February, 2011 | Medicare Insurance Texas

Archive for February, 2011

Medicare Supplement Quote Texas – If You Need a Medicare Supplement Quote, Texas Insurance Agents are Standing By

Saturday, February 26th, 2011

If you need a Medicare supplement quote, Texas insurance agencies can help you find the right coverage for your needs. Basic Medicare coverage does not cover all medical costs. Medicare Part A provides coverage of hospital coverage. Medicare Part B provides coverage for doctor’s costs. Each of these Medicare parts does not cover everything you encounter in medical costs. You have to meet a basic deductible if you go into the hospital or visit the doctor in a given year. You have to pay 20% of every doctor visit after you meet the annual deductible. This is just the beginning of costs you need to cover.

When you ask for a Medicare supplement quote, Texas insurance agents will need a bit more information. There are actually multiple supplement plans available. The government sets out guidelines on what these plans must cover. The insurance companies that provide these policies must meet those guidelines. The most apparent difference to the consumer is the actual cost of the policy. Some of the supplement policies cover more of the out-of-pocket expenses while others do not. For example, Medicare Supplement Plan A covers the Part A coinsurance costs as well as the Part B coinsurance and copayments. It helps cover the costs of hospice care and preventative care coinsurance. That does not vary from one insurance company to another.

All Medicare supplements cover the items included in a Medicare Supplement Plan A. But, each plan has its own inclusions. For example, Supplement Plan F covers everything that Plan A does, and more. It includes skilled nursing coinsurance, deductibles for Part A and Part B, Part B excess charges, and foreign travel coverage for emergencies. Supplement Plan G covers much the same as Plan F with one considerable difference. It does not cover the Medicare Part B deductible. When requesting a Medicare supplement quote, Texas insurance brokers need information on what coverage you need.

However, you do not need to worry about making these decisions yourself. These insurance brokers can help you evaluate the various policies and make the right decision for yourself. The most important thing you can do when looking for a Medigap policy is work with a good agent in the process. When you request a Medicare supplement quote, Texas agents are there to help. Use their expertise to your advantage. You will save time, money, and hassle in the long run if you do.

For more information or if your looking for a Medicare supplement quote in Texas visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: medicare supplement quote texas
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | 4 Comments »

Medicare Supplement Texas – Getting the Information on Your Medicare Supplement, Texas

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Are you paying too much for your Medicare supplement, Texas residents? That is what thousands of Texans do every year. There are dozens of insurance companies in our state that want your business. They compete with each other. You have the right to shop around and find the best deal for your supplement coverage. You will find that the supplement policies are the same no matter which company you select. But, when you compare the range of prices they charge, you will see a real difference. Don’t pay too much anymore and shop around.

Did you select the right Medicare supplement, Texas seniors? Many people do not really understand all the benefit options available with the ten different policies available on the market today. They just selected whichever one looked the best at the time they signed up. They may not need that coverage or they may need additional coverage not on their current policy. Everyone should take time each year and review their current Texas Medicare supplement policy. It may surprise them to find they need a different policy and they can get it at a better price if they shop around.

Do you know what you need to know about your Medicare supplement, Texas elders? As said before, many people do not understand all the benefit options. There are ten different policies and they can be confusing for most people. You need to understand the basic benefits that all policies provide. Then you need to understand each of the additional options available in various policies. Once you have this information, you can make an informed decision on which policy works for you and your particular situation. The basics are available in Plan A. The rest of the policies offer other options.

Did you consult with an insurance broker in selecting your Medicare supplement, Texas seniors? Many people think that talking to an insurance broker will cost them more money. But that is not the case. You pay nothing more than you would through an online impersonal website. The best thing about using a broker is that they can give you advice suited to your individual situation. An online website cannot consider all the factors. And each person’s situation is different from everyone else’s. You need to use this expertise for you own good. You can end up saving a great deal of money and finding a policy that fits your needs. That is what you want to happen when you search for insurance.

For more information Medicare supplements Texas visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: medicare supplement texas, texas medicare supplement
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | Comments Off on Medicare Supplement Texas – Getting the Information on Your Medicare Supplement, Texas

Medicare Supplement Insurance in Texas – Understanding the Coverage of Medicare Supplement Insurance in Texas

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

There are currently ten choices when it comes to Medicare supplement insurance in Texas. These are Medigap plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Each one of these provides coverage for different out of pocket expenses that traditional Medicare does not cover. One of these charges is Medicare Part A coinsurance. Medicare covers the cost of the first 60 days you are in the hospital. After that, you start paying part of the bill yourself. This coinsurance can be quite expensive when you are in the hospital for an extended length of time. All Texas Medigap plans provide coverage for the coinsurance costs up to 150 days. They also provide coverage for an additional 365 days in the hospital.

Medicare Part B covers up to 80% of the costs for doctors and other medical service providers. However, that leaves 20% to the patient. And that is on top of an annual deductible. All Medicare supplement insurance in Texas must provide coverage for the 20% coinsurance requirement. For mental health services, they must cover up to 50%. These policies must also cover the cost of the first three pints of blood a patient might require. Basic coverage does not cover the annual deductible for Medicare Part B, however. You can get that coverage through Medigap Plans C and F.

Did you know that Medicare Part A has a deductible as well? It is also not included in the basic coverage of Medicare supplement insurance in Texas. You can get that coverage through Medigap Plans B, C, D, F, G, and N. You can get partial coverage of that deductible with Plans K, L, and M. Medicare Part A also provides coverage for hospice care, but there is an associated coinsurance or copayment involved. You get coverage for this through all policies. But, some policies do not cover the coinsurance involved with a stay in a skilled nursing facility. You need Plans B, C, D, F, G, M, and N for full coverage and Plans K or L for partial coverage.

As you can see, there are many complexities when it comes to Medicare supplement insurance in Texas. In order to get through the many twists and turns, it is vital to speak with a trained insurance broker who understands these complexities. The broker can help you find the policy that meets your needs at a price you can afford.

For more information on Medicare supplement insurance in Texas visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: medicare supplement insurance in texas, texas medigap
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | 1 Comment »

Texas Medicare Insurance – Dispelling Some Myths about Texas Medicare Insurance

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

Myths abound when it comes to Texas Medicare insurance. Here is some information to clear up some of those myths. The first myth is that Medicare supplement policies differ from one company to another. All policies which offer supplemental coverage to Medicare must conform to strict guidelines offered by the federal government. The feds have outlined ten policies which insurance companies can offer to consumers. These plans go by the simple names of Plan A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Each policy has a strict program of benefits that each company must provide. The real difference comes to price.

The second myth to dispel is you do not need a Texas Medicare Insurance policy. There is no law that forces you to purchase a supplement policy. Some people receive additional medical coverage through private policies and other sources. They may have enough coverage to offset the out of pocket expenses offered by traditional Medicare. However, for many people, supplement insurance makes sense. A simple accident or illness can lead to thousands of dollars in out of pocket expenses, if you do not have a supplement policy in place. You need to look at your own situation to determine if you need a policy or not.

The next myth to dispel is that prescription drug coverage is part of the Texas Medicare insurance supplements. When Medicare Part D became available, all prescription drug coverage through supplement policies stopped. If you want prescription drug coverage, you need to purchase a Part D policy through a qualified insurance company. These policies require a separate premium, deductible, and copayments from supplement policies. You need to factor in this extra cost when looking at supplement policies as well as prescription drug coverage through Part D policies.

The final myth to dispel is you can save money if you purchase Texas Medicare insurance supplements only using online quotes. Many people have concluded that insurance brokers cost more than using online quotes. That is not true. Insurance companies offer policies in the state of Texas based on certain criteria and rates are the exact same regardless of buying online, direct or working with a professional. That’s state law. You can get better advice and a wider range of quotes if you use the services of an insurance broker. You can get an idea of how much insurance is through online quotes. But, an insurance broker can help you wade through the confusion and find the right policy for you.

For more information on Texas Medicare insurance visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: texas medicare insurance
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | Comments Off on Texas Medicare Insurance – Dispelling Some Myths about Texas Medicare Insurance

Texas Medicare Supplements – Can You Answer These Questions About Texas Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

The first question is “Is Texas Medicare supplement insurance different than policies offered in other states?” The answer is no. The federal government provides strict guidelines on what each type of supplement plan offers. So if you get Supplement Plan C from one company, it is the same as every other Plan C offered by other insurance companies. The biggest difference you will see is the amount of money you put out every month for premiums. And that difference can be significant from one company to another. It is in your best interest to shop around before choosing a policy.

The next question is “What determines the premium prices you pay for Texas Medicare supplement insurance?” The answer is location, health, and age, among others. Private companies use these criteria to determine their supplement plan premiums. Urban dwellers pay more for insurance than most rural residents do. Suburban dwellers are somewhere in between. Health also contributes to premium prices. If you are in poor health, you will pay a higher premium than someone in better health will. One thing to note is health history or current medical conditions can not be any factor when a senior is entering Medicare for the first time or in some other guaranteed issue period. Age is another factor. As you age, you pose a higher risk to the insurance companies. They reduce their risk with higher premiums.

The third question is “What are the differences between the various Texas Medicare supplement insurance policies?” The differences between the various policies can be subtle or significant. All plans include a basic set of the same benefits. These are items such as coverage for Part A coinsurance on hospital costs, Part B coinsurance on everything but preventative care, the cost of the first three pints of blood each year, and covering coinsurance on Part B preventative care. Other plans offer additional benefits in different combinations. These benefits include hospice care coinsurance, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, Part A deductible, Part B deductible, Part B excess charges, at-home recovery costs, and preventative care not covered by Medicare. Far and away the most popular Texas Medicare Supplement plan is Plan F as this plan offers folks the most protection and in most cases everything including deductible, co insurance and extra charges are paid in full, resulting in no money out of pocket for seniors.

The final question is “How can you get the best deal on Texas Medicare supplement insurance?” Your best option for getting a good price on a supplement plan is to speak with an independent insurance broker. The independent broker has access to multiple insurance companies. The broker can examine all the policies and give you the best price on a policy that fits your needs. Brokers are also charged with assisting you throughout your time on the policy in the even a problem ever comes up. A good broker will also monitor the policy throughout the year to ensure the rate you are paying is in line with current market conditions. When looking for a Medicare supplement, your first step should be to contact a broker and have the broker pull quotes. You can get it done quick and easy.

For more information on Texas Medicare supplement insurance visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: texas medicare supplement, texas medicare supplement insurance, texas medicare supplements
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | Comments Off on Texas Medicare Supplements – Can You Answer These Questions About Texas Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Medicare Supplement Texas – Understanding the Differences in Medicare Supplement in Texas

Monday, February 14th, 2011

If you are looking for a Medicare supplement in Texas, you need to understand the differences between policies. The first thing you need to understand is that the various Medigap policies are all the same if they have the same letter designation. So a Medicare supplement Plan A at one company is the exact same policy as a Plan A of another company. The only difference is the price you end up paying. Now, Plan A supplement insurance is not the same as Medicare Part A. To understand all the differences between the supplement policies, you need to start with the basics.

The basic Medicare supplement or Texas MediGap insurance policy is Plan A. Plan A covers all the basics required by the federal government in Medigap plans. It covers coinsurance for hospital stays between 61 and 150 days. It provides 365 additional days of hospital coverage over the 150 covered by Medicare. It handles 20% of doctors’ bills and 50% of mental health services. It has to cover the first three pints of blood as well. All other supplement plans have this basic coverage included. The other policies add additional benefits for covered individuals.

Medicare supplement Plan B provides coverage for the Medicare Part A deductible in addition to the basic requirements in Plan A. Medicare Supplement Plan C builds on the coverage of Plan B. In addition to the Part A deductible, Plan C covers skilled nursing home costs for 21 to 100 days, the Medicare Part B deductible, and coverage for up to 80% of emergency medical expenses in a foreign country. Plan D is a bit different from Plan C. It covers basic benefits as well as Part A deductible, foreign travel emergency coverage, and skilled nursing home care. In addition, it also covers at home recovery costs. As you can see, evaluating a Medicare supplement in Texas requires knowledge.

In addition to those supplements, there are also Medicare Supplement Plans F, G, K, L, M, and N to consider. Each of these plans provides other combinations of coverage for things such as Part B excess charges and other out of pocket expense limits. Some come with co-payments required for certain medical services. None of these plans helps offset the cost of prescription drugs. There are other plans called Part D for your drug coverage.

Another way to keep things straight is this: Texas Medicare Supplement plans will be called “Plan” and your coverage provided by the federal government is called “Part” like Part A, B, or D. This confusing information is explained in greater detail by reviewing Texas Medicare Eligibility information found all over the internet.

Look, we deal with this stuff all day and are used to all the confusing little letters the government uses for that reason you need the help of a good insurance agent when consider a Medicare supplement in Texas. With so many options, it can be very confusing. It can also cost you more money than necessary if you make the wrong choice and sometimes those choices are with you until you no longer need Medicare and in that case you won’t be around to discuss them.

For more information or to get a Medicare supplement in Texas quote visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: medicare supplement in texas, texas medicare eligibility, texas medigap insurance
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | Comments Off on Medicare Supplement Texas – Understanding the Differences in Medicare Supplement in Texas

Medicare Insurance Texas – Understanding Medicare and Why You Need Supplement Insurance

Friday, February 11th, 2011

When it comes to Medicare insurance, Texas seniors can have some confusion. This is a basic guide to the four types of Medicare coverage and their limitations. The first type of Medicare coverage is Part A. Most people know that Part A covers the cost of hospital care. But, it also covers stays at skilled nursing facilities, hospice, and home health care. This form of Medicare covers all the costs for a hospital stay until the 61^st day. At that point, the patient has to start picking up part of the tab. After 150 days, the patient has to cover the entire tab. Each year, a patient must cover the Part A deductible before Medicare picks up any costs.

Medicare Part B covers the cost of medical services not related to a hospital stay. This includes doctors’ services, home health care, outpatient services, and other related medical services. The types of services covered by Part B must be medically necessary or in the form of preventative care. This coverage does not cover voluntary services deemed medically unnecessary. Part B coverage has an annual deductible attached to it. When looking at Medicare insurance Texas residents need the best information.

Patients also have to cover Part B excess charges. According to Medicare law, doctors do not have to accept the amount Medicare considers a fair charge. The doctor has the option of billing the patient for up to 15% more than Medicare considers a fair charge. Since Medicare only covers 80% of these charges anyway, the patient must cover the 20% plus the excess charges the doctor puts on top. For example, if the doctor performs a procedure for which Medicare offers $100, the doctor has the option of charging $115 for the procedure, or 15% above the Medicare allowance. Medicare will pay 80% of the $100, or $80. The patient must cover the $20 left over, plus the additional $15 the doctor charged on top. In Medicare insurance, Texas seniors need to understand these nuances.

Two other types of Medicare exist. Part C Medicare is an HMO type option for those on Medicare. These plans are also known as Advantage plans. Texas Medicare Part D is the prescription drug coverage. Private insurance companies provide administration for Part C and Part D using federal guidelines for coverage.

Most seniors elect to go with some type of Medicare Supplement Insurance also known as Medigap coverage, these plans will fill in all the holes left with your traditional coverage offered from the government. When it comes to Medicare insurance, Texas residents will find it is important to find the right coverage for your needs. Since all have premiums, cost is a very important factor.

For more information on Medicare insurance Texas visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: medicare insurance, medicare insurance texas
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | Comments Off on Medicare Insurance Texas – Understanding Medicare and Why You Need Supplement Insurance

United of Omaha Changes Texas Medicare Insurance Plan N Rules

Monday, February 7th, 2011

Notice was given late last week on the new underwriting requirements for United of Omaha Texas Medicare Insurance Plan N, the one that had almost no underwriting requirements since its inception in June of last year. Expected? Yes, you just cant keep allowing almost every single health risk to come onboard before sanity sets in.

United of Omaha, a Mutual of Omaha company was slick in their introduction of the new Texas Medicare Insurance plan, they would take almost anyone unless you had ESRD regardless of age or other underwriting factors. Although they are still using a limited underwriting guideline effective meddle Febuary there are now a few health questions. This plan will still have more relaxed requirements so those getting hammered with rate increases this could still be a valuable option to save prescious fixed income dollars.

If there are additional developements on this plan I will keep you posted.

For more information about Texas Medicare insurance visit www.medicareisurancetexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: texas medicare insurance
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | Comments Off on United of Omaha Changes Texas Medicare Insurance Plan N Rules

Texas Medigap Plan N – A Plan to Help Those on Medicare

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

In recent years with the changes that have been made to the way Medicare supplemental insurance plans are handled, many more people have become interested in what they offer. One Medicare supplemental plan that many have decided to purchase is the Texas Medigap Plan N. This plan offers many advantages that Medicare is missing. One of the main advantages of this plan is that it has smaller co-pays for regular doctor visits and emergency room visits. The fees for these services on this plan are a maximum $20.00 and $50.00 respectively. For someone who is on a fixed income, as many seniors and disabled persons are, this can be a tremendous help in their day-to-day living expenses.

Many times seniors and those who are disabled pay frequent visits to a number of physicians on a regular basis. They may need to see their general practitioner as well as a host of other specialists and medical persons who deal in only one area at a time. Unfortunately, paying for all these varied visits each and every time can result in high expenses for them. By obtaining the Texas Medigap Plan N, these expenses can be drastically reduced. In addition, this plan will also cover the deductible for Part A, nursing home fees as well as foreign travel emergencies. This can also result in much needed aid for those who have Medicare.

There are many other plans that one can choose from to supplement their Medicare insurance, each having some advantage over the other. Plans such as Texas Medigap Plan N offer a wide range of services, whereas other plans concentrate on certain areas like prescription drugs or hospital stays. Each has a benefit to a certain group of Medicare recipients. The key is in finding which plan will work the best in your unique situation.

In most cases Plan N has lower premiums than the popular Plan F with the major differences being of course the small co pay but also Plan N requires the consumer to meet the Part B deductible of $162 for 2011. Plan N also does not offer excess charge payments which Plan F does pay, however as long as you see a provider that accepts Medicare you will not see any excess charges. When you add it all up and compare the prices savings you may see Plan N as the best bet.

Although underwriting does become a factor in any Texas Medicare Supplement Insurance policy you purchase outside your either initial enrollment period or some other guaranteed enrollment period, United of Omaha has a different take on Plan N underwriting, United, a Mutual of Omaha company is issuing these policies with almost no medical underwriting for a limited time period but will soon change that to what I call limited underwriting. In either case this is a blessing for those consumers that seem trapped on their current plan that has increased rates on the senior.

No matter what type of plan a person decides on whether it is the Texas Medigap Plan N as mentioned here, or one of the other plans, they can be assured that the plan is being administered according to Federal and State regulations. In the past, supplemental plans were not always handled in a legitimate way, but recent years have brought about significant changes in the way these plans are now administered. This has resulted in plans that are now more reliable and that a person who is on Medicare can feel confident about purchasing. For those who are on Medicare this can be a tremendous asset to their peace of mind.

For more information on Texas medigap Plan N visit www.MedicareInsuranceTexas.com today!

Share this:

Tags: texas medicare supplement insurance, texas medigap plan n
Posted in Medicare Supplement Articles | Comments Off on Texas Medigap Plan N – A Plan to Help Those on Medicare

Archive for February, 2011

Medicare Supplement Quote Texas – If You Need a Medicare Supplement Quote, Texas Insurance Agents are Standing By

Medicare Supplement Texas – Getting the Information on Your Medicare Supplement, Texas

Medicare Supplement Insurance in Texas – Understanding the Coverage of Medicare Supplement Insurance in Texas

Texas Medicare Insurance – Dispelling Some Myths about Texas Medicare Insurance

Texas Medicare Supplements – Can You Answer These Questions About Texas Medicare Supplement Insurance?

Medicare Supplement Texas – Understanding the Differences in Medicare Supplement in Texas

Medicare Insurance Texas – Understanding Medicare and Why You Need Supplement Insurance

United of Omaha Changes Texas Medicare Insurance Plan N Rules

Texas Medigap Plan N – A Plan to Help Those on Medicare

Recent Posts

Categories

Archives

Meta