In the Star Tribune, Michelle Kimball of the AARP warns, “It could be very easy to be lured in by a storefront. Consumers need to understand what the full range of insurance options are.”
That’s very sound advice.
In case you find yourself going over Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage options with an insurance sales rep at your local supermarket, drugstore, or shopping center, here are some questions the AARP recommends asking before you select a Medicare plan:
- How much will I have to pay for premiums, deductibles, doctor visits or hospital stays?
- Will my doctors accept the coverage? If not, are there doctors near me who will?
- Will I have to choose hospital and health care providers from a network?
- Will I need referrals to visit specialists?
- Is there a yearly limit on out-of-pocket costs?
- Will the plan cover me if I get sick while traveling in another state?
- What will my prescription drugs cost?
- Are my drugs on the plan’s drug list?
- Does the plan include the pharmacies I currently use?
- Can I get my prescriptions through the mail?
- Does the plan have a 24-hour customer service line?
- Does the plan have a good quality rating?
Medicare.gov suggests asking about any benefits beyond Original Medicare coverage while investigating Medicare health plans. It’s important to understand precisely what coverage you’ll be receiving for your money. There are Medicare plans offering coverage in various areas—prescription drugs, dental, vision, and hearing, to name a few—and it’s vital that you know exactly what’s covered—and to what degree—before purchasing a policy.
Simply believing everything a sales rep tells you could be a costly mistake, too. If you hear something about a health plan that doesn’t seem to add up, it’s always advisable to contact the plan or read its literature carefully. That’s not to suggest sales reps are out to trick you, but there’s always a possibility they’ll misinform you at some point even if they don’t mean to. And there’s always some chance you won’t fully understand some of their answers or explanations. As a precaution, always set out to verify what a sales rep tells you about a health plan.
The best advice is not to rush into making a decision about anything as important to your future and peace of mind as a Medicare health insurance policy. One size doesn’t fit all, so it’s important to assess your healthcare needs in detail and to shop the market for the most cost-effective coverage you can get. Nobody does that better than MedicareMall. Give MedicareMall a call today and you’ll be a step closer to finding the Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage plan that’s right for you.
Leave a comment telling us about your experience with shopping-center Medicare sales reps!
Bread, Bananas, and Health Coverage — Insurance Companies Going Out to Where You Shop © 2012 MedicareMall.com