Minnesota’s Medicare Supplement options are standardized and must offer the same benefits regardless of which insurance company the member purchases their policy from. For instance, all “Basic” policies offer the same benefits – therefore only the policy cost will vary between companies.

There are 2 main ways to get your Medicare coverage – Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage Plan. Medicare Advantage Plans are not Medicare Supplements; Medicare Advantage plans are designed to become your primary insurance rather than your Medicare. You will get your Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage from the Medicare Advantage Plan and not Original Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans have either networks of doctors and hospitals, or doctors that must agree to the terms and conditions of the plan. You must follow plan rules, like getting a referral to see a specialist to avoid higher costs if your plan requires it. The specialist you’re referred to must also be in the plan’s network. If you go to a doctor, other health care provider, facility, or supplier that doesn’t belong to the plan, your services may not be covered, or your costs could be higher. In most cases, this applies to Medicare Advantage HMOs and PPOs.

Each year, Medicare Advantage Plans can choose to leave Medicare or make changes to the services they cover and what you pay. If the plan decides to stop participating in Medicare, you will have to join another Medicare health plan or return to Original Medicare.

Medicare Supplement plans are Guaranteed Renewable, Medicare Advantage plans are not.

Agents who work for a captive Insurance Company can only sell you their particular plan!!!

In my opinion many of the “riders” offered with a Medicare Supplement are un-needed, and are of no real benefit to you. This can greatly affect your premium.

There are 22 Stand-Alone Part D prescription drug plans in MN for 2017. Of these, 14 have a deductible, 11 of which is $400yr. 18 of the plans have a monthly premium of more than $30mo. Only 1 of the plans has a monthly premium less than $20mo.

There are state and federal programs available, which if you qualify, will pay your Part B Medicare premium for you. (Generally the $120mo. that comes out of your Social Security). Medicare has an extra help Part D prescription drug program. If you qualify for this program you will get help paying your drug plan’s monthly premium, yearly deductible, coinsurance, and copayments. There would also be NO donut hole (coverage gap), or late enrollment penalty.

If you have had both parts of Medicare (A & B) for longer than 6 months. It may be difficult or impossible to obtain a Medicare Supplement depending on current and previous heath conditions.