Insurance: For Your Protection

Most people go through life hoping that something unfortunate does not happen to them. Nobody plans on getting in an accident, falling ill with cancer, or suffering a heart attack. But sadly, these things do happen to people. And as hard as it is to admit, there is a chance that one of these things could happen to you. That's one reason why medical insurance is so important. No, medical insurance won't stop you from getting hurt. But it will reduce your financial burden if you do happen to become injured or ill one day. We are happy to share more about medical insurance on this blog.

What Do Medicare Supplement Plans Cover?

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Many older Americans rely on Medicare for their health insurance. However, Medicare alone is not always enough, so people often turn to medigap policies to supplement their coverage. There are multiple types of medigap coverage, but there is a perfect fit for you. If you would like to learn more, keep reading.

Deductibles

A deductible is the amount of money you must pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in. If you have Medicare, you must pay a different deductible for both Part A and Part B. Most medigap policies cover all or most of the cost of the Part A deductible. A select number of plans also cover the Part B deductible, which is the higher of the deductibles.

Copayments and Coinsurance

Most insurance has a copay or coinsurance. This is the amount you must pay per visit. A copayment is typically a flat dollar amount, such as $15 per visit. Coinsurance is typically measured as a percentage, so you may pay 10 percent of the cost of a visit.

All medigap policies cover the total cost of copays and coinsurance for Part A. Most medigap policies also cover Part B copay and coinsurance at 100 percent, but some only cover part of the cost, leaving you to pay the remaining coinsurance or copayment.

Excess Charges

Part A Medicare typically covers hospital stays, including hospice care. Part B covers most of your healthcare services, such as visiting the doctor. For this reason, there is a limit on your Part B coverage. Therefore, even if services are covered under Part B Medicare, you may exceed your allowed limit.

If this happens, you may be responsible for the charges yourself. However, some Medigap policies cover excess charges for Part B.

Foreign Travel Emergency

Some insurance follows you across borders, but Medicare is not one of them. In some extreme circumstances, you may be covered, but it's best to get a medigap policy because they all include foreign travel emergency coverage.

Medicare Advantage or Part C may also include foreign travel emergency coverage. This type of insurance is approved by the government, but like medigap policies, it is offered by private health insurance companies, so they may include more services. Make sure to check with your insurance carrier before assuming you have coverage.

If you have Medicare, you should consider a medigap policy. These supplemental policies offer more than Part A and Part B, so you can get better coverage without paying so much out-of-pocket expenses. If you would like to know more, contact a Medicare supplement provider such as Silver American in your area today.

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22 February 2022