Medicare Plans in North Dakota in 2022
Medicare is a federal health insurance program that pays for some of your healthcare costs once you turn 65. Believe it or not, where you live has a significant impact on what types of Medicare coverage you have access to.
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 North Dakota.
How To Apply for Medicare in North Dakota
If you are a North Dakota 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, we recommend contacting 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 North Dakota
Which Medigap plans are available to you in North Dakota will depend on a number of factors, such as which insurance company you enroll with and where you reside.
There were 55,343 North Dakota residents enrolled in Medicare Supplement Insurance in 2019. This figure represented 42.6% of the total of Medicare enrollees in the state that year, which is much higher than the nationwide average of Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in Medigap (24%)
The most popular Medigap plan in North Dakota is Plan F, which offers 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 North Dakota
If you are interested in enrolling in Medigap insurance in North Dakota, the best time to do so is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period (OEP).
This occurs when you first become eligible for Medicare and enroll in Part B, and it lasts for 6 months. During this time, you can enroll in any Medigap plan offered in your area regardless of your health history.
Unless you qualify for a guaranteed issue right, you may have to undergo medical underwriting if you want to sign up for a Medigap plan after your OEP finalizes. In this case, insurance companies reserve the right to deny you coverage and/or charge you higher rates.
The state of North Dakota does not authorize any special guaranteed issue rights aside from the minimal federal standards. Some examples of guaranteed issue rights include moving out of your Medicare Advantage plan’s coverage area or losing your employer coverage.
Medigap in North Dakota for Disability Enrollees
Beneficiaries under the age of 65 who qualify for Medicare because of a disability are not granted any special Medigap protections in North Dakota. They can try to enroll in Medicare Supplement Insurance during the first six months that they become eligible for Medicare and enroll in Part B, though insurance companies aren’t obligated to sell them coverage, and in the case that they do, can charge them significantly higher premiums.
According to the Medicare Medigap plan finder tool, there was only one insurance company that offered coverage to Medicare beneficiaries under the age of 65 in 2021. However, the Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota (CHAND) offers these individuals the option to enroll in the state’s high-risk health insurance pool.
Many high-risk pools disappeared after the Affordable Care Act eliminated medical underwriting in the private insurance market. North Dakota, along with a handful of other states, has maintained their pool to provide coverage options to Medicare beneficiaries who qualify for the program because of a disability.
CHAND offers two plan options to Medicare disability beneficiaries: a Basic Supplement and a Standard Supplement. These plans are also available to Medicare beneficiaries over the age of 65. For individuals under the age of 65, the Basic Supplement has a monthly premium of $178.20, and the Standard Supplement rate is set at $359.70.
The Basic Supplement offers the same benefits you would get if you were to enroll in Medigap Supplement Plan A, which are as follows: Medicare Part A coinsurance (plus coverage for 365 days after Medicare benefits end), Medicare Part B coinsurance, and three pints of blood each year. The Standard Supplement offers the same benefits as the Basic Supplement plus Part B excess charges, skilled nursing coinsurance, and foreign travel emergency coverage.
People who enroll in Medicare before they turn 65 will have another OEP during the six months following their 65th birthday. When this happens, they are allowed to sign up for any Medigap plan offered in their area without having to undergo medical underwriting.
Medigap Premiums in North Dakota
In 2021, there were 51 insurance companies that offer Medigap plans in North Dakota. Which plan you choose, when you enroll, and the company you enroll with can all impact how much you pay for your Medicare Supplement Insurance monthly premium.
Most North Dakota Medigap insurance companies use an attained-age rating system when it comes to determining monthly premiums. This means that your monthly premium will likely increase as you get older, which is important to consider when choosing a Medigap plan.
Some companies offer issue-age rated plans. In this case, premiums are determined by the age you were when you enrolled in the policy.
Finally, according to the Medicare Medigap plan finder tool, there is one North Dakota Medicare Supplement Insurance company that offers plans with community-rated premiums. When it comes to these plans, premiums are typically the same for everyone in your area.
Though Medigap plans’ benefits are federally standardized, companies can decide how they want to set premium rates. For that reason, we always recommend consulting with a knowledgeable insurance agent before deciding on a Medicare Supplement to ensure that you are getting the best value plan for you.
Medicare Advantage Plans in North Dakota
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.
A good number of North Dakota residents over the age of 65 choose Medicare Part C as their preferred coverage option, and over a fifth (21.1%) of Medicare beneficiaries in the state were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2021. There are 23 Medicare Advantage plans available in North Dakota in 2022.
100% of North Dakota Medicare beneficiaries have access to at least one Medicare Advantage plan in 2022. However, 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 Burleigh County can choose between 34 plans in 2022, while residents of smaller counties have significantly fewer options (there are only 2 plans offered in Golden Valley and McKenzie).
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 North Dakota Medicare beneficiaries is $41.14. Plus, all North Dakota 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 if you are interested in enrolling in Medicare Advantage in North Dakota.
Medicare Part D in North Dakota
Another thing for North Dakota beneficiaries to keep in mind is their Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage options. In 2022, there are 22 stand-alone drug plans available to North Dakota 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 North Dakota is $48.57.
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 no-deductible plans available to North Dakota residents, and the lowest-cost stand-alone drug plan with a $0 deductible has a monthly premium of $68.90.
It is usually a good idea to 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 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 offer coverage for prescription drugs, but if you are enrolled in Original Medicare and/or a Medigap policy, you will need a stand-alone drug plan to cover your prescription medication costs.
At Medicare Plans Direct, we’re here to help you navigate your Medicare enrollment journey. Reach out today for a free consultation with a licensed insurance agent.
