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Women with Medicare: National Women's Health Week

 

Its Your Time!

This week of May 13th-19th, 2012 is National Women's Health Week. This is a weeklong celebration of womens' health organized by the Department of Health & Human Services' and Office of Women's Health. How appropriate that this week, following Mother's Day, is a week dedicated to the health and well-being of women everywhere. It is important that we hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility to support a longer, happier, healthier life!

Part of maintaing a healthy lifestyle means making sure women with Medicare take advantage of preventive services. Women with original Medicare, have 80% of some of the important screening exams covered. However, it is important to know which tests are covered, and how often. 

The link below is a valuable tool in understanding what screening tests should be done, and how often they should be performed.  The guide is organized by age and test, to inform women of all ages how often each specific screening check should be completed.

Click the link below to view the chart, "Screening Tests for Women"

Screening Test Informational Chart

Many of the preventive screening services recommended for women 65 and older, may not be covered by Medicare alone.  This is where a Medicare supplemental insurance plan plays a vital role.  Having a Medigap plan (such as Medicare supplement Plan F, Plan G or Plan N etc...) will cover the 20% gap that is not covered by Medicare alone. 

In order to understand which plan is the best Medicare supplement plan for you, a free service is provided below. Click the button to find out how a Medigap policy will benefit you. Get your free, individualized quote....follow the button below!

  compare-supplemental-plans

Could Medicare Plan N be right for you?

 

Plan N is one of a range of Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans. All Medigap policies, including Plan N, are standardized throughout the Medicare supplemental insurance industry.

  • What does this mean for you?  It means that, whether you buy Plan N from one company or another, the benefits are still the same.

  • Who is eligible to apply for Medicare Supplement Plan N? Individuals 65 years or older and enrolled in original Medicare are eligible.

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Medicare Supplement Plan N is ideal for those who can expect to see the doctor for fewer visits each year, for example, someone who simply needs routine check-ups performed. This particular policy uses co-payments in order to keep that premium cost low. Medicare Supplement Plan N offers the opportunity to pay a low premium, and yet, still be completely covered.

With Medicare Plan N, when you visit the doctor, you will make a $20 dollar co-pay and for any emergency room trips you will pay a $50 dollar co-payment. With premium pricing staying nice and low, you have the tools necessary to properly budget for your anticipated healthcare needs.

Your Medicare Plan N policy will be of great benefit to you in a multitude of ways! For more information, or to receive a free rate quote click below!

get-your-free-plan-n-quote-now

Medicare Supplement Market Terms Simplified

 

Medicare supplemental insurance for seniors is available to individuals with original Medicare. When researching the best Medicare supplement plan to fit your needs, you may come across certain unfamiliar terms.

Four of the most common terms are defined and explained in simple terms below:

  1. Medigap
  2. Deductible
  3. Premium
  4. "Out of Pocket" Cost/Expenses

1. Medigap

What is Medigap? Medigap is just another name for Medicare supplemental insurance. Individuals with Medicare qualify for Medigap (or Medicare Supplemental Insurance) because it is designed to help you pay for what your original Medicare does not cover. There are several plans to choose from including; Plan F, Plan G, Plan K, Plan L, Plan M and Plan N. It is important to research the Medicare supplement market to find out which of the plans will be most beneficial. Click the red button below to get help from a licensed agent who will help you choose the best Medicare supplement plan for your needs.

click-here-to-learn-more 2. Deductible

Definition of Deductible- The monetary amount you have to pay out-of-pocket, before your insurance company will cover the remaining costs.

Depending on the Medicare supplemental insurance plan, the deductible can vary. Choosing a plan with a higher deductible, may mean you pay a lower premium. The choice is best made with your personal preference in mind. It is important to take into consideration your financial status when determining the right deductible amount for you.

3. Premium

What is a Premium? Your premium will be the money that you pay to cover the cost of your Medicare supplemental insurance policy. Select a plan with a premium amount that will allow you to easily make payments without difficulties. You want to make sure you always keep your premium payments current or you could risk losing your coverage. You will also want to make sure you get a premium that will allow you to have the most coverage that you can afford.

4. "Out of Pocket" Expenses or Cost

What is Out of Pocket Cost? Out of pocket cost for your Medicare supplement plan will be the money that you have to pay from your own pocket for any medical bills. The out of pocket expenses you will pay include your premium and deductible. The best way to save money on your Medicare supplemental insurance will be to limit the out of pocket cost as much as possible without limiting the amount of coverage that you get. This will ensure that you get the most coverage possible and do not have to spend too much of your own money for your policy.

Bottom Line:

Select the plan that will allow you to have the most coverage that you need and can afford. The key is to select a plan with a premium that will allow you to easily make the payments without having any difficulties, and a deductible that is not too high.

You have a choice! A free service is offered to individuals with Medicare, to help consolidate all of the information you need and to choose the best Medicare supplemental insurance policy. Click the orange button below to take advantage of this complimentary service.

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Preventative Screening Information for Women with Medicare

 

Women with original Medicare are provided with 80% coverage for these 3 preventative services specific to women:

  1. Pap Test
  2. Pelvic Exam
  3. Clinical Breast Exam

Medicare will help pay for these screenings once every 2 years.  However, Medicare alone does NOT cover all of your preventative healthcare needs.  For example, your doctor may recommend that you receive further screenings that are not covered by Medicare.  In addition, your doctor may recommend that you have a Pap test, pelvic exam, or clinical breast exam, performed more often than one time every 24 months.

The Department of Health and Human Services has provided an easy to read brochure that outlines the preventative screening and services that Medicare does and does not cover. This informational booklet is entitled, “Women with Medicare”.  Please download this valuable resource by clicking the attachment below.

Women with Medicare: Visiting Your Doctor for a Pap Test, Pelvic Exam, & Clinical Breast ExamiStock 000016587213 woman at doctor

In order to receive help with payment for services not covered by original Medicare, women are requesting information about Medicare supplemental insurance policies. Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans were designed to act as secondary coverage to your Medicare policy.

Selecting the best Medicare supplemental insurance is an important choice. Any woman enrolled in Medicare should take time to explore their Medicare supplemental policy options.  Sifting through the vast array of policy choices can prove to be an intimidating task. The easiest and most effective way to explore all of your policy options is to contact a company that provides free information and rate comparisons.

One top-rated company that provides this service is Puritan Financial Group. Agents are on-call and ready to answer any and all questions. In addition they will compare rates from top Medicare supplemental insurance providers for the plan that meets your needs.

If you are not sure which plan is the best Medicare Supplemental insurance plan for you and your needs, an independent agent can help answer any question you may have. Inquire today for your Free Medigap quote!

  inquire-today

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Medicare Supplement Plan N

 

Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan N is available to those seniors who have qualified to receive Medicare benefits. Those with original Medicare already have 80% of the approved hospital and medical expenses covered. Medicare supplemental insurance plans were implemented as a means of covering the remaining 20% gap that is left by Medicare. Medicare Supplement Plan N acts as secondary coverage to your Medicare policy.

Let’s address some of the most frequently asked questions concerning Medigap Plan N specifically.

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FAQs:

Question: What Does Medicare Supplement Plan N Cover?

Answer: Medigap Plan N is designed to cover the remaining 20% gap that is left by Medicare.  The basic benefits specific to Plan N Medicare include:

  • 100% Coverage Part B Coinsurance
  • Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance
  • Coverage for the 20% that Medicare does not cover.
  • Coverage for your Part A (hospital) deductible of $1,132 per year.
  • 80% of emergency care received while traveling outside the U.S. up to a maximum of $50,000.

Question: What is Unique About Plan N?

Answer: Medicare Supplement Plan N is unique because this plan utilizes a cost sharing structure to keep the premiums low. Here’s how it works:

  • In exchange for much lower premiums than you would pay with other Medicare supplemental insurance plans, Plan N uses co-pays to help reduce the premium cost.
  • Co-payments for doctor appointments will be $20
  • Co-payment for emergency room trips will be $50. If you are then admitted to the hospital, the emergency room co-pay is waived.

Question: If coverage for Plan N is really the same universally, why are the prices so different?

Answer: The Medicare Supplement insurance market is highly competitive. Companies are free to set their own rates. Although they do have to be approved by the state departments of insurance, they can set their rates based on lots of factors.

This is the #1 reason why it is so important to compare rate quotes.  Several companies provide free rate quotes, and it is extremely beneficial for individuals to use resources available to compare.

Would you like a free and simple rate quote comparing the most competitive rates from top companies offering Medicare Supplement plan N? Please click the link below for your free plan N quote.

get-your-free-plan-n-quote-now

The Whole Truth: Medicare Supplemental Policy Plan F

 

my-free-medigap-plan-f-quote

 

 

Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are available to those seniors who have qualified to receive Medicare benefits. Those with original Medicare are fortunate to have 80% of the approved hospital and medical expenses covered.

Problem: What about coverage for the remaining 20%?

Solution: Medicare Supplemental policies, were implemented as a means of covering the remaining 20% gap that is left by Medicare!

Medicare Supplement Plan F is the most comprehensive secondary health coverage available. This “top of the line” plan requires a simple monthly premium payment; with Plan F, you will NEVER have to pay a co-pay or deductible when you attend doctor or hospital visits. Medicare Plan F completely fills the gap that Medicare leaves behind.

 Below is a link entitled “How to Decide if Medicare Supplement Plan F Benefits You!”. In this article you will learn more about benefits specific to Plan F. Take the time to answer some of the important questions in the article to consider when selecting your perfect coverage option. Decide if Medicare Supplemental Plan F is right for you.

How to Decide if Medicare Supplement Plan F Benefits You!

Would you like a free and simple rate quote comparing the most competitive rates from top companies offering Medicare Supplement plan f? Please click the link below for your free plan f quote.

  compare-plan-f-rates

The Whole Truth: Select the Best Medicare Supplemental Insurance

 

Medicare Supplement Insurance plans are available to those seniors with Medicare. Medicare Supplement plans are standardized throughout the insurance industry.  This means that regardless of which insurance company you choose, the benefits will be identical. However, this does NOT mean that the premium or price you pay will be the same at each company.

The market for Medicare supplemental insurance is very competitive. Premiums, or the price a client may pay per month, varies dependent on the way each insurance company allocates overhead expense, commissions, and cost of insurance.  As you may imagine, different companies have different philosophies.  Bottom line, a plan F is a plan F no matter where you go, so….get the least expensive!

iStock 000009129801XLargeMangingRetirement resized 600

Competition in this situation is of great value to you.  As the consumer, you have more options, and the ability to find the best Medicare supplemental insurance plan, at a cost that is right for you. For this reason, the smart consumer should do their research and compare rates before enrolling with one company or another. Fortunately, there are companies out there who are willing to provide you with free quotes providing the most competitive rates from numerous companies offering Medicare supplemental insurance. Utilizing these companies that offer free quote services is the most effective way for you to compare rates from the top companies, without exerting the time and effort it would take to tackle the task on your own. For your free quote comparison, click below.

request-a-quote-now

How to Decide if Medicare Supplement Plan F Benefits You!

 

Selecting the best Medicare supplemental insurance, is an important choice. Any seniors enrolled in Medicare should take time to explore their Medicare supplemental policy options.  Sifting through the vast array of policy choices can prove to be a daunting task. Let’s breakdown the supplemental policy choices individually, beginning with Medicare Supplement plan F.  This is the most comprehensive medigap insurance plan available. Medicare supplement plan F benefits can boast all-inclusive supplemental coverage.

 Medicare Supplement Plan F

Here is the complete summary of key Medicare supplement plan f benefits:

  • NO co-payments  
  • NO deductibles.
  • Freedom of choice to see any doctor or physician, and ability to select any hospital that accepts Medicare.
  • One monthly medicare supplement payment
  • Predictible budget for your health care needs since you will not be paying anything out-of-pocket.
  • The 20% gap in your Medicare coverage COVERED!

Take a moment to answer these 5 questions.

  1. Do you anticipate the need to see your physician more than two or three times a year?
  2. Will you have a need for ongoing treatments or medication regimens?
  3. It is important for you to be able to budget for any potential health expenses in a given year?
  4. Do you favor the idea of having no co-payments or deductibles to satisfy?
  5. Are you using a physician that you're comfortable with and would prefer to continue using?

Did you answer "yes", to the above questions?  If so, Plan F is the one policy that offers ALL of your criteria! Please click the button below for your free Medicare Plan F policy quote.

                       CLICK HERE!
my-free-medigap-plan-f-quote

“Is Medicare Supplement Plan F an Affordable Supplement?”

 

Oftentimes, senior citizens are unfamiliar with forms of health insurance that aren’t specifically Medicare. Although Medicare is usually the first option for those that have reached the age of 65, it is certainly not the only option available. Contrary to popular belief, Medicare actually only covers 80% of approved medical expenses for its members. While a decent portion is covered for you, there is still a gap in coverage that you would be responsible for. Thankfully, Medicare Supplement policies were put into place to help members of Medicare Part B cover the 20% gap that is left behind.

When shopping for Medicare Supplement insurance, you will likely learn that Medigap Plan F is the most all-inclusive supplemental coverage that you can obtain. This is the plan that will give you the ultimate coverage requiring you to pay absolutely no co-payments. Plan F completely covers the 20% gap in your Medicare coverage. With this policy, you would not have any deductibles to satisfy. You would be responsible for your monthly premium payment, however, you would not have any other out-of-pocket expenses throughout the year.

Medicare Supplement Plan F

Now that you know how great Medicare Supplement Plan F is, you are probably wondering if it is an affordable supplement. There is no standard yes or no answer to that question. Plan F is primarily suitable for someone who:

  • Needs to see a physician multiple times throughout the year.
  • Does not like dealing with co-payments or high deductibles.
  • Wants to save money on their health insurance.

With better benefits will usually come a higher premium. Someone who attends to doctor visits several times a year could greatly benefit by the absence in co-payments and deductibles. Understandably, not every person will be able to afford to pay high premium costs. There are other beneficial policies available to those who would like to keep their premium nice and low. Plan G is the most comparable plan to Plan F. The only difference is that with Plan G, there is a small $140 deductible in place. Otherwise, Plan G is every bit as comprehensive as Medicare Plan F.

There is not one specific plan that is the “best Medicare Supplement” because not all policies benefit each person in the same way. You will want to choose your policy based on a few important factors:

  1. Your own personal needs and objectives.
  2. Your budget capabilities and requirements.
  3. Your desired benefits.

Puritan, a leading representative of the top-appointed Medigap insurers, offers free personalized rate quotes for any policy of interest to you.

                              my-free-medigap-plan-f-quote

The Best Medicare Supplement At a Rate that Won’t Break Your Bank

 

Contrary to popular belief, there’s really not any one Medicare Supplement policy that is considered the best Medicare Supplement. While Medicare Supplement Plan F is widely known to be the most all-inclusive coverage you can possibly obtain, that doesn’t mean that the plan will suit everyone in the same way. Just like everything else in life, with better benefits comes a higher price range. Having to pay a little more each month for your health insurance may prove to be one of the most advantageous investments you could make.

Medigap Plan F is the “cream of the crop” of all Medicare Supplement plans. This policy requires no co-payments when you see your physician or if you have to go to the hospital for any reason. There is also no deductible to satisfy meaning you don’t have to worry about reaching a certain limit before the plan starts working for you. Although this is the “ideal” supplemental policy for members of Medicare, the fact remains that not all senior citizens can afford to pay the premiums associated with a policy like Plan F. If this is indeed the case, your broker or agent should be able to make appropriate suggestions for you.

Plan G will give you the exact resume of benefits provided in Medicare Supplement Plan F. However, there is one distinct difference in the two policies. Whereas Medigap Plan F affords no deductibles, Plan G requires a small deductible of $140 to be satisfied. Many seniors have found the latter to be beneficial because the premium pricing is usually slightly less expensive. The small deductible that comes with the plan may be worth it to some people in certain situations.

For those wanting to keep their monthly payments on the lower side, Medicare Supplement Plan N is often an affordable alternative. Plan N does require co-payments for doctor or hospital visits, however, you will find that the premium may be much lower than other Medigap policies. Your final selection should depend on your personal needs and objectives.

Best Medicare Supplement

Your Medigap policy should do three things for you:

  1. Cover the 20% gap in your Medicare coverage
  2. Be affordable so that you won't have to worry about defaulting on your health coverage.
  3. Save you money in the long run.

If you have questions about any Medicare Supplement policy and would like more information, inquire below to speak to a knowledgeable representative who will help you to better understand your options.

                                         inquire-today

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