Category Archives: Medicare Supplement Insurance

Medigap Plan G FAQs for Santa Clara County

Medigap Supplement Plan G FAQs

With 25 Medigap Plan G choices in the San Jose – Mountain View region, how does one choose a plan?  What is fact or what is fiction?  Here’s a list of our TOP 5 questions of customers from Sunnyvale to Hollister:

  1. Are all Plan G Medicare medigap plans the same?
  2. Do some medigap Plan G policies cover more doctors than others?

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  3. Do some medigap Plan G policies cover more services than others?
  4. According to Medicare.gov, in the Santa Clara valley, only one of the 25 medigap Plan G policies uses Community Pricing.  Most of the other policies use Attained Age Pricing.  What do these terms mean?
  5. If every “Plan G” is the same, why do monthly premium costs range from $188 to $100 in the Santa Clara County?  [Read our sister article, The Buzz About Plan G and Plan G Extra]

Our specialty is helping bay area residents who are pretty sure they want original Medicare plus some type of medigap supplemental Plan G….and want to keep their specialists at Sutter PAMF and/or Stanford Medicine.  Our advice costs no added premium – no fees, but if you want to enroll electronically without talking to a live person, just go to CaliforniaEnrollment.com:

“We help you see what matters most between the Plan Gs, and discern what is ‘marketing fluff.’  An independent agent really makes a difference in explaining the nuances of these plans.  Local is better.”

 

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San Jose, California

We will run Part II of this story in the near future, but if you are facing deadlines and need answers now, please complete the Contact Request Form (bottom of this page) and a licensed independent agent will respond within 24 hours.

The Buzz About Plan G and Plan G Extra

Choosing The Best Medigap Plan G

What’s all the Buzz about Plan G and its “medigap cousin,” Plan G Extra?  For persons turning 65 on or after January 1, 2020, Plan G replaces the hugely popular Plan F.  Early feedback is Plan G is just as popular as before, and now, in 2024 there are additional plans to consider,  the appropriately named “Plan G Extra” (or Plan G Plus or Plan G Innovative the name varies according to the medicare supplement insurer who issues it).

“Breaking News:  The popular Blue Shield of California Plan G Inspire will be withdrawn from the market for new enrollments, effective 4/1/2024.”  Please use our Calendly app if you wish to schedule a discussion about this plan with one of our licensed agents.

Plan G Extra Benefits

Plan G Extra is a separate plan, distinct from the regular Plan G:  Think of it as constructed on a

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Plan G chassis or base plan, with some added benefits.  So what’s the Buzz About the Plan G “Extra” benefits?  First, the premium difference is minor.  Second, the additional benefits are for services not covered by Medicare, so these are truly “bonus” coverages e.g. Vision, Hearing
Aide, Gym services etc.  Request a Q&A phone session with one of our licensed sales agents, using Calendly.

We are a bay area family-owned insurance agency representing United Healthcare and Blue Shield of California medigap plans for 2024 and 2025.  There is no extra cost to using a local agent.  But if you want to enroll quickly without talking to an agent, go to CaliforniaEnrollment.com.

 

View Blue Shield Comparison of Plan G and Plan G Extra or Inspire

Blue Shield is one of the insurers who offer both Plan G and Plan G Extra (not every insurer offers both plans).  For FAQs on Plan G, including summary of benefits, pricing and required disclosures, phone us at 408-252-7300.  There’s no obligation to buy from this Not-For-Profit, Northern California-based insurer.  Read more about Blue Shield’s Not-For-Profit status and other Blue Shield savings below.

Blue Shield Savings

With Blue Shield, there are several opportunities to save on your monthly plan dues. One example, is the savings due to increased efficiencies from administering Medicare Supplement plans are passed on to the subscriber, not Wall Street.  Blue Shield’s Not-For-Profit status means savings for you!  Continue below to checkout the Buzz about Plan G and Plan G Extra:

Blue Shield Plan G and Plan G Extra plans

Finally, an interesting aspect of the Plan G “extra” plans is the “additional benefits” vary from insurer to insurer. In fact, many insurers do not even offer the “extra” version of Plan G. Research Tip: It costs nothing (“extra”) to hire an independent agent to explain the differences. The premium is the same with or without the agent. Moreover, the insurer compensates the agent for enrolling you.  So chat with an agent today or just self-enroll at CaliforniaEnrollment.com.

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San Jose, California

(408) 252-7300 CALL TODAY and receive a FREE primer on Medicare Part D

…or submit the Contact Request Form below and a licensed, local, independent insurance agent will respond within 24 hours

“We do not offer every plan available in your area.  Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area.  Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all your options.”

My Medicare Supplement Is Getting More Expensive

I finally understand why my Medicare Supplement is getting more expensive.  In the beginning (age 65), most California plans are under $150 per month.  Yet, if you do not take action, it will continue to increase and your smiles will turn to frowns as you get older.

A Common Example

My 85 year-old mother switched Medicare Supplement (medigap) insurance companies and saved $75 per month for the same plan!  So, why is my Medicare Supplement getting more expensive?  In my opinion, the three biggest culprits are below:

3 Biggest Reasons Your  Medicare Supplement is getting more expensive

  1. You purchased a medigap plan that is based on an “Attained Age” pricing methodology, rather than a community rated model.  Therefore, rates go up as you get older.
  2. Medicare (CMS) annually increases Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.  The annual increased copayment responsibility is passed through to your Medicare Supplement (medigap) plan, which of course adjusts rates to offset the higher costs.
  3. General medical inflation.

Excerpt from Medicare’s (CMS) “Guide To Choosing A Medigap Policy”

Medigap Basics- Medigap Pricing Methodology- p 18

Are Medicare Supplements Really All The Same?

Many Medicare Supplement (medigap) plans are excellent, but they are not all the same.  So if

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your Medicare Supplement is getting more expensive, research if your policy was filed with the State of California as Attained Age or Community Rated, as depicted above.  Rather than do all the research yourself, find a trusted local independent agent who represents many plans.  Let the agent do the work, because it costs you nothing.

 

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San Jose, California

In California, premiums are the same whether you buy directly from a company or with an agent’s help.  And, thanks to the California birthday rule, it is easy to change Medicare Supplement (medigap) insurance companies during your birthday month, each year.  Note: This is a California rule, and is not available in all states.

Don’t Pay too much, request your free insurance agent consultation below, or Phone (408) 252-7300:

Do You Really Need Medigap Insurance?

Do you really need Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Insurance?  What is the worst-case financial exposure for those who rely solely on Medicare Part A and Part B?  Many Californians are surprised to learn traditional or original Medicare does not have out of pocket limits.  Yet, this type of protection is common with employer-sponsored insurance.  

“Do Californians really need Medigap (Medicare Supplement) Insurance?” 

Before looking closer at your potential financial out of pocket, let’s be clear on the terms we are using:  Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) is not Original Medicare; rather it is private insurance that supplements Original Medicare benefits, such as Part A and Part B. OK, let’s continue…

Assuming an average copayment of 20% for Part B expenses, you could face large financial liability, should you experience surgical work for Cancer, Cardiac, Hip, Knee etc. i.e. services that are not uncommon for individuals over 65. 

“The short answer is yes, you do need Medigap (Medicare Supplement) insurance. “

Yet, your financial exposure could be far worse:  The preceding paragraph made no mention of your copayment responsibility under Medicare Part A, should you experience hospitalization or skilled nursing services.

For example, Medicare grants each beneficiary a specified number of Hospital Days per lifetime.

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Hospital Days also have significant copayments (see example here), paid by you.  A Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy can add 365 additional days to the 60 day lifetime limit.  In summary, Medigap is offered by private insurance companies to supplement the Original Medicare program.  If you purchase it when turning 65, the cost is relatively inexpensive, sometimes costing less than what the government charges for Part B. 

Never pay more than you have to for Medigap.  It is wise to use an independent agent to research several plans at once, saving you time.  Good to know:  You pay the same monthly premium using an independent agent, as you would purchasing directly from the insurer.  So why take a chance of paying more?

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San Jose, California

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