Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Part C, vary in benefit and price. The Nevada Medicare Advantage Enrollment Period starts on October 15th and ends on December 7th. During this time, you can shop your options, apply for a new plan, or renew your current coverage. If you apply during the Nevada Medicare Advantage Enrollment Period, your coverage should start on January 1st.
There are two main types of Medicare plans: Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans. Medicare Supplement plans usually have much lower out of pocket expenses. They also work with almost any doctor or facility in the nation that accepts Medicare. If you currently have a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to original Medicare and apply for a Medicare Supplement plan at certain times of the year. The time frames are:
October 15th – December 7th
January 1st – March 31st
We do not recommend terminating your Medicare Advantage plan before confirming the approval of your Medicare Supplement enrollment. Medicare Supplement plans usually ask health questions unless you experienced a Special Enrollment Period. If you must answer health questions, the Medicare Supplement insurance company can deny you coverage based on preexisting conditions or current prescriptions.
To learn more about this process and why people switch, click here.
We get asked a lot about which plan is best. Every plan is different just like every person’s needs are different. Some plans may work better for your needs compared to others. Here are a few questions you may want to ask yourself while shopping:
Do the doctors and facilities you need accept the plan?
Are your prescriptions covered correctly?
Do you need dental, vision, or hearing aid coverage?
Is there a plan with a lower monthly premium available?
Do you need a PPO plan or will an HMO plan cover your needs?
Every insurance company offers different plans with different prices. Plans can range from $0 to a couple hundred dollars per month. Choosing a plan that costs $0 isn’t necessarily the best option. We recommend reviewing all plans to make sure your needs are covered correctly.
Some plans include dental coverage. Each year, the insurance companies update plan benefits during the Nevada Medicare Advantage Enrollment Period. If you have dental coverage on your Medicare plan today, it is important to make sure it is still covered next year.
All Medicare Advantage plans cover medically necessary visits to the Ophthalmologist. Some Medicare Advantage plans also cover glasses and contact lenses. Just like dental coverage, plans may or may not cover glasses, so it is important to double-check.
You may qualify for coverage starting as early as next month if you experienced a Special Enrollment Period! Most people enroll in coverage at the following times:
To learn more about Special Enrollment Periods and how to get coverage starting next month, click here.
Each Medicare Advantage plan uses a network list of doctors. This list should be available online on your insurance plan’s website. It is important to check this list every year to make sure you can continue to see the doctors you need! If your doctor does not accept your plan, you may still get limited coverage if you are enrolled in a PPO. HMO plans do not cover out of network doctors.
It depends! If you experienced a Special Enrollment Period within the last 60 days, you may qualify for new coverage starting next month! Most people change plans during the Nevada Medicare Advantage Enrollment Periods:
Timing is everything so it is important to understand the enrollment and termination rules of Medicare. To learn more about Special Enrollment Periods, click here.
Since 2014, major medical plans are required to cover preexisting conditions. Also, applications cannot ask health questions. Many people get solicited by fake insurance companies. One of the easiest ways to tell if you are shopping for a major medical plan is whether or not health questions are included on the application! Our brokers recommend major medical plans, as they include comprehensive coverage for all of your medical needs! To learn more about what is included in major medical plans, click here.
Long wait times are sometimes unavoidable. To make sure you have the shortest wait times it is important to make sure your health plan reimburses providers correctly. Some insurance companies reimburse doctors less compared to others. The insurance companies that pay doctors more usually have larger network lists and shorter wait times. It is very hard to determine which insurance companies pay doctors the most unless you’ve received the volume of feedback we have from our clients. Our brokers can help you understand which carriers to look for while shopping. To learn more, contact us today!
Medicare Supplement plans are sometimes a better option for people who travel or need access to facilities outside of the area. The out of pocket expenses are also much lower compared to Medicare Advantage plans. Because of the stronger coverage, these plans usually have higher monthly premiums. Most people who switch from a Medicare Advantage plan to a Medicare Supplement plan need to answer health questions. Based on your health history and current prescriptions, you may be denied an enrollment into a Medicare Supplement plan. If you can afford the premium and pass the health questions, we highly recommend reviewing your options with Medicare Supplement plans so you can have better access to doctors and facilities nationwide.
Yes, Medicare Advantage plans cover you regardless of preexisting conditions. When enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan, the application does not ask about health questions. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement plans usually ask health questions unless you experienced a Special Enrollment Period. Understanding your eligibility for Medicare plans and when health questions are asked is important!
Yes, emergencies are covered! Regardless of which hospital you go to in the U.S., your Medicare Advantage plan covers emergencies. It does not matter if you have a PPO or HMO Medicare Advantage plan either! Some plans cover emergencies internationally as well! Be careful – some medical situations are urgent and not classified as emergencies. These situations may not be covered depending on the facility you go to.
Yes, but it depends on a few factors. People with certain disabilities can qualify for Medicare before they turn 65. The Social Security Administration usually requires 24 months of Social Security Disability Income before qualifying for Medicare Part A and Part B. Also, people in Nevada eligible for Medicare before 65 can enroll in Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plans only. They cannot enroll in Medicare Supplement plans until they are 65 or older.
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