McMullen Financial & Insurance Services

Medicare Options:

Medigap Insurance Policies (Medicare Supplements)
- A Medigap policy is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Medigap policies help pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’t cover. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan and have a Medigap policy, then Medicare and your Medigap policy will pay both their shares of covered health care costs
- Insurance companies can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy. These Medigap policies must all have specific benefits so you can compare them easily.
- You may be able to choose up to 12 different standardized Medigap policies (Medigap Plans A through L). Medigap policies must follow Federal and State laws. These laws protect you. A Medigap policy must be clearly identified on the cover as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Each plan, A through L, has a different set of basic and extra benefits.
- It’s important to compare Medigap policies because costs can vary. The benefits in any Medigap Plan A through L are the same for any insurance company. Each insurance company decides which Medigap policies it wants to sell.
- Generally, when you buy a Medigap policy you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay the monthly Medicare Part B premium. In addition, you will have to pay a premium to the Medigap insurance company.
- You and your spouse must each buy separate Medigap policies. Your Medigap policy won’t cover any health care costs for your spouse.

Medicare Advantage plan
- Medicare Advantage Plans are health plan options that are part of the Medicare program. If you join one of these plans, you generally get all your Medicare-covered health care through that plan. This coverage can include prescription drug coverage. Medicare Advantage Plans include:
  - Medicare Health Maintenance Organization (HMOs)
  - Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
  - Private Fee-for-Service Plans
  - Medicare Special Needs Plans
- When you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you use the health insurance card that you get from the plan for your health care. In most of these plans, generally there are extra benefits and lower copayments than in the Original Medicare Plan. However, you may have to see doctors that belong to the plan or go to certain hospitals to get services.
- To join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. You will have to pay your monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare. In addition, you might have to pay a monthly premium to your Medicare Advantage Plan for the extra benefits that they offer.
- If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, your Medigap policy won’t work. This means it won’t pay any deductibles, copayments, or other cost-sharing under your Medicare Health Plan. Therefore, you may want to drop your Medigap policy if you join a Medicare Advantage Plan. However, you have a legal right to keep the Medigap policy.
- To compare Medicare Advantage Plans, contact us.
Medicare Prescription Drug plans
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare. They add coverage to:

Original Medicare

Some Medicare Cost Plans

Some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans and

Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans

With a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan:

Generally, you pay less for your prescriptions.

You will get a plan member card after you enroll. You use this card when you go to the pharmacy to get your prescriptions filled.

You will pay the copayment, coinsurance, and/or deductible, if any

If you have limited income and resources, you may get extra help to pay for your Medicare drug plan costs.If you want to compare Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, contact us.