VibrantUSA has helped thousands of Washingtonian’s find the right Medicare Insurance Solution for their needs, preferences and budget. We hope to be of assistance to you. To get you started, here are some very useful tips you should keep in mind as you begin looking for your solution.
Make sure you understand which Medicare plans your family physician accepts
The Medicare payment going to your family physician (known as Medicare allowable), is simply no longer adequate for many family physicians to remain open to Medicare. Some physicians have closed their practices to Medicare altogether. Others have needed to limit the number of Medicare Insurance plans they can accept to those insurance plans that provide additional payment for being your Medical Home. Make sure you purchase a Medicare Insurance plan that is accepted by your family physician; otherwise you could be looking for a new physician when few doctors are accepting new Medicare patients.
VibrantUSA takes the time to work with your family physician office, so we only show you the Medicare insurance plans that are accepted by your physician’s office. Because we work with so many Insurance companies, the odds are good that we will represent most or all of the plans accepted by your family doctor.
Not all Medicare Advantage plans provide an “Annual out-of-pocket Cap”
Be Aware! Some Medicare Advantage plans include things like a gym membership or a discount card, but they fail to include an Annual out-of-pocket Cap on your Medicare Insurance coverage. Without an Annual Cap, you will not reach a limit ($3,000 for example) before the insurance coverage steps in and pays the rest of your costs. This means that in the unfortunate event of a serious illness, you may have to continue paying out of your pocket, when you need the coverage the most.
VibrantUSA will make sure to explain the Annual out-of-pocket Cap in more detail, along with many other benefits you should be looking for when comparing Medicare Insurance plans.
Travelers and Snowbirds: Buyer Beware
VibrantUSA strongly cautions you to carefully consider your travel lifestyle when choosing a Medicare Insurance solution. Some Medicare Insurance plans will work better for you if you do a lot of traveling or if you spend extended periods of time away from home. There are fundamental differences between Medicare Advantage HMOs, PPOs and Private Fee For Service Health Plans, when it comes to your Medicare Insurance coverage while traveling.
VibrantUSA will be sure to discuss your travel lifestyle before we help you to compare Medicare Insurance plans. If you do a lot of traveling, we have many Medicare Insurance plans that better fit an active lifestyle.
Finding a Medicare Part D Prescription Plan
Did you know that some Medicare Advantage plans include a Part D Prescription Plan, while others do not? Be sure to confirm that all of your medications are covered under the plan’s prescription formulary. A “free” prescription plan may not be worth much if it does not cover an expensive medication.
VibrantUSA checks on each of your medications to ensure they are covered by the insurance plan’s formulary. If you have a rare prescription medication that is hard to find insurance for, we may be able to help.
NO PLAN PREMIUM usually means HIGHER CO-PAYMENTS
If you are considering a Medicare Advantage plan with no monthly plan premium, make sure you understand your co-payments. As a general rule, the lower the plan premium, the higher the co-payments. If you use a lot of healthcare services (office visits or outpatient tests, for example), you may be wiser to choose a Medicare Insurance plan that has a slightly higher premium but lower co-payments.
VibrantUSA will help you find the right balance of plan premium and co-payment.
Keep Your Options Open… work with an independent agent
An independent agent is able to help you compare different Medicare Insurance plans offered by different Medicare Insurance companies. If an agent only represents a single Medicare plan or insurance company, how can they possibly help you compare plans?
VibrantUSA is an independent insurance agency that works with dozens of insurance companies and more than 50 Medicare Insurance plans here in Washington.
How Can We Help?
Developing a Medicare Insurance strategy requires careful planning, the ability to adapt to a changing market and your own changing personal needs. VibrantUSA is prepared to be your advocate every step of the way. We will work with you to develop your strategy and service your needs as they change over the years.
VibrantUSA Medicare Insurance Specialists can be reached:
