Health & Life Insurance

Medicare can be a complicated topic.  Citizens who are soon to turn 65 or over the age of 65 are inundated with advertising, marketing, and a wide array of enticements to sign up for something.  But how does one distinguish what is legitimate or yet another sales pitch?

The first step is finding a trusted advocate.  Someone who knows the industry and can help you understand how each part functions and has your best interest at heart.  The Medicare professionals of The Hartwell Corporation realize each person’s health situation is unique.   Our focus is on making sure you have confidence in knowing the health plan decisions you have made are going to work for your specific needs.  

 

Please note: We do not offer every plan available in your area. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options.

Let us start with a couple of basic foundations of Medicare;

 

What are the parts which comprise Medicare?
 

• Part A (Hospital Insurance) Helps cover: • Inpatient care in hospitals • Skilled nursing facility care • Hospice care • Home health care 

• Part B (Medical Insurance) Helps cover: • Services from doctors and other health care providers • Outpatient care • Home health care • Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment) • Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits) 

• Part D (Drug coverage) Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage (Part D) are run by private insurance companies that follow rules set by Medicare.

       (Medicare and You 2022 Handbook, published by CMS)
 
When Do I Sign up for Medicare? 

The question is often asked, “Will I get Part A and Part B automatically?” 
"If you’re already getting benefits from Social Security or the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), you’ll automatically get Part A and Part B starting the first day of the month you turn 65. (If your birthday is on the first day of the month, Part A and Part B will start the first day of the prior month.) If you’re under 65 and have a disability, you’ll automatically get Part A and Part B after you get disability benefits from Social Security or certain disability benefits from the RRB for 24 months. If you live in Puerto Rico, you don’t automatically get Part B. You must sign up for it. See page 16. If you have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease), you’ll get Part A and Part B automatically the month your Social Security disability benefits begin. If you’re automatically enrolled, you’ll get your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail 3 months before your 65th birthday or 25th month of disability benefits, and you don’t need to pay a premium for Part A (sometimes called “premium-free Part A”).

 

Most people choose to keep Part B. If you don’t want Part B, let us know before the coverage start date on your Medicare card. If you do nothing, you’ll keep Part B and will have to pay Part B premiums through your Social Security benefits. If you choose not to keep Part B but decide you want it later, you may have to wait to enroll and pay a penalty for as long as you have Part B."
-Medicare and You 2022 Handbook, published by CMS

 

Are there any new rules regarding Medicare Supplements in Idaho? ​​

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Idaho’s laws and rules for Medicare Supplement policies have changed. The Idaho legislature approved legislation to provide additional options and consumer protections for Idaho seniors. The Idaho Department of Insurance (“the Department”) published a temporary rule on November 3 related to Medicare Supplement policies in accordance with Senate Bill 1143, signed by Governor Little on April 22, 2021. The rule proposed went through negotiated rulemaking as required. 
The rule, IDAPA 18.04.10, was published November 3 in the Administrative Bulletin Volume 21-11, and includes two major changes effective after February 28, 2022:

1.    Medicare Supplement policyholders may change their insurance company and/or plan annually regardless of health conditions during a 63-day enrollment period beginning on the policyholder’s birthday; and 
2.    Premium rates for new Medicare Supplement policies (including when changing insurance companies) will no longer be based on the age of the applicant. This is referred to as “community rating.”

The proposed rule also prohibits charging application fees, higher premium rates based on the method of payment, and other unfair trade practices.

If you have questions about how this may affect you and your Medicare coverage, please contact Byron Diehl or Blake Kingsley at the Hartwell Corporation today.  

byron@thehartwellcorp.com (208) 466-2465    blake@thehartwellcorp.com  (208) 459-1678