Government Resource Center
Want expert Medicare info? These Government resources can help
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal agency in charge of administering Medicare and Medicaid benefits. They have two sites where you can gather valuable information.
Information from Medicare.gov
Medicare’s public-facing site is Medicare.gov. It details the basics, such as the parts that makeup Medicare, what’s covered, who is eligible, and the expenses you are responsible for. Details include:
- The specific Medicare health and prescription drug plans available where you live, with costs and services outlined
- A list of Medicare-participating physicians, specialists, and suppliers
- Medicare coverage, like preventive services — yearly wellness visits, vaccines or shots, screenings
- Medicare appeals info and forms
- Quality-of-care resources on individual plans, doctors, hospitals, nursing homes,home health agencies, long-term care and inpatient rehab centers, dialysis providers, and hospices
- Additional online resources and contact information
Information on MyMedicare.gov
Medicare offers a free online service which allows you to access your enrollment status,coverage, and claims information. MyMedicare.gov is a convenient way to:
- Manage private health information such as medical conditions, implanted devices,and allergies
- Enroll to receive your “Medicare Summary Notices”
- Run searches for your preferred providers, and create a list you can manage here
- Choose or change the primary care physician who oversees and coordinates your healthcare, no matter where you go for treatment
- Keep track of your Part B deductibility and your Original Medicare claims
- Manage your prescriptions list and your pharmacy information
- Print out your official Medicare card
Who can help replace a lost or stolen Medicare card?
You can go to Medicare.gov, the public site for Medicare, where the following is available:
- Lost or damaged cards can be quickly replaced by going to your MyMedicare.gov account and printing out a copy of your Medicare card. No account? Create one onMyMedicare.gov
- Stolen cards should be reported to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE 1-800-633-4227 For TTY users, please call 1-877-486-2048 for help. If you suspect your Medicare card has been fraudulently used, contact the police and the Federal TradeCommission’s ID Theft Hotline 1-877-438-4338. TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048
- You can also get a replacement Medicare card by contacting the Social Security office 1-800-772-1213 Monday through Friday between 7am and 7pm.
Additionally, you can visit your local Social Security office if you need your replacement card urgently. As a rule, lost or stolen cards are replaced within 30 days, and per request,you can get a letter for use as temporary proof of Medicare coverage within 10 days.
Still confused? Call us!
We’re here at 833-245-0614 to answer any questions, and ready to help with any issues you might have with an insurer through the enrollment process.
Table of Contents
FAQs
What are the best Medicare supplement plans?
- Best overall Medicare supplement for new enrollees: Plan G.
- Best overall Medicare supplement before 2020: Plan F.
- Best low cost Medicare supplement: Plan K.
- Best alternative to Plan G Medicare supplement: Plan N.
What is a Medicare supplement plan?
Medicare Supplement policies are private health insurance designed to cover gaps in Original Medicare.
They are also known as Medigap plans. These take care of costs such as copays, coinsurance, and deductibles which can become expensive if you need regular care from a doctor or hospital.
If you need medical care while traveling outside the U.S., you can buy Medigap policies to help cover those costs. As a supplement to Original Medicare, you’re required to have Part A and Part B before you canget a Medigap policy. This way, Medicare is responsible for the Medicare-approved costs of the covered care, and the remainder is covered by your Medigap plan.
What is the most expensive Medicare supplement plan?
Optimal coverage comes with higher costs, making Plan F the most expensive Medigap plan. Plan F is known as “first-dollar coverage” and it takes care of everything provided during a doctor or hospital visit. Your only responsibility is for dental, vision, medications, and equipment, such as hearing aids.
Why is Plan F being discontinued?
The Federal government ended the Plan F option for new enrollees last year to keep the healthcare system from being overused by patients who had their deductibles covered. The next best coverage after Plan F is Plan G.
Is Plan G better than Plan F?
Medigap Plan G offers every advantage of Plan F except for the deductible, which you have to cover. Because it isn’t as comprehensive as Plan F, Plan G is more affordable.
What is the best and cheapest Medicare supplement insurance?
For people who don’t go to the doctor often, Plan K is worth considering. It is the most affordable because it provides just 50% of Medicare Part B coinsurance, the Part A deductible, blood, skilled nursing, and Part A hospice costs. For comparison, Plan G and others offer full coverage of these expenses, and more.
Is Medicare supplemental insurance worth it?
It’s hard to argue against plans which cut your traditional Medicare costs. For most people, having the extra coverage these supplemental plans provide is common sense, unless they want the specific features of a Medicare Advantage plan.
Do I really need supplemental insurance with Medicare?
Most people would benefit from not having to pay out-of-pocket to stay healthy. Medicare supplement insurance or a Medicare Advantage plan offer vital savings now, but are indispensable should a catastrophic health issue occur.
What is the most popular UnitedHealthcare Medicare Supplement plan?
Of the 10 Medicare-approved Medigap plans, Plan G and Plan N are the most popular. Plan F is no longer available to new Medicare enrollees as of 2020, but it is still popular among people who bought this plan prior to 2020.
How much does Medigap insurance cost?
- Plan F$128–$342
- Plan F (high deductible)$22–$88
- Plan G$106–$325
- Plan G (high deductible)$29–$58
Who qualifies for Medigap?
Before getting a Medicare supplement plan, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). People with Medicare Advantage Plans who want to go back to Original Medicare can buy a Medigap policy prior to switching.
Is Medigap insurance worth the cost?
The security of having lower or no out-of-pocket healthcare costs can offset the premiums you’ll have to pay for whichever Medigap plan you choose, which vary depending on the benefits offered.
How Much Is Medigap per month?
The national average cost for Medicare Supplement Plan F is $1,824 annually, which is $152/month; Medigap Plan G will cost you around $143 per month.
Is Plan G the best Medigap plan?
Since Plan F was discontinued for new enrollees as of 2020, Plan G offers the most coverage for people 65 and older. It has a lower premium than Plan F and duplicates its benefits, except for the Part B deductible.
Is it better to have Medicare Advantage or Medigap?
It depends on your specific needs, but for most people a Medigap plan is very useful in supplementing the coverage of Medicare Part A and Part B. A Medicare Advantage plan is an affordable way to get healthcare coverage not offered by Original Medicare.
What is the most popular Medicare supplement plan?
Historically, Plan F has been the most popular because it covers all the out-of-pocket costs Medicare does’t pay for. This includes the 15% extra charge billed by providers who do not take Medicare as full payment.
Does Medigap cover prescription drugs?
Since January 1, 2006, no Medigap policy came with prescription drug coverage. You have two options to get covered, enrolling in either a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) or a Medicare Advantage plan.