If you are looking for Medicare Supplemental Coverage, there is a new website to visit called The Medicare Supplement Shop. Their new site compares all the plans in a fair way as far as what they cover, what they cost and how well they perform.
If you log onto www.MedicareSupplementShop.com you will find screens to easily sign into and allows you to click on the plans you wish to compare. In addition to this, there is a phone number (1-888-891-9280) to ask questions if you need further information or feel more comfortable on the phone rather than on a computer.
Some nice features of the website are that it shows browsers how to choose the best plan. The site allows you to take your time to be able to determine which companies cost the least and the most and which companies have the best and most coverage for the money. The site also helps you to figure out which coverage is best for you and will take care of your needs.
There are many sites that claim to help you look at the Medicare supplemental coverage that is available, but most of them are trying to guide you toward buying a particular type of coverage from a specific company.
The difference with The Medicare Supplement Shop is that it truly does compare companies that sell Medicare Supplements and lets the consumer make the decision as to which coverage would suit them best.
The site even has a learning center that can help you understand what to look for in good prescription drug coverage and other supplemental coverage. The new Medicare Supplement Shop website is a good place to search for the right coverage.
Seniors enrolled in Medicare should receive Medicare information in the mail regarding their benefits in October. They should receive a letter and information telling them what they are covered for, what supplements they are enrolled in (if any) and any changes to their premiums and/or their coverage.
It is important to take the time to carefully read this information and make certain that you understand it. It will tell you what your 2009 premiums will be and will tell you what is covered, including prescriptions.
Prescription coverage will be very important to check over carefully. You could currently be covered for all of your medications, but there could be changes in coverage that might cover every medication except for one. This does not always happen, but it could.
In the event that one of your prescription medications is not covered it is important that you check with your doctor and see if there is an alternative or substitute prescription that would work in its place. Then you will have to check to see if the alternative or substitute medication is covered. If you can’t find a suitable alternative medication, you may have to check for a different supplement that will cover the medications you need.
Other things to consider are how much the premiums will increase, if any. Check to see if your co-pays will increase, as well. The more you know about your coverage, the better decisions you and your doctor will be able to make regarding your ongoing treatment.
The fact that this information is being sent to you in October gives you time to get the facts you need about your coverage before the open enrollment period for Medicare Part D, which is from November 15th through December 31st. That is the time during which you can switch plans if you need to, without any penalties for pre-existing conditions or other issues.
If you receive Medicare, be on the watch for your letter describing your current coverage in October. If you don’t receive it, call 1-800-MEDICARE. You can call the Seniors Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at 1-800-443-9354 or check with them on the web at www.ncshiip.com. They are an organization that specifically helps seniors with insurance and Medicare questions and issues.
