The Medicare Plans Direct Blog
A Guide to Medicare Guaranteed Issue Rights in 2021
Guaranteed issue rights are one of those Medicare terms that are important to be familiar with yet many people know so little about. That’s why we’d like to outline the specifics of guaranteed issue rights and help you to understand when they might apply to you. What are guaranteed issue rights? Guaranteed issue rights are special protections that you are granted in relation to enrolling in a Medigap policy. When you are granted a Medigap guaranteed issue right, an insurance company must sell you a policy regardless of your health conditions, past and present. The policy must also cover all of your pre-existing conditions, and you can’t be charged more for it because of any given health condition. Medicare guaranteed issue rights are the only
Medicare SELECT: What You Need to Know In 2021
Though not as popular as Medicare Advantage or Medigap plans, Medicare SELECT plans are an alternative to Original Medicare that can provide you with broader coverage. Medicare SELECT may be good for some individuals, but it also has downsides that are important to be aware of if you are considering enrolling. What Is Medicare SELECT? Medicare SELECT works by filling in the coverage gaps left over by Original Medicare. It offers the same benefits that Medicare Supplement plans offer. This can include coverage for coinsurance, copayments, deductibles, and more. The Medicare SELECT program was launched in the early 1990s. Participation was initially limited to 15 states, including California, Florida, Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin. However, the program was later opened to all regions, and now any
What Are Medicare Excess Charges?
Medicare excess charges are one of those complicated Medicare topics which tends to raise questions for potential Medicare Supplement plan enrollees. Read on to find out what you need to know about Medicare Part B excess charges and how they can impact your Medicare expenses. Medicare Excess Charges Explained Medicare excess charges occur when a physician doesn’t “accept assignment”. This means that a provider charges more than the Medicare-approved amount for their service. Excess charges are the remaining amount that you, in most cases, are required to pay. These providers are referred to as “non-participating”, as they choose to charge more for their services than Medicare has approved. However, in most cases, a cap called “the limiting charge” is placed on how much you can
