Call 1-800-MEDICARE For questions about your claims or other personal Medicare information, log into (or create) your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Where can I get help with Medicare questions?
Medicare.gov Live Chat is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except some federal holidays. For questions about your claims or other personal Medicare information, log into (or create) your secure Medicare account , or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
How do I Find my Medicare plan for medications?
If you have medications that need coverage, use the Medicare plan finder tool to identify the policy that will cover your medications. Does Medicare cover a home health aide? Medicare will cover intermittent or part-time skilled nursing care.
How do I Call my Medicare number?
The automated system will ask for your Medicare number at the beginning of the call. You can either say your Medicare number or enter it with the phone keypad—enter the numbers and press the * key for any letter(s). For example, if your Medicare number is 123-45-6789A, press 123456789*.
Are you eligible for a Medicare supplement insurance plan?
In order to be eligible for a Medicare Supplement Insurance plan, you must meet each of the following requirements: You must be at least 65 years old or live in a state that allows Medigap coverage for people under 65 who have end-stage renal disease or a qualifying disability*
How can I ask Medicare a question?
Call 1-800-MEDICARE For questions about your claims or other personal Medicare information, log into (or create) your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users can call 1-877-486-2048.
Which Medicare Supplement plan has the highest level of coverage?
Plan F premiumsPlan F premiums are usually the highest of all Medicare Supplement plans. This makes sense because it offers the highest level of coverage. Medicare Supplement costs vary based on a number of factors, including your age, sex, smoking status, and even your ZIP code.
Do you have to renew Medicare Supplement every year?
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Plans: You do not have to do anything annually to renew them, and there is no annual open enrollment period for Medicare Supplement plans. They have the benefit of being “guaranteed renewable”. It will continue indefinitely unless you don't pay the premium.
How much do Medicare Supplement plans usually cost?
Medicare Supplement Plans have premiums that cost anywhere from around $70/month to around $270/month. Typically, plans with higher monthly premiums will have lower deductibles.
How do I choose a Medicare Supplement plan?
Follow the steps below to purchase your Medigap plan:Enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B. ... Find which insurance companies in your state are licensed to sell Medigap plans by visiting Medicare.gov.Compare costs between companies. ... Select a Medigap plan that works best for you and purchase your policy.
Do all Medicare supplements pay the same?
Medicare Supplement insurance plans are sold by private insurance companies and can help you pay for out-of-pocket costs for services covered under Original Medicare. Different Medicare Supplement insurance plans pay for different amounts of those costs, such as copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Can I change my Medicare supplement anytime?
As a Medicare beneficiary, you can change supplements at any time. As a result, there's no guarantee an application will be accepted if switched outside the designated Open Enrollment Period. An application may be “medically underwritten”.
Does Part D automatically renew?
Like Medicare Advantage, your Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan should automatically renew. Exceptions would be if Medicare does not renew the contract with your insurance company or the company no longer offers the plan.
Can you change your supplemental insurance every year?
You can either change to a standardized Medicare Supplement insurance plan with the same or fewer basic benefits than your current plan, or buy any Medicare Supplement Plan A, B, C*, F*, K, or L. You've had your current Medicare Supplement insurance plan for less than six months.
What is the monthly premium for Plan G?
How much does Medicare Plan G cost? Medicare Plan G costs between $120 and $364 per month in 2022 for a 65-year-old. You'll see a range of prices for Medicare supplement policies because each insurance company uses a different pricing method for plans.
Are Medicare supplement premiums based on income?
Medicare premiums are based on your modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI. That's your total adjusted gross income plus tax-exempt interest, as gleaned from the most recent tax data Social Security has from the IRS.
What is the Medicare Part B premium for 2022?
$170.102022. The standard Part B premium amount in 2022 is $170.10. Most people pay the standard Part B premium amount.
Phone
For specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, log into your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE.
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
For specific billing questions and questions about your claims, medical records, or expenses, log into your secure Medicare account, or call us at 1-800-MEDICARE.
Contacting Medicare
Hi Sarah, The type of questions you have will determine who you call. If you are not yet on Medicare or have questions about your enrollment you will contact the Social Security Administration at 800-773-1213 as they handle Medicare Enrollment or online at https://www.ssa.gov/.
Dual Enrollment
Hi James, Yes, you can have both Medicare and Medicaid. If you qualify for both programs they can work very well together. There are Medicare Advantage Plans that are called D-SNP (Dual Special Needs Plan) which are specially formulated for those qualifying for both programs.
Mandatory Medicare
Mary, Medicare is not mandatory; however, there are penalties for failure to enroll when you first become eligible. For every year you fail to enroll in Part B and are eligible for it, you will incur a 10% penalty. This penalty is recalculated each year by Social Security and is based on the Part B premium at the time.
Medicare Denial
John, If you meet the enrollment qualifications, you cannot be denied coverage under Original Medicare Parts A and B. The only impact on enrollment in Original Medicare caused by previous health concerns is the possibility that you may be able to enroll in Medicare before turning 65.
Medicare Part B
Hi Michael, No, Medicare Part B is not mandatory. However, if you do not sign up for Part B when you are first eligible you may incur penalties when you sign up later. If you qualify for one of the two Part B Special Election Periods (SEP), you may defer Part B and avoid penalties or delayed coverage.
Plan N Guaranteed Issue Rights
Can you tell me if Medicare supplement plan N is a guaranteed enrollment plan? -Jim
Qualify for Medicare
Hi Rebecca, In general, you are eligible for Medicare Part A if you are age 65 or older and a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident for at least five consecutive years.
How long do you have to wait to apply for cancer insurance?
If you’ve had a recent surgery or you are going through any treatments, you’ll want to wait a couple of years before applying.
Can pain medications be used after surgery?
Pain medications can be an issue if used if prolonged. If you take a small round of a declinable drug post-surgery, the company won’t consider this a problem.
Can you keep your Medicare coverage if you have a chronic illness?
Keep Your Coverage if you have a Chronic, Incurable Condition. There are plenty of health issues that can be treated but are still considered incurable illnesses. When you have an illness that requires treatment forever, you’ll see that there are questions on many Medicare Supplement applications that can exclude you.
Can you change your insurance if you have diabetes?
If you only have diabetes and no related conditions, you should be able to change carriers.
Does Medigap require a supplement policy?
Oregon and California allow beneficiaries to change their supplement policy within the birthday month with no supplement underwriting. This does require that you have a supplement policy currently active to qualify. Talk to your agent; they can get quotes to check if a lower rate exists.
Do you need to answer questions about your health to qualify for new coverage?
In many states, you need to answer questions about your health and get through underwriting to qualify for new coverage. While medical underwriting can cause some stress, many individuals successfully pass under writing and change coverage annually, so don’t worry. Let’s dive into information about the situations typically resulting in approval.
Is Medicare Supplement underwriting required?
Medicare Supplement underwriting questions aren’t always mandatory. Sometimes, like during your Open Enrollment Period, you receive a waiver for health question requirements. If you’re changing a Medigap plan or miss your OEP, underwriting is likely a must.
How old do you have to be to get Medicare?
For most people, Medicare eligibility begins at age 65. After signing up, you may wish to enroll in a Medigap plan. The Medigap Open Enrollment Period is a six-month window during which insurance carriers will not use medical underwriting to determine application acceptance.
How long do you have to wait to get Medigap?
Let’s say you were diagnosed with a certain medical condition six months before you buy a Medigap plan. In this case, you may need to wait up to six months before your supplemental coverage begins. However, enrolling during the OEP gives beneficiaries guaranteed issue rights.
What to do if you retire early?
If you’ve retired early or are expecting to receive retiree insurance through your former employer, tell your Medicare agent. You’ll want to ask your agent if your Medicare coverage coordinates with your retiree insurance. Make sure you’re prepared with information about the type of retiree insurance you have.
Does Medicare Advantage come with out of pocket costs?
Medicare Advantage plans come with out-of-pocket costs for which you will be responsible. Therefore, you should ask your agent about these costs. You’ll want to know what you need to pay each month in premiums, what coinsurance or copays you’ll be responsible for, the annual deductibles you must meet, and the maximum out-of-pocket for your plan.
What is a medicaid supplement?
A Medigap plan is a supplemental option for Medicare. Medigap plans are also Medicare Supplement plans; these policies fill the gaps in Medicare. So, when Medicare would otherwise charge you 20% or a deductible, the Medicare Supplement could instead pick up the bill.
What happens if you don't pay Medicare?
But, if you don’t pay the premium on a Medicare Advantage or Medigap plan, they can drop you. Also, if you don’t pay your Part D premium, the drug plan can drop you. Usually, they give multiple notices before the plan terminates your policy.
What is Medicare Part C?
Medicare Part C is a Medicare Advantage plan. These plans sometimes have a $0 per month premiums, and many of them include Part D drug coverage. However, there are some pitfalls to Medicare Advantage plans that you need to know before signing up.
How many classes of drugs does Medicare cover?
There are many drugs covered under Medicare. Plus, every plan must cover the six protected classes. If you have medications that need coverage, use the Medicare plan finder tool to identify the policy that will cover your medications.
Does Medicare pay less if you have a low income?
The cost of Medicare depends on many things. Those with a low income will likely pay less than the standard amount and may qualify for Medicare and Medicaid. Those with a higher income will likely pay more for Part B; this is called the Part B Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amount.
Is Medicare mandatory?
Of course, Medicare isn’t mandatory, so you can choose whichever option makes the most sense for your situation. You can also always consult your benefits administrator at the office where you work to identify your options.
