Insurance Options | Medicare Supplements & Long-Term Care

As you turn 65 and start to use Medicare as your health insurance, many Americans find that there are "gaps" in the coverage provided by Medicare Parts A and B. These gaps can be covered by supplemental insurance, sometimes referred to as "Medigap" coverage. Serveral different federally-mandated levels of coverage are available, but all supplemental plans cover the following basics:

Hospital co-insurance
Full coverage for 365 additional hospital days after your Medicare hospital reserve days are used up
20% co-insurance for your physician and other services covered under Part B
Three pints of blood

Other benefits that various supplemental plans may cover:

Coverage of the Medicare hospital deductible
Skilled nursing facility coinsurance
Coverage of the $110 Part B deductible
Physician fees when they exceed Medicare's approved reimbursement
At-home care in conjunction with and in addition to Medicare-approved home care
Some prescription drug coverage
Some preventive care coverage
80% of emergency medical costs incurred outside the US in the first two months of a trip

There are also some things that supplemental coverage does NOT cover. These include, but are not limited to:

Custodial care (feeding, bathing, grooming) at home or in a nursing home
Long-term skilled care in a nursing home
Unlimited prescription drugs
Vision care
Dental care

At Insurance Options, we have a comprehensive understanding of the marketplace and your available options. Please call us and let us help you make sense of the many choices you have.