False complaints about Medicare? The world of Medicare is strange territory for a huge majority of people. The different coverage options, terms and conditions. As well as, benefits, costs, and deadlines make it difficult for many to understand. Medicare and easier to be befuddled by it. This applies to all types of Medicare plans, including Medicare Supplement. What makes Medigap plans even more difficult to understand is that they come in 12 different types.
The lack of information about Medicare Supplement paves the way for confusion, myths, and faulty assumptions. When those presumptions are not fulfilled, people often believe that they were tricked or Medigap plans are simply bogus. But that’s not true. To help you develop a better understanding of Medicare Supplement, here we’re going to take a look at some common complaints about Medigap, and why they have no weightage.
Top 6 Medicare Supplement Complaints and Why They are Fatuous
Let’s look at some common issues many Medigap policyholders often complain about and the reality behind them:
1. Medicare Supplement Has a Small Network of Doctors
This is probably the most bogus complaint about Medicare Supplement. Medigap plans do not have a network of doctors. It’s the Medicare Advantage plan, and people often confuse the two. Medicare Supplement plans work at every hospital or doctor’s clinic that accepts Medicare. In other words, when you have a Medicare Supplement plan, you can go to any hospital or doctor that takes Medicare, regardless of who you have purchased the plan from.
2. Medicare Supplement Doesn’t Allow You to Choose Your Own Doctor
In fact, it does! Since Medicare Supplement doesn’t have a network of doctors, you have the liberty to choose any doctor. You can even stay with your current doctor if you want to.
3. My Medicare Supplement Plan Doesn’t Cover the Services that Medicare Denies
It’s common for people to think that Medigap insurance provides coverage for all the services that Original Medicare doesn’t cover. But, this is only a misconception. Medicare Supplement isn’t designed for this purpose. What it is meant to do is to cover the gaps in your standard Medicare policy for procedures and services that Original Medicare covers.
Simply put, a Medicare Supplement plan helps reduce the out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-approved services. It covers copays, deductibles, and coinsurances. If the standard Medicare plan doesn’t cover a medical service or procedure, no Medigap plan will cover it.
4. Medicare Supplement Doesn’t Include Travel Coverage
Most Medigap plans include international travel coverage for emergency medical needs. If you travel frequently and your Medicare Supplement policy doesn’t include foreign travel coverage, it means you have either bought the wrong plan, you have exceeded the 60 days coverage limit for your international trip, or you have reached the maximum lifetime coverage limit of the Medigap plan, which is $50,000.
Types of Medicare Supplement plans that include healthcare coverage abroad are C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, M, and N. They cover 80% of your emergency medical costs outside the US within the first 60 days of leaving the country, and after you have met the $250 yearly deductible limit.
5. My Medigap Plan Requires Me to Pay an Additional Premium
Knowing that it aims to fill the gap in the standard Medicare policy, many people assume that they won’t have to pay a premium for it. That’s not how it works. It is completely separate from Original Medicare. It’s offered by independent private insurance companies, while Original Medicare is provided by the federal government. Therefore, you have to pay a separate premium for it.
In simple words, if you have a Medicare Supplement plan, you will be required to pay two separate premiums – one for your Medicare Part B and the other for the Medigap policy you hold.
6. Purchasing a Medicare Supplement Plan from an Agency Costs More Money
This is more of a presumption than a complaint because those who work with an independent agent know that it’s far from reality.
Taking the help of a reliable Medicare agent can, in fact, help you save money. Medigap agents work with multiple companies, so they can help you find the best plan according to your medical needs and budget.
Unless you’re a Medicare expert and know what factors to look for when buying a Medigap plan, doing it on your own can get you in trouble. You may end up purchasing the wrong plan for yourself and be paying for services that you don’t even need. Therefore, it’s better to work with a Medicare agent. Just make sure you choose a reliable one.
The Final Word
Complaints about this plans are rampant. But, more often than not, they are based on misconceptions and faulty assumptions on the part of policyholders. The best way to avoid any issues with your Medigap plan and make the most of your supplemental health insurance policy is to do your research properly or work with a reliable, independent insurance agent or broker. If you’re looking for one, United Insurance has got you covered. We guarantee to help you find the best Medicare Supplement plan based on your medical needs and budget. Get in touch with us now to avoid any issues later on.