Medicare Plans in New York in 2022
As you near your Medicare enrollment age, it is important for you to know your coverage options. This blog post will explore what Medicare plans are available in New York in 2022 and what they entail.
The good news for residents of the state is that New York offers some unique Medigap enrollment rules which favor beneficiaries.
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 New York.
How To Apply for Medicare in New York
If you are a New York 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 New York
There are some Medigap enrollment policies that are only applicable in New York. Therefore, it’s important to stay informed on Medicare Supplement rules if you are a resident of the state.
Which Medigap plans are available to you in New York will depend on a number of factors, such as which insurance company you enroll with and where you reside.
There were 488,290 New York residents enrolled in Medicare Supplement Insurance in 2019. However, this figure represented only 13.6% of the total of Medicare enrollees in the state that year, making it a significantly less popular option among Medicare beneficiaries than Medicare Advantage.
Some of the most popular Medigap plans in New York include Plans F and N. 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 New York
New York has some of the broadest guaranteed issue rights protections for Medicare beneficiaries who want to enroll in a Medigap plan.
Aside from Connecticut, New York is the only other state that allows beneficiaries to enroll in Medigap year-round without having to undergo any medical underwriting. This even applies to enrollees under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because they suffer from a disability.
This means that anyone who qualifies for Medicare can enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance at any time. Additionally, you cannot be denied coverage or charged a higher premium for having a pre-existing condition.
However, Medigap insurers in New York can 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. This only applies to conditions which were diagnosed or treated during the six months prior to enrolling in your Medigap plan.
The good news is that your waiting period can be reduced or eliminated if you had creditable coverage during this time without a break of 63 days or more in coverage.
You can still enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance in New York during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP). However, thanks to the year-round Medigap open enrollment policy in New York, you don’t have to worry about enrolling in Medicare Supplement Insurance when you first become eligible for Medicare.
Medigap Premiums in New York
New York Medicare Supplement Insurance companies must use a community-rating system, meaning that they cannot base premiums on a beneficiary’s age. These no-age-rated premiums can only fluctuate based on where you live.
So while community-rated premiums are not influenced by age or health status, they can still end up being relatively high depending on which county you reside in. And in general, Medigap premiums in New York tend to be on the higher end.
New York has fewer Medicare Supplement Insurance companies than many other states (only 12 in 2021). This factor, coupled with the state’s community-rated premiums and broad Medigap enrollment protections, results in high premiums across the board.
Therefore, we always recommend consulting with a knowledgeable insurance agent before making any Medicare decisions to ensure that you are getting the best value plan for you.
Medicare Advantage Plans in New York
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.
Medicare Advantage participation in New York is quite popular, and 45.5% of Medicare beneficiaries were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2021.
There are 280 Medicare Advantage plans available in New York in 2022.
In 2022, 100% of Medicare beneficiaries have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan. But 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 beneficiaries who live in Queens can choose between 103 plans in 2022, while residents of smaller counties like Livingston County have only 24 plans available to them.
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 New York enrollees is $30.20. Plus, 100% of Medicare beneficiaries in New York 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 New York
Another thing for New York Medicare beneficiaries to keep in mind is their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage options. In 2022, there are 19 stand-alone drug plans available to New York Medicare enrollees.
The cost of Part D prescription drug plan premiums varies depending on where you live and which insurance company you purchase your plan through. The average Part D premium in New York in 2022 is $52.46.
You can also find drug plans with $0 deductibles, though these plans tend to have higher monthly premiums. In 2022, there are four plans with no deductible available to New York residents, and the lowest cost stand-alone drug plan with a $0 deductible has a monthly premium of $69.00.
It is important that you enroll in prescription drug coverage when you are first eligible if you foresee it being necessary in the future. If you don’t sign up for Medicare Part D when you are first eligible and don’t have some other form of creditable drug coverage, you could face late enrollment penalty fees in the future.
You should be aware that you can get prescription drug coverage through some Medicare Advantage plans. However, if you are enrolled in Original Medicare and/or a Medigap plan, you will need a stand-alone drug plan to cover your prescription medication costs.
As you can see, your Medicare coverage options depend on a number of factors, one of the most important ones 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.
