Colleyville Medigap Specialist
Medicare Supplement plans and Medigap policies: What’s the difference?
There is no difference between Medicare Supplement plans and Medigap policies. They are two names for the same type of health insurance plan. Medigap plans are designed to supplement Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) by helping pay for some of the out-of-pocket costs, such as coinsurance, copayments, and deductibles.
Medigap plans are standardized, which means that all plans in a given state must offer the same benefits. However, there are 10 different Medigap plans, each with its own set of benefits and costs. The plans are identified by letters, from A to N. Plan A offers the most basic coverage, while Plan N offers the most comprehensive coverage.
You can buy a Medigap plan if you are at least 65 years old and enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. You can also buy a Medigap plan if you are under 65 and have been diagnosed with a chronic health condition. However, you may have to pay a higher premium if you buy a Medigap plan before you are 65.
You can enroll in a Medigap plan during your initial enrollment period, which is the 7-month period that begins 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after you turn 65. You can also enroll in a Medigap plan during a special enrollment period, which is a period of time when you may be able to enroll in a Medigap plan even if you are outside of your initial enrollment period. You may be eligible for a special enrollment period if you have certain life changes, such as moving to a new area or losing your job-based health insurance.
Five things to know about Colleyville Medigap
1. You must have Medicare Part A and Part B before enrolling in a Medigap (or Medicare Supplement) plan.
2. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan and want to move to a Medigap Plan, make sure to leave your Advantage plan before your Medigap coverage begins.
3. A Medigap Policy only covers one person.
4. In addition to paying your Part B premium every month, you will also pay a monthly premium for your Medigap Plan.
5. As long as you pay your premium, an insurance company cannot cancel your policy no matter what health problems you may have. It is guaranteed renewable.
Are You Eligible for Medicare?
Generally, you are eligible for Medicare if you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years in Medicare-covered employment and you are 65 years old and a citizen or permanent resident of the United States.
If you are not 65, you might also qualify for coverage if you have a disability or with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplant).
Here are some simple guidelines. You can get Part A at age 65 without having to pay premiums if:
- You already get retirement benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board.
- You are eligible to get Social Security or Railroad benefits but have not yet filed for them.
- You or your spouse had Medicare-covered government employment.
If you are under 65, you can get Part A without having to pay premiums if:
- You have received Social Security or Railroad Retirement
- Board disability benefits for 24 months. You are a kidney dialysis or kidney transplant patient.
While you don’t have to pay a premium for Part A if you meet one of those conditions, you must pay for Part B if you want it. It is deducted from your Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or Civil Service Retirement check. If you don’t get any of the above payments, Medicare sends you a bill for your Part B premium every 3 months.
Need help? Call us for an appointment at (817) 952-3153
Meet Colleyville Medigap Specialist Sonia Ashford
Sonia Ashford, “The Medicare Insurance Lady”, of Bedford Texas, has been helping Medicare eligible folks in Colleyville Texas with their Medicare Insurance since 2005. She has been married to John Ashford since 1982 and they reside in Bedford, Texas. They have six adult children as well as nine adorable grandchildren that they love to spoil. Some of Sonia’s favorite hobbies are quilting, scrapbooking, and crafting.
Sonia H. Ashford is the owner of the Independent Marketing Organization Ashford Insurance. Sonia has delivered countless speeches to senior citizens about turning 65, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans. Sonia has spoken at local small group meetings and to individual consumers in Tarrant, Dallas, and surrounding counties. To many, she is a respected and trustworthy agent within the Medicare Insurance industry.
Sonia specializes in Colleyville Texas Medicare Plans including Medicare Advantage Plans as well as Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans (Medigap) and Part D Prescription Drug coverage from several top insurance carriers.
Ashford Insurance’s office is centrally located in Hurst, Texas next to Bedford within Tarrant County, in the heart of the Dallas / Fort Worth Metroplex also known as HEB, or Mid-Cities. She would love to come to visit with you or have you come by the office and see how she can help with your Medicare insurance decisions.