Adler Insurance, your Medicare expert in Prescott, shares tips for those who are new to Medicare

Are you looking for Original Medicare, a Medicare Advantage Plan, or Medicare Supplement Insurance? Do you know when you can enroll or change between plans? For years, Prescott residents have trusted Adler Insurance to answer their questions. If you're ready for Medicare here's a brief overview to to help explain what to expect.

If you are ready to enroll in Medicare - whether it's because of age or disability - there are certain times of the year ,with exceptions, you can choose to enroll in the Medicare coverage you want.

There are two primary ways to get Medicare coverage. One is known as Original Medicare (Part A and Part B). The other is a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C). Depending on your needs or desired coverage, some people will want to get additional coverage like Medicare prescription drug coverage. One thing that many people may not understand is that a Medicare Advantage Plan is private insurance. It is not government insurance. Medicare (also known as Original Medicare) is a federal health insurance program. They are two very different types of insurance with different coverages, costs, deductibles and exclusions among other things. Medigap is Medicare Supplement Insurance. The following steps are a guideline to help you decide what coverage you want:.

When you first consider enrolling in Medicare here are some decisions you'll want to be prepared to make:

• Do you want Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) or a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C) (like an HMO or PPO)?
• Do you want prescription drug coverage (Part D)?
• Do you want supplemental coverage (Medigap)?
• Do you know about other options?

Even if you have Original Medicare you may be able to get other types of Medicare health plans.

Depending on your income and resources you may be able to get help paying costs or have other choices available to you. You may also have additional co-coverage through an employer, a union, the military, or from veterans' benefits.

If you're eligible for Medicare and need help determining which plan is best for you or how Medicare works with other insurance, then don't wait to call Prescott's local Medicare insurance experts at Adler Insurance. Call us at 928-710-1455 or  visit us at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com for more information.

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Medicare Insurance in Prescott
Prescott Medicare Open Enrollment
Helpful Medicare Articles

Adler Insurance, your health insurance specialist in Prescott, talks about Medicare supplement insurance

Are you considering adding a Medicare supplement insurance plan to help cover some of the healthcare expenses that Medicare Parts A and B don't cover? Adler Insurance, your Prescott Medicare specialist, gives you an overview of Medicare supplements, also known as Medigap.

One thing that many people do not know is that Medicare supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. This is private insurance.

• Medigap plans may help defray or reduce some of the costs outside of the coverage provided by Medicare Parts A and B, like co-insurance, co-payments, and deductibles.

• To be eligible to purchase a Medigap plan, you need to be enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B. You must be a resident of the state where the policy is offered. You must be at least 65 years of age. In some states you may be eligible if you are under 65 but have a disability or end-stage renal disease.

• Medicare supplement insurance plans are standardized into a variety of plans, all of which cover basic benefits. The plans vary because each one has additional benefits designed to meet specific needs. Along with varying plans come varying costs. Some plan benefits are provided at higher premiums with limited out-of-pocket costs, while others are are cost-sharing plans offering similar benefits at lower premiums, but with greater out-of-pocket costs.

Making a change to a Medicare supplement plan is limited to the first day of the month in which you turn at least 65 years old and are already enrolled in Medicare Part B. An insurance company cannot use your medical history for eligibility if you apply for a Medigap plan during the Open Enrollment period or if you qualify for a guaranteed issue.

If you have questions about Medicare supplement insurance plans, call your Prescott health insurance experts at Adler Insurance for an overview of all the options available to you. To speak to an agent today, call us at 928-710-1455 or visit us at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

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Medicare Insurance in Prescott
Prescott Health Insurance Specialist
Helpful Medicare Articles

Adler Insurance helps you to decide the right Medicare supplement in Prescott

Although the federal Medicare program pays the lion’s share of medical expenses for those that use it, it still pays to look into the supplement policies as they help to pay for certain expenses not covered by Medicare. Adler Insurance helps you to navigate the Medicare supplements in Prescott and decide what is right for you.
When can I apply for a supplement policy?

Generally speaking, when you elect coverage from Medicare Part B, you have 6 months of open enrollment time for a supplement policy. This is the same whether you have Medicare due to age or disability. If you do not enroll in a supplement policy within the open enrollment window, you can be denied due to health conditions. Again, this is generally speaking. There are some exceptions, but you are safe to assume that 6-month window.

Does the supplement policy cover prescription drugs?
If you are looking for prescription drug coverage, it may be best to go with the Medicare prescription drug plan, as supplements may not include drug plans.

MedicareAdvantage Plans
MedicareAdvantage plans are privately sold insurance plans for a monthly fee that provide the standard Medicare benefits plus additional supplements. This is formerly known as Medicare+Choice plans.

Medicare Select Plans
Medicare Select plans are very similar to PPO plans. If you stay in network, the plan will be a lower cost.

Medigap policyA Medigap policy is basically just how it sounds. It pays the gaps that Medicare does not cover. It is sold by private insurance companies.

Am I qualified for a Medigap policy?
Not everyone qualifies for Medigap. Some reasons that may keep you from qualifying are: being enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, having Medicaid, being under the age of 65 and disabled or having end stage Renal disease. Also, generally speaking, you must have both Medicare part A and part B.

Let Adler Insurance help you with sorting out Medicare supplements in Prescott. We will see to it that you pick the right supplement plan for your specific needs. This article is not exhaustive, so it’s in your best interest to sit down and become fully educated on the supplement policies. If you need more information on how to choose your Medicare plan, call Adler Insurance at 928-710-1455 and discover more at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

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Medicare Agent in Prescott
Prescott Medicare Insurance
Helpful Articles about Medicare

Adler Insurance answers whether Medicare will pay for long-term care in Prescott

Adler Insurance is a resource to help you understand Medicare and we are here to answer the question, “Will Medicare pay for long-term care in Prescott?” This is a complicated question, and it pays for you to understand prior to being faced with having to make these decisions. The biggest mistake people make is to assume Medicare will take over the financial burden of long-term care in full. While Medicare’s role is limited and sometimes confusing, you can start by understanding some concepts of long-term care.

What is long-term care?

There are two types of long-term care: custodial care and skilled care. Custodial care can be simply defined as care given to people who need help with basic, everyday living, such as getting dressed, cooking meals, bathing, and other basic day-to-day tasks. Skilled care requires medical training and licenses. When it comes to Medicare’s financial involvement, the main question is whether medical/skilled care is required. Medicare does not cover custodial care, but they will help with skilled care.

Over time, long-term care will become more complicated as the need of care changes. The main thing to remember is that Medicare will take part of the financial burden only if the care is prescribed by a doctor and is considered medical care. When a patient requires a nursing home or skilled nursing facility, a general rule of thumb is that Medicare will help for a limited time if 1) the care is recovery and 2) after a hospital stay for at least three days. Medicare will pay anywhere from 80-100% over the course of 100 days. After that, there are supplemental insurance solutions to be considered.

Medicare is certainly limited when it comes to long-term care, but there are other options to be aware of. The main thing is to be prepared and educated prior to the need. The key is to know what parts of long-term care in Prescott that Medicare will pay for, and Adler Insurance can help you navigate these questions. If you and your family are facing these questions now or in the near future, call Adler Insurance at 928-710-1455 and discover more at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.

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Medicare Solutions in Prescott
Prescott Medicare Insurance
Helpful Articles about Medicare

Adler Insurance Helps Prescott Seniors Understand Medicare Part D

Part D is the section of medical coverage for seniors that covers prescription drugs. Medicare patients are generally less informed about their Medicare Part D plan options than they let on. In fact researchers found that almost 2/3 of respondents claimed their understanding of Medicare was “not much at all” or “not at all”. Adler Insurance, your independent Medicare broker in Prescott, understands that the ins and outs of Medicare can be baffling and that’s why we’re here to help Prescott seniors understand their options, not only on part D, but all Medicare coverages.

If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan, most of them cover Parts A, B and D - You get all of your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage, and prescription drug coverage (Part D), through these plans. Medicare Advantage Plans with prescription drug coverage are sometimes called “MA-PDs.”

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D) (sometimes called "PDPs") add drug coverage to Original Medicare, some Medicare Cost Plans, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account (MSA) Plans.

One major reason it is important to compare Medicare plans is the constantly changing formularies. Medicare plans update their formularies, drug costs and reimbursements every two weeks. Usually these changes are not too drastic, but over a full year, small changes in pricing or coverage could cause immense differences in costs for an individual. You may find that a drug that had a $10 co-pay last year, may have a much larger co-pay this year, or maybe it’s not even covered any longer by your current Medicare coverage.

Each year during Open Enrollment, everyone who is Medicare eligible has the opportunity to make changes to their plans. Outside of the Open Enrollment period, there are other situations that may allow you to make changes to your Medicare plan, such as:

• 90 days before or after turning 65
• Moving to another State or even County

If you would like some help in understanding the wide range of choices available to you for Part D, or any Medicare coverage in Prescott, why not give the experts at Adler Insurance a call at 928-710-1455. To learn more about our services, please check out our website at http://www.adlerlifehealth.com.


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Prescott Medicare Specialist
Medicare Supplements in Prescott
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