Choosing a Medicare Supplement
This page will walk you through a series of questions that will help you determine the right type of Medicare Supplement Insurance for you.
- When it comes to Medicare coverage, you have three options:
- Original Medicare only
- Original Medicare plus the purchase of a supplement (or Medigap policy) through a private insurance company
- Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (usually an HMO or PPO) through a private insurance company. This combines all the parts of Medicare in one plan.
If you would like more information about the differences between a Medicare Supplement and a Medicare Advantage plan, click here, then return back to continue this process.
This page addresses how to determine which plan option is best for you.
Do you have an existing family doctor that you would like to continue seeing, or would like to be able to go to a specialist without a referral?
Yes I like being able to choose my doctors.
No Choosing a particular doctor is not that important to me.
If seeing a certain doctor is not a priority for you, a Medicare Advantage plan offers good coverage at a low price. In many cases you trade the freedom of Original Medicare for an HMO network. However, many of these plans can give you the peace of mind of predictable co-pays, and preventive care within an established network of doctors, specialists, and hospitals.
Consider How much Premium you can afford each month. Is it important that you pay no extra monthly premium?
Yes I can only afford my part B premium. I don’t want to pay more.
No I don’t mind paying some extra monthly premium if it’s the right plan for me.
A small number of Medicare Advantage Plans are PPOs. They allow a greater level of freedom with regards to what doctors you can see. Specialist visits do not require a referral.
An example is Freedom Blue with Anthem Blue Cross.
Contact me for pricing and additional information.
No Premium Medicare Advantage Plans
Some Medicare Advantage plans offer you more benefits than Original Medicare, at no extra cost.
Healthnet’s Healthy Heart is a zero premium plan for San Diego County.
Care1st is another zero premium plan located in San Diego County.
Contact me for additional information or to enroll in a plan.
Click here to read more facts about Medicare Advantage plans.
Medicare Advantage plans with a monthly premium
Some Medicare Advantage Plans require you to pay a monthly premium. Here are some reasons people might be willing to pay a little more:
- An individual may prefer one insurance company over another due to years in business and stability of the company.
- Some plans only contract with certain hospitals (i.e.Sharp), and it’s important to an individual to use a certain hospital.
- An individual may prefer the predictability of an HMO, and is willing to pay a little more to see a doctor in a certain network (i.e. Sharp or Scripps).
Click here to contact me for more information.
Medicare Supplement Insurance
If it is important to you to be able to see your existing family doctor, change doctors at any time, or see a specialist without a referral, a Medicare Supplement may be right for you.
Medicare supplement premiums are usually costlier than Medicare Advantage plans. If budget restrictions aren’t a concern, you could consider a Medicare Supplement.
If your budget is restricted, there may be a Medicare Advantage option that could work for you, such as a PPO. Or, maybe your Doctor is a part of a Medicare Advantage HMO network.Go back to the Medicare Advantage option.
If you still feel strongly about having the freedom of a Medicare Supplement, a high deductible supplement might be for you.
Some people will choose Medicare parts A, B and D with no supplement. Read about the pros and cons.
