Medicare Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) are private companies that the federal government pays to administer Medicare benefits. Like all Medicare Advantage Plans, PPOs must provide you with the same benefits, rights, and protections as Original Medicare, but they may do so with different rules, restrictions, and costs. Some PPOs offer
Archive for August, 2018
SNP costs and coverage
Medicare Special Needs Plans (SNPs) must provide you with the same benefits as Original Medicare but may do so with different rules, restrictions, and costs. SNPs can also offer additional benefits. Below is a list of general cost and coverage rules for Medicare SNPs. Remember to speak to a plan
ESRD Medicare costs and coverage
Medicare covers the following care related to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD): Kidney transplants Hospital inpatient dialysis Outpatient dialysis from a Medicare-certified hospital or free-standing dialysis facility Home dialysis training, sometimes called self-dialysis, from a dialysis facility Training for you and caregivers who will provide home dialysis Home dialysis equipment and
PFFS costs and coverage
Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans must provide you with the same benefits as Original Medicare but may do so with different rules, restrictions, and costs. PFFS plans can also offer additional benefits. Below is a list of general cost and coverage rules for Medicare PFFS plans. Remember to speak to
Qualified medical expenses
It is generally a good idea to use the money in your Medical Savings Account (MSA) to pay for qualified medical expenses. This is because money you spend on qualified medical expenses will not be subject to income tax. If you use money from your MSA for anything else, you
MSA costs and coverage
Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) plans must provide you with the same benefits as Original Medicare but may do so with different rules, restrictions, and costs. MSA plans can also offer additional benefits. Below is a list of general cost and coverage rules for MSA plans. Remember to speak to
Questions to ask when choosing a Medigap
When you are speaking to insurance representatives about Medigap policies, here are some questions to keep in mind: Am I enrolling while I am in my open enrollment period? If not, do I have a guaranteed issue right? What is the Medigap policy’s monthly premium? Is this premium based on
Medigap costs
When you are choosing a Medigap policy, it is best to look at policies from a range of insurance companies, especially if you’ve already decided on a particular standardized policy. Policies with the same letter name offer the same benefits, but premiums can vary from company to company. For example:
Medigaps and prior medical conditions
Be aware that under federal law, Medigap policy insurers can refuse to cover your prior medical conditions for the first six months. A prior or pre-existing condition is a condition or illness you were diagnosed with or were treated for before new health care coverage began. The wait time for
Medigap purchasing details: enrollment periods, guaranteed issue, and more
It is important to know about protected times to buy a Medigap so you can time your enrollment wisely. Here we talk about federally protected times to purchase a Medigap. Be aware that this information only pertains to protections that apply nationwide. Some states have other protections that give their