Thank you for stopping by and visiting my website! Although I work with a variety of different insurance products, my primary focus and area of expertise is with Medicare Supplement insurance (aka Medigap) because it picks up the "gap" in coverage that Medicare doesn’t cover.
Insurance rates (premiums) are exactly the same regardless of whether you go through an independent insurance agent or if you sign up directly with an insurance carrier!
Nationwide, there are 10 standardized Medigap lettered plans to choose from, Plan A through Plan N. When I say “standardized,” that means that the coverage and benefits for every lettered plan are exactly the same regardless of what insurance carrier you sign up with. In other words, Plan G is Plan G, Plan N is Plan N, etc., regardless of what insurance carrier you are with. So it’s much easier to compare plans since every plan is exactly the same no matter which insurance carrier offers it.
NOTE: Due to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA), Medigap Plan F and Plan C were discontinued for new Medicare beneficiaries starting on January 1st, 2020. This legislation eliminated the availability of Medigap plans that cover the Medicare
Part B deductible for individuals who became eligible for Medicare on or after that date. However, Plan F and Plan C are still available for people who were eligible for Medicare before 2020 or who already have one of those plans. They just aren’t available for those individuals that turned 65 or started Medicare on or after January 1st, 2020.
In California and in most states, rates are based primarily on your "attained" age, so they are constantly changing and they go up in price as you get older. Besides your age, there are other variables that can affect rates such as your zip code, whether you live with someone, and whether you use tobacco products, etc.
Although Medicare Supplement plans are standardized, the rates that various insurance carriers charge for these products are NOT standardized, and there is a significant difference in price from one insurance carrier to the next for the same identical plan and coverage!
For example, right now in the 92024 zip code (San Diego), the Plan G rates for a 70 year old single female range from $217.78 to $319.79 per month, which is a difference of $102.01 per month or $1,224.12 per year for the same identical plan and coverage!
As an independent agent, I work with ALL the major insurance carriers in California and several other states. (A captive insurance agent works for a particular insurance company and can only sell that carrier's products.) Consequently, I work for YOU, not a particular insurance company. I will do the shopping for you, EVERY YEAR, to make sure that you aren't paying too much for your Medigap insurance, and THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR MY SERVICE!
Here are some of the insurance carriers that I work with:
When you turn 65 or start Medicare, signing up for Medicare or choosing the right Medigap plan or prescription drug plan (PDP) can be very confusing. No need to worry though because I will help you do that. Again, there is no charge for my service!
If you are turning 65 and have been on Social Security prior to that, you are already in the "system," and your Medicare card will be mailed to you automatically during the three months before your 65th birthday.
If you are turning 65 and not collecting Social Security, one of the easiest ways to sign up for Medicare Part A (Hospital insurance) and Part B (Medical insurance) is to call Social Security at (800) 772-1213, and you can sign up on the phone with them. After you do that, your Medicare card will be mailed to you.
You should sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which is the three months before the month you turn 65, the month you turn 65, and the three months after the month that you turn 65. If you sign up for Medicare after that, you will have a lifetime penalty if you don't have a "creditable" employer plan, etc.
Since Medicare Part A and Part B usually begin on the first of the month that you turn 65, it is best to sign up for Medicare and a Medicare Supplement two or three months before the month that you turn 65.
As an independent agent, I work with all the major insurance carriers, not a particular company, and I will shop around for you you EVERY YEAR to make sure that you aren't paying too much for your Medigap insurance.
If you have any questions about signing up for Medicare or if you would like to compare Medigap plans or rates, please don't hesitate to let me know. Please click here for my contact information.
If you already have a Medicare Supplement plan, click here to see my video, "Tips and Tricks for Saving Money on Your Medicare Supplement Plan." This video will show you ways to save money on your Medicare Supplement insurance!
If you have any questions or if you would like a free, no obligation Medicare Supplement quote, please don't hesitate to contact me! Again, there is NO CHARGE to you for my service!
You can reach me by phone or email. For my personal contact information, please go to my Contact page. I'm always happy to help!
Thank you!
Ron Lewis