Who is eligible?
You are eligible for a Medicare Supplement Plan if you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and if your are age 65 or older or, in some states, under 65 with a disability and/or end stage renal disease (plan offerings and eligibility vary by state). You also must be a resident of the state where the policy is offered.
Why Anthem?
- Stable premiums. In most cases, Anthem members will pay less over a 3 to 5 year period compared to other companies.
- Access to any physician or hospital who is Medicare-Approved in the US. (No referrals necessary).
- $0 out of pocket costs when you see a doctor or hospital with Plan F.
- Policy cannot be canceled from underneath you regardless of claims history.
- No claim forms.
- Some companies will have two rates; a “new customer rate” and a “current member rate.” They will advertise the lower “new customer ” rate, while their existing members are paying the higher “current customer rate.” Anthem has doesn’t play these games, they have only “1″ rate which I believe is much better for the member.
These new customer rates in many cases are very attractive but in subsequent years the increases can be quite alarming. Most Seniors stay with a chosen Medicare Supplement plan for years and beginning in years 2 and beyond these plans that were less expensive in the early years quickly become more expensive. Currently if you are healthy after your initial enrollment you can make a change to your supplemental plan. However if your health becomes an issue there are only a couple of states like California that provide Seniors with a window to make a change to their current plan regardless of health.
Anthem Offers Discounts
Anthem offers three options to save additional money with your Anthem Medicare Supplement plan.
- Save $2 per month by simply enrolling in Automatic Bank Draft or Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) program.
- Save $48 by paying your premium for the entire year, based on the policy effective date
- Save 5% when more than one member in the household enrolls in a Medicare Supplement plan.
Who is eligible?
You are eligible for a Medicare Supplement Plan if you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and if your are age 65 or older or, in some states, under 65 with a disability and/or end stage renal disease (plan offerings and eligibility vary by state). You also must be a resident of the state where the policy is offered.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Colorado Medicare Supplement Plans Offered...
The chart below details the Medicare Supplement plans offer by Anthem Blue Cross in the State of Colorado. Every company must make Plan "A" available. Some plans may not be available in your state. Plans A & F are available to those who are under age 65 and qualify for Medicare due to disability.
Important Note: Plans E, H, I and J are no longer available for sale.
Save Even More On Your Monthly Premiums
When you enroll in an Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Supplement you can save additional money on your monthly premiums. There are two options that you can take to save. If you elect to pay your premium via Automatic Bank Draft or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) you will save $2 per month per policy. Save even more when you pay your premium for the entire year. If you elect to pay annually for your supplement you will save $48.00 per year per policy.
When more than one member in the household enrolls in a Medicare Supplement plan with Anthem you can save an additional 5% on your monthly premiums. So if you have a husband and wife who pay their premiums annually they will save 5% PLUS $48 per year per policy. So if you can take advantage of these additional savings and help keep your costs down...
Medicare Basics
Establising a strong, fundamental foundation of Medicare knowledge will help you to make informed decisions about your health coverage. Medicare has 4 primary components:
- Medicare Part A - Hospital
- Medicare Part B -Medical Insurance
- Medicare Part C - Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Part D - Prescription Drug Beneftis
Medicare Part A: Hospital Insurance
Medicare Part A pays for the services that hospitals provide, such as the room, nursing services, and supplies for an inpatient stay. In some cases, Part A may pay for a stay in a skilled nursing facility, as well as home health and hospice care. Fortunately, most people do not have to pay a monthly premium for Part A coverag
It is funded by a portion of the Social Security tax you and your employers have already paid Part A, however, will not cover all your hospital costs. There is a deductible of $1,184 per benefit period for 2013. You must pay your entire deductible before Medicare Part A will cover any hospital expenses. In addition, if you are hospitalized for an extended period, you will also have to pay a daily coinsurance fee. This is $296 per day for days 61 – 90, and it rises to $592 a day for your 91st day through 150th day
These costs can build up. If you are hospitalized for 60 days, you’ll only be responsible for your Part A deductible. But if you are hospitalized for 100 days, you’ll pay almost $13,350.
Medicare Part B: Medical Insurance
Medicare Part B pays for the services that doctors provide, in the hospital or in their offices. It also pays for outpatient hospital services, long-lasting medical equipment like wheelchairs and walkers, and other medical services and supplies. Part B is optional. If you decide to enroll in Medicare Part B, you may also apply for a supplemental plan of your choice without answering health questions.
Part B works like most health insurance plans. You pay a monthly premium which is based on your income, that you can even have deducted from your Social Security check. For 2009, you must meet an annual deductible of $147.00. After that, Medicare generally pays 80% of the charges it approves. You typically are responsible for paying the remaining 20% or applicable co-payment, plus any charges that are higher than Medicare’s approved amounts if the provider does not accept Medicare assignment.
Medicare Supplement or “Medi-Gap” plans pay for many health care services and supplies, but original Medicare plans do not cover all. These costs are called “gaps” in Medicare coverage. A Medicare Supplement or “Medi-Gap” policy is designed to help cover these gaps. You pay a monthly premium for this additional coverage.
Medicare Part C: Medicare Advantage
Certain private insurance companies offer Medicare Advantage plans, also referred to as Medicare Part C. Medicare Advantage plans have a contract with Medicare that allows them to administer your Medicare benefits (Part A and Part B), so you have one source for your health care coverage. These plans may also provide enhanced benefits that go beyond those required by Medicare. To help you save more on the cost of your coverage, certain Medicare Advantage plans use provider networks (health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations) to reduce your share of the cost for covered services.
Medicare Part D: Prescription Drugs
Anyone who is entitled to Medicare Part A or enrolled in Part B will be able to enroll in Medicare Prescription Drug coverage. Here’s how it works: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have chosen a variety of private companies to offer Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs). Premiums and benefits may vary, based on your geographic region and on the company. However, average premiums are about $38 per month. This premium may be lower for those with limited income and resources. When Medicare designed its standard prescription drug benefit, it focused on providing solid coverage to the majority of people with Medicare. PDPs may offer Medicare’s standard benefit or plans with enhanced benefits |
Anthem California
