How to Understand Your Health Insurance Coverage
This is a touchy subject that many people do not like to discuss.
Is this you? 1.
You are a senior or have parents that are seniors with medicare benefits.
2.
Recently, the doctor's office that you or your parents paid a visit to did not accept your Medicare Supplemental Plan.
3.
You or your parents have been on medicare for a number of years and you have never had a problem with your doctor's office accepting your Medicare Supplemental Card.
NOT ALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WILL ACCEPT ALL MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS! These are very different and trying times.
The ugly truth is that all health care providers do not accept all Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans.
There are many insurance companies offering many different supplemental plans.
The advantage is that you can always find a Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan that is designed for your needs.
The risk you take is that your doctor may not accept it.
How To Make Sure You Have The Right Coverage 1.
Find a licensed health insurance agent that is a Certified Senior Agent in your state.
This agent has the appropriate credentials, required by your state and health insurance carrier, before he/she is able to discuss your medicare options with you.
Note: If you ask your licensed insurance agent if he/she is a Certified Senior Agent, and they say no, thank them for their time, call the Department of Insurance in your state, and find a licensed health insurance agent that is a Certified Senior Agent! 2.
Talk to your doctor's office.
Specifically, ask to talk to someone in the office that works with claims or ask for the Office Manager.
The Office Manager is "in the know".
This person will tell you which insurance carrier they accept and which supplemental plans they accept.
Sometimes that person will know what changes are coming for the following year.
The best time to ask is when you are close to the next enrollment period for that year.
NOT ALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WILL ACCEPT ALL MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS! 3.
Now that you know which plans your doctor's office accepts it is time to do your homework.
If you need help, then ask a family member or friend.
Better yet, find a health insurance agent that you feel you trust.
Call or right me and I will help you! Right down what your medical needs are for the year.
Include any recent changes in your health that may require additional coverage.
Do you need to take different medications this year? Will you need to visit a cardiologist this year? Is there a hernia that you have been putting off to treat? Has your health care provider recommended a new treatment or procedure? Will you travel more this year? If so, are you prepared in case of an emergency? Jot it all down.
Schedule a few days out of the entire calendar year to plan ahead.
4.
With all this information in hand it is time to call the insurance carrier that is accepted at your doctor's office.
Specifically, call Members services.
These are qualified customer service representatives that are there to answer all the questions you have regarding your current Supplemental Plan.
Let them know what changes you anticipate for the following year and ask if they can help you select a plan that will fit your needs.
Note: For advise that is un-biased find a licensed health insurance agent that you trust.
Trust me, there are many out there that want to help.
5.
When the next enrollment period comes around you are now ready and will know which Medicare Supplemental Plan you must be enrolled in.
Not because your doctor's office has to accept it but rather because you now know what is best for you and you found out which plans are accepted by your doctor's office.
Final Thought Now, more that ever, it is important that you educate yourself on the topic of Health Insurance in this country.
Especially medicare.
Doctors offices are very busy with insurance claims, the insurance company is busy investigating those claims, the local dentist office doesn't want to accept HMO's any longer, our government wants to get involved but we don't want them too involved, lobbyists are pushing their agenda with pharmaceutical companies and the cost of an aspirin continues to climb.
DO NOT GET LOST IN THE POLITICS AND THE MILLION AND ONE OPINIONS HEARD DAILY ON THE NEWS! These people are not in your living room helping you understand how best to plan for your healthcare needs this year.
When it comes to Medicare Supplemental Plans educate yourself or find some one that is willing to go the extra mile for you.
Is this you? 1.
You are a senior or have parents that are seniors with medicare benefits.
2.
Recently, the doctor's office that you or your parents paid a visit to did not accept your Medicare Supplemental Plan.
3.
You or your parents have been on medicare for a number of years and you have never had a problem with your doctor's office accepting your Medicare Supplemental Card.
NOT ALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WILL ACCEPT ALL MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS! These are very different and trying times.
The ugly truth is that all health care providers do not accept all Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plans.
There are many insurance companies offering many different supplemental plans.
The advantage is that you can always find a Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan that is designed for your needs.
The risk you take is that your doctor may not accept it.
How To Make Sure You Have The Right Coverage 1.
Find a licensed health insurance agent that is a Certified Senior Agent in your state.
This agent has the appropriate credentials, required by your state and health insurance carrier, before he/she is able to discuss your medicare options with you.
Note: If you ask your licensed insurance agent if he/she is a Certified Senior Agent, and they say no, thank them for their time, call the Department of Insurance in your state, and find a licensed health insurance agent that is a Certified Senior Agent! 2.
Talk to your doctor's office.
Specifically, ask to talk to someone in the office that works with claims or ask for the Office Manager.
The Office Manager is "in the know".
This person will tell you which insurance carrier they accept and which supplemental plans they accept.
Sometimes that person will know what changes are coming for the following year.
The best time to ask is when you are close to the next enrollment period for that year.
NOT ALL HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WILL ACCEPT ALL MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS! 3.
Now that you know which plans your doctor's office accepts it is time to do your homework.
If you need help, then ask a family member or friend.
Better yet, find a health insurance agent that you feel you trust.
Call or right me and I will help you! Right down what your medical needs are for the year.
Include any recent changes in your health that may require additional coverage.
Do you need to take different medications this year? Will you need to visit a cardiologist this year? Is there a hernia that you have been putting off to treat? Has your health care provider recommended a new treatment or procedure? Will you travel more this year? If so, are you prepared in case of an emergency? Jot it all down.
Schedule a few days out of the entire calendar year to plan ahead.
4.
With all this information in hand it is time to call the insurance carrier that is accepted at your doctor's office.
Specifically, call Members services.
These are qualified customer service representatives that are there to answer all the questions you have regarding your current Supplemental Plan.
Let them know what changes you anticipate for the following year and ask if they can help you select a plan that will fit your needs.
Note: For advise that is un-biased find a licensed health insurance agent that you trust.
Trust me, there are many out there that want to help.
5.
When the next enrollment period comes around you are now ready and will know which Medicare Supplemental Plan you must be enrolled in.
Not because your doctor's office has to accept it but rather because you now know what is best for you and you found out which plans are accepted by your doctor's office.
Final Thought Now, more that ever, it is important that you educate yourself on the topic of Health Insurance in this country.
Especially medicare.
Doctors offices are very busy with insurance claims, the insurance company is busy investigating those claims, the local dentist office doesn't want to accept HMO's any longer, our government wants to get involved but we don't want them too involved, lobbyists are pushing their agenda with pharmaceutical companies and the cost of an aspirin continues to climb.
DO NOT GET LOST IN THE POLITICS AND THE MILLION AND ONE OPINIONS HEARD DAILY ON THE NEWS! These people are not in your living room helping you understand how best to plan for your healthcare needs this year.
When it comes to Medicare Supplemental Plans educate yourself or find some one that is willing to go the extra mile for you.
Source...