Medicare is a federal health insurance program for qualified men and women who are:
- Age 65 or older
- Under age 65 but with a qualified disability
- Under 65 with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or Lou Gehrig's disease
Medicare includes the following four parts:
- Part A – Hospitalization coverage
- Part B – Physician/medical coverage
- Part D – Prescription drug coverage – NOTE: This coverage is NOT provided automatically when you enroll in Medicare. You must elect Part D coverage at www.medicare.gov, or by visiting an assistor.
For more information on Medicare itself, please go to www.medicare.gov.
Medicare supplement policies (also called "Medigap") help cover the costs that fall into the "gap" between what Original Medicare (Medicare Parts A and B) pays and what you pay out of your own pocket. Weis Insurance Agency offers a broad range of Medicare supplement policies through a variety of insurance companies for all Medicare beneficiaries, whether you are over or under 65, or if you have a pre-existing medical condition. Call or stop by our office for a free review of your current plan as well as the plans and competitive rates that we have to offer!
FAQ's about Medicare Supplements
All Medicare Supplement plans that you purchase must be clearly identified as "Medicare Supplement Insurance." There are 10 different Medicare supplement coverage options to choose from. Plans are labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N (Plans E, H, I, and J are no longer available). Not all insurance companies, however, offer all of these plans. All insurance companies that sell Medicare Supplements are required to offer identical plans, but may offer it at different prices. For example, a Plan F provides the exact same coverage regardless of the insurance company you choose. You must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B to be able to purchase a Medicare Supplement plan.
Open enrollment for Medicare supplemental plans begins the first day of the month in which you turn 65 and are covered under Medicare Part B. You have six months to enroll. If you are under 65, check with your local Social Security Administration to see what dates apply to you. As long as you enroll during this six-month open enrollment period, an insurance company cannot refuse to sell you a Medicare supplement policy, charge you more because you have health problems, or make you wait for coverage to begin. If you enroll in a Medicare supplement plan outside of your open enrollment period, some insurance companies may underwrite your application. This means that you may be subject to a medical questionnaire and could be denied coverage based on this information. At this time, however, we DO have carriers that will write a Medicare supplement policy at ANY time with NO MEDICAL QUESTIONS.
