The Future of California Medicare Supplement Plan F

Starting January of 2020, Medicare Supplement Plan F policies will no longer be available for new sales in all states including California.

Anyone who is on a Medicare Supplement policy by December 2019 or earlier, will be able to keep their plan indefinitely and will be considered “grandfathered.”

Plan F doesn’t have any copays or deductibles, which means if you go to a doctor, lab or hospital, you don’t pay anything out of your pocket.

What is the greatest advantage of a Medicare Supplement policy? Freedom of choice with doctors and hospitals.  A medicare supplement allows you to go to any Medicare provider in the U.S. without a referral. That is 99% of all hospitals and 97% of doctors.

Medicare coupled with a medicare supplement plan provides the most freedom of any type of medical plan nationwide.

On the other hand, medicare advantage plans usually need a referral to see a specialist.  And you will most likely be referred to a doctor within the same medical group as your primary care physician (PCP).

All Medicare Advantage plans have copays, deductibles and percentages which are owed when you go to doctors, labs or medical facilities and hospitals.  The out of pocket maximum amounts are typically $6,700 per year.  This is the most you would come out of your own pocket when paying the copays, percentages and deductibles.

Once medicare supplement plan F is no longer available for new enrollments, the next most comprehensive coverage plan will be “G.”

Plan G looks and feels like plan F except with Plan G the Medicare Part B annual deductible ($198 – 2020) is not paid for by the plan.  Each calendar year you will be responsible for the part B deductible before your Plan G starts paying.  Medicare Part B is all “outpatient” services.  Hospital which is Medicare Part A is still covered at 100% with no deductibles or copays.

Medicare Supplement Plan C will also be removing the coverage for the Medicare Part B deductible on January 2020.  The changes are designed to NOT have any medicare supplement plans which provide “first dollar” coverage.  Beginning January 2020 there will not be any medicare supplement plan which cover the medicare part B deductible.

Medicare Part D Rx plans … don’f forget about your prescription coverage. If you are enrolled in a medicare supplement policy you will also need to enroll into a Part D plan to help with your prescription costs.  You can either call me and I will send you a comparison of the top three plans for your med list, or you can call 1-800-medicare and they will provide the same comparison.

ANTHEM DENTAL (OVER AGE 65)

When seeing an Anthem in-network dentist you will enjoy a 25% to 40% savings right off the top because of the contracted fees, before the insurance coverage pays the next 50% to 80%.

These savings are also available during waiting periods, when you’ve gone over your yearly limit or when you’ve used up your benefits.  Your dental costs will also be reduced even more with the plan insurance coverage.  Along with over 87,000 contracted dental offices nationwide.

Anthem Extras Dental & Vision (2020)  –  Brochure   –  Application

If you enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan you will have the Part D plan that comes with the HMO.  This Part D plan may work well for you or it may not.  You have no choice because the Part D plan is attached to the HMO of your choice.

John Conner

Medicare Plan Options ... Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D Rx