Medicare Cost 

If you have worked and paid into the system for at least 40 quarters then you do not pay a premium for Medicare Part A. Anyone who has not reached the full payments for that time period may be eligible to obtain Part A however there will be a premium.

Medicare Part B has a monthly premium that you must pay. These premium fees are based on income.

Premiums for Medicare Part D drug plans can vary widely within each state. Visit Medicare.gov to see the different plans and premiums offered in your area.

Watch the video below to get answers to the most frequently asked questions 

How To Sign up for Medicare

There are two groups of people who are enrolling in Medicare. Those who are already drawing a social security check, and those who are not.

Read below and find which one applies to you!

Drawing a SS Check

If you are drawing a social security check prior to turning age 65 you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. You should be sent your card approximately three months before your 65^th birthday.

Coverage begins the first day of the month that you turn age 65. If you are born on the first of the month than your coverage will begin the first day of the previous month.

If you are still working and receiving employer health benefits and do not wish to enroll in Medicare Part B at this time, simply return the card they provide you, or you can always call social security directly or visit their office.

• Visit the website www.SocialSecurity.gov.
• Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY users 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, from 7 AM to 7 PM.
• Visit your local Social Security office.

Not drawing a SS Check yet

If you are not drawing a social security check when you turn age 65 you must enroll in Medicare yourself. You can do this through any of the options listed above.

If you are to continue working and have insurance through your employer, then you have the option of opting out of Medicare Part B until you decide to retire and that coverage ends. This will save you on the Part B premium each month.

Just let social security know you do not want Part B Medicare, in that case. Otherwise, if you do not have employer insurance and you are not drawing a check, then you’ll enroll in both Part A and Part B.

They will require you to pay your monthly premiums quarterly, then when you do draw a social security check you may have them deducted out of that each month.

You may apply online by clicking HERE 

Medigap Plans

Medicare supplement policies were created to help pay the gaps or expenses that Medicare Part A and B do not cover.

Aside from deductibles that are not paid by original Medicare, there are other expenses such as hospital coinsurance as well as doctor’s services coinsurance (20%) that you are responsible for paying.

Medicare “Gaps”

Some of the main gaps or expenses that a Medicare supplement plan can cover are:

• Part A hospital deductible – you’re responsible for paying a deductible if you are admitted into the hospital. In 2020 this deductible is $1408.

Many people think that this is a one-time or an annual deductible and it is not. This deductible is based on benefit periods of 60 days.

This means if you are admitted to the hospital and then released and you stay out of the hospital for 60 days or more, that is considered one benefit period.

If you are admitted again after that 60 day period you must pay this deductible again.

• Part A hospital coinsurance – you are responsible for paying coinsurance if you are in the hospital after a certain amount of days.

Day 61-90 – Cost $352 per day

Day 91 and beyond – Cost $704 for each lifetime reserve day after the 90^th day of the benefit period.

• Annual Part B Deductible – this deductible must be paid prior to Medicare Part B paying 80% of approved medical expenses. In 2020 this deductible is $198 and is paid once per calendar year. It resets each January.

When Can You Buy Medicare Supplemental Insurance?

If you are just enrolling in Part A and Part B you are in what is called your “initial enrollment period”. This is the period you’re allowed to both enroll in Medicare itself, as well as a Part D drug plan.

There are several different enrollment periods when it comes to Medicare, however, with Medicare supplemental insurance there is really no set time that you’re required to enroll in.

6-Month Medigap Open Enrollment Period

Everyone does, however, have a 6-month Medigap open enrollment period that allows them to apply for a Medicare supplement plan with no medical questions asked.

This period begins the same day that Part B Medicare is effective, and runs for a full 6 months.

That does not mean you cannot apply for a supplement plan after 6 months. You will, however, need to answer the medical questions on the company’s application after that period is up.

It’s wise to enroll during your 6-month enrollment period because during this time you may enroll in a Medigap plan and be guaranteed coverage, regardless of any pre-existing conditions you might have.

Therefore it is a good idea to start your Medicare supplement coverage the same day as your effective dates of Part A and B Medicare.

Anyone who chooses to opt-out of Part B Medicare due to having employer health coverage will still get this open enrollment period when they do eventually enroll in Part B Medicare.

We can help you whether you are just coming on to Medicare for the first time, or you’ve had a supplement for years and need to find a lower premium.

We can help you every step of the way to make sure you understand the coverage, as well as help you apply with the best company. We help make Medicare easy!

Medigap Plans 2021

Medicare supplement plans are separate insurance policies offered by private insurance companies.

These plans were designed to some or all of the gaps that Medicare does not cover.

They are also called Medigap plans. Currently, there are 10 different plans available lettered A-N and they are standardized by the government.

This means that regardless of which insurance carrier is offering the plan, they must all contain the same benefits within each plan letter.

For example, a Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement Plan G has identical benefits to an Aetna Medicare Supplement Plan G.

Although the benefits are the same, the premiums that each carrier charges are not. In fact, there can be substantial differences in the monthly rates for the exact same coverage.

Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart

Medicare currently offers 10 different Medigap plans through private insurance carriers. You will see that a few letters are missing in between letters A – N. This is because Medicare removed a few plans that didn’t make sense anymore.

Honestly, there still are quite a few plans that don’t make sense and you would never enroll in them. The plans that most people enroll in are:

• Medicare Plan G
• Medicare Plan N
• Medicare Plan F**

** Only available to people who were enrolled in Medicare prior to January 1st of 2020.

Below is a Medicare supplement plan comparison chart for 2021.

Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart 2021

The Best Medicare Supplement Plans for 2021

While there are 10 different Medicare supplement plan letters available to purchase, there really are just a few that make the most sense due to their great coverage and low premiums.

Not every insurance company is required to offer every plan letter, but most offer the three most popular plans.

These are Plan F, Plan G, and Plan N.

Medicare Plan G

“G” is for GOLD! And Plan G is definitely the most popular plan and for good reason. As mentioned above the difference between Plan F and G is just who pays the annual Part B deductible.

On Plan G you pay this yourself. Once this is met Plan G will pay 100% of the gaps or expenses that Medicare Part A and B do not cover.

Plan G has also historically had a lower rate increase than Plan F, making it one of the very best choices for people on Medicare.

Remember, with Plan G you just have one expense which is the Part B deductible. This amount is $198 in 2020 and will likely change in 2021.

You pay this once per calendar year. After that 100 percent coverage!

Use our quote engine on the right to check the difference in premiums for both Plan F and G by entering your zip code at the top of the page.

Click below to learn more about Plan G!

Medicare Supplement Plan N  

Plan N is quickly becoming one of the most popular plans as well due to its low premiums.

People who are healthy but want a supplement plan should absolutely consider Plan N as the coverage is outstanding.

It has premiums lower than both Plan F and G, with just a few more out-of-pocket expenses.

With Plan N:

• You still pay the annual Part B deductible just like Plan G
• After the deductible is met, you might have a small co-pay each doctor’s visit (Never more than $20 though)
• If you visit the ER on Plan G and you’re not admitted to the hospital there is a $50 co-pay
• There is the very small chance you might be billed Part B excess charges, however, most doctors do not charge these

Again due to the low premiums of Plan N you will definitely want to check the rates to see if this is a good option for you.

Or you can call us any time at 888-891-0229 and we’ll explain everything over the phone.

Click below to learn more about Plan N!

Medicare Plan F

Plan F has long been considered “the best” plan by many agents and those on Medicare because it pays 100 percent of the gaps in Medicare. This means all of your Medicare-approved expenses are paid and you won’t receive any medical bills.

With Plan F there are:

• No Co-pays
• No deductible to pay
• No coinsurance – Never get a bill

The main issue with Plan F is that the premiums are too high for the one extra benefit that you receive on this plan over Plan G. That one benefit is that Plan F pays all of your expenses including the annual Part B deductible.

For 2020 this deductible is now $198. What this means is, before Medicare pays anything, someone or some supplement plan must pay the first $185 of medical bills.

After this deductible is met, then Medicare starts paying as does the supplement.

The problem is, the premiums for Medicare Supplement Plan F are almost always higher than $198 for the year. This makes Plan G a much better option. You pay your Part B deductible yourself and save money.

Another big factor is that Medicare Supplement Plan F in 2020 is going way. If you are enrolled in Plan F prior to January 1st, 2020, you can keep the plan.

Anyone who is becoming eligible for Medicare on January 1st, 2020 and after, will not be allowed to enroll in Plan F. In that case you should seriously be looking at Plan G, or perhaps Plan N for your Medicare supplement insurance.

As well, any time a Plan closes such as what is happening to Plan F, there is a strong possibility of a much higher rate increase after that.

And because switching plans requires that you pass medical underwriting, we strongly advise looking at Medicare Supplement Plan G if you currently have a plan F now and change now in case something like that happens.

Click Below to Learn Why Plan G is Better than Plan F!

Changes to Medicare Supplement Plans in 2020

There were several changes to Medicare supplement plans in 2020. The big one of course is the removal of Plan F from the lineup as explained above. As well, the high-deductible version of Plan F is also being removed, as is Medicare Plan C.

This will make Plan G the most comprehensive plan available, and as well

Therefore Plan G and Plan N will remain the most popular plans with companies such as United Healthcare, Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, Transamerica, IAC, Blue Cross, and Cigna just to name a few, being the most popular companies offering them.

This deductible is $203 in 2021, and the Part B deductible for 2022 will not be released until October of 2021.

Keep checking back as we will update you once this is released!

Medicare Supplement Plans 2021 – Changes

There are no scheduled changes to benefits for Medicare supplement plans in 2021. Plan F, G, and N will all remain in place with the same benefits as in previous years. We do encourage you to call us to check your rates or just click below.

It’s very likely we can save you money.

And it’s FREE!

Click below to get instant quotes online now!

Best Medigap Companies

There are several different companies that offer Medicare supplement plans in various states. As mentioned the important thing to remember that each of the companies has the same coverage within each plan letter for supplements.

A Plan G is a Plan G, with identical coverage, regardless of who offers it.

The big difference is the price! The cost each month for the same coverage can and does vary widely between each company.

That’s why people love to use us to help them. For NO cost we shop the rates each year, so you don’t have to! And you never pay us a dime for it!

Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement

Chartered in 1909, Mutual of Omaha offers a large number of insurance products which include Medicare Supplement plans, group insurance policies, and accident policies.

With an A+ A.M. Best rating, along with a AA- Standard and Poor rating, they have tremendous financial stability and are an outstanding choice for your Medicare supplement policy.

Mutual of Omaha operates under their flagship name as well as other subsidiary names, such as Omaha Insurance company, United of Omaha, and United World.

Mutual of Omaha Medicare Plan G

Nearly identical to  Plan F, Mutual of Omaha Medicare Supplement Plan G offers the same 100% coverage, after you pay the annual Part B deductible of $203 (2021).

Once that is met, Plan G pays 100% of the gaps in Medicare Part A and B.

Therefore, checking the rates and premium difference between Plan F and G is a wise move to see how much savings there is by enrolling in Plan G

Mutual of Omaha Medicare Plan N

Plan N offers great coverage, but not as much as Plan G.

It does have lower premiums, however much like Plan G in where you must meet the annual deductible of $198 in 2020, on Plan N you also might have a co-payment of up to $20 per doctor’s visit after you meet the deductible.

The co-payment amount is determined by how they code the procedure at your visit. There might be no co-pay amount at all. Plan N is a great choice for healthy people who don’t visit the doctor often but want great coverage.

Mutual of Omaha Medicare Plan F

As mentioned above, the Medicare Supplement plan F is one of the most popular plans due to 100% coverage. Those wishing to enroll in a Mutual of Omaha Plan F should carefully analyze the rates for Plan G as well, due to the possible savings.

No one enrolling in Medicare on January 1st of 2020 or after will be allowed to enroll in a Mutual of Omaha Plan F.

Click below to apply for Mutual of Omaha now!

Aetna Medicare Supplement

Aetna is a very popular company and likely a name you have heard about throughout the years. CVS purchased Aetna in 2019 and is really making a place in the market.

Aetna owns a number of subsidiary companies such as American Continental, Aetna Health and Life, and Continental Life.

A newcomer to the market under the CVS/Aetna umbrella is a company called Accendo. Keep reading below to learn about them, they have the largest discounts in the industry!

But depending on where you live you might see any of these names offering Aetna Medicare Supplement Plans. They have an A rating with A.M. Best.

Aetna’s main offerings for Medicare Supplements include the usual Plan G, N, and F.

Aetna also offers its own household discount in most states.

Click below to apply with Aetna today!

Accendo Medicare Supplement

Without a doubt, the biggest splash made in the industry lately was the announcement of Accendo Medicare Supplement plans to the market.

You might be asking “Who on Earth is Accendo?”, and if you are don’t worry you’re not alone.

Accendo is part of the CVS/Aetna group of companies and is now offering Medicare Supplement insurance.

While not in all 50 states, they are in quite a few already with more being added this and next year.

Click below to learn more about Accendo!

Accendo Medicare Supplement Plans

What makes Accendo such a great option is its very low premiums.

What makes them an even better option is the fact that they have a whopping 14% Household discount, and you only need to live with someone in many states!

They do not need to be applying with you, you simply have to live with them, any age. This is incredible for a company to do, so give us a call today to see if Accendo is available in your area!

Click below to Apply with Accendo Today!

Cigna Medicare Supplement Plans for 2021

We have many clients with Cigna as their Medicare supplement carrier and they’re extremely happy.

As a top-rated company, Cigna offers all the most popular Medicare Supplement plans.

• Plan G
• Plan N
• Plan F

Cigna offers business through a variety of different subsidiary companies, such as American Retirement Life insurance Company, Loyal American Life Insurance Company, or Cigna Health and Life.

Depending on which state you are in you might see any of these different names, but they are all under the Cigna company umbrella.

They have over 15 million customers worldwide and are publicly traded (NYSE: CI).

Click below to Apply with Cigna today!

United Healthcare Medicare Supplement

United Healthcare is obviously an extremely popular insurance company, so much so that they teamed up with United Healthcare to offer its Medicare Supplement Plan.

As a publicly-traded company (UNH), United Healthcare is financially stable and offers a wide variety of products.

Some great benefits that come along with enrolling in a United Healthcare Medicare supplement are:

• Visit any doctor that accepts Medicare in the United States – No network
• Many additional benefits of membership with United Healthcare
• Silver Sneakers benefit including gym membership (in select areas)
• A household discount for couples
• Vision discounts through Eye Med in various areas
• United Healthcare Medicare Supplements are offered in Plans F, G, and N as well as a few others. Depending on the state the rates for each supplement plan can vary widely, making it extremely important to use our FREE assistance to see if United Healthcare is competitive in your area.

United Healthcare Medicare supplement Plan F

United Healthcare does in fact offer Plan F in all the states they are in, however, it is our experience that it is almost always not priced competitively.

As with all the companies, Medicare Supplement Plan F will no longer be offered by United Health care to new folks on Medicare after January 1st.

United Healthcare Medicare Supplement Plan G

Recently in 2017 United Healthcare began offering Plan G in many states, and it seems to be a big success for them. By paying the annual Part B deductible yourself, you can usually save money by enrolling in Plan G.

Be sure to let us help you check rates if you’re considering either of these plans.

Click below to apply with United Healthcare Now!