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Medicare Health Insurance

Confused by Medicare health insurance? You’re not alone. Nothing seems to confuse people like Medicare insurance plans. Hey, we get it. Medicare calls their stuff  “parts”, and Medigap plan companies call their stuff “plans”, and they both user letters. C’mon, guys, could you have made it any more confusing?

Here at MedicareWire, we do our best to help our visitors make sense of it all. Below, you’ll discover a whole host of topics about the ABCs of Medicare health insurance and plans. Need help? Give us a call at 1-855-266-4865 and we’ll do our best. If you’re interested in learning about coverage, our other blog area discusses, What does Medicare cover?“

When Does Medicare Start?

If you’re approaching retirement, you may ask yourself, “When does Medicare start?” This article will help you understand when your Medicare benefits will begin. Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) Everyone turning age 65, or getting Medicare benefits due to their Social Security disability status, gets an Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). How long it takes for Medicare […]

Top 9 Advantages and Disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans

If you are about to make plan election choices for yourself or a loved one, you might find yourself asking what are the advantages and disadvantages of Medicare Advantage plans? In this MedicareWire article, we’re going to look at Medicare Advantage (MA) from a financial and usability point of view. Here’s why. As we age into our retirement […]

Do Low-Cost Medicare Supplement Plans Save Money?

Medicare supplement insurance premiums continue to increase. The increases have a lot to do with changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act (aka, Obama) and how these changes affect reimbursements to health care providers. As a result, a lot of seniors are asking about low-cost Medicare supplement plans. But, do these plans actually help […]

Why Medicare Advantage Plans are Bad: 7 Top Complaints

One of the most common questions we get here at MedicareWire is, “are Medicare Advantage plans bad?” In my experience, this question comes up because people ask their friends, neighbors, and healthcare providers about Medicare plans, and that brings up the horror stories and a litany of reasons why Medicare Advantage plans are bad. But, […]

2021 Medicare Open Enrollment: A Guide to Dates, Costs and Eligibility

Everything you need to know about Medicare’s Annual Election Period (AEP) dates, costs, eligibility, and opportunities to change your Medicare insurance coverage this Fall. What’s in this 2021 Medicare AEP guide? When is Medicare Open Enrollment for 2021 Coverage? How to Enroll in a New Medicare Plan for 2021 Medicare Eligibility How to Enroll in […]

Brand New Day vs. 5-Star Kaiser Medicare Advantage in California

Medicare Advantage plans expanded into dozens of new counties for the 2021 plan year. With the expansion in plans also came the news that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) increased the maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) limit from $6,700 to $7,550 per year. However, several companies, including Brand New Day, a Medicare Advantage prescription […]

What is the Average Cost of Supplemental Insurance for Medicare?

How Much Does Supplemental Medicare Insurance Cost? One of the most frequent questions we get is, “What is the average cost of supplemental health insurance for seniors?” Medigap, also known as Medicare supplement insurance, is a group of standardized plans that help cover the gaps in Original Medicare health insurance. And, unfortunately, stating an average […]

How To Choose a Medicare Supplement Plan

Original Medicare provides decent health insurance coverage for your major medical, but it doesn’t cover everything. However, you have the option to fill most of the coverage gaps by purchasing a Medicare supplement plan, also known as Medigap. While it might initially seem complicated, if you follow our five-step plan, you’ll be well on your […]

Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment: Its Not When You Think It Is

There is a lot of confusion about the open enrollment period for supplemental Medicare insurance (aka, Medigap). In this brief article, we’ll answer the two most common questions, including when is it and how long does it last. When is Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment? It’s easy to be tricked into thinking that open enrollment for […]

Medicare Plan N (Medigap Plan N): One of the Newest, Innovative Supplements

What is Medicare Plan N? Medicare Supplemental Plan N is one of the ten standardized Medigap plans. Although it is one of the newest plans available, Medicare Plan N is quickly becoming a favorite with Baby Boomers aging into their Medicare benefits. This is particularly true of Baby Boomers who are accustomed to sharing healthcare […]

High Deductible Medicare Plan F: Is It Worth The Risk?

Medicare Plan F High Deductible is a version of the regular Medicare Plan F in which you pay all costs until spending reaches the annual deductible. According to Medicare.gov, this plan is only available to people new to Medicare. That means you can buy this Medigap plan if you first become eligible for Medicare benefits […]

Do I Really Need Supplemental Insurance with Medicare?

We often get questions from people about to retire who are concerned about their budget. This is understandable because a fixed budget can put the squeeze on your finances. Recently I got a question from a friend with Social Security disability benefits that has had her Medicare since she was in her 50s. Now turning […]

Can I Change Medicare Supplement Plans Anytime?

When Can I Change My Medicare Supplemental Insurance Plan? Unlike Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D, there isn’t an Annual Election Period (open enrollment) for Medicare supplements. That’s good news. The bad news is that switching Medicare supplements – to a different carrier for a better rate or to a different plan for better coverage […]

Best Medicare Supplement Plans: One Size Does Not Fit All

What Are The Best Medicare Supplement Plans? When shopping and comparing Medicare supplement plans, the most important thing to understand is the amount of coverage you need. The reason for this is that supplemental Medicare insurance (aka, Medigap) is standardized. That means that a Medicare Plan G sold by AARP, for instance, has exactly the […]

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