AARP has a strong history of taking care of seniors and has high brand recognition.  This is the reason most likely that you are even reading this web page.  Below is information published by AARP about AARP Medicare supplements.  If you are interested in purchasing a medicare supplement please request quotes to see if AARP offers the best deal in your area.

Click here to get your Medigap quotes from an independent insurance agent

We also offers some excellent travel insurance called MASA Assist through Medical Air Services Association

Georgia Medigap is the conventional name of medical insurance plans often called Georgia Medicare Supplement Insurance. Medicare has many “gaps” left which can leave some rather substantial out-of-pocket costs. Medigap is designed to supplement Medicare or put differently “fill in” Medicare gaps. Georgia Medigap is provided by private insurance firms but controlled by both state and federal law. Medigap supplemental policies are not an alternative to traditional Medicare like Medicare Advantage Plans, but instead work with Medicare.

Georgia Medigap plans are available in essentially ten flavors and are labeled with the letters A through N. The letters E,H,I, and J are no longer used. Medigap plan A is usually the least expensive of the plans but delivers the least level of coverage while Medigap plan F provides the best coverage. The most popular plan is Medigap plan F with Medigap plan G a near second. Medigap plan F covers 100% of the coinsurance, deductibles, copayments, and even the excess charges not covered by Medicare. Medigap plan G is identical to plan F apart from not covering the yearly deductible for Medicare Part B. Frequently the yearly savings on the Medigap plan G premium is greater than the cost of the Medicare Part B deductible so it is a plan clearly worth considering.

For most, the best time to obtain a Georgia Medigap plan is when you are turning 65. During the first six months from when you turn 65 or whenever you first purchase Medicare Part B the insurance companies are not able to turn you down and there is no medical underwriting. This is a significant benefit because there are numerous medical conditions that will normally prevent you from purchasing Medicare supplemental insurance.

When searching for a Georgia Medigap plan it is important to note that the plans are all standardized. This means every plan by the same letter provides the exact same coverage. So Medigap plans provided by AARP, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Woodmen of the World all provide identical coverage even though the companies all have premiums that can vary greatly in cost.

One of the great benefits of having a Georgia Medigap plan compared to say Medicare Advantage is that Medigap is guaranteed renewable and cannot be canceled as long as you continue to keep paying the premiums. Medigap changes are also usually phased in for first time purchasers and allow existing policyholders to retain their current policies.

When it is time to purchase a Georgia Medigap plan it is best to utilize the services provided by an independent agent. Independent insurance agents do not just sell insurance for one particular insurance company. They are able to pull quotes from all of the insurance companies in your area ensuring you get the most affordable price. Before you request insurance quotes on any website be sure to read the fine print. Many websites are there for the sole purpose of collecting your information to sell out to a lot of insurance agents or companies. This will provide you with a bunch of duplicate quotes and a lot of hassle. One good independent agent will get you the same information (possibly better), at the same price, and save you time and trouble.

Click here to get your Medigap quotes from an independent insurance agent

Medigap is the conventional name for health insurance plans also called  Medicare Supplement Insurance. Medicare has lots of “gaps” left that are able to leave some rather substantial out-of-pocket expenses. Medigap is designed to supplement Medicare or in other words “fill in” Medicare gaps.  Medigap is provided by private insurance companies but regulated by both state and federal law. Medigap supplemental insurance policies are not an alternative to original Medicare like Medicare Advantage Plans, Instead they work with Medicare.

There are basically ten Medigap plans labeled using the letters A through N.  The letters E,H,I, and J are not used. Medigap plan A is commonly the least costly of the plans but also provides the least amount of coverage while Medigap plan F has the most coverage. The most popular plan is Medigap plan F with Medigap plan G a near second. Medigap plan F covers 100% of the coinsurance, deductibles, copayments, as well as the excess charges that come with Medicare. Medigap plan G is the same as plan F except for not covering the yearly deductible for Medicare Part B. Quite often the annual savings on the Medigap plan G premium is more than the cost of the Medicare Part B deductible so it is a plan clearly worth looking into.

When shopping for a Medigap plan it is important to understand that all the plans are standardized. This means that every plan by the very same letter provides the exact same coverage. So Medigap plans provided by AARP, Gerber, New Era, and United all provide the very same coverage even though the companies charge different premiums.

The best time to purchase a Medigap plan is when you are turning 65. During the first six months from when you turn 65 or when you first purchase Medicare Part B the insurance companies are not able to turn you down and there is no medical underwriting. This is a huge benefit because there are many medical conditions that will normally stop you from purchasing Medicare supplemental insurance.

Among the great benefits of having a Medigap plan in comparison to say Medicare Advantage is that Medigap is guaranteed to be renewable and cannot be terminated as long as you continue to keep paying the premiums. Medigap changes are also phased in for first time purchasers and permit existing policyholders to keep their current plans.

When it is time to purchase a Medigap plan it is best to take advantage of the services of an independent agent.  Independent agents do not just sell insurance for one particular insurance company. They can pull quotes from all the insurance companies in your community making sure you get the most affordable price. Before you request quotes on any internet site be certain to read the fine print. Many websites exist only to collect your information and the sell it out to a whole bunch of insurance agents and companies. This will get you a bunch of duplicate quotes and a lot of hassle. One good independent agent can get you the same information, at the same price, and save you time and trouble.

Click here to get your Medigap quotes from an independent insurance agent

Continental Life has become a very competitive insurance provider in the Medicare Supplement World, especially in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and several other states.  If you are turning 65, Continental Life is definitely one of the companies whose rates you should check if they are servicing your area.  Here is why:

• VERY competitive rates
• Rate stability
• Small company personality with BIG company capability
• 12-month rate guarantee
• Financial strength – rated “A” (Excellent) by A.M. Best

Continental Life Insurance Company of Brentwood, Tennessee (CLI) is now an Aetna company which further enhances the company’s financial strength.  CLI has been offering Medicare Supplement and other senior insurance products since 1983 supported by friendly personalized customer service.  CLI provides plan options that are both affordable and will meet most clients’ needs.  All Medicare supplemental insurance plans provided by CLI are of course guaranteed renewable so clients not only get the protection that they need but that they can trust. With a Medicare supplement by Continental Life you control who cares for you and you are assured of being protected without the worries of reduced benefits or cancelled coverage.

Request Medicare supplement quotes to see if Continental Life is offering the best deal in your area.

California Health Advocates published an article stating that President Obama’s budget includes a projected savings of $2.5 billion by imposing a surcharge on Medicare beneficiaries who buy Medicare supplement insurance also called Medigap.  The Article says the average person would see their Medicare supplement annual premium rise by around $400.

California Health Advocates (CHA) state that they support containing Medicare cost and that this would “make beneficiaries pay more for their care as a way to reduce Medicare costs, but would do nothing to address the skyrocketing costs of health care services”.  California Health Advocates go on to say that they will oppose Medicare changes that result in higher out-of-pocket cost for an already vulnerable population and that half of all Medicare beneficiaries have annual incomes of $22,000 or less.

It is clear that as the Baby Boomer generation hits the turning 65 age group that Medicare will be challenged to provide the same level of services that seniors have had in the past.  Prevalent in the discussion is allowing the government to means test treatments, raising copayments and raising deductibles.  Though cost sharing will most likely be a part of the solution it be would responsible for our Government to also work diligently on cleaning up the fraud, waste, and abuse the is prevalent in Medicare.  It is good to see that there are non-profit organizations like California Health Advocate that work  to keep an eye on our Government and to keep us informed.

Turning 65 and live in California?  When you turn 65 you have a six month open enrollment period during which the insurance companies cannot refuse to sell you California Medicare supplement insurance. This is the best time to protect yourself.  After your open enrollment period has past you will have to go through medical underwriting and can be turned down for insurance.

Click to read the full article President’s 2013 Budget Proposes Shifting More Medicare Costs to Beneficiaries

If you are shopping for California Medicare supplemental insurance please click here. One of our agents will pull Medicare supplement quotes for you and email them to you.

A recent article in the New York Times entitled Monitoring Your Health with Mobile Devices by Peter Wayner describes how the future in medical treatment will most likely involve your cell phone.

For those who are not aware of just how smart a smart phone has become consider that many are now more powerful than entire computers were just a few years ago.  With the ability to now connect medical devices to them it seems those long ago days when doctors made house call will soon come again.  The Doctors will just be visiting through your cell phone.

So what does this mean to Medicare and hopefully Medicare supplemental insurance?  Better treatment at a lower cost.  The article states that these devices will help give people real command over many diseases, provide people much needed information, and enable them to make smarter decisions in real time.  If these devices help to lower medical cost then that translates into Medicare being able to provide better services to seniors.

As the Baby Boomers are just starting to hit the Medicare Age, Medicare will need every edge to provide for them.  Peter Wayner’s article states that Johnson & Johnson has also spoken publicly about developing similar devices. The ultimate goal would be to replicate the full-body diagnostic “tricorder” from the TV show “Star Trek”.  That goal is being encouraged by a $10 million prize put up by Qualcomm, the smartphone chip maker, through the X-Prize Foundation.

We don’t have “tricorders” yet, but we do have Medicare supplement insurance.  If you are turning 65 be sure to protect yourself from the gaps left in Medicare.  It would be a shame to have your bank account “beamed-up” by some heavy hitting medical bills.  When you turn 65 you have a six month open enrollment period during which the insurance companies have to sell you a plan.  So don’t miss it!

When you get your quotes through us we will find the lowest priced Medicare supplemental insurance in your area.  The money you save may very well cover the cost of your next smart phone!

Click here to read the article Monitoring Your Health with Mobile Devices

If you are shopping for Medicare supplemental insurance please click here. One of our agents will pull Medicare supplement quotes for you and email them to you.

When someone turns 65 more than likely they will end up researching Medicare and Medicare supplement plans. Medicare is controlled through both the state and federal government and is available in three parts. Not everybody get all three. Medicare supplement plans, also known as Medigap plans, are available to help cover what Medicare leaves for you to pay out of your own pocket. When looking at Medicare supplement plans remember that when it comes to Medigap getting an F is good.

Medicare Part A is essentially hospital insurance that covers you when you find yourself admitted to a hospital for treatment. Part A does cover some other cost however the basic gist of it is that you need to be admitted to a hospital. Everyone that receives Medicare will receive Part A. There is a $1,156 deductable (2012) attached to Part A which means that the initial $1,156 on your bill belongs to you. If you’re unlucky enough to become admitted into a hospital a few months later you get to pay the $1,156 deductible all over again.

Medicare Part B is considered doctors insurance because it helps to cover your outpatient bills. Not everyone gets Part B. If you have Medicare Part B you will pay a monthly premium out of your Social Security check for $99.90 (2012). There will be a yearly deductible of $140 that you will have to pay first before Medicare pays any part of the bill. With Medicare Part B you will also pay 20% of all your doctor bills and then any excess charges. Under Medicare doctors may charge you an additional 15% on top of what Medicare pays this is called an excess charge.

Medicare Part D covers prescriptions. Part D can vary wildly by area, coverage, and medications covered. It is advisable to examine and purchase Part D right on the Medicare web-page. You will want to make certain that any prescriptions you’re currently taking are covered by the plan you chose. Even if you are not currently taking any prescriptions It is advisable to get at least some minimum coverage via Part D when you turn 65. Wal-Mart or a similar plan is often a good option.

Medicare supplement plan F

So when you are considering Medicare supplement plans one might ask how’s getting an F great? Medicare supplement plans provide basically ten different amounts of coverage. They utilize the letters A through N skipping E,H,I, and J. The Medicare supplement plan with the most coverage is plan F. Medicare supplement plan F is one of the most popular and it is also guaranteed issue when a person is turning 65. Guaranteed issue means that for most people the insurance company can’t turn you down for insurance, you are not required to take a physical, and there is almost no medical underwriting.

Here’s what Medicare supplement plan F covers: All of Medicare Part A hospital cost up to an additional year after your Medicare benefits are used up, all of Medicare Part B cost and co-payments, the first three pints of blood that Medicare does not cover, Part A hospice care both co-insurance and co-payments, skilled nursing facility co-insurance cost, Medicare Part B excess charges, and plan F also covers some foreign travel emergency cost. As you can see, when it comes to Medicare supplement plans, getting an F is good!

Click here to get quotes for Medicare supplement plan F, G, and N or other plans you may be interested in.

Approaching 65?  Make sure you register for Medicare coverage even if you are planning to continue to work. You should contact Social Security about three months before your 65th birthday to sign up for Medicare.  When you delay you may end up paying a higher rate as a penalty for Part B for the rest of your life. If you have a company plan you will need to understand how it will interact with Medicare.

Fidelity, EBRI, and HealthView Services have estimates that range from $230,000 a couple to $369,000 a person will be needed to cover 17 to 20 years of retirement healthcare cost. These numbers do not even include the cost of long term care.  Does this seem high?  In 2010 insurance costs alone averaged around $3,300. When you add in deductibles, co-pays, over the counter drugs, glasses, and dental care, the out-of-pocket costs can easily exceed $5,000 a year. It can be much worse if you have health issues.

With our government so in debt the trend to shift more costs to the consumer is likely to continue. A little retirement planning can help protect you from some of the daunting expenses. Purchasing a Medicare supplement and Medicare Part D coverage is one way to do that.

When you turn 65 and first start receiving Medicare Part B coverage you have a six month window during which insurance companies have to sell you a Medicare supplement plan if you want it.  During this initial enrollment period you cannot be charged anymore for your Medicare supplement than anyone else regardless of any preexisting condition.  Once you are in a plan then it is guaranteed renewable as long as you pay your monthly bill.

Medicare Part D is a prescription drug plan.  The first step to finding a plan is to get your prescription information together and use the tool at Medicare.gov (medicare.gov/find-a-plan/questions/home.aspx) to find a plan that best matches your needs.  It is important to review your Medicare D coverage annually to see if a different company can provide lower cost coverage.

Health care is expensive and retirement can be too, but that doesn’t mean that turning 65 and retiring cannot be a great experience.  Understanding some of the potential cost and planning for them will make the experience even better.

If you would like to see who has the best priced Medicare supplemental insurance in your area please click here. One of our agents will pull some Medicare supplement quotes for you and email them to you.

Florida is an interesting state when it comes to Medicare Supplement Insurance.  A first look, from an insurance agent’s point of view, there is not much to see.  Mutual of Omaha and United have pretty much ruled the insurance world in Florida for many years with almost no competition.  Even now when you pull up quotes for a client you will in most cases only get maybe three or four insurance companies depending on where that client lives.  Competition in almost all cases is good for the consumer and this is true for Medicare supplement plans as well.  One of the driving factors behind the higher premiums for Florida Medicare supplement insurance is the lack of competition.  Things are slowly changing though.  Gerber is relatively new at providing Medicare supplemental insurance and seems to be undercutting the competition in many parts of Florida.  This is a step in the right direction, but lets compare rates with Florida’s next door neighbor Georgia.  If you pull quotes in Georgia you will often get upwards of twenty insurance providers and the rates will sometimes be half of what a Floridian will pay.  So Florida, open up your doors to more competition you will help us all out.

If you would like to see if Gerber has the best deal in your area please click here.  One of our agents will pull some Florida Medicare supplement quotes for you and email them to you.

United Healthcare is one of the most recognized names in the Medicare supplement industry

• National footprint
• Competitive plans
• A variety of Medicare supplement plans available
• Stable rates
• National average rate increase of only 5.5% over the last five years
• High satisfaction-96% of plan holders are satisfied with their benefits & coverage

From the United Healthcare website:

About Us

At UnitedHealthcare, we are committed to improving the health care system.

UnitedHealthcare is an operating division of UnitedHealth Group, the largest single health carrier in the United States.

As a recognized leader in the health and well-being industry, we strive to:

• Improve the quality and effectiveness of health care for all Americans
• Enhance access to health benefits
• Create products and services that make health care more affordable
• Use technology to make the health care system easier to navigate

Our family of companies delivers innovative products and services to approximately 70 million Americans. UnitedHealthcare’s nationwide network includes 676,287 physicians and health care professionals, 80,000 dentists and 5,190 hospitals. Our pharmaceutical management programs provide more affordable access to drugs for 13 million people.

We’re committed to the delivery of quality care and its continual improvement. In fact, UnitedHealth Group made significant investments in research and development, technology and business process improvements – nearly $3 billion in the past five years. These investments led to changes that are improving the way care is delivered and administered across the entire industry.

If you would like to see if United Healthcare is offering the lowest priced Medicare supplement plans in your area request Medicare supplement quotes by clicking here and filling out a simple form. An agent will look up the rates based off of the information you provide and send quotes of the lowest priced companies to you by email.