MEDICARE SUpplement - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Original Medicare?
Original Medicare (aka “Traditional Medicare”) consists of two parts (Part A and Part B) and is the primary payer of your coverage.
Are Medicare supplement plans the same as “Medigap”?
Yes. The term “Medigap” is often used to describe Medicare supplement plans because they can cover the gaps not covered by Original Medicare such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
What kind of coverage do I have?
Part of the confusion with Medicare is the similar names of plans and coverage types. If you have a Medicare supplement, then you likely have the following combination of coverage - Original Medicare + a Medicare supplement + a prescription drug plan (Part D)
What should I tell the doctor’s office when they ask about my Medicare insurance coverage?
Some medical providers will be confused if you say the name of your Medicare supplement insurance carrier first. So you should always say, “I have Original Medicare as my primary and a Medicare supplement”. Then they’ll likely ask for and you can provide your Medicare supplement policy info.
Should I give both my red, white, and blue Medicare ID card and my Medicare supplement ID card to my
Yes. This will ensure that the “gaps” that are not covered Original Medicare will be submitted to your Medicare supplement plan for payment.
What does Medicare Part A cover?
Medicare Part A, often referred to as "Hospital Insurance", helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospice care, and home health care.
What does Medicare Part B cover?
Medicare Part B, often referred to as "Medical Insurance", helps cover services from doctors, outpatient care, durable medical equipment, home health care, and many preventive services.
How much will my Medicare Part A cost?
For most, there is no monthly premium for Part A and that is why it is often referred to as "premium-free". If you have to buy Part A, you'll pay either $274 or $499 per month (2022), depending on how long you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes. Learn more about Part A costs.
How much will my Medicare Part B cost?
The Medicare Part B standard or base premium for 2022 is $170.10 per month. Most people will pay this amount, but if your modified adjusted gross income is about a certain level, you’ll pay the standard premium plus an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA).
MEDICARE Part B BIlling/Invoice- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the Medicare Part B deductible?
The Medicare Part B deductible is $233 in 2022.
Why is Medicare charging me more than the base premium?
You may have been charged an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) or it may include premiums owed for previous months. Pay attention to the coverage period as well since your part B premium may be billed quarterly (for a period of 3 months).
There’s also a helpful “Medicare Premium Bill” guide you can reference that gives detailed explanations for each section of the “Medicare Premium Bill”.
Will my Part B premium be deducted automatically from my monthly Social Security income benefit?
If you’re receiving a monthly income benefit from Social Security, then your Part B premium will be automatically deducted. If you are not receiving a monthly income benefit, you’ll get a bill.
Can I pay my Part B premium through a recurring payment from my bank account?
If you receive a “Medicare Premium Bill” (form CMS-500) from Medicare, you can sign up for recurring auto payment through Medicare Easy Pay.
More info about "Medicare Easy Pay" here: https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-easy-pay
Can I pay my Part B premium with a credit card?
Yes. There is a section in the lower left corner of your bill that you can use to provide your credit card info.
What if I have additional questions about my Part B payment and bill?
You should try referencing this helpful guide first, but if you still have questions, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or visit any Social Security office.
The 10 Standard Medicare Supplement Plans
There are ten standardized Medicare supplement plans, which are identified in most states by letters: A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M and N (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin have different plans available).
Premiums can vary greatly between insurance companies, but the benefits from each standard Medicare supplement plan are always the same.
Depending on where you live and when you became eligible for Medicare your plan options can vary.
The following Medicare Supplement Plans Comparison Chart will illustrate the differences in benefits between plans.
Note: If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020, you are not allowed to purchase Plan F or Plan C.
What is not covered by a Medicare supplement?
- Long-term care
- Dental
- Hearing aids
- Eyeglasses
- Private-duty nursing
- Prescription drugs
Unsure which Medicare supplement is best for you?
You don't need to go through your Medicare enrollment alone. Our dedicated team is here to help you make sense of Medicare so you can avoid costly mistakes.