Medicare Plans in Missouri in 2022
One of the most significant factors that influence Medicare options is where you reside. Luckily for Missouri residents, state law gives Medicare beneficiaries in the state broader Medigap enrollment protections than people living in most other states.
Being aware of your state-specific Medicare rights can help you to find the best plan options possible. That’s why it’s so important to have a good understanding of the nuances of Medicare in your state. Below we’ll be explaining your Medigap, Medicare Advantage, and Part D options in Missouri.
How To Apply for Medicare in Missouri
If you are a Missouri resident who is only interested in enrolling in Original Medicare, you can do so through your local Social Security office. You can sign up in-person, online, or over the phone as early as three months before your 65th birthday.
However, if you want to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Part D drug coverage, you should contact a licensed insurance agent. They can walk you through the process and help you to find the right plan for you.
Reach out to an experienced insurance agent here at Medicare Plans Direct today to have all of your Medicare-related questions answered.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Missouri
There are some Medigap enrollment protections in Missouri that are unique to the state. That’s why it’s always important to be aware of state-specific Medicare Supplement regulations.
Which Medigap plans are available to you in Missouri will depend on a number of factors, such as which insurance company you enroll with and where you reside.
There were 333,200 Missouri residents enrolled in Medicare Supplement Insurance in 2019. This figure represented just over a quarter (27%) of the total of Medicare enrollees in the state that year.
The most popular Medigap plans in Missouri include Plans F and G. These plans offer some of the most comprehensive coverage around.
However, beneficiaries who first became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020 will no longer be allowed to enroll in Plan F. Plans G and N are good alternatives.
Medigap Enrollment in Missouri
Missouri has a unique state-specific Medigap enrollment protection for Medicare beneficiaries who are enrolled in Medicare Supplement Insurance.
Your first opportunity to enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance in Missouri is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP). This occurs when you first qualify for Medicare and are enrolled in Part B, and it lasts for six months. This is usually the best time for people to enroll in Medigap, as you are allowed to enroll in any plan you’d like without being charged higher premiums or having to undergo medical underwriting.
In Missouri, people under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because they suffer from a disability are also guaranteed the right to purchase any type of Medigap coverage they would like during their OEP. They are not limited to which plans they can enroll in and don’t have to undergo medical underwriting. However, insurance companies are allowed to charge them a slightly higher premium than what they would charge individuals 65 years of age or older.
This protection is not granted in many other states. Medicare disability beneficiaries will also have a second Medigap OEP when they turn 65.
However, you should be aware that some Medigap insurance companies in Missouri choose to implement pre-existing condition waiting periods. This means that your insurance company can delay coverage for your condition for up to six months when you first enroll in your Medigap plan if you didn’t have some form of creditable coverage before enrolling in your Medicare Supplement Insurance policy.
Different plans have different pre-existing condition policies. If you think these waiting periods could apply to you, we recommend consulting with an experienced Medicare insurance agent who can address any related questions you may have.
Missouri Medigap Anniversary Rule
Missouri has a special Medicare Supplement enrollment rule that applies to beneficiaries who already have Medigap coverage.
In most states, unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right, you usually have to undergo medical underwriting if you want to modify your Medigap coverage after your OEP finalizes. In this case, insurance companies reserve the right to deny you coverage or charge you a higher monthly premium.
However, the state of Missouri has granted Medicare Supplement Insurance enrollees an annual opportunity to modify their Medigap coverage. If you already have Medicare Supplement Insurance, you can change to the same plan with a different insurance company during the 30 days before and after your current policy’s anniversary date.
For example, let’s say your policy’s anniversary date is April 30. You have the right to change insurance companies without having to undergo medical underwriting, as long as you change to the same-lettered plan, between April 1 and May 30. The new company cannot deny you coverage or impose a pre-existing condition waiting period.
Medigap Premiums in Missouri
Medigap premiums in Missouri can be influenced by a number of factors, including age, gender, smoking status, and ZIP code.
When it comes to beneficiaries who qualify for Medicare because of a disability, insurance companies cannot charge more than the “weighted average aged premium rate”. This essentially means that premiums for Medigap enrollees under the age of 65 can’t be significantly higher than the rate that premiums are set at for beneficiaries aged 65 and over.
Monthly premiums can be impacted by so many factors. That’s why we always recommend consulting with a Medicare expert before deciding on a Medicare Supplement to ensure that you are getting the best value plan for you.
Medicare Advantage Plans in Missouri
Another coverage option for people looking for more benefits than those offered by Original Medicare is Medicare Advantage. Also known as Part C, these plans provide the coverage that you get under Original Medicare on top of additional benefits, which can include drug coverage, hearing coverage, vision coverage, dental coverage, and more.
Many Missouri residents over the age of 65 choose Medicare Part C as their preferred coverage option, and 43.2% of Medicare beneficiaries in the state were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2021. There are 126 Medicare Advantage plans available in Missouri in 2022.
Additionally, 100% of Medicare beneficiaries have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan in 2022. Which Medicare Advantage plans you have available to you depends on where exactly you reside, as plan availability varies from county to county.
For example, Medicare enrollees who live in smaller counties like Harrison County only have 15 plans to choose between, while residents of St. Charles County have 58 plan options.
When it comes to monthly premiums, what you pay for your Medicare Advantage plan depends on where you live, the plan that you choose, and more. In 2022, the average Part C monthly premium for Missouri Medicare beneficiaries is $8.04. Plus, all Missouri Medicare enrollees have access to at least one plan with a $0 monthly premium.
Deciding which is the right Medicare Advantage plan for you is best done with the help of an experienced insurance agent. Here at Medicare Plans Direct we help you make the best Medicare choices possible at no extra cost to you. Reach out today to receive free Medicare advice.
Medicare Part D in Missouri
Another thing for Missouri Medicare beneficiaries to keep in mind is their Part D prescription drug coverage options. In 2022, there are 22 stand-alone drug plans available to Missouri Medicare enrollees.
How much you will have to pay for your Part D premium depends on where you live and which insurance company you purchase your plan through. In 2022, the average Part D premium in Missouri is $46.92.
You can also find drug plans with $0 deductibles, though insurance companies usually charge higher monthly premiums for these plans. In 2022, there are four plans with no deductible available to Missouri residents, and the lowest-cost stand-alone drug plan with a $0 deductible has a monthly premium of $57.00.
We usually recommend that you enroll in prescription drug coverage when you are first eligible for Medicare if you foresee it being necessary in the future. If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part D when you first qualify and don’t have some other form of creditable drug coverage, you could face late enrollment penalty fees down the road.
Some Medicare Advantage plans come with prescription drug coverage, but if you are enrolled in Original Medicare and/or a Medigap policy, you will need a stand-alone drug plan to cover the costs of your prescription medication.
As you can see, your Medicare coverage options depend on a number of factors, one of the most important being where you live. That’s where we come in. Our expertise can help you to make the best possible Medicare decisions, so reach out today for a free consultation.
