Medicare is a special program that offers insurance benefits to the elderly or disabled as part of Social Security. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) offers additional insurance plans through several different companies that help cover certain health care-related expenses not specifically covered by Medicare.
If you have Medicare, or if you are eligible to receive Medicare benefits, the AARP Medicare Supplement will be the best help you have ever had. If you can’t afford to pay for it yourself, or if you just don’t want to, this is the best way to get your eye on the health plan that is affordable and one that you can use as a guide when it comes to purchasing and using your Medicare supplement benefits.
One of the most important benefits of Medicare is the ability to purchase Medicare Supplement Plans. These plans are offer by the Medicare Advantage insurance company, and the process is exactly the same as the primary Medicare program with the exception of a few minor differences. When you’re thinking about getting an insurance policy, it is important to keep in mind that Medicare is require by law to be your sole source of health insurance, and you will want to take certain steps to ensure that you are protect.
The United States has traditionally relied heavily on Medicare for its health care. Over time, however, the American population has increasingly relied on private insurance to pay for the majority of medical costs, including out-of-pocket costs associated with medical treatments. As a result, America is experiencing a looming Medicare retiree crisis. One way to curb this problem is to encourage more people to enroll in supplemental Medicare plans.
Function
AARP has a number of supplemental insurance plans that provide additional benefits not normally offered by regular Medicare. The plans are provided directly by a variety of insurance companies and not by the government. You must already be eligible for Medicare coverage to purchase any of AARP’s Medicare supplement plans.
Features
Supplemental insurance plans created by AARP pay for extra days when you have to stay in the hospital beyond what Medicare covers. These plans cover the remaining percentages of the price of doctor visits that Medicare doesn’t pay for, the cost of up to three pints of blood needed in hospital emergency room or stays, and fees charged for staying in a nursing home for up to of 100 days per year.
Geography
Certain states throughout the US have enacted laws that change how AARP supplemental insurance plans operate and what benefits they provide. Contact your state government’s insurance department for information on how plans differ if you live in the states of Wisconsin, Massachusetts, or Minnesota.
Types
AARP supplemental plans are offer at both Type A and Type B levels, in the same way that regular Medicare is broken down. There are 12 distinctly different supplemental insurances offer between the two lists that all have different deductibles and different time frames for when deductibles must be pay before benefits are provide.
Considerations
Check with various insurance companies before purchasing different AARP supplemental benefits, as each provider is allowed to charge different premiums for the same plans. You must be at least 65 years of age or have a disability to qualify for supplemental plans. You must also have paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years.