Top 4 Questions to Ask about Medigap Insurance in TN

Before choosing a private insurance company and buy a Medigap insurance plan in Tennessee, there are some very important questions you should ask. The answers to those questions will help you a great deal when it comes to choosing the best Medigap insurance in TN, the best plan for yourself, and so on. Without much ado, here are some of those questions.

  1. What companies sell Medigap insurance in TN?

First, you must find out what private insurance companies offer Medigap insurance in Tennessee. The best place to find them is from the Department of Finance Services because here, they often maintain the most recent list of all the private insurance companies that are licensed to issue Medigap insurance policies. The list from the Department is the most trusted one.

Alternatively, you can ask your friends and colleagues who have signed up for Medigap insurance plans. You can also search online for the insurance companies near you.

  1. What Medicare Supplement insurance plans do companies offer?

Once you have the list, you can then contact each of them, compare the available options and the rates of insurance plans. This way, you will be in a position to make an informed decision. The total number of standardized plans is 12. Interestingly, not every private insurance company offers all these plans. However, all of them offer two basic plans – Plan A and Plan B. Have a list of all the companies offering the plans that provide the benefits you are interested in, and then do the comparison.

  1. Do I need a Medigap Policy if I already have Medicare Advantage Plan?

Formally known as Medicare + Choice, the Medicare Advantage plan covers everything that a Medigap policy could have covered. It fills all the gaps that are left by normal insurance cover. So, you don’t need to buy a Medigap insurance policy if you already have a Medicare Advantage plan. This is because advantage plans normally contract with Medicare to offer clients all benefits that Medicare provides. Additionally, it also offers vision coverage and other extra benefits.

  1. How much are Medigap Insurance premium?

The rates are not the same because a private insurance company will charge premium rates differently depending on the Medigap plan you sign up to. The rates also vary from company to company. Yes, the benefits that each Medigap plan offers are standardized. However, the premium rates that insurance companies charge for coverage under these plans are not the same.

Learn more about Medigap plans & rates in Tennessee at http://emedigap-plans.com/tennessee-medicare-supplement-plans.  Our Tennessee Medigap Insurance brokers will help you compare Medigap Insurance rates and plans. To talk to an expert in Tennessee Medigap coverage call toll free 888-452-7949 today!

 

Qualifying For Medigap in Tennessee

If you are a Tennessee resident and are looking to qualify for a Medigap plan, then you will have to take into account a few different things. First of all, Medigap recipients must be enrolled in a Medicare program (Parts A and B) before signing up for Medigap. There two different Medicare programs available in Tennessee Medicare plan A and Medicare plan B. Additionally, in order to qualify for the Medigap supplemental insurance plan in Tennessee, patients must be 65 years of age or older.

Enrollment Period

It is advised that patients who are 65 or older sign up for Medigap during the six month enrollment period that is offered at the beginning of the month. The reason for this is because during this period, no medical underwriting is required. Patients who are 65 or older interested in Tennessee Medigap may still qualify for the supplemental insurance after the six month enrollment period is over. The problem is that after the period is over, medical underwriting might be required, which could put some patients at risk for paying a higher amount or even getting denied completely due to long withstanding medical issues that they currently have.

Coverage with Medigap

Some costs that Tennessee Medigap Supplemental Plans help with include travel expenses, cost-sharing expenses, and more. But, take note, Medigap plans in Tennessee do not cover prescription drug expenses. If you are looking for prescription drug coverage, it is strongly advised that you sign up for Medicare part D prescription drug plan. Some other costs that Medigap plans cover in Tennessee include:

  • First three pints of blood
  • Hospice care coinsurance or copayment
  • Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
  • Medicare part A deductible
  • Medicare part B deductible
  • Medicare part C deductible
  • Medicare part B excess charges
  • Medicare part B coinsurance or copayment

Comparing Rates

Now this all depends on what Tennessee Medigap plan you pick, as each plan has different levels of coverage. You can compare Tennessee Medigap plans with our chart. After you pick a plan you can enter in your zip code and compare rates.

Learn more about Medigap plans & rates in Tennessee at http://emedigap-plans.com/tennessee-medicare-supplement-plans.  Our Medigap Insurance brokers will help you compare Medigap Insurance rates and plans in Tennessee today.  To talk to an expert in Tennessee Medigap coverage call toll free 888-452-7949 today!

TENNESSEE MEDIGAP AND WHY I NEED IT

Medicare is a U.S. federal health insurance that covers certain health expenses for senior citizens and other qualifying members of the society. Since it doesn’t cover every aspect of health insurance, there is a need for supplements. TN Medigap is one of those supplements. Medigap covers expenses such as foreign health care bills that are not covered by Medicare. Medigap, however, differs from Medicare Advantage Plans.

For one to be eligible for Medicare, there must be a history of tax payment. Medicare comes in different plans. Medigap plans are only available for persons with Medicare plans A and B. In Tennessee, there are over 806,000 persons registered for Medicare Plan A and/or Plan B. This is according to data released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 2017.

Medigap Plans To Choose From

Medigap, just like Medicaid also comes in plans which include Plan Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. These plans come with specific coverage and make the payment out-of-pocket medical bills for senior citizens and persons with disabilities and others an easier process.

In Tennessee, all the ten standardized Medigap plans are available. The most popular Tennessee Medigap Policy is Plan F which has 161,323 enrolees as stated by America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). This is distantly followed by Plans G, C, and N with 28,332, 17,876, 16,112, and 6,659 enrolees respectively. This data is according to an AHIP publication in 2015.

Issue- Age, Attained-Age, or Community

Medigap plans are either priced based in issue-age, attained-age or community. The premiums of attained-age rated plans increase as the insured gets older. For issue- age rated plans, increase in premiums may be as a result of inflation and other factors, but not age. However, the initial premium is based on age. Community-rated plans are offered at the same premium for everyone independent of age and other factors. Most of the plans in Tennessee are attained-age rated.

Medigap plans in Tennessee also include options for under 65s. The Kaiser Family Foundation states that all insurance companies must offer Medigap plans for persons being covered by Medicare plans under 65. This is, however, offered at a different premium rate. Please contact us for more details on this.

Medigap for Public and Education Sectors

In 2015 alone, 272,860 residents of Tennessee registered for a Medigap plan, according to AHIP. This is in the light The Tennessee Plan, a special Medigap plan that is state-sponsored and offered to retirees from the public and education sectors that have access to Medicare Part A. The Tennessee plan also has special benefits for those who spent at least 15 years in the public or education sector. These retirees get reduced premiums which have been extended to their spouses from 2015.

The different private insurance companies in Tennessee offer Medigap plans that vary in terms of premium, pricing and services covered.  And with the Tennessee plan, residents of TN get to enjoy better health care insurance service.

Learn more about Tennessee Medigap plans & rates at http://emedigap-plans.com/tennessee-medicare-supplement-plans.  Our Tennessee Medigap Insurance brokers will help you compare Medigap Insurance rates and plans today.  To talk to an expert in Tennessee Medigap coverage call toll free 888-452-7949!

 

 

Tennessee State Medigap Facts

  • There are over 1.2 million residents receiving Medicare benefits in 2015 – That is 19% of the entire state population
  • 21% of beneficiaries that became eligible in 2013 were disabled
  • A little less than 1.0% of recipients that started receiving benefits in 2013 were diagnoses with End State Renal Disease (ESRD)

Choosing the Correct TN Medigap Insurance for Your Needs

When you are shopping for Tennessee Medigap Insurance rates & Plans it is critical that you get as many quotes as possible from as many companies as you can.  While there are only ten standardized policies across the board, companies will charge different rates for the same plans.  Also, know that plans offering lower monthly premiums have higher deductibles.

Choosing The Right Plan for You

In addition, you may pay more depending on where in Tennessee you reside as prices can vary from county to county. All ten of the plans offer different benefits and it is imperative that you select the one that will best fit your need.  If you spend a lot of time in the hospital and need to purchase a great deal on medical supplies, then you will benefit for a plan with a low deductible.

Shopping for Supplemental Insurance in Tennessee with a Pre-Existing Medical Condition

If you are shopping for Medigap plans in Tennessee and have a pre-existing condition you will want to familiarize yourself with each company’s guidelines regarding coverage of individuals who suffer from a pre-existing health problem.  Some companies require that beneficiaries wait six months until coverage for the condition can begin while others only require a two or three  month waiting period.  This waiting period can be avoided all together by enrolling in a Supplemental Insurance Plan during your open enrollment period, otherwise known as OEP.  This is the period between the first day of the month in which you turn sixty five and are enrolled in Original Medicare Part A and Part B.  The time frame for your Open Enrollment Period, OEP, is six months.

 

Medicare can be confusing, we often joke at the office that you could have a whole college course on the subject. Jokes aside, if you need help we can recommend a plan that meets your requirements and save you money! Give us a call at 888-452-7949 or visit our website at emedigap-plans.com/tennessee-medicare-supplement-plans.

 

How to Buy Medigap Insurance In Tennessee

Tennessee Medigap insurance can be a tricky subject, eMedigap plans is here to help you. In this blog we will give you the basic knowledge of Medigap without overwhelming you.

If you are looking to purchase Medigap insurance in the state of Tennessee, then you might want to take a few things into consideration. First of all, to qualify for Medigap supplemental insurance in Tennessee, you must be aged 65 or older. You must also already be enrolled in a medicare type A or type B plan. Medigap insurance is a supplemental insurance plan, which means it doesn’t stand alone. It must be purchased as an add-on to Medicare, not instead of a Medicare plan. Another factor is that Medigap insurance does not include prescription drug coverage, so if you are looking for prescription drug coverage, then you will need to obtain the medicare part D prescription drug plan. Some costs that Medigap insurance pays for includes copayments, deductibles, as well as additional out-of-pocket expenses related to medicare plan A or B.

Doing your Medigap Research

If you are looking to purchase the best Medigap supplemental insurance plan available in Tennessee, then it is best if you become very familiar with the Medigap plans that are available. There are many options for figuring this information out, and it starts with the internet. Do a general Google/Bing search for viable Medigap insurance plans in the state of Tennessee. Another option is to go to our website and visit our Tennessee Medigap plans page. We have a lot of information and we even have a free Medigap quote tool. After you have done your research on the different plans available for Medigap insurance, then it is best if you contact an experienced Medigap insurance agent at 888-452-7949. We will be able to direct you further as to the differences of each plan, and determine what the most optimal plan happens to be for you. It’s important for you to understand that prices vary from state to state and even from county to county.

 

Plan for your tomorrow with eMedigap Plans

One thing seniors have to worry about is who they give their information to, but not us! We are licensed insurance agents, dedicated to helping you save money. Call us and let us give you a free Medigap recommendation! We have been in the Medicare industry for over 14 years. You can reach us at 888-452-7949 or visit our website at www.eMedigap-Plans.com.