Medicare Part A: Covers hospital care (part of Original Medicare)
Medicare Part B: Covers medical care (part of Original Medicare)
Medicare Part C/Medicare Advantage: Private plans that contract with Medicare to deliver Part A and Part B services
Medicare Part D: Covers prescription drugs
Medigap/Medicare Supplement Insurance: Can cover services not included in your current Medicare plan
You may have noticed that while Original Medicare plans in Hawaii cover many medical costs, they do not cover prescription drugs at all. If you take any type of prescription or think you might in the future, Medicare Part D is worth considering.
However, Medicare Part D may not cover every single prescription drug. Medicare has a “formulary,” or a list of covered prescription drugs. Like many health insurance plans, Medicare divides those prescriptions into tiers.
Different tiers of drugs will cost different amounts. It’s wise to check for your prescription before you enroll. Medicare coverage includes many drugs, but it doesn’t cover them all. Medicare Part D also doesn’t always cover the full cost of a prescription. However, in many cases, it dramatically reduces what you need to pay out of pocket.
Not sure if Part D is worth getting? We can take a look at your healthcare situation and tell you how much you might save.
Plan A (Different From Medicare Part A): Covers the 20% coinsurance for outpatient care not covered by Medicare
Plan B (Different From Medicare Part B): Covers what Plan A covers plus Medicare Part A hospital deductible
Plan C (Different From Medicare Part C): Covers Part A and Part B deductibles plus 20% outpatient coinsurance (everything but Medicare excess charges)
Plan D (Different From Medicare Part D): Covers many expenses minus the Part B deductible and Medicare excess charges
Plan F: Covers all out-of-pocket costs
Plan G: Covers all of what Plan F covers minus the Part B deductible
Plan K: Covers part (usually 50%) of the costs not covered by Part A and Part B
Plan L: Covers part (usually 75%) of the costs not covered by Part A and Part B
Plan M: Covers part of the costs not covered by Part A and Part B, and also covers medical services received abroad
Plan N: Offers low premiums in exchange for small copays on most services
Medicare Advantage plans are an alternative to Medicare Part A and Part B. These are plans offered by private companies, but the companies contract with Medicare. When you enroll, Medicare coverage benefits will include all Part A and Part B benefits.
With a Medicare Advantage Plan, you at least get the coverage you would get with Original Medicare. However, most Advantage Plans offer additional benefits like vision, hearing, and dental care.
Advantage Plans offer flexible benefits, so they’re easier to customize to your specific needs. They may be more expensive than some forms of Medicare, but many people like you find that to be a worthy trade-off.
At Proinsurance Hawaii, we offer a range of Medicare Advantage Plans to suit every need. You can choose different levels of coverage to ensure you get everything you need and nothing you don’t.
Medicare restricts the times you can enroll in a plan. To make sure you get the coverage you need, it’s a good idea to take the time to research and talk to insurance experts before committing.
Once you’ve decided on a plan, there are a few enrollment periods. Medicare offers the following windows of time to enroll:
This enrollment period works differently than the enrollment period for most insurance plans. Rather than giving you a set period of time during the year, the Initial Enrollment Period gives you a large enrollment window:
Three months before your 65th birthday (coverage starts the month you turn 65)
Your birth month (coverage starts the next month)
Three months after your 65th birthday (coverage starts the month after you enroll)
Luckily, even if you haven’t started looking at Medicare plans yet, this period of time gives you plenty of opportunity to research and consider plans.
Not everyone can qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. Generally, you can only qualify if you’ve experienced a certain event that has caused you to need to update your insurance coverage.
These events may include losing your existing health insurance (like if you leave a job with employer-sponsored health coverage) or moving to an area outside of your current Medicare plan’s coverage area.
It can be hard to know whether a given event qualifies you for a Special Enrollment Period. Our helpful insurance experts can talk to you about your situation and tell you whether you qualify.
Your health is key to your well-being, so choosing the right health insurance coverage is essential. At Proinsurance Hawaii, our experts get to know you and your healthcare needs before recommending a policy. We’ve been in business for 22 years and are committed to the health of our community.
Contact us today to schedule a meeting with one of our friendly experts! We’ll help you find the right coverage for a long, happy, healthy life.
Health Insurance Agency in Honolulu, Hawaii serving employers across Oahu and all Hawaiian Islands.
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We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
