Medicare Supplements Plans - Tips

Why A Medsupp Plan May Be a Better Choice

Boise Health & Life Insurance Agency

9727 W Cory Ln

Boise, ID 83704

208-409-3382

If you're researching your health care options in general and your Medicare supplement options then this article is for you. Even if you already looked at different plans locally or online, this article hopefully will provide you new information that will help you make an informed decision. and avoid taking on unneeded risk. 

My hope is that I am going to help you understand your Medicare supplement plans and their role in your healthcare. I'm going to reveal to you how to determine what the possible best plan is and what they may or may not cover. 

Hello, I’m Chris your Boise Medicare Supplement specialist. My agency is an independent insurance broker specializing in Health Coverage, Life Insurance, Long Term Care and retirement needs. We help our customers with their insurance decisions throughout the entire state of Idaho. 

My and my agency's philosophy when helping or clients with their health care choices is to first review and understand your choices. You should first shop in the local marketplace, you can do this online or with the help of a local broker or agent like our staff. This is your insurance plan, it is important to review everything especially if you have a health issue. If you cannot find a policy that meets your needs, either with coverage or budget. You may consider a Medicare advantage plan. 

Medsupps Vs. Medicare Advantage Plans

The first thing to understand about Med supplement plans is this; if you chose a Medigap plan, it means you've also chosen to get original Medicare as your primary insurance. That red, white and blue card; that is your primary coverage. Because original Medicare is your primary coverage the benefits of that coverage pass on to your supplement, which is your secondary insurer. Your insurance plan you purchase picks up the other 20% not covered. This is true no matter which plan you have, or which insurance company that you choose. 

This is very important and it is often misunderstood. What are the benefits of original Medicare that pass on to your supplement plan? First, with the original plan you can see any doctor, go to any hospital in the US or it's territories as long as they accept Medicare. Because this is a feature of Original Medicare, it's a feature of any supplement plan you have, from any insurance company. Second is that the intent of your original plan is to cover everything that's medically necessary.

Your supplement will cover the copays and deductibles of all of your Health Care approved by Medicare and it will cover what is medically necessary. Just think of it like this, if your doctor tells you to have something performed it probably is medically necessary. If you are electing to have a procedure is done that doesn’t affect your health in any fashion, it most likely is not necessary and not covered. Our agents can explain this in more detail when we visit for your review. 

To determine medically necessary they really lean on your doctor. It depends on your doctor's diagnosis and your doctor's opinion. With original Medicare as your primary Health Care, any supplement you have will follow the direction of Medicare to determine what is or is not covered and Medicare depends on your doctor's diagnosis and opinion. The bottom line is your supplement will cover the copays and deductibles of all of your healthcare approved by and will cover what is medically necessary. 

Which brings me to my favorite benefit of having original Medicare. With original Medicare, the for-profit insurance companies are taken entirely out of the decision-making process. They have absolutely no say in what is covered, who is paid or how much. All they do is what Medicare tells them to do. This means that because you have original Medicare no matter which supplement plan or which insurance company you choose you to retain the right to see any doctor or go to any hospital. Plus, neither you nor your doctor ever has to ask an insurance company for permission to have a procedure. 

Please call the office with any questions! 208-409-3382

The Best Idaho Medicare Supplement & Medicare Advantage Companies

Which Medicare Insurance Company Should You Choose

Hey Boise Idaho! 

Today here at our agency Boise Health & Life Insurance Agency we are going to review some of the top Medicare Insurance companies.

Now these companies work across the nation and local regional areas as well. You have large networks like Blue Cross but here in Idaho it is Blue Cross of Idaho. They sell Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. 

So see below some of the top companies we use. Our agency is independent and we work with the best companies. 

We offer Medicare Advantage and Medigap plans. So Give us a call with any questions. 

Top Medicare Supplements Insurance Companies

Here are some top companies for this year 2021:

1. CIGNA has more than 200-year in business, making it one of the oldest companies offering health insurance and related services. This global health insurance is available in all 50 states including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, and many more.

It is known for the Best In Overall Value because of its access to discounts and perks. Cigna offers multiple policies and it has three different apps in the Google Play Store and App Store.

2. ANTHEM is one of the largest healthcare insurance in the United States. Their companies are dedicated to delivering better care to their members. As the largest insurance provider, Anthem ranks second in the country for the number of members serving 106 million people and yearly revenue.

They are known for the Best For Discounts for their easy to bundle coverage and save. Anthem Blue Cross is the same company like Blue Cross and Blue Cross Shield as they formed their associations.

3. UNITED HEALTHCARE is the top choice for people who want to manage their membership and healthcare electronically. They are known for being the Best For Online Experience because of their friendly and easy-to-use online portal.

Their company also receives excellent strength ratings when it comes to services. With over 1.3 million physicians and 6000 hospitals making United Healthcare Group the largest health insurance provider by total covered lives.

4. AETNA ranks as the strongest health insurance provider. The company has a good reputation, it stands out because they offer a plan with broad coverage at affordable and lower premiums.

Aetna is known for its price transparency and Best Cost-Effective and it is the fifth-largest Medigap provider by direct premiums.

5. MUTUAL OF OMAHA is a highly ranked insurance company with excellent customer satisfaction ratings and low customer complaints. They offer high-quality, in-depth information through their company website. Mutual Of Omaha ranked number 5 in Affordable Companies of 2021 and earned an A+ rating from AM Best and S&P Global.

They also know their Best For Claims Experience because according to a survey 98% of claims paid out within 12 hours. But unlike other insurance companies, Mutual Of Omaha doesn’t offer too many online tools for their customers.

6. HUMANA is a broad-based and well-being company, they have an excellent rating and received a J.D Power Associations Awards for a “Highest Members Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in Texas”.

Humana is also a company that offers special needs policies for people with a severe disability or chronic condition. But Humana plans are a little higher than other insurance carriers. Their customers can access their app from both Google Play and Apple Store.

7. AARP is a co-branding carrier of United Healthcare. This is one of the most trusted carriers for retirees and seniors. AARP earns rank A rating from AM Best for financial strength. It is well-known for being the best for its pricing for Medicare Advantage and Supplements plans because it doesn’t charge more as you age. And they constantly give the best rates and discounts that will fit their customer’s needs.