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Navigate the Medicare Maze with Kristy Drew

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Navigate the Medicare Maze with Kristy Drew

Navigating the confusing maze of Medicare can be stressful. Let K.L. Drew Insurance guide you through the process and give you peace of mind. Kristy represents most of the major carriers available to you in the state of Maine. This allows her to find you the most comprehensive coverage possible.

The Basics of Medicare

In general, Medicare is for people 65 or older. There are exceptions to this rule. If you have a disability, End Stage Renal Disease, or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) you are also eligible for Medicare. 

The Basics of Medicare

In general, Medicare is for people 65 or older. There are exceptions to this rule. If you have a disability, End Stage Renal Disease, or ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) you are also eligible for Medicare. 

Medicare has four parts:

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Medicare Part A helps cover your inpatient care in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. You must meet certain conditions to get these benefits.

Part B (Medicare Insurance)

Medicare Part B helps cover medically necessary services like doctors’ services and tests, outpatient care, home health services, durable medical equipment, and other medical services. Part B also covers some preventive services.

Medicare has four parts:

Part A (Hospital Insurance)

Medicare Part A helps cover your inpatient care in hospitals, critical access hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities (not custodial or long-term care). It also helps cover hospice care and some home health care. You must meet certain conditions to get these benefits.

Part B (Medicare Insurance)

Medicare Part B helps cover medically necessary services like doctors’ services and tests, outpatient care, home health services, durable medical equipment, and other medical services. Part B also covers some preventive services.

Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)

A Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) is another Medicare health plan choice you may have as part of Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are offered by private companies approved by Medicare.  They cover what Part A and B covers and provides other things like dental, vision, hearing and drug coverage in one convenient package.

Part D (Drug Coverage)

Medicare Part D is Prescription Drug Coverage. Since January 1, 2006, everyone with Medicare, regardless of income, health status, or prescription drug usage has had access to prescription drug coverage.

 

Knowing what to do, what choices to make, how much does it affect my retirement income and more can all be answered by scheduling an appointment with Kristy. Call today!

Part C (Medicare Advantage Plans)

A Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) is another Medicare health plan choice you may have as part of Medicare. Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are offered by private companies approved by Medicare.

Part D (Drug Coverage)

Medicare Part D is Prescription Drug Coverage. Since January 1, 2006, everyone with Medicare, regardless of income, health status, or prescription drug usage has had access to prescription drug coverage.

 

Knowing what to do, what choices to make, how much does it affect my retirement income and more can all be answered by scheduling an appointment with Kristy. Call today!

Medicare Supplemental Plans

Taken From: https://www.medicare.gov/

Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance that helps fill "gaps" in 

Original Medicare and is sold by private companies. Original Medicare pays for much, but not all, of the cost for covered health care services and supplies. A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy can help pay some of the remaining health care costs, like:


  • Copayments
  • Coinsurance
  • Deductibles


Some Medigap policies also cover services that Original Medicare doesn't cover, like medical care when you travel outside the U.S. If you have Original Medicare and you buy a Medigap policy, here's what happens:


  • Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare-Approved Amount for covered health care costs.
  • Then, your Medigap insurance company pays its share.


9 things to know about Medigap policies 


  1. You must have Medicare Part A and Part B.
  2. A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan. Those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy only supplements your Original Medicare benefits.
  3. You pay the private insurance company a monthly premium for your Medigap policy. You pay this monthly premium in addition to the monthly Part B premium that you pay to Medicare.
  4. A Medigap policy only covers one person. If you and your spouse both want Medigap coverage, you'll each have to buy separate policies.
  5. You can buy a Medigap policy from any insurance company that's licensed in your state to sell one.
  6. It’s important to compare Medigap policies since the costs can vary between plans offered by different companies for exactly the same coverage, and may go up as you get older. Some states limit Medigap premium costs.
  7. Any standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed renewable even if you have health problems. This means the insurance company can't cancel your Medigap policy as long as you pay the premium.
  8. Medigap policies can no longer be sold with drug coverage, but if you have an older Medigap policy that was sold with drug coverage (before January 1, 2006), you can keep it. You may choose to join a separate Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D). because most Medigap drug coverage isn’t creditable prescription drug coverage , and you may pay more if you join a drug plan later. If you buy Medigap and a Medicare drug plan from the same company, you may need to make 2 separate premium payments. Contact the company to find out how to pay your premiums.
  9. It's illegal for anyone to sell you a Medigap policy if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, unless you're switching back to Original Medicare.

Additional Medigap Add On Coverage With K.L. Drew Insurance:

Dental: Northeast Delta Dental & Spirit Dental (underwritten by Ameritas)

Vision: Spirit Direct Vision (offers EyeMed & VSP networks)

Life Insurance (term & whole life) & Final Expense: Illinois Mutual & Mutual of Omaha

Out of Country Travel Medical Insurance: Geo Blue (which is part of Anthem)

Don’t let Medicare scare you. Call today to get the information and the insurance you need.

Want to Shop Plans Yourself?

If you are a more hands-on type person and want to see some of the options available in your area before reaching out to me or even want to enroll yourself in a plan, I've got you covered! Head on over to my PlanEnroll partner website to see plans, prices, benefits etc...If you then want to talk, I'd love to help...if not, that's totally fine.  Go ahead and click on the "Enroll" button next to the plan you want. It will walk you through the process start to finish.  The best part is that I'll always be here as a support if you run into any trouble or have any questions! 


PlanEnroll Website

"We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 52 products in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options."