A Utah Medicare Supplement policy (also called Medigap policy) helps you pay the “gaps” between what Original Medicare covers and the costs that are left over for you to pay out of your own pocket. Like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles for example.
When you are on Original Medicare and you have a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share. Then the Medicare Supplement will pay its share. Also, a Medicare Supplement is different than a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) because those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Supplement policy only supplements your Medicare benefits.
It is important to know that each Utah Medicare Supplement policy must follow Federal and Utah state laws designed to protect you and the policy must clearly be identified as “Medicare Supplement Insurance”. There are 10 different Medigap coverage options to choose from. Plans are labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N to signify the plan differences.
Because Medigap policies are regulated by State and Federal laws, all benefits for all options are the same regardless of what company you are with. A Plan F with one company and a Plan F with another company the coverage is exactly the same. The differences will be in the price, who administers the plan, and which of the ten options the company chooses to offer. You may want to choose a health insurer that you already fell comfortable with. Or you can shop around for the best prices.
In Utah you also have the option with a few of the companies to buy a Medicare SELECT policy, which is a Medicare Supplement that includes a network of hospitals that you must use except in cases of emergencies. With the SELECT policies you get the same benefits, but since you agree to go to contracted hospitals you can get the policy at a much lower rate.
Our agency represents all the Top Rated carriers here in Utah including:
- Mutual of Omaha
- United Healthcare
- Cigna
- Aetna
- Humana
- Regence
- And many more…
Rates vary for these plans, and we’ll do the work for you to find the Right Plan at the Right Price, saving you time and money! We are a local Utah company and have helped thousands of Medicare beneficiaries here in Utah choose the right plan for their needs. Learn, Compare and Save time and money with us! Call us today… we can help. 1-866-502-7736 or 801-372-4206
When should you Buy your Utah Medigap Policy?
The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your open enrollment period. This period lasts for 6 months and begins on the first day of the month in which you are 65 and older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. Another great time to buy is if you are ever loosing employer coverage, once you have lost employer coverage you have 63 days from the day your coverage ended. During these periods you have guaranteed acceptance and an insurance company can’t use medical underwriting to deny you coverage. This means the insurance company can’t do the following:
- Refuse to sell you any Utah Medigap policy it sells
- Make you wait for coverage to start
- Charge you more for a Utah Medigap policy because of your health problems
If you are on a Medicare Advantage plan and want to switch to a Medicare Supplement you will have to wait until the Annual Enrollment Period each year from October 15th to December 7th. It will take effect the first of the following year. You man also drop your Medicare Advantage plan Jan 1st thru Feb 15th each year during the Annual Disenrollment Period and enroll into a Medigap policy at that time also.
If you are on Original Medicare currently and want to add a Utah Medigap policy you may do so anytime during the year but you will have to go through underwriting to get accepted. Also, each companies underwriting is different. If one denies you we can help you shop around for one that might accept you
