Our Philosophy
Always choose the best Medicare supplement plan that fits comfortably in your budget. Here is why that one sentence matters more than any other advice on this site.
Our philosophy is simple
Always choose the best Medicare supplement plan that fits comfortably in your budget.
Here is why. When you turn 65, join Medicare, and add supplementary coverage, you are buying health insurance for the rest of your life. That is why the first choice matters more than any later one.
Your six month window
You get a six month Medicare supplement open enrollment period. It starts the first month you are both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During those six months no insurance company can ask you a single medical question, refuse to sell you a policy, or charge you more because of your health.
For most people that is the six months beginning the month they turn 65. If you are still working at 65 and delay Part B, your six months does not start until your Part B does. Call us before you assume you have missed it.
If you start with a lesser plan and later want to move up to a plan with better benefits, you may be required to answer medical questions to verify good health, and you can be declined for a variety of medical conditions. That window is the reason we say start high.
Remember: you can always move down, not always up
If your financial situation changes in the future, moving to a lower cost plan is the easy direction to travel. In California the Birthday Rule gives you 60 days following your birthday each year to switch to any Medicare supplement with the same or fewer benefits, from any company, with no medical questions and no new waiting period. Outside that window a move down can still require underwriting, so the timing matters. The path runs in one direction easily:
Going back the other way is the hard part. Starting with a lower cost plan may mean you cannot upgrade to better coverage later without your medical history being examined, and you could be declined if you have developed a condition an insurance company would turn down.
Two exceptions worth knowing
If you change to an Advantage plan and later want your Medicare Supplement back, you may need to answer medical questions and the change could be denied for a pre existing condition. Two exceptions matter.
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If this is the first time you have ever joined an Advantage plan and you dropped a supplement to do it, you have a 12 month trial right to get that policy back with no health questions.
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In California the Birthday Rule gives you 60 days following your birthday each year to switch to a supplement with the same or fewer benefits, from any company, with no medical questions and no new waiting period.
Talk to us before you switch so you understand exactly what you are giving up and which window you are in.
In summary
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If you became eligible for Medicare on or after January 1 2020, Plan F is closed to you and Plan G is the richest plan you can buy. If it fits comfortably in your budget, keep it. The most you will pay in a given year for services Medicare covers is the Part B deductible. A supplement does not cover dental, vision, hearing aids, long term care or prescription drugs, and it pays foreign travel emergencies at 80 percent after a separate deductible, up to a lifetime maximum.
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If you were already eligible for Medicare before January 1 2020, Plan F is still open to you and is the richest plan on the market. If it fits comfortably in your budget, keep it. If not, you can save on premiums by switching to a lower cost Plan G, Plan N, or an Advantage plan.
We represent the top insurance companies writing Medicare products in California, so you will always have good choices. In a one hour meeting we educate you on Medicare and explain all your options. With good education you will easily be able to choose the plan that offers the best value for your needs and budget.
Not Sure Which Plan Fits?
In one hour we explain every option and help you find the best value for your needs and your budget. There is never a charge.