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Posted on 05/20/2013 Great news! Cigna has a new Medicare Supplement Plan being offered in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. Rates are extremely competitive. How low are the rates? For a 65 year old female, the monthly premium for a Medigap Plan F is $168.50, Plan G-$126.08 and Plan N-$100.41. For a 65 year old male, the monthly premium for Plan F-$168.50, Plan G-$145.00 and Plan N-$115.47. Cigna is an A+ rated carrier, with headquarters right here in Philadelphia and the company does a great job with health insurance. If you are new to Medicare, Cigna is a carrier that you should consider. If you currently are on Medicare and looking to possibly change Supplement Plans, Cigna could very well provide you with the same coverage that you currently have, but you might be able to save hundreds on you premium. Questions? We are here to help you every step of the way. Give us a call at (215) 658-1776

Posted on 05/14/2013 Do you live in the five-county Philadelphia Pennsylvania area? Are you going onto Medicare soon? If you are, than you are probably wading through a lot of confusing material concerning Medicare and all your Medicare Insurance options. To many seniors, it is all pretty confusing. The first decision that a senior needs to make is whether to opt for a Medicare Supplement Plan (also know as Medigap) or a Medicare Advantage Plan (also known as Part C if Medicare). Medicare Advantage Plans are becoming more and more popular. These plans are have significantly lower premiums than Medigap plans, and several of these plans offer extra benefits, such as vision, dental, hearing and even a a gym membership. These plans, however, often have higher copays for such medical costs as doctor visits and hospital stays. When that senior is deciding between both plans, the lower premium and extra benefits of a Medicare Advantage Plan looks great, but there sometimes there is hesitancy due to the higher copays. What most senior don’t know is that Medicare allows seniors to “try out” a Medicare Advantage plan such as Keystone 65 or Bravo Health and have the option that if you don’t like it, you can get out without any problems. This is something that every senior should be aware of, since it is such an important component of someone’s Medicare decision. So, you are getting ready to sign up for Medicare. You are considering a Medicare Advantage Plan, possibly with Keystone 65 or Bravo Health. The low premium sounds very attractive, but you are still a bit hesitant. You are not 100% sure that’s what you want a Medicare Advantage Plan. What if something goes wrong? What if the copays add up too fast? It is important that you are aware of the Medicare Advantage Trial Period, which is a test run for new Medicare Beneficiaries who want to try out a Medicare Advantage Plan. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stipulate that Medicare beneficiaries have a 12-month period to try out a Medicare Advantage plan. If they are dissatisfied, they can disenroll from that plan anytime during the one year period, prior to the one-year anniversary of the effective date. They can rejoin Original Medicare and have a guaranteed right to purchase a Medicare Supplement policy. This guaranteed right means that the Medicare Supplement insurance company cannot deny you coverage, no matter your health status. Let’s look at a real life example of CMS’s trial period: Bob is turning 65 in September 2013 and Medicare Part A & B become effective September 1, 2013. Bob enrolls in a Medicare Advantage Plan, through Independence Blue Cross Keystone 65 Select HMO, effective September 1, 2013. His trial period lasts to August 31, 2014. If he does not like his Medicare Advantage Plan, anytime during that time period, for any reason, he can get out of his existing Medicare Advantage plan, go back into Original Medicare and purchase a Medicare Supplement Plan, all on a guaranteed basis by CMS. So, if you are going onto Medicare soon, and thinking about a Medicare Advantage Plan, know that you can “kick the tires.” Try it out for up to one year and if you like it, you are able to make a change, no questions asked.   Are you under 65 and looking for health insurance? Click on  PA HEALTH EXCHANGE

Posted on 05/02/2013     What Does Medicare Health Insurance Cover? When a person becomes Medicare eligible, Medicare becomes their health insurance.  It is not required to purchase any additional coverage.  When that Medicare beneficiary seeks medical care, such as a doctor visit, lab work, or a hospital stay, she shows her red white and blue Medicare card, and that is it. Medicare will pay for the majority of these bills, and the patient is responsible for a portion of those costs as well. Some of the items that the Medicare Beneficiary is responsible for:

• Hospital Stay-Per Admission deductible of $1,184
• Hospital Stay 61-90 Days- Per Day copay $296
• Hospital Stay 91-150 Days- Per Day copay $592
• Medical (Part B) Annual Deductible of $147
• Medical (Part B) Co-Insurance of 20% for all Medical Part B expenses, such as dr visits, outpatient surgery, diagnostic, lab, physical therapy, etc.
• Prescriptions are not covered by original Medicare

As you can see, there are many “gaps” in Medicare, where the Medicare beneficiary is responsible for potentially large outlays.  For this reason, the great majority of seniors purchase some type of additional Medicare Insurance to supplement Medicare.  Medicare remains the person’s primary insurance, and the Medicare Supplement plan (also known as Medigap) merely pays for all or most of the above mentioned costs that the beneficiary would otherwise have to pay. The Three Most Popular Medicare Supplement Plans- Plan F,  Plan G & Plan N When a Medicare beneficiary purchases a Medicare Supplement Plan, Medicare remains his primary insurance, and the Medicare Supplement Plan will pay for most or all of the deductibles, copays and co-insurance that he would normally have to pay.  Medicare Supplement Plan F is the richest plan.  With Plan F, the senior is not responsible for any out of pocket costs- the Medicare Supplement plan pays for everything.  For example, for a hospital stay, dr. visits, and lab work, the patient pays nothing. This can all be confusing.  we are here to help! Just call (215) 658-1776 and we will assist you any way possible.