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Medicare Supplemental Insurance FAQ
Resources and Links
What are Medicare Supplements?
What does each Supplement cover?
When can I enroll?
How do I enroll?
How long do I have to decide whether or not I want to keep my Medicare supplement policy?
I am 65 years old and retired from my job. I kept my company insurance plan, and I am also covered as a dependent under my wife's plan where she works. In addition, I have Medicare benefits, and a Medicare supplement policy. If I have a claim, who pays first? Second? Third?
A producer wants to sell me a nursing home policy. I was under the impression my Medicare supplement policy provided nursing home coverage.
This producer just sold me a Medicare supplement policy, and I do not want it. How do I get my money back?
I have a Medicare supplement policy that has always paid 100% of the charges Medicare did not pay. Now the company is only paying 100% of the charges approved by Medicare. Can they do this?
What if I have health conditions?
What are Medicare Supplements?
Medicare supplements are insurance plans designed to fill in the gaps of Medicare coverage.
Essentially, with your Part A and Part B, it works like an 80/20 plan with separate annual deductibles for hospital and physician charges. Notice that it does not cover what is increasingly the most expensive part of medical care...prescriptions.
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What does each Supplement cover?
There are standardized plans from A to J with increasing benefits (and monthly costs). A given company may choose to offer only some of the plans.
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When can I enroll?
You need both your Part A and Part B with Medicare, typically when you turn 65 or leave a group plan after 65.
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How do I enroll?
A completed application, your first payment, and Part A and Part B enrollment is all you need to enroll in a supplement. We can send you the free enrollment kit here.
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How long do I have to decide whether or not I want to keep my Medicare supplement policy?
You have a 30 day "free look" period from the date the policy is delivered to you. During this time the company will fully refund all premiums paid, if cancellation is requested in writing by the insured.
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I am 65 years old and retired from my job. I kept my company insurance plan, and I am also covered as a dependent under my wife's plan where she works. In addition, I have Medicare benefits, and a Medicare supplement policy. If I have a claim, who pays first? Second? Third?
As long as the wife is working, her plan would be primary; then Medicare; then your group. The Medicare supplement would pay in addition to other plans. If your wife retires, the Medicare supplement would pay in addition to other plans.
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A producer wants to sell me a nursing home policy. I was under the impression my Medicare supplement policy provided nursing home coverage.
A Medicare supplement policy provides very limited nursing home coverage. It supplements payments made by Medicare toward skilled nursing care only. The major percentage of patients in nursing homes receive either intermediate or custodial care, which is not covered under the Medicare supplement policy.
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This producer just sold me a Medicare supplement policy, and I do not want it. How do I get my money back?
If the policy has been issued, you need to send it back and request a refund within the 30 day "free look" period. If the policy has not been issued, write the company a letter advising them that you wish to cancel your contract. If you encounter problems, contact the Alabama Department of Insurance.
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I have a Medicare supplement policy that has always paid 100% of the charges Medicare did not pay. Now the company is only paying 100% of the charges approved by Medicare. Can they do this?
You need to read your policy very carefully to determine if benefits are paid on the basis of actual charges, or the amount of charges approved by Medicare. If it pays based on the amount approved by Medicare, then Medicare would pay 80% of the amount approved, and your supplemental policy would pay 20% of the amount approved. For example, if the doctor's bill is $1,000, and Medicare approves $800, Medicare will pay 80% of $800 ($640). Your supplemental policy will pay the remaining 20% of $800 ($160). You will be responsible for the $200 difference between the doctor's bill and the amount approved, unless your physician accepts Medicare assignments (the amount that Medicare approves).
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What if I have health conditions?
There may be 6-month windows of guaranteed approval starting when you a) 65 and older, have Part A and newly secured Part B; b) leave a group plan; c) your current insurance carrier or plan leaves your area or you move to an area where it is no longer available. There are other cases but otherwise, you need to answer 'no' to the health questions on the application to be accepted. You can request the application here to see if you can qualify.
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