Medicare

Individual Medicare

Medicare is ever changing and can be very confusing. There are many different companies that offer Medicare Health Plans and Medicare Drug Plans.

It is important to know that before you can apply for an Individual Medicare Plan, you must be enrolled in both Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. Part A is automatic and is set up for you when you turn 65. Part B is not automatic. You must enroll in Part B yourself. You can do this by calling your local Social Security Office, stopping in to your local Social Security Office, or by going online to enroll. It usually takes approximately three to four weeks to get set up in Part B. Once you have your Medicare Card that shows the group numbers for Part A and for Part B, you can enroll into an Individual Medicare Plan.

Aetna offers very good Medicare Supplement Plans. Please click on the links below to view the latest brochure and description of these plans and to print out an application to apply:

2011 Aetna Med Supplement Plans with Rates

2011 Aetna Med Supplement application

Highmark Blue Shield offers two very good Medicare Drug Plans. Please click on the links below to view the latest brochure and description of these plans and to print out an application to apply:

2011 Blue Rx Benefits Brochure

2011 Blue Rx Enrollment application

Group Medicare

If you are an employer who currently offers health insurance from Independence Blue Cross, you can add Group Medicare Coverage to your group plan and enroll yourself or your employees into this coverage when you or they reach age 65. You can offer Keystone 65 Low Option, the Keystone 65 High Option, Personal Choice 65, or the new Medigap Security Plan C Option, which we recommend. This option provides the best coverage at the lowest premium and gives you $0 co-pays for almost everything.Please click on the links below to view the rates, plan descriptions and applications:

Medigap Security Group Plan C Summary

2011 Small Group Community Rate Sheet

Medigap Security Group Application

2011 Small Group Community Rx Plans

Please note that you cannot enroll into the Small Group Community Rx Plans if you are actively working. This plan is for retirees only. If you or your employees turn 65 and will remain actively employed, you may enroll in the Group 65 health insurance coverage options listed above, but you must choose an Individual Rx Plan, such as the Highmark BlueRx Plan listed above under Individual Medicare.

As always, please call our office with questions regarding any of this information.