MEDICARE PLANS  FOR 2012

For Medicare Eligible Age 65+ and Medicare Eligible Under Age 65 (Disabled)

Medicare Advantage Plans---Medicare Advantage is a health plan with a Medicare contract.  It includes coverage in Medicare Parts A & B, additonal coverage, plus most plans include Rx drug coverage.  Most  Medicare Advantage plans are PPOs.  When considering a plan be sure that your medical provider will accept the plan.

Traditional Medicare Supplement Plans---These plans supplement your Medicare A & B.  Since Medicare does not pay all your hospital/ medical costs,  Supplements pay these "gaps" (deductibles, coinsurance).

There are several Supplement plans available (Plans A-L), with Plans F, G , and N being the most popular. Plans also come in standard, select, and high-deductble versions:

• Standard plans--you may use any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare.  There are no networks.
• Select Plans-- permit you to use any doctor that accepts Medicare, however you must use certain listed hospitals for non-emergency medical treatment.  The cost of Select Plans are slightly less than Standard plans.  Before choosng a Select plan, be sure a Select hospital is in your area.
•  High Deductible Plan F--Usually offered in the Standard Plan only. Supplement plan benefits are identical to the above Plan F except you must first satisfy a deductble ($2070 for 2012) before the supplement pays benefits. Remember, Medicare will still pay benefits first.

Medicare RX (Part D) Rx Prescription Drug Plan.

• Available to all Medicare eligible members with Medicare Parts A and/ or  eligible for Part  B.   Certain enrollment periods apply .  Usually two or three plans are offered through insurance companies.  (Medicare does not sell this insurance direct;  it is available only through insurance companies.) To receive information on any of the above plans, click on the tab below and an information packet will be mailed to you.