Finding the 10 Best Supplemental Insurance Companies Here at MedicareWire, we are not insurance agents. We do not sell Medicare supplement plans or any other type of insurance. We are educators and senior advocates. Our job is to make sure that seniors and their caretakers have the information they need to make the best decisions […]
Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart: A Side-by-Side Look
Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart 2020 Medicare supplements, which are identified by plans A – N, cover the gaps in Original Medicare coverage. That’s why Medicare calls them Medigap plans. One of the most beneficial aspects of the lettered plan system is that it lets you compare supplemental Medicare plans side-by-side. To make it as […]
What is Long-Term Care Insurance and Why Do I Need It?
You might be healthy now, but chances are you’re going to need some help taking care of yourself as you get older. In fact, if you’re turning 65-years-old this year you can expect to live another two decades and there’s a 52% chance you’ll need some type of long-term care services and support at some […]
Is Medicare Plan F Going Away?
Is Medicare Plan F going away? Yes. As of 1 January 2020, this popular plan is no longer available to people turning age 65. But, don’t fret, you can still get excellent coverage. What Happened to Medigap Plan F? For decades, Medicare Supplement Plan F (aka, Medigap Plan F and Medicare Plan F) was the […]
17 Ways to Boost Your Medicare & Social Security Benefits in Retirement
Medicare and Social Security are the social safety net programs we all pay into during the years we work. Designed to assist seniors and disabled individuals, together the programs fill the basic healthcare and financial needs of their beneficiaries. Medicare offers health insurance that covers medically necessary doctor visits, medical treatments, and hospitalization. Social Security […]
Is Medicare Free for Seniors, the Disabled and Retirees?
One of the most common questions we get at MedicareWire.com is, “Is Medicare free?” The answer all depends on your personal situation. In this frequently asked questions blog post, I’ll do my best to dispel myths and help you get your Medicare benefits for FREE if you qualify. If you don’t qualify to get Medicare […]
Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: Which is Best?
In this MedicareWire article, we’ll do our best to help you understand which type of Medicare insurance is right for you. Our Medicare system is full of options, and deciding between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement plan is a big decision. Comparing Medicare Advantage and Medigap (Medicare Supplements) Medicare Advantage replaces your Original Medicare benefits with […]
7 Ways to Optimize Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
If you take regular prescriptions, you already know how expensive it can be. The older we get, the more chronic conditions set in, and our medications get even more expensive. That’s why having a prescription drug plan is so important. In this MedicareWire article, we’ll share 7 ways you can optimize your Medicare Part D […]
What are My Medicare Cost Sharing Obligations?
Although you or your spouse paid into Medicare through payroll taxes during the years that you worked, it’s not a zero-cost system when you turn 65 years old. Many people who retire and get their Medicare benefits for the first time are caught off guard by the out-of-pocket costs with Medicare. In this MedicareWire article, […]
Medigap Plans K and N vs. Medicare Advantage Plans
It has long been assumed that Medicare Advantage plans are the way to go if you need a low monthly premium. The risk trade-off, of course, is higher out of pocket costs until you reach the annual spending limit. However, the premiums are so low on most of the basic plans that many seniors wonder, […]
Medicare Supplement Guaranteed Issue: You Don’t Want to Miss This Deadline
What is “Guaranteed Issue” for Medicare Supplement? Guaranteed-issue is a right granted to Medicare beneficiaries and applies to supplemental Medicare insurance (aka, Medigap). All states and the federal government enforce this essential right, which protects you from medical underwriting. Unlike regular health insurance, which was reformed by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), supplemental Medicare insurance […]
Medicare Plan C (Medigap Plan C): Sorry Charlie!
Medicare Supplement Plan C, also called Medigap Plan C, is one of the most comprehensive of the 10 standardized supplemental Medicare plans available in most states. In fact, only Medicare Plan F offers more coverage. For its beneficiaries, this top-tier plan covers most Medicare-approved out-of-pocket costs. NOTE: Medicare Plan C, along with Plan F, is […]
Review: Lasso Healthcare MSA Plans
In its recent study on 2020 Medicare Advantage plan availability, MedicareWire discovered a sweeping expansion of Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans by Lasso Healthcare (Lasso). Offering plans in 1,151 counties in 2019, for the 2020 plan year Lasso operates in 26 states and the District of Columbia, with MSA plans now available in 1,771 counties. […]
Medicare Advantage 2020 by the Numbers
Increasingly, Medicare Advantage plans are serving more Medicare beneficiaries than ever. More than 22 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2019, a full 34% of those eligible for the health insurance program. This MedicareWire report offers a brief overview of the Medicare Advantage program for plan year 2020, based on its […]
Medicare Plan K (Medigap Plan K): Economical Alternative to Medicare Advantage
Medicare Plan K is one of two unique Medicare supplements with shared-cost coverage and an annual out-of-pocket limit. This is a plan that works for people looking for help with certain Original Medicare costs, but need a lower monthly premium for affordability. If this sounds like you, then read on because Medigap Plan K might […]