Medicare Enrollment

Did you know that you cannot just enroll in a Medicare plan anytime that you would like? There are specific times set aside for Medicare enrollment and specific rules that you have to follow to ensure that you get the plan you want when you want it.

You will have more than one opportunity to enroll in Medicare plans, but there is definitely a time that is better than your other options. That would be Open Enrollment, and it is your best opportunity to get really good rates on Medicare plans and to ensure that your application is not denied. You can enroll close to your 65^th birthday, starting as soon as three months before you turn 65. The month of your birthday is included in Open Enrollment, as are the three months following your birthday month.

That gives you seven months to enroll in the Medicare plan of your choice, whether it is just basic Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D. Open Enrollment isn’t your only opportunity to enroll, though.

You could also apply during annual enrollment, which begins on October 15^th, and it ends each year on December 7^th. This enrollment period comes with some caveats. You could be denied coverage during annual enrollment. You could also pay higher rates than someone else for the exact same plan just because of your preexisting medical conditions. The cost of your coverage could be considerably higher depending on how big of a risk the insurance companies see you as. Some insurance companies will outright deny your application because they see you as too much of a risk for them. Others will simply charge you more, and if one company turns down your application, there is probably another that will accept it. If you don’t mind doing some searching, you can usually find an insurance company that will take you, but finding one at a low price can be harder.

Our site will help you out with that. You can search for Medicare plans here without paying anything for the service. You will be able to see a listing of quotes for your local area and compare the different insurance providers.

Can anyone sign up for Medicare plans? The answer to that question is “not exactly”. These are health insurance plans that are designed for seniors, especially those that are 65 or older. That’s when your Open Enrollment period starts. If you are not 65 yet but would like to enroll in one of these, then you might be able to qualify some other way.

If you meet the disability requirements, then you can qualify earlier. Disability benefits are only offered in some states, though.

If you have end-stage renal disease, then you likely won’t be able to enroll in any of the Medicare plans. Other health coverage will be made available to you, but the private Medicare plans are not going to accept you, as a rule.

Are you concerned about whether you will be eligible? You can always talk to us and get some answers. We would be happy to help you out.

Eligibility requirements may change periodically but are not scheduled to change for now. You can check those on Medicare’s own website, if you wish.

There will be some ways in which Medicare plans will conflict with each other or with other kinds of health insurance plans. You’ll want to know about those before your Medicare enrollment. There isn’t much point in buying a health insurance plan that you won’t be receiving coverage for or that you will be forced to drop shortly because of overlapping coverage.

Medicare Supplements overlap with Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Part D overlaps with Medicare Advantage plans that contain Part D coverage. Most all kinds of Medicare plans overlap with healthcare plans from unions, employers or trusts. If you are not sure about whether there will be conflict between two health insurance plans, then you can always call us up and get some answers.

There are a few different kinds of Medicare plans for you to pick from. We want to tell you about the three main categories of privately sold Medicare plans- Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage), Medicare Part D (drug coverage) and Medicare Supplements (Medigap).

Medicare Part C- These Advantage plans can cover your Medicare Part A and Part B expenses, other than hospice care. They also cover you for emergency medical services and urgently needed care. In addition, many of the Advantage plans can include drug coverage and checkup benefits. You can be covered for hearing aids and eyeglasses as well with this kind of plan.

Medicare Part D- This is a drug coverage plan that is sometimes included in Medicare Part C. It gives you powerful coverage for prescription medications, and in many cases, you can end up paying just $1 for each of your prescription refills. Part D coverage is essential for many seniors because it covers expenses that are very relevant to them.

Medicare Supplements- With this medical insurance plan, you will be taken care of for a variety of medical expenses. You an choose high or low coverage and you could enjoy some or all of the following benefits:

• Copayments for Medicare parts A and B

• Deductibles for Medicare parts A and B

• Coinsurance for hospice care

• Coinsurance for nursing services

• Three pints of blood annually

• Excess charges for outpatient care, when Medicare is not accepted by your healthcare provider

• Foreign travel exchange (transport costs for out of-the country emergency care)

If any of these seem like they might be a good fit for you, then you should consider enrolling at the earliest opportunity. You will save money that way and ensure that your application is accepted, if you apply during Open Enrollment.

There is a very important aspect of Medicare plans that we want you to know about. What many seniors do not know is that the Medicare plans we have mentioned here are all sold privately and are sold at very different prices. You can find all sorts of different rates on the exact same coverage plan, so it is in your best interests to know what rates are available. You have the opportunity to save some money and get a really good deal. You simply have to source multiple quotes and compare them.

An easy way to do that is on our website. We offer you a free tool that you can use to source prices. You’ll be able to see a listing of quotes that tells you how different insurance companies compare on the same or similar plans.

Our site will be a valuable resource as you try to enroll in a Medicare plan. You can sort through your available options and determine which plans and which providers are affordable for you. Medicare enrollment doesn’t have to be a strenuous process for you. Just call us up for advice and for answers, and feel free to use the site as often as necessary to get up-to-date quotes for Medicare plans.