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Monday, July 13, 2009

The Combination of Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B with a Medigap Plan

By Derrick Johnson

The majority of individuals carry Medicare Part A along with Medicare Part B. By combing these two parts of Medicare the individual has coverage for all areas of Medicare. When combined these two parts of Medicare together provide comprehensive coverage yet it is not complete protection

Until 2003 Medicare has not provided coverage for outpatient prescription medications. The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act was signed into law in 2003. The new program did not begin until 2006. Laws passed by Congress allow Medicare the right to determine what it will and will not cover including prescription medications. One must fully understand the program as all medical treatments are subject to Medicare approval.

Medicare Part A and Part B are responsible for different types of expenses; they are also subject to different types of deductibles, co-payments, and other benefit limitations. In reality, it is as if the insured were covered by two different insurance companies, or a third, if you consider Medicare Advantage.

In order for medical expenses to be covered by Medicare they must be medically required and determined to be appropriate treatment for the illness as determined by physicians. Medicare must approve the treatment and it must have been ordered by a physician. Medicare will not provide coverage for experimental treatments or unique procedures. Medicare participants have the right to appeal the Medicare decision if a claim is denied for payment.

Medicare must first approve an individual charge before any Medicare Supplements or Medigap plans will pay the remaining portion.

Plan letters A-L are being used to identify the 12 Medicare Supplement plan choices. All plans labeled with the identical letter do the exact same thing. The only difference is that one company may charge substantially more for the same plan letter that another company is offering.

The most popular plan of the twelve plan choices is Plan F. Plan F covers 100% of all overcharges and that is why most people choose it. Overcharges are the amount of the Part B expense which exceeds the Medicare allowable amount. Because the majority of hospitals and physicians except the Medicare approved amount, Plan F may not be necessary. Alternative plans such as Plans C, D or G may be a better value.

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