If you are on Medicare in Houston, TX, you’ve likely experienced a situation where you’ve been faced with out-of-pocket costs due to Medicare not covering certain things. However, you don’t have to pay for all of these expenses on your own. A Medicare supplement insurance plan, also known as Medigap, is an insurance plan you can buy that can help reduce your costs.

At Insurance Over Texas, we want to help you find the right supplement plan to meet all your medical needs.

What It Covers

Just like other types of insurance, Medigap insurance comes in a wide range of plans. Each plan has a slightly different set of benefits, so it’s important to find the one that’s right for you. For example, some plans may include an out-of-pocket limit and additional coverage for hospice care, while others may provide Part A and B copays and deductibles.

What It Doesn’t Cover

In general, these plans don’t cover things like long-term care, eyeglasses, prescriptions, hearing aids, vision and dental care, private nursing, and other things of this nature. To get this type of coverage, you’ll likely need Part C or Part D Medicare.

Who Is Eligible?

Medicare supplement insurance plans are available to anyone 65 or older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. There may also be exceptions for those under 65 that have a disability or end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Looking for Medicare Supplement Insurance?

If you or a loved one is in search of Medigap coverage, the team here at Insurance Over Texas can help! Our goal is to ensure that all Houston, TX residents have the insurance coverage they need, which is why we will work with you to find a plan that fits your unique situation. Contact us today to learn more!

You may or may not have known about the recent massive changes to Medicare supplemental insurance. Medicare has become a bit more complex than its traditional four parts, and Insurance Over Texas wants to help Houston, TX residents better understand the added complexities. The government still provides you with Part A for free, but you now have nine supplemental choices instead of three and a seven-month period in which to choose from them.

When is the seven-month period?

For three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday, and the three months after your 65th birthday, you get to peruse Medicare plans. You automatically get Part A, hospitalization coverage, when you turn 65 as long as you register for it. Part A comes gratis from the US government.

You can easily add to Part A during the seven months surrounding your 65th birthday. You can choose from Parts B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Ignore the missing letters. It’s a government thing.

At a minimum, most individuals choose Part B, medical insurance, to add to their free A.

Some people add Part C, which you can choose to contain prescription drug coverage or not.

You can also add Part D to A, which includes prescription drug coverage.

What about the other parts?

Choosing F, G, K, L, M, and N provides you with a Medigap plan combining various levels of Parts A, B, C, and D. Some states offer specialized Medigap plans.

If you think you want a Medigap plan, you’ll have a six-month shopping period. Unless you experience a special qualifying issue or have a guaranteed issue, you can’t change your Medigap after choosing it.

You can compare two Medigap plans side-by-side, although you will need to pay the premium for both in that comparison month.

As you near your 65th birthday, contact Insurance Over Texas serving the Houston, TX metropolitan area. We’ll help you choose and add the supplemental plans that make the most sense for you to supplement your Medicare coverage.

You may or may not have known about the recent massive changes to Medicare supplemental insurance. Medicare has become a bit more complex than its traditional four parts, and Insurance Over Texas wants to help Houston, TX residents better understand the added complexities. The government still provides you with Part A for free, but you now have nine supplemental choices instead of three and a seven-month period in which to choose from them.

When is the seven-month period?

For three months before your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday, and the three months after your 65th birthday, you get to peruse Medicare plans. You automatically get Part A, hospitalization coverage, when you turn 65 as long as you register for it. Part A comes gratis from the US government.

You can easily add to Part A during the seven months surrounding your 65th birthday. You can choose from Parts B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Ignore the missing letters. It’s a government thing.

At a minimum, most individuals choose Part B, medical insurance, to add to their free A.

Some people add Part C, which you can choose to contain prescription drug coverage or not.

You can also add Part D to A, which includes prescription drug coverage.

What about the other parts?

Choosing F, G, K, L, M, and N provides you with a Medigap plan combining various levels of Parts A, B, C, and D. Some states offer specialized Medigap plans.

If you think you want a Medigap plan, you’ll have a six-month shopping period. Unless you experience a special qualifying issue or have a guaranteed issue, you can’t change your Medigap after choosing it.

You can compare two Medigap plans side-by-side, although you will need to pay the premium for both in that comparison month.

As you near your 65th birthday, contact Insurance Over Texas serving the Houston, TX metropolitan area. We’ll help you choose and add the supplemental plans that make the most sense for you to supplement your Medicare coverage.

Most healthcare plans these days are managed care. Managed care is not as well understood as it should be and its effects on your health insurance are even less understood. In order to make sure that you get the right health insurance coverage, you need to know what you are choosing. At Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX, we have more than 30 years of experience providing the residents of the greater Houston area with personalized insurance services. 

Managed care is a type of healthcare that allows the carrier to manage the care of the members. There is not just one type of managed care, but the basic principle is the same in all of them. Your healthcare is limited to a network of providers. How limited again is determined by exactly which type of managed care. You may need to have a primary care physician who will manage your care and they will provide the referral to other care that you may need. 

The main types of managed care are HMO, PPO and POS. 

HMOs (Health Maintenance Organization) are the most restricted type of managed care. They only pay for visits within the network and require that you have a primary care physician who manages the rest of your care. 

PPOs (Preferred Provider Organization)  are less restrictive and you are allowed to get services outside of the network but you will pay more for that service. 

POS (Point of Service) plans are not quite as flexible as a PPO but not as restricted as an HMO. You will need to have a primary care physician but you are allowed to pay more to go outside the network. 

When you are ready to make your health insurance decision, Insurance Over Texas in Houston, TX is here to give you the assistance you need. 

If you or a loved one are dealing with a long-term illness or medical issues related to aging, then medical equipment will be an important part of your medical treatment. At Insurance Over Texas, serving Houston, TX, we want to help you make smart insurance choices that can affect your health for years to come. Keep reading to learn more about medicare supplies insurance. 

What Is Medicare Supplies Insurance?

Medicare supplies insurance is a type of insurance coverage that will help you obtain and keep the medical equipment you need to stay healthy. This type of insurance usually covers durable medical equipment or DME. DME includes medical supplies which can be used over and over again. This can include but is not limited to:

• Wheelchairs
• Hospital beds
• Kidney machines
• Oxygen pumps
• Others 

To discuss specific types of equipment, you can sit down with an insurance representative. 

Why Do I Need Medicare Supplies Insurance?

These types of supplies can be very expensive. If your regular health insurance policy does not cover these items, you will want to make sure you have provisions for them. Medicare supplies insurance can help you obtain these important types of equipment. 

Do I Qualify For This Insurance?

In order to see if you qualify, you should sit down with an insurance representative. You can discuss your particular medical needs and they can help you find out what you qualify for. 

If you would like to learn more about our services, please contact us at Insurance Over Texas, serving Houston, TX. We will be very happy to answer your questions and help you find the perfect insurance products for you and your family. 

Insurance Over Texas assists people in the Houston, TX area by offering them a variety of insurance policies. We help our clients find unique policies that address their individual needs. We are committed to building meaningful relationships with all of our clients.

Medicare Supplement Insurance

Insurance Over Texas is aware that many people visit the doctor’s office every couple of weeks. If you make frequent doctor visits, you are likely aware that your regular Medicare insurance will not cover everything. That’s why you should consider Medicare supplement insurance. Medicare supplement insurance will fill in those uncovered areas that your regular Medicare policy doesn’t provide. In the event of an emergency, Medicare supplemental insurance will ensure that you are covered.

In order to qualify for Medicare supplemental insurance, you must have Medicare Part A and Part B. Also, be aware that Medicare supplemental insurance differs from Medicare advantage policies. If you are seeking treatment outside of the United States, your Medicare supplement insurance will cover your travel and hospital stay. If you are a senior, you can also use Medicare supplement insurance to cover your stay in a skilled nursing care facility. You can also visit any doctor who accepts Medicare patients without having to get a referral.

There are several different types of Medicare supplemental insurance policies that you can choose from. The plans are labeled A-N. Each of the letters contains a unique coverage set. Also, be aware that your policy is renewable. Insurance Over Texas will help you analyze each plan to find the one that suits your needs.

Insurance Over Texas Will Work With You

We will discuss the differences in each Medicare supplement insurance policy so that you can directly find out which type of coverage you need. Stop by our office in Houston, TX  today!

Medicare insurance is designed to cover basic medical care that is often considered to be routine. It will also cover hospital stays. While the insurance coverage is good to have, there are several gaps in coverage that require a supplemental policy in order for them to be covered. If you live in the Houston, TX area, the agents at Insurance Over Texas can help you determine which types of Medigap coverage you need to complete your healthcare plan.

Supplemental Insurance

Supplemental insurance, also known as Medigap policies, are designed to fill in where the main parts of Medicare fall short. This can include prescription coverage, vision, and dental plans that are not included in the primary plans. Some Medigap plans include one or more of the various types of coverage but it is up to you to determine just how much insurance you truly need since supplemental policies are paid out of pocket.

Ask the Professionals 

Insurance agents are required to take continuing education classes to ensure they know as much as possible about the healthcare coverage that Medicare offers to the people it insures. If you are covered by Medicare and have questions about how much insurance you currently have and how much you need, talk to your agent as soon as possible.

The agents at Insurance Over Texas provide insurance coverage to residents who live in or near the Houston, TX area. If you have questions, they have the answers you’re looking for. Schedule a consultation today to get all of your questions answered. Each of the agents has the knowledge and experience they need to give you the most accurate information possible. Call today!