Medicare Insurance Plans

Choosing a Medicare plan can be difficult, especially if you’re considering supplemental coverage.

With so many options, how do you know which plan is right for you? As an independent broker with healthcare expertise, Shoreline Insurance Group helps you navigate the Medicare enrollment process and secure the best coverage for the amount you wish to spend.

What is Medicare?

Medicare is a federal health insurance program that provides basic affordable coverage for eligible beneficiaries.

Medicare coverage is comprised of four parts: Part A, Part B, Part C or Medigap Supplement, and Part D. Technically, you don’t have to carry all four parts of Medicare coverage—a supplemental insurance plan as well as Part D are optional. That said, most people choose to carry all four parts.

Part A is inpatient hospital coverage and Part B is outpatient medical coverage. Together, Part A and Part B are known as Original Medical and offered directly through the federal government. You must enroll for Original Medicare through Social Security.

Part C, otherwise referred to as a Medicare Advantage or Cost plan, can be purchased through a private insurance carrier and help reduce the out of pocket amounts you pay for Medicare-approved Part A and Part B services.

Medigap Supplement plans are another type of supplemental insurance coverage that works with Original Medicare.

Part D of Medicare is prescription drug coverage and may be bundled with your Part C plan or purchased as a standalone plan.

Who is eligible for Medicare?

To be eligible for Medicare, you must be age 65 or older, have qualifying health conditions, or have been on Social Security disability insurance for a minimum of 24 months.

Are there Medicare rules specific to Minnesota?

Because Medicare is a federal program, the rules that govern it apply nationwide. There are no Medicare rules specific to Minnesota.

However, your region’s demographics and geographic location will help to determine which Medicare coverage options are available to you. For example, if you live in the Twin Cities, you might not have the same options as someone who lives in Duluth. This is true for any state.

What types of Medicare solutions should you consider?

If you enroll in Original Medicare, you can choose to purchase supplemental insurance from the private market. But shopping for supplemental insurance can be mind-boggling. There are so many carriers and so many options. Sure, it’s great to have choices, but it can be overwhelming to pinpoint the differences between each plan. When evaluating a plan, it’s important to consider how you intend to use it and what health care providers are included in its network.

Understanding your Medicare coverage options and where you are at the time of enrollment is also critical. Keep in mind, your options and enrollment experience will vary depending on several factors, including your age. For instance, if you’re enrolling at age 65 you might have a very different experience from your friend who enrolled at age 67. Your current insurance situation, whether you’re on COBRA or an employer plan, could impact your Medicare coverage options as well.

You have to know where to start, so you know where to end up. This is where working with an independent broker like Shoreline Insurance Group can help.

Here’s how we could help you:

• Fully understand your Medicare options

Knowing what you have, and don’t have, with Medicare is critical to choosing a supplemental plan. It’s possible going on Medicare may not be in your best interest. This is why, at Shoreline Insurance Group, we feel so strongly about education. As your broker, we make sure you understand your Medicare benefits and help you weigh the pros and cons of coverage options. 

• Work with an independent broker

Working with an independent broker means you get an unbiased, expert opinion about Medicare coverage. Additionally, independent brokers are compensated by insurance carriers and not their clients, which means your health insurance advocate (that is, your broker) is included in the cost of your insurance. In other words, you don’t pay extra for this resource.  

• Benefit from our healthcare expertise

The Shoreline Crew has worked in the health insurance realm and specifically with Medicare since 2005. Health insurance is all we do! Because health insurance is our focus and not our “side gig,” we’re able to stay current on industry changes and participate legislatively with the lawmakers who shape the landscape of health insurance in America. We’ve seen it all, and we bring this perspective to you