligible.  For example, some hospitals are part of networks that will reduce your medical bills by a certain percentage if you pay over the phone.  More often than not, these discounts are only available to consumers who ask for them.  Depending on your economic status or the price of your procedure, some medical facilities offer additional discounts that can be paired with your medical insurance to substantially reduce the cost of your procedure.  For example, it's not uncommon for hospitals to offer discounts of up to thirty percent for qualifying customers.

Even if you don't find a discount related to your particular situation, your doctor or hospital may provide you with valuable information about discounts you can use in the future.



Tip #3. Get in touch with a specialist.
Contacting a Medicare Supplement Plan specialist is usually the best way to find out about the plan options that are available to you.  Newplanoptions.com a brokerage that has extensive experience concerning all things Medicare.  We are licensed with all the major insurance carriers that offer Medigap plans.  Insurance carriers we work with include: Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Mutual of Omaha, AARP, and more.
HealthPark Medical Center, Fort Myers FL - health insurance
HealthPark Medical Center
9981 S Healthpark Dr
Fort Myers, FL 33908
Telephone: (239) 343-5000
Plus Code: G34P+VP Sail Harbour, Florida
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The First 3 Steps in Acquiring Medicare Supplement Insurance Coverage in Florida
3 Tips To Finding Health Insurance in Fort Myers, Florida
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