Living in a rural area definitely comes with some benefits: more space, no traffic, peace and quiet. But there are also a few inconveniences associated with being located farther from a town or city, namely limited access to healthcare options. Here are a few of the issues that come with rural Medicare plan options in Nevada and how to maximize your healthcare coverage.
Challenges of Rural Medicare
Living in a rural area, there aren’t typically too many choices for healthcare. Most of the hardships that come with rural Medicare options come from the fact that there’s just a smaller population. Lower populations mean less infrastructure — and less necessity for competition between providers. Here are some of the main reasons why ideal rural Medicare plans can be difficult to find.
Higher Costs
With less competition comes higher prices. Since carriers don’t have as much competition in the market, they can charge higher premiums without worrying about members going to another company.
Limited Plan Options
Not only are rural Medicare plans typically more expensive, there are also fewer of them. You don’t have as many options to choose from when picking a plan, and the limited options can make it difficult to tailor coverage to suit your individual needs.
In addition to the limited plan options, some rural plans have narrower networks and stricter limitations.
Travel Burdens and Access to Care
Living in a rural area means that city services and conveniences are farther away — and that often includes doctors and specialists. Rural residents often need to travel to larger, more populated areas for care, since specialty care and hospitals might not be nearby.
Travel time and costs are an additional burden rural Medicare members endure. Not only is it a pain (and can be expensive), but it also could delay treatment or frequency of care.
Coverage Limitations with Medicare Advantage Plans
Millions of people across the United States choose a Medicare Advantage (MA) plan for their healthcare needs. Unfortunately for rural residents, an MA plan alone comes with a few limitations. Mainly, most MA plans have strict regional networks, which means rural hospitals and care centers may not be included, forcing members to pay higher out-of-pocket costs to visit local healthcare providers. Availability of Medicare Advantage plans have even been outright declined in some rural regions.
For many who live in rural areas, it’s often a better option to get an Original Medicare plan with a Supplement (Medigap) plan to ensure better local coverage.
Benefits of Medicare Supplement (Plan G) for Rural Residents
The most common combination for rural Medicare is an Original Medicare plan with a Supplement (Medigap) plan — specifically Part G for rural residents. Supplement plans are designed to help with out-of-pocket costs not paid by Original Medicare, like co-pays or deductibles, depending on the plan.
Medicare Supplement plans offer broader provider access nationwide. They’re required to be accepted by any providers who accept Medicare — which is most of them. Yes, they often come with higher premiums compared to some other types of Medicare plans, but the higher premiums are often offset by increased flexibility and access to care, which is what makes them ideal for rural residents.
Find Your Perfect Rural Medicare Plan Options at Health Benefits Associates
If you live in a rural area and are looking for healthcare coverage to suit your unique needs and budget, contact us at Health Benefits Associates. Our team of local agents understand the complexities that come along with finding the right rural Medicare plan and will happily walk you through the options to find one that works for you. Schedule an appointment by calling 775-828-1216 today.
