At LifeStage Agency, we are dedicated to providing peace of mind by offering comprehensive Medicare Options tailored to your unique needs.
Original Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are age 65 and older, as well as for some younger individuals with disabilities. It is made up of two parts: Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance). Part A covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and some home health care. Part B covers outpatient care, doctor's visits, preventive services, and some home health care. Original Medicare is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and is available to all eligible individuals regardless of income or medical history.
Medicare Advantage is a type of Medicare health insurance plan offered by private insurance companies that provides Medicare benefits to individuals enrolled in the program. These plans often include additional benefits and services, such as vision and dental coverage, fitness memberships, and prescription drug coverage, that are not covered by original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans typically have network restrictions and may require individuals to pay additional out-of-pocket costs.
Medicare Part D is a prescription drug coverage program offered to eligible individuals through private insurance companies approved by Medicare. It helps cover the cost of prescription medications and is available as a standalone plan or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan. It is designed to help individuals afford their necessary medications and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
A Medigap policy (also known as Medicare Supplement Policy) is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare Part A and Part B coverage. Medigap policies help pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’t cover. If you are enrolled in Original Medicare and have a Medigap policy, then Medicare and your Medigap policy will each pay its share of covered health care costs.g funeral and other end-of-life expenses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common Questions Answered for your convenience.
Do I Need Medicare Part B?
Medicare Part B? It is your outpatient coverage. The Medicare definition for Part B is “outpatient coverage.” However, Part B covers many things that happen both in and out of the hospital. Part B provides 80% coverage for doctor visits, lab work, physical therapy, medical equipment, diabetes supplies, surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, dialysis, and much more. Is Medicare Part B optional? Yes, because some people who are still working may wish to delay it until they retire. However, it is a critical component of your overall health package when Medicare is primary. If you don't enroll in Medicare Part B when first eligible, you may be subject to lifelong penalties.
Do I Have to Have Medicare Part D?
No, you are not required to enroll in Medicare Part D, which is the prescription drug coverage component of Medicare. However, enrolling in Part D may be beneficial for individuals who require prescription medications and want to save on out-of-pocket costs. If you have alternative prescription drug coverage that is deemed creditable by Medicare, you may not need to enroll in Part D. However, If you don't enroll in Medicare Part D when first eligible, you may have to pay life long penalties.
Will Medicare Cover My Procedure?
We are always asked, “Will Medicare cover my procedure (surgery, lab test, injection, prescription…)?” We wish that the answers could be as simple as yes or no. Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t always as cut and dry of an answer as you’d like. Yes, Medicare states what they do and don’t cover, but there are other correlating factors that go into a service or procedure being covered. Factors like the procedure’s medical necessity, the doctor’s participation, and how the bill is coded are some variables that affect the answer to this question. Checkout Medicare.gov to see what we mean.
What is a Medicare SELECT policy?
A Medicare SELECT policy is a Medigap policy that limits your coverage to a network of doctors and hospitals. They work like a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). This plan requires you to use doctors and hospitals in its network, except in emergency situations. In exchange for this restriction, Medicare SELECT plans may have lower monthly premiums than other supplemental plans.
How Does LifeStage Get Paid?
Independent Medicare brokers such as LifeStage Insurance Agency get paid by the insurance companies we represent. There is no extra fee or cost for enrolling through a us. You will never pay a fee for our help. We represent multiple carriers so we can give you an unbiased opinion on your Medicare plan options.
What's The Difference Between Annual Enrollment and Open Enrollment?
The Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) allows you to make as many changes as you want to your plan throughout the enrollment period without penalty. In contrast, the annual Open Enrollment Period (OEP) allows you to make a single change to your Medicare Advantage plan. You aren’t required to make changes to your plan during either period, but it is more common to make changes during the Annual Enrollment Period.Essentially, if you decide that you’re unhappy with the choice you made during AEP after your coverage has begun, you can use OEP as a single chance to change your plan. Changes made during this time will go into effect on the first day of the month following the processing of your requested change. Whatever changes you decide to make during OEP will be final until the next Annual Enrollment Period with a few exceptions for qualifying life events that trigger a Special Enrollment Period. Because of this, having an agent you trust to make the process easy is essential!