MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE

 You’re not alone.

For over 50 years, we have offered Medicare Supplement insurance options to hundreds of thousands of Americans. People — like you — who feel overwhelmed by all their choices for coverage in retirement. We’ve been here for them. Listening. Answering questions. Empowering them with the guidance they need. 

You, too, can count on us to be by your side. So when it’s your turn, you can look forward to making decisions about your retirement with confidence.

You’ll always have the freedom to choose your own doctor as long as they accept Medicare - it’s your doctor, your choice! You can also choose to get a specialist’s opinion, without a referral or prior approval. 

You can go to the Medicare-approved hospital you want — it’s up to you! 

Get reliable lifetime coverage that keeps pace with Medicare 

You can feel secure with lifetime coverage that is guaranteed renewable as long as you make on-time premium payments. Only you can cancel your coverage! Plus, your coverage will increase to match rising Medicare deductibles and co-payments — so you have less worry. 

You can’t control everything. We get it. But, you can control how you take care of yourself. That means getting preventive care when and how you may need it. You don’t have to worry. 

As our customer, you can collect benefits for covered routine physical exams, immunizations and health screenings not paid for by Medicare.* Best of all, you’ll never pay anything for these covered preventive care services. 

We’re one of the few companies that covers preventive care — and doesn’t limit the dollar amount of preventive benefits you can receive. 

Once your insurance policy is in effect, your coverage begins immediately. There is no waiting period for pre-existing conditions.

Choosing the right Medicare plan for you is important. That’s why we work hard to help you make the best choice at the time you sign up. But life changes — and your needs might, too. No problem! You have the option to switch to another insurance policy once in the first two years with no health questions. This option gives you a second chance you won’t get anywhere else. 

For more than 117 years, we have helped Americans find the right coverage at the right price. Our reputation for honesty, financial strength, stability and security is recognized nationwide — and it guides us each day. As a mutual company, we are owned by our policy owners, so it is their interests that come first — not those of Wall Street. 

That’s just one of the reasons 95% of customers surveyed said they are satisfied with our service and 7 out of 10 Medicare Supplement customers have recommended us to a family member or friend..

The best time to buy a Medigap policy is during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. 

This period lasts for 6 months and begins on the first day of the month in which you’re both 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Part B. 

During this period, an insurance company can’t use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application. This means the insurance company can’t do any of these because of your health problems:

• Refuse to sell you any Medigap policy it offers

• Charge you more for a Medigap policy than they charge someone with no health problems

• Make you wait for coverage to start 

Why is it important to buy a Medigap policy when I’m first eligible?

When you’re first eligible, you have the right to buy any Medigap policy offered in your state. In addition, you generally will get better prices and more choices among policies. It’s very important to understand your Medigap Open Enrollment Period. Outside of Medigap Open Enrollment, Medigap insurance companies are generally allowed to use medical underwriting to decide whether to accept your application and how much to charge you for the Medigap policy. 

However, if you apply during your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, you can buy any Medigap policy the company sells, even if you have health problems, for the same price as people with good health. If you apply for Medigap coverage after your Open Enrollment Period, there’s no guarantee that an insurance company will sell you a Medigap policy if you don’t meet the medical underwriting requirements, unless you’re eligible for guaranteed issue rights.

In most cases, it makes sense to enroll in Part B and buy a Medigap policy when you’re first eligible for Medicare, because you might otherwise have to pay a Part B late enrollment penalty and might miss your 6-month Medigap Open Enrollment Period. However, there are exceptions if you have employer coverage.

Employer coverage

If you have group health coverage through an employer or union, because either you or your spouse is currently working, you may want to wait to enroll in Part B. Benefits based on current employment often provide coverage similar to Part B, so you wouldn’t want to pay for Part B before you need it, and your Medigap Open Enrollment Period might expire before a Medigap policy would be useful. When the employer coverage ends, you’ll get a chance to enroll in Part B without a late enrollment penalty which means your Medigap Open Enrollment Period will start when you’re ready to take advantage of it. If you or your spouse is still working and you have coverage through an employer, contact your employer or union benefits administrator to find out how your insurance works with Medicare.