Welcome! We Know San Antonio Texas Medicare is Confusing! Let Us Help! Ashford Insurance is an independent insurance agency specializing in the Texas Medicare market. As an independent agency, we have the freedom to offer any Texas Medigap or Medicare Prescription Drug product from any company. After reviewing all of your doctors and prescriptions, we can give you a true and unbiased opinion.

Here at Ashford Insurance, we represent several of the major carriers for San Antonio Texas Medigap plans (aka Medicare Supplement policies) and Medicare Part D drug plans. We will help you find the plan that suits your health care needs, and your financial budget as well.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that pays most of the health care costs for people who are 65 or older.  It will also pay for health care for some people under age 65 who have disabilities.

You can buy Medicare supplement insurance to help pay some of your out-of-pocket costs that Medicare won’t pay. Because it helps cover some of the “gaps” in Medicare coverage, Medicare supplement insurance is often called Medigap insurance.

Ashford Insurance offers a selection of San Antonio Texas Medigap Plans from many top carriers.

Texas Medigap Plans are standardized by the Federal Government. They are labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. As of January 1, 2020, Medigap plans sold to new people with Medicare aren’t allowed to cover the Part B deductible. Because of this, Plans C and F are not available to people new to Medicare starting on January 1, 2020.

 Each standardized Medigap policy must offer the same basic benefits no matter which insurance company sells it. Cost is usually the only difference between Medigap policies with the same letter sold by different insurance companies. Plan A pays the Medicare hospital and physician coinsurance, the first three pints of blood, and 365 days of hospitalization beyond Medicare. Plans B through N provide these benefits and add more benefits such as coverage for Medicare deductibles, excess charges and limited preventive care, and foreign travel. You can only have one Med Sup plan. No one should try to sell you an additional Medsup plan unless you decide you need to switch policies.

Open Enrollment for Texas Medigap Insurance is at age 65 for all consumers, including those already receiving Medicare due to disability. The Open Enrollment period is a six-month period, beginning when you are both age 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B, companies must sell you any Medicare supplement plan they offer. After this limited open enrollment period, companies can pick and choose whom they will cover and how much they will charge based on your health. If you have an individual or “bank group” insurance policy, becoming Medicare eligible does not require you to cancel it and purchase a Medicare supplement. Doing so may save premium costs but it is important to compare benefits before deciding which will work best.

As our Texas population ages, individuals inevitably encounter more medical problems that require additional, costly health care services. A Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) policy, sold by private companies, can help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Some Medigap policies also offer coverage for services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like care when you travel outside the United States. Medigap policies only supplement your Original Medicare benefits and shouldn’t be confused with Medicare Advantage Plans.

If you are eligible for employer retirement insurance, review the plan carefully to understand what benefits are available and how it works with Medicare. Be aware that employer plans are not standardized and are not subject to the requirements governing standardized Medicare supplement policies. Also, it is important to remember, if you leave an employer plan you may not be able to go back on it.

Depending on the 2019 Medigap plan you choose, the plan may provide a benefit for (Benefits and cost vary depending on the plan you choose.):

• Part A coinsurance (and most plans provide a benefit for the Part A deductible)
• Some of the out-of-pocket costs not paid by Part B (some plans also cover the Part B deductible)
• Cost of blood transfusions (first 3 pints)
• Cost of up to 365 extra hospital days after you’ve used up your Part A benefits
• Skilled nursing facility coinsurance or copayment
• Part A hospice/respite care coinsurance or copayment

You pay a monthly premium and some out-of-pocket costs.

Some Texas residents are eligible to enroll in approved Part C Medicare Advantage plans. These plans are offered by private insurance companies. Each year Medicare Advantage companies decide where they will offer their plans, what benefits will be offered, and what the premiums will be. Several include vision, dental, hearing, and wellness programs not covered by original Medicare. As noted earlier many Medicare Advantage Plans also offer prescription drug coverage. There are several Medicare Advantage plans available in Dallas, Tarrant, and surrounding counties. Depending on plan choice, a member may be responsible for paying co-payments for certain covered services. Most importantly, with Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage, and stand-alone Part D Prescription Drug Plans, you must continue to pay your Part A (if any) and part B Medicare premiums.

Don’t forget your prescription drug coverage.

There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage, either through a Texas Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D), or through a Texas Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage (MA-PD). Let the sales agents at Ashford Insurance help you discover the most affordable Medicare plans available to you, and to understand when your coverage starts, what’s covered, and what to expect.

What Is The Best Time to Enroll In A Plan?

In the event you happen to be considering signing up for these Medigap plans you need to know that the best time to enroll in some of these would be during what’s called the a Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. This starts when you are older or 65 years old and you have Part B Medicare.

Are you close to turning 65?  If you or your family is hitting this milestone age soon, then it’s time to look at Medicare.   Do you know what it covers?  Where are the gaps in coverage?  When are you eligible to sign up?  Enrolling in Medicare can be an overwhelming and confusing experience.  Benefits may be different from those you had while you were under a private policy.

Confused?  Many People Are. It can seem overwhelming when trying to plan your future coverage and sort through the many options, especially since the choices you make can have a significant effect on your health care and your financial well-being.

Whether an “all-in-one” Medicare Advantage plan or a standalone Part D plan suits you, Ashford Insurance can help. Get a quote for prescription drug plans online now at no cost to you. Or, let one of our licensed agents review your options and find the best drug insurance plan for your unique needs. Just give us a call today at (210) 867-3241.