Medicare Supplement, in plain words.
A Medicare Supplement plan is also called Medigap. It works next to Original Medicare and helps pay your share of the bills. I'm Erick Vallarino, an independent agent here in the Valley. I'll explain how it works, in English or Spanish, and my help costs you nothing.
It works alongside Original Medicare.
Original Medicare is Part A and Part B. It pays a big part of your bills, but not all of it. A supplement helps with the part that's left.
You see the doctor
You go to a doctor or hospital that takes Medicare.
Medicare pays its share
Original Medicare pays its part of the covered bill first.
Your supplement helps with the rest
It helps pay some or most of your share. How much depends on the plan letter you have.
What a supplement does, and what it doesn't.
- You can see any doctor who takes Medicare.In general, there's no network to learn. That helps if you have doctors you trust, or if you travel.
- Plans are named by letters.Each letter is a standard plan. The same letter covers the same things, no matter which company sells it. Prices can be different, so it's smart to compare.
- It does not cover your medicines.So people usually add a Part D drug plan next to it. I help you pick one that covers yours.
- Timing matters.In general, the easiest time to get a supplement is when you are 65 and first have Part B. Later, a company may ask health questions before it says yes.
Turning 65 or starting Part B soon? Read my Turning 65 page, or call me first.
Who it can fit, and what to ask.
A supplement can fit you if
- You want to keep your doctors, and they take Medicare.
- You travel, or you see doctors outside the Valley.
- You'd rather pay each month for the plan, so your share of each bill is smaller.
Good questions to ask
- Do my doctors take Medicare?
- Which plan letter fits how often I see the doctor?
- Which companies sell that letter, and how do their prices compare?
- Will the company ask me health questions right now?
I do the comparing. You make the choice.
I'm an independent agent. I don't work for an insurance company, so I can lay your choices side by side.
We look at your doctors and medicines
At your kitchen table or at my office. Bring your cards and your list of medicines.
I explain your choices
I go over the plan letters and the companies I work with, in plain words. If you're better off staying put, I'll tell you.
I stay your agent all year
I help you add a drug plan, too. After that, you still call me. Bills, letters, questions. You call me, not a 1-800 number.
Short answers.
Don't see yours? Call or text me.
Is a supplement the same as Medicare Advantage?
No. A supplement works with Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage is another way to get your Medicare, through a private plan. You can't use both at once. I'll explain both.
Does a supplement cover dental or vision?
In general, no. Supplement plans usually don't cover dental, vision or hearing aids. If those matter to you, tell me, and we'll look at your options.
Thinking about a supplement? Let's talk it over.
Call or text me, even with a small question. We'll look at your doctors, your medicines and your dates, with no pressure.