Oregon Medicare Supplements

Oregon Medicare Supplemental Insurance Options:

Medicare Part D information - Click here for more information

Why are Medicare Supplement plans so valuable?  Click here

Medicare supplement (MedSup) coverage can be sold in only 12 standard plans. We feel that the best care is received when you have your choice of Doctors, and you and your Doctor make your medical decisions. Medicare Advantage MCO, PPO & PFF plans are also available in Oregon. Medicare Supplements are available with no medical underwriting during your open enrollment period. This is the 3 months before and 3 months after your 65th birthday. The only other time for open enrollment is if you are disabled and put onto Medicare. Then the 3 months after going onto Medicare is an open enrollment period. You may however, apply to a company and fill out the medical underwriting questions after open enrollment. The Federal Goverment has this site to help you Compare Benefits.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap or MedSup) is specifically designed to supplement Medicare's benefits and is regulated by federal and state law, It must be clearly identified as Medicare supplemental insurance and it must provide specific benefits that help fill the gaps in your Medicare coverage. Other kinds of insurance may help you with out-of-pocket health care costs but they do not qualify as Medigap plans.

How much does Medigap coverage cost?

"The Cost of Medigap policies can vary widely. There can be big differences in the premiums that insurance companies charge for exactly the same coverage."
From page 15 of the Federal 2007 Choosing A Medigap Policy Brochure

In Oregon there are more than 25 companies that sell Medicare Supplement Plans. We represent many of them. It is important to us that we can offer the best value to our clients.

Standard Medigap Plans:

To make it easier for you to compare Medigap insurance policies, all states (except Minnesota, Massachusetts and Wisconsin), U.S. territories and the District of Columbia limit the number of different Medigap policies that can be sold in any of those jurisdictions to no more than 12 standard Medigap plans. The plans were developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and incorporated into state and federal law. They have letter designations ranging from "A" through "L," with Plan A being the "basic" benefit package. Each of other 11 plans includes package plus different combination additional benefits. J provides most coverage of all plans. Insurance companies are not permitted to change benefits letter designations of any of the plans.

Medicare Advantage PPO, HMO & PFFS Plans are now available in many parts of Oregon.  These are the Medicare HMO, PPO & PFFS Plans which have co-payments for Doctors office visits and Hospitals. Unless you are in Final Stage Renal allure, these plans are "Guaranteed Issue". You can view the cost of these plans here.  For information on these plans (including brochures and applications) please call 800.884.2343 or complete this contact form for more infomation.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a national health insurance program for people 65 years of age and older, certain younger disabled people and people with permanent kidney failure. Medicare is run by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services . The Social Security Administration helps CMS by enrolling people in Medicare and by collecting Medicare premiums.

Medicare is divided into two parts: Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B). Part A helps pay for care in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, some home health care, and hospice care. Part B helps pay for doctor bills, outpatient hospital care and other medical services not covered by Part A. Your Medicare card shows the Medicare coverage you have--Hospital Insurance (Part A), Medical Insurance (Part B), or both--and the date your coverage started.

The 2008 Medicare Part A deductible is $1024 and the 2008 Part B deductible is $135. Beginning January 2008, Part B annual increases are based on Part B medical cost increases and are related to income levels. The Part B premium will be standard at $96.40 in 2008 for individuals with incomes lower than $80,000 in annual income. (please see the CMS information on this)

Enrollment in Medicare is handled in two ways: either you are automatically enrolled or you must apply. If you are getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits before you turn 65, you are automatically enrolled and your Medicare card will be mailed to you about three months before your 65th birthday. If you are not receiving retirement benefits, you must apply by contacting a Social Security Administration office or, if appropriate, the Railroad Retirement Board. You should apply three months before your 65th birthday to avoid a possible delay in the start of your coverage. If you have been a disabled beneficiary under Social Security or Railroad Retirement for 24 months, you will automatically get a Medicare card in the mail.