Health Insurance / Medicare & Medigap

Individual Health Insurance:

State Sponsored Health Insurance Programs:

The links below provide detailed information on eligiblity & rates for Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program a.k.a. CHIP, which provides coverage to all uninsured children in Pennsylvania and Adult Basic, which was established to cover the basic healthcare needs of Pennsylvanians age 19-64 who have no health insurance and who meet certain eligibility requirements.

Check the weblinks below for additional information:

• CHIP                   
• Adult Basic 

 What is Medicare?:

• Medicare Part A typically provides coverage for inpatient hospital expenses.
• Medicare Part B typically covers your outpatient health care expenses including doctors fees.
• Medicare Part C are Medicare Advantage Plans. Medicare Advantage plans must cover at least the same benefits covered under Part A and Part B, however, your costs may be different, and you may have extra benefits, like coverage for prescription drugs or extra days in the hospital. These plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare. They are not the same thing as a Medicare Supplement Policy.
• Medicare Part D adds prescription drug coverage to the Original Medicare Plan. These plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved my Medicare.

What is Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap): is health insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill the “gaps” in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Medigap policies help pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’t cover. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan and have a Medigap policy, then Medicare and your Medigap policy will pay both their shares of covered health care costs. 

Their are several Medigap coverage options to choose from. Please click on the following link to access,

Medicare & You 2008:

Medicare & You contains important information about what's new, health plans, prescription drug plans, and rights and protections to help people with Medicare review their coverage options and prepare to enroll in a new plan if they choose. It is available in both English and Spanish. 

Each fall, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services mails a geographic-specific version to all households of people with Medicare. In 2008, there are 59 geographic-specific versions with drug and health plan comparison charts for particular states or regions.

Our Featured Companies for Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, or Medicare Prescription Drug Plans:

• American Progressive's Today's Options
• Coventry's Advantra Freedom
• Highmark 
• United Healthcare
• CIGNA
• Geisinger Health Plan

If you are aging into Medicare, are eligible due to a disability, or are over age 65 and would like to review your healthcare options, please give us a call! We are confident you will be happy you did!!!

2009 Medicare Advantage Plan Enrollment Options
(Effective January 1, 2009):

You are limited to making changes in your Medicare Advantage plan and Part D prescription drug plan options only between November 15 - December 31 each year except as follows:

If you are eligible to join or are already a member of a Medicare Advantage plan, you may be able to make one change to your coverage by not later than March 31, 2009. You could join or switch Medicare Advantage plans, or leave your plan and get Original Medicare as long as you do not add or drop drug coverage.

If you are new to Medicare (65^th birthday or disabled), you can join a Medicare Advantage plan (HMO, PPO, PFFS) or a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan during the period that starts three months before the month you get Medicare, and ends three months after you get Medicare.

If you have both Medicare and full Medicaid coverage, you can join a Medicare Advantage plan (HMO, PPO, PFFS) or a stand-alone Part D prescription drug plan at any time.

In special circumstances, Medicare may give you an opportunity to switch to enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan –

A) if you permanently move out of your existing drug plan’s service area;

B) if you have creditable prescription drug coverage and that coverage ends;

C) if you live in, move into or out of an institution - nursing home, for example.

Note: To determine whether you qualify for extra help paying for prescription drugs based on low income criteria visit the Social Security Administration athttp://www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020.