South Carolina Medicare Supplement Plans Brace for Influx of Medicare Advantage Customers

September 28, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

With the already-set and anticipated changes to the Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage program for 2010, Medicare Supplement plans in South Carolina and nationwide are bracing themselves for what they expect to be an “onslaught” of new customers to the Medicare + Medicare Supplement marketplace.

South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans are expected to see increases in premium of $40-70, on average, for 2010, as well as reducing some of the benefits that they have provided in the past. In addition, the days of the $0 premium Medicare Advantage plans are, most likely, gone (or almost gone). Medicare Supplement companies are expecting, and rightfully so, that many of these people will find themselves searching for Medicare Supplement plan options to replace their Medicare Advantage plans.

With Medicare Advantage plans increasing in premium to levels of some of the lower tier supplement plans, plus having more cost-sharing (i.e. co-pays and deductibles), most companies and those in the industry project that the supplement plans will be a more viable option for this Medicare enrollees in 2010.

Coupled with the sharp increase in the last two years of companies dropping retiree insurance, the last two months of this year are projected to be the busiest ever for Medicare Supplement enrollments.

With this information in mind, if you plan to disenroll from a Medicare Advantage plan this enrollment season (or, even if you are changing to a new plan), it is advisable to get an early start on doing so. Companies, agents and Medicare itself are expected to be very busy this enrollment season. Below are a couple of resources if this situation applies to you:

Filed Under: Health care reform, South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans, South Carolina Medicare Supplements ·

South Carolina Medicare Part D Enrollment Period Fast Approaching

September 17, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

Medicare Part D is easily the most confusing and troublesome part of Medicare. From the varying co-pays to the “donut hole” to the way that plans can change their formularies in the middle of the year, it can be very frustrating.

One of the frustrating aspects of the program for many seniors is the once-a-year enrollment period (Nov. 15-Dec. 31). This is the only time of year (unless you are aging in to Medicare or in a special enrollment period) that you can sign up for a new plan or drop an old plan. This short period of time, coupled with the fact that it falls around the holidays, can make this a hectic time for seniors wishing to re-evaluate your Medicare Part D drug coverage.

Secure Medicare Solutions has developed a solution to this dilemma to ease the pain and headache of comparing, selecting and enrolling in a Medicare Part D drug plan.

The Medicare web site (http://www.medicare.gov) offers a way to compare all of the plans in your zip code based on your specific medications. While it would be nearly impossible to get all of the formularies from the companies and do this yourself, the web site synthesizes all of the information in one place so you can have a ready reference of what your co-pays would be with specifc plans (based on your current medications).

If you are reading this and you are an existing customer (Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage) of Secure Medicare Solutions, we perform this analysis for you at no charge. This is a once-a-year service to you. Please either email Garrett directly with your medications or contact us on the Medicare Insurance Quotes form, putting “Part D” in the “Comments” box. You will need to also send your medications and dosages so that we can perform the analysis for you.

If you are NOT a current customer of Secure Medicare Solutions, but you would like to take advantage of this offer, we can help. Please contact us the same way as was listed above – on the Medicare Insurance Quotes form, putting “Part D” in the “Comments” box. We will be happy to help you re-evaluate your current coverage and the 2010 plans once they are released (usually October/early November).

Filed Under: Part D ·

Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment

August 28, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

South Carolina Medicare Supplement policyholders often ask me about the Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment period, thinking that it takes place at the end of the year (November-December). However, Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment is not a once-a-year occurrence. It occurs only when someone is turning 65 or first signing up for Medicare Part B – NOT each year on an annual basis.

In other words, you can change or add a Medicare Supplement plan at any time during the year, not just during a once-a-year period. Many people do elect to evaluate their options once a year at the end of the year; however, this is not the only time that you can do it. In fact, you are likely to get more attention from the company or broker you are dealing with if you evaluate/change plans in the middle of the year.

Many people get confused about this, in part, because South Carolina Medicare Part D does have a once-a-year Annual Election Period (AEP), and it is November 15-December 31 each year. Also, the Medicare Advantage plans, the privatized version of Medicare, do also have enrollment/disenrollment restrictions, which include a certain times of the year for you to enroll or disenroll from those plans.

Maybe the best time of all to review your South Carolina Medicare Supplements coverage is whenever your rates change. Since coverage is Federally-standardized, there is never any reason to pay more than the bottom-line price for your supplement insurance.

Filed Under: Medicare insurance news, South Carolina Medicare Advantage plans, South Carolina Medicare Supplements ·

South Carolina Medicare Resources

August 24, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

For South Carolina Medicare enrollees, there are many resources through which you can get answers to your questions, obtain information about your benefits, and evaluate your current coverage. We’ve compiled a few of those resources below with links to the corresponding web sites:

  1. South Carolina Medicare Insurance – Medicare in SC – This is the home page for Secure Medicare Solutions, which is a leading, independent resource for Medicare and Medicare insurance information in South Carolina. At the site, you can research information about your South Carolina Medicare Supplements coverage or South Carolina Medicare Part D information.
  2. South Carolina Medicare Minutes – South Carolina Medicare Minutes is an independent blog and reference for all things related to South Carolina Medicare and Medicare insurance. The blog has frequent updates about things of interest to those who have Medicare in the Palmetto state.
  3. Medicare.gov – The Official U.S. Government Site for People with Medicare – Medicare.gov is the official government Medicare site. This site give you information about how the various parts of Medicare work overall, how they work with one another, as well as information about how to sign up for the various parts of Medicare.
  4. Center for Medicare Advocacy – This is an independent site with unbiased information about Medicare and how it works. You can get the answers to a lot of frequently asked questions on this site.
  5. Garrett Ball – EzineArticles.com Expert Author – This is the main site for EzineArticles.com, which is a leading, human-reviewed article site, which compiles qualified articles from expert authors from around the world. Garrett Ball, who has been given the designation of expert author, writes articles particularly about South Carolina Medicare Insurance, which can be found on his author home page.
Filed Under: General, Medicare insurance news, Medicare News, South Carolina Medicare Supplements ·

South Carolina Medicare – Blue Cross Blue Shield Supplement is a Great Option for Some

August 17, 2009 by · 1 Comment

The South Carolina Medicare Supplement through Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina is a great option for some Medicare-enrollees. Although the Blue Cross Blue Shield rates are typically higher than other standardized Medicare Supplement plans in the state, they are a great fit for those who are not in Open Enrollment or Guaranteed Issue periods and can not qualify medically for other lower-priced plans.

BCBS has more lenient underwriting questions, which allows some individuals who would not qualify for other plans to qualify for a BCBS Medicare Supplement in South Carolina.

Keep in mind that, if you ARE in an Open Enrollment (just turning 65 or signing up for Medicare Part B) OR Guaranteed Issue (several situations including moving to a new state, or retiring and losing employer coverage), you have the opportunity to sign up for a plan from any company without being subject to underwriting (i.e. health questions). In that case, it is imperative that you do a full, unbiased rate quote comparison and choose the plan with the lowest (or one of the lowest rates). Since all companies provide the exact same coverage plans and pay claims the same way, rate is, and should be, the primary comparison factor.

For more information about this or to get a South Carolina Medicare Insurance Supplement Quotes, visit Secure Medicare Solutions at South Carolina Medicare Insurance – Medicare in SC.

Filed Under: South Carolina Medicare Supplements ·

South Carolina Medicare Supplements: Mutual of Omaha Plans Offer Low Rates, Equal Coverage

August 13, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

South Carolina Medicare Supplements are standardized – that is, each company offers the exact same, standardized coverage. Moreover, they pay claims in the same way – via Medicare. Mutual of Omaha is an ‘A+’ rated company that offers, in most cases, the lowest rates in South Carolina for the standard Medicare Supplement plans.

Mutual of Omaha’s Medicare Supplement plan G and plan F are two of the Medicare Supplement plans that Secure Medicare Solutions offers in South Carolina.

Mutual of Omaha is also in their 100th year of business this year, and they have a great reputation for customer service and financial stability, as the highest rated Medicare Supplement company in South Carolina (A.M. Best – ‘A+’). If you are not sure if you have the lowest rate on your Medicare Supplement plan or if you want to compare Mutual of Omaha’s rates to your current rates, go to South Carolina Medicare Insurance Supplement Quotes for a no-obligation rate quote comparison.

Filed Under: South Carolina Medicare Supplements ·

South Carolina Medicare Enrollees – Dental Insurance is Here

August 5, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

I am asked by South Carolina Medicare enrollees, if not every day, almost every day, about dental insurance. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of options available for those who are over 65 and want affordable dental insurance. Most of the plans that are out there only cover some dental or only offer discounts (not real insurance).

Finally! There is a plan now, from United Health Care, which does cover those over 65 and offer solid dental coverage for a reasonable price. It also offers, for a very small additional price, vision coverage.

For information about this new dental plan, including an outline of coverage and quote, go to South Carolina Medicare Insurance quotes and type the word “Dental” in the comments box.

Filed Under: Medicare insurance news ·

Follow Along with SMS and Ezinearticles.com

August 5, 2009 by · 1 Comment

Garrett Ball is now an Expert Author at EzineArticles.com. Follow along with his article postings about Medicare and Medicare Insurance by signing up to receive them by email:

Garrett Ball’s Expert Author Email Alerts
Sign up to receive email alerts of Garrett Ball’s latest articles from EzineArticles.com!

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Filed Under: Medicare insurance news, Medicare News, South Carolina Medicare Supplements, Uncategorized ·

Relocating to SC? What to Do About Your Medicare Insurance

August 3, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

South Carolina has quickly become one of the leading states for retiree relocations. Retirees, predominantly from the Northeast, have been heading to the Coastal regions of the Palmetto State for the great weather, easy living and beaches.

When you move, does your insurance move with you? In most instances, NO. But it depends on the type of plan you have.

I have recently written an article that can help anyone facing this question sort through this complex dilemma. There are three guidelines to helping you find out if your insurance is portable and what to do if it is not: South Carolina Medicare Insurance – A Relocation Guide to Choosing a Plan in the Palmetto State.

Filed Under: General, Relocating to SC ·

South Carolina Medicare Supplement Plans M and N

July 28, 2009 by · Leave a Comment

June 1, 2010 marks an important day for Medicare Supplement plans in South Carolina and the rest of the country. The South Carolina Medicare Supplement plans are changing for the first time since 1992. We have addressed some of the changes in our previous post, which can be seen here: The 2010 Medigap Changes.

Possibly the change with the effect on the largest amount of people is the addition of Medigap Plans ‘M’ and ‘N’. These plans are totally new to the marketplace and have never before been offered. In fact, nothing like these plans has been sold as a Medigap plan previously. We’ve outlined the coverage that will be offered in those plans below, as well as what we believe to be the benefits of these plans, when compared to existing Medicare insurance options.

Plan ‘M’
Plan ‘M’ will be very similar to the current Plan ‘D’. It will still cover the 20% not covered by Medicare at the doctor’s office, hospital and skilled nursing facility. However, it will use cost-sharing in exchange for lower monthly premiums. The insured will be responsible for 50% of the Part A deductible, which is currently $1068 per benefit period. Current plans either cover the Part A deductible fully or not at all. Most people expect that the premiums for Plan ‘M’ to be about 15-20% less than current Plan ‘F’ premiums.

This plan may be a good fit for those who currently have a Medicare Advantage plan, that is terminating coverage or that they are leaving. Many of those individuals are used to having a hospital deductible, and with Medicare Advantage premiums expected to go up next year, Plan ‘M’ premiums project to be very close to Advantage plan premiums anyway.

Plan ‘N’
Plan ‘N’ is the second of the two new Medigap plans. This plan is also similar to the current Plan ‘D’, in that it covers the 20% that Medicare doesn’t cover at the doctor, hospital and skilled nursing facility. Instead of using a deductible method, like Plan ‘M’, this plan will use cost-sharing through co-pays to keep premiums lower. Insureds will have a co-pay at the doctor’s office of $20 and a co-pay of $50 for emergency room visits. This plan projects to have premiums that will be 30% less than current Plan ‘F’ coverage.

Just like Plan ‘M’, the expected market for Plan ‘N’ is the Medicare Advantage customers who are either losing or dropping their current coverage. Plan ‘N’ can definitely be a valid alternative for those losing or dropping this coverage, but who want to avoid Plan ‘F’ premiums.

Overall, the 2010 Medigap changes offer many benefits to those on Medicare+Medicare Supplement insurance, through additional benefits and new plan options. We get asked all the time how health care reform will affect them and their Medicare. While it remains to be seen what will happen with that and how it will effect those on Medicare, the 2010 changes have already been announced and everyone who has a Medicare Supplement should educate themselves about how this will affect them.

Filed Under: 2010 plans, South Carolina Medicare Supplements ·
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