When you are buying health insurance, you might need to think about more than you had initially imagined. If you have insurance coverage at your current place of employment, you may have less coverage than you think. When your employer insures you, they will usually give you only very specific coverages and a narrow amount of options. If you have a employer purchased policy that covers your entire family, it can really be prohibitively expensive -- especially if your whole family does not frequently use or need the services being purchased.
If you are self employed, you might have no coverage at all, or you might have a very minimal policy that isn't really meeting your needs and is therefore just a waste of money every month. Fortunately you can purchase individual health insurance from an independent agent, allowing you to get the coverage you need.
Whether you are already covered by a health insurance policy or you need to purchase a brand new policy, it makes sense to stop and really evaluate your personal insurance needs. Do you need an extensive policy because you visit the doctor frequently and have considerable medical bills? Or do you visit the doctor so rarely you can't even remember your last visit and would be better off with emergency coverage only?
How much is the ideal amount you would pay per month for a health insurance policy? Are you really getting your money's worth from your current policy? Ask yourself all these questions and speak with your independent agent about the type of policy that is best for you.
Don't settle for too little coverage, overpriced coverage, or a policy that just doesn't fit your needs. Your independent agent can offer live comparative quotes over the Internet, giving you the chance to compare and contrast health insurance policy offers from all the major providers!
Medicare is a fee-for-service health care program for seniors, in which the government pays health care providers directly for services that fall under Parts A and B of Medicare benefits (see below). However, if you are looking for more coverage than Original Medicare, you can purchase one of our Medicare Advantage Plans to receive all your Part A and Part B benefits.
Medicare is divided into four categories. This allows you to customize your personal coverage when shopping for a comprehensive policy.
- Part A (hospital insurance): Covers hospital care, emergency services, nursing home care, home health services and hospice.
- Part B (medical insurance): Covers medically necessary services and supplies used for diagnosing and treating medical conditions, and preventative services for illness prevention and/or early detection. Examples include ambulance services, mental health care, outpatient procedures and clinical research.
- Part C: Combines Parts A and B and often part D as well.
- Part D: Offers prescription drug coverage.
Original Medicare offers coverage for services and supplies that are considered to be medically necessary, such as doctor visits, lab tests and wheelchairs. There are several alternative plans you can choose from for additional coverage, and each plan must offer at least the same coverage as Original Medicare. There are two Medicare plans that we can assist you with.
- A Medicare Advantage Plan, also known as Part C, combines Part A and Part B as a replacement to Medicare for more comprehensive health care coverage. This plan can be customized with additional coverage, such as a prescription drug program (Part D), vision and dental.
- A Medicare Supplemental Plan, also known as Medigap, has a higher premium but supplements the coverage gaps and deductibles that Part A and Part B leave behind.
Seniors are in the most need of health care, but once retired monthly premiums can become hard to maintain. Enrolling in the Medicare program allows you to get the care you need for a minimal charge.
