A Insurance Shoppe Home PLEASE call with your questions, Sam Schoppenhorst 520-318-4800 / sam@123411.com

Medicare Handbook: This government publication could be called "Most anything you need to know about Medicare". Although it's not a best seller, you will be informed!

Choosing a Medigap Policy: A Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare, a government publication.

LINKS TO MEDICARE (www.medicare.gov) AND SOCIAL SECURITY (www.socialsecurity.gov)
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare Frequently Asked Questions

New to Medicare? 6 Things You Need to Do Medicare has four parts Apply Online for Medicare

Medicare/Medigap Supplements Authorized Broker of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Logo

AARP

Medicare Advantage Plans AARP

Part D PDP (Prescription) AARP

Most Medicare Advantage plans include prescription coverage, Medicare Supplements do not. If you are enrolling in a Medicare Supplement or if you have a lot of medications, we suggest you run the Medicare program (link below) and key in all of your prescriptions. It will give you a non-biased analysis showing your cost for each plan.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plans

In my opinion… a brief overview of Medicare by Sam Schoppenhorst.

Going on Medicare, or if you are already on Medicare… I recommend you read the official government handbook “Medicare & You” Some of the following information has been taken from that handbook.

In most cases, when you first get Medicare, you are in the Original Medicare Plan. Part A helps cover hospitalization, as well as blood, home health services, hospice care and skilled nursing care. Generally there is no premium for Part A, because either the recipient or their spouse paid Medicare taxes while they were working. Part B helps cover medical services like doctors’ services, outpatient care, and other medical services that Part A doesn’t cover. Part B is optional, it helps pay for covered medical services and items when they are medically necessary it also covers some preventive services. Generally Part B covers services out of the hospital such as doctors, clinical and laboratory services, emergency room services, durable medical equipment, diabetic supplies, eye and foot exams, some well exams in screenings, physical therapy etc.

In addition to original Medicare, you may want to consider a Medicare supplement/Medigap policy to cover your out of pocket costs under both Medicare Parts A & B as well as a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) to add drug coverage. These are two different insurance policies, each of which has premiums.

Because part A basically hospital coverage we believe it is extremely important for you to opt for and pay the extra premium for part B coverage. Without part B coverage you cannot purchase a Medicare supplement or enrolled in a Medicare part C plan.

Or, you may want to consider a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) that provides all your Part A, Part B, and often Part D coverage. You make a choice when you are first eligible for Medicare. Each year you can review your health and prescription needs and switch to a different plan in the fall. Generally speaking, the Medicare advantage plans have little or no monthly premiums. This is possible because Medicare pays an amount of money for your care every month to these private health plans, whether or not you use services.

When considering which options are best for you, please consider…

Is your doctor, specialist, preferred hospital, pharmacy etc. in the plans network of providers? Ask your doctor/provider to be sure.
Ask your doctor/specialist under which options they can best treat you if you develop or have a serious health condition.
Are your prescriptions covered and what will your cost be under the plan?
Do the monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs fit your budget?
Are additional benefits and lower premium worth being confined to a network?
Under most circumstances, once you choose a plan you will be locked in until the following January 1^st.

Key Dates:

November 15, 20xx — First day that anyone with Medicare may switch from one way of getting Medicare to another for the following year.
December 31, 20xx — Last day that anyone with Medicare may switch from one way of getting Medicare to another for the following year.
January 1, 20xx — Open Election Period begins, allowing you to switch to another plan type as long as they are the same (i.e. if your current plan includes a prescription drug benefit, your new plan must also).
March 31, 20xx — Open Election Period ends, this is the last day to switch to another plan as long as it is the same plan type.