NJ Insurance Plans - Mike Sheeran, CFP

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Mike Sheeran

NJ Dental Insurance – Dental Insurance Options for New Jersey Residents

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NJ Dental Insurance PlansMost doctors would agree that regular dental checkups are important not only for your teeth but for your overall well being. Looking at NJ Dental Insurance plans is a good way to keep your costs down and make sure you can get the care you need it.

I will go over some of the things you should consider when going over the dental plan, some of the companies that sell dental insurance in New Jersey and some other tips to help you out.

horizonblue dental

NJ Dental Insurance Plan Considerations

  1. Dental Network – dental networks can be a bit tricky. A lot of times, the more established dentists will only accept the pricier dental plans. Make sure that your particular dentist is in the network or check if the plan has acceptable out of network benefits. If your dentist does not participate, you should probably skip the insurance altogether or consider switching dental providers.
  2. Plan Design – most plans fit into two broad categories. They are either discount plans or full fledged dental plans. Discount dental plans will provide network discounts for all of your services. Preventive care may be covered 100% but that will be about it. An example of this would be the Horizon BCBS Dental Companion Plan or their PPO Access Plan. A full dental plan will usually cover preventive at 100%, basic at 80% and major at 50%. Decide what level of benefits you are comfortable with.
  3. NJ Dental Insurance Pricing – If you are covered by a group plan, the discount dental options are usually around $10 per single employee and the full fledged dental plans are between $30 and $50 per month. Prices will vary with network, level of coverage etc… An example of what can make the price change can be found here in my article on the UCR and MAC dental options.
  4. Individual vs group – Small business dental plans will provide many more options than the individual dental insurance options. The only individual plans I know of are the Horizon Individual Dental plan and Horizon Dental Centurion. Compare each of your options carefully to see what may be best for you. You may personally find that an individual dental plan will suit you perfectly. See my post here for more information on the .Horizon Individual Dental Insurance Plans
  5. Dental Insurance Price vs Benefits – if you are blessed with good teeth and only get cleanings twice a year, maybe you should reconsider paying for  a plan that is $50 per month. Cleanings twice a year may cost a you a few hundred dollars with no insuranc, so keep that in mind before you spend $600 in premium. Carefully examine a typical year for yourself and compare the premium to the actual benefit you can receive.
  6. Exclusions – before you purchase the plan make sure there are no exclusions for services that you plan on getting. Not all plans cover orthodontia and most if not all won’t cover cosmetic dentistry.
  7. Dental Waiting Periods: Most plans will have a wait period for major services. These can be a year or more. If you purchase a plan to get a crown covered, you are probably out of luck unless you had prior dental coverage. The carriers will impose this wait because they know people will only buy the plan to get the major service covered and then cancel it.

How to Get NJ Dental Insurance

You can see the list of companies that sell plans below, but I have a preferred plan and insurance company. For the longest time, we had very few options in NJ for dental plans, but Security Life of Denver recently added the Garden State to their list of approved states so we now have the option.

It’s not a familiar name like Horizon BCBS or some of the others but it is really convenient to purchase and you can start a plan any day of the month. They also offer a discount plan, a full dental plan as well as vision plans through VSP and Eyemed. They have really done a good job of packaging everything together.

If you want to see more about that plan, you can check my post out and if you decide to enroll, please use my link for Security Life Dental and Vision.

 

Ready to move ahead with your Dental Insurance? Here are some companies that sell small business dental insurance or individual dental insurance.

Dental Insurance Companies

  1. Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
  2. Delta Dental
  3. Standard Insurance
  4. Guardian Life Insurance
  5. United Concordia
  6. Oxford Health Plans/UnitedHealthcare
  7. Aetna
  8. Assurant
  9. Aflac
  10. MetLife
  11. Security Life of Denver **Best Dental Plan for Individuals in my opinion

 

Who Should Not Buy a Dental Plan

I’m going to mention this only because this is my most common call and email.. If you were just told that you needed a root canal or crown or something expensive, every single plan will exclude these major services for at least the first six months. The reason being, is that they know people will buy the plan, get their crown paid for and then terminate.

Just like any other insurance, you need to buy it before you actually need it. No surprises here.

Also, if your dentist doesn’t take any insurance or doesn’t accept the insurance you are considering, I would hold off. There is usually some coverage for out of network services, but it makes the whole program not quite as good of a deal. In fact, you may end up spending more in this scenario after adding in the premiums. I would run the numbers and see what you are looking at.

 

 

Need more information on getting dental insurance for yourself or your New Jersey based business? Contact me here for information or a quote.

Read more about the NJ Dental Plans I sell and reviews.

Medigap Plans New Jersey – New Jersey Medicare Supplement Options

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This will be a resource post to New Jersey residents that are shopping for a Medigap Plan in NJ. These plans are also referred to as Medicare Supplement plans in NJ.

 

If you already know what a Medigap Plan is, feel free to skip ahead to the section on the rates for Medigap Plans in New Jersey

The fastest way to get the information you need is to go ahead and send me a quote request. I usually can respond within the hour or will get to you as soon as I can. Quotes are always free and I’m happy to give you my opinion on all the Medigap plans. 

What is a Medigap policy?

A Medigap policy (also called “Medicare Supplement Insurance”) is private health insurance that’s designed to supplement Original Medicare. This means it helps pay some of the health care costs (“gaps”) that Original Medicare doesn’t cover (like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles). If you have Original Medicare and a Medigap policy, Medicare will pay its share of the Medicare approved amounts for covered health care costs. Then your Medigap policy pays its share. A Medigap policy is different from a Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) because those plans are ways to get Medicare benefits, while a Medigap policy only supplements your Original Medicare benefits. Note: Medicare doesn’t pay any of the costs for you to get a Medigap policy. Every Medigap policy must follow Federal and state laws designed to protect you, and the policy must be clearly identified as “Medicare Supplement Insurance.” Medigap insurance companies in most states can only sell you a “standardized” Medigap policy identified by letters A through N. Each standardized Medigap policy must offer the same basic benefits, no matter which insurance company sells it. Cost is usually the only difference between Medigap policies with the same letter sold by different insurance companies.

What do each of the different Medigap Plans in New Jersey Cover?

New Jersey Medigap Coverage Chart

See chart

Medigap NJ Chart

 

What is the best Medigap Policy to Buy in New Jersey?

Most people will purchase either Plan F, Plan G or Plan N.

Plan F: Plan F will cover all of your expenses except for prescriptions 100%. It is the easiest plan to work with because you will never have to pay a copay or worry about a bill. This means it is also the most expensive plan.

Plan G:  Plan G is identical to Plan F except you need to pay your annual Part B deductible. in 2016, the Part B deductible is $162. Once you meet that deductible, this plan will work exactly like Plan F with everything covered 100%. You can typically expect to spend about $20 less per month compared to Plan F. You will save roughly $240 and only need to pay your deductible.

Plan N: The lowest plan we usually look at is Plan N and will fall right around $40-$50 less per month than Plan F. Just like Plan G, you will need to pay your Part B deductible and then also once that is met, you will need to pay a copay of $20 at your doctor. For emergency rooms, you have a $50 copay. One last thing to note is that Plan N does not cover excess charges. Excess charges can happen if your provider does not accept Medicare assignment and it gives them the right to bill you a little extra. It is 15% above what Medicare would allow for that expense.

Which is Best?

I personally would choose Plan G, followed by Plan N and lastly Plan F.

From what I have seen for at least the five years, Plan G has much lower increases over time when compared to Plan F. You are also guaranteed to save in premium when compared to Plan F. Since plan G can only be purchased by those that are in their initial enrollment or can medically qualify, it has a healthier pool of people and thus has lower claims over time keeping the prices more stable.

 

Best Medicare Supplement for Couples

There are a few companies in NJ that offer discounts for spouses and even for people that are in the same household. My favorites are Aetna and Mutual of Omaha. If you are turning 65 and your spouse isn’t too far behind, I would look at one of these companies first. When you add in the discounts of up to 7%, it brings the prices down and puts them at the top of the list for best pricing.

 

Best Medicare Supplement Company in NJ

I often get asked which company is the best and ultimately the company doesn’t matter a whole lot. I would personally pick one of the top three for pricing, look at how recently their rates changed and factor in a few other options. I would not put any weight in the company name. AARP, Horizon and others are well known but they will not process your claim any differently than a no name company. Those two may still be your best choice at the time of enrolling, but I wouldn’t seek out anyone in particular with the exception of the companies that have the spousal/household discounts. The great thing about Medicare Supplements is that they are very easy for consumers to use. I have never received a service call for a plan from any company we sell. They are very easy.

 

What insurance companies sell Medigap Plans in New Jersey? And how much do the Medigap plans in NJ cost?

Please reach out to me with the contact form on the right for up to date quotes.

2015 NJ Medigap Plans and Rates

*If older than 65 please contact me for a quote on your medicare supplement

1) NJ Medigap Female Non Tobacco Rates

2)NJ Medigap Female Tobacco Rates

3)NJ Medigap Male Non Tobacco Rates

4)NJ Medigap Male Tobacco Rates

Keep in mind that the tobacco rates are only applied if you are not in a guaranteed issued period. If you are 65 then this is likely the case.

 

 

Amerihealth NJ Medigap

Amerihealth Medigap plans were new for this year so I didn’t have a chance to work them into the intial post. Please reach out to me for a quote. They are in the top for best prices and are the only company I know of that offer a gym reimbursement and some other great benefits. Amerihealth is a subsidiary of Independence Blue Cross out of Pennsylvania and have been offering great group and individual plans for years.

These are rates from the past.

Please contact me or the insurance company for most up to date quote and the Medigap quote for your specific age. I will also assist in comparing each of the plans.

 

Medicare Supplement Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Do I need referrals?
    1. No. All Medigap plans are no referral
  2. Do I need to use certain doctors and do I need to make sure my doctor takes my Medigap plan?
    1. No. The only thing your doctor needs to know is that you have Original Medicare. That is your network. The supplement company, regardless of who it is, will pay the claim automatically if Medicare pays. If Medicare denies the claim, they will follow suit.
  3. How much do these plans go up every year?
    1. We usually see somewhere around 4% but Plan G has been 0% pretty often. There is a base rate that changes as you get older.
  4. Does Medicare and Medigap cover dental?
    1. No unfortunately not unless it is something medical in nature.
  5. When I do need to sign up?
    1. You can get onto a Medigap plan 3 months prior to your enrolling in Part B and 3 months after with no medical questions. You can change your plan anytime after that but you will need to go through medical underwriting.
  6. I’ve had the same plan for a while and its getting expensive, can I switch plans?
    1. Yes, just ask me for a quote and we will see what looks best. You will need to medically qualify and once you are accepted, you will cancel your old plan. Its a very easy process and most people can qualify.
  7. What if I apply for a plan with underwriting and I get denied?
    1. If you already have a plan, they can’t cancel that based on your current medical status. Other than that, nothing will happen.
  8. What if buy a plan in NJ and I move to another state?
    1. Depending on the company, they will transition you to your new state’s rates. Not all companies operate in every state though so you may keep the same rates.
  9. Do these plans cover prescriptions?
    1. Nope. Some prescriptions are covered under Part B, but you will need to purchase a Part D plan and I can help you with that.
  10. I’ve had Part B for a while but was covered under a group plan through my employer or my spouses, now what?
    1. You have 63 days to purchase a plan with no medical underwriting. The carriers restrict the plan though and you can get Plan F with no medical questions. If can move quickly, I would apply for Plan G with the best company and if you can’t qualify, then do Plan F.
  11. I thought Obamacare said an insurance company can’t deny coverage based on your health?
    1. You are correct, but these don’t follow those new affordable care act guidelines.
  12. I have Medicare Advantage now, but want a supplement?
    1. About two to three months before January 1, we will want to try and get you qualified for a supplement plan. If you are accepted, we will have the plan start January 1st. We will then enroll you in standalone Part D plan for January 1. That new Part D enrollment will terminate your Medicare Advantage plan.
  13. Can I pay for supplement through my social security?
    1. Unfortunately not. Most companies will require auto pay through your checking account if you pay monthly. If that is not ok, you can pay quarterly or we will put you with a company that allows paying monthly by check ( Amerihealth ideally or AARP)
  14. How long will it take to get my cards?
    1. Each company is a little different but for Aetna has been the fastest and will approve you in 24-48 hours with cards issued shortly thereafter. If you need to go through underwriting, it can take a few weeks.
  15. What else do I need?
    1. If you don’t have any money set aside for final expenses or wish to leave money to charity, let me know and we can quote a final expense life insurance policy or something that will fit your needs. There are plans that have no medical questions so its very easy to get started. You can get these plans any time but the sooner the better since the prices go up quite a bit as you get older and into your 70’s or early 80’s.
  16. Why would I go with you and not some other broker or direct to the company?
    1. I don’t think I’m better than anyone out there, but I promise to give you my best and will make sure you understand the process and exactly what you are buying. My goal is to answer everything upfront so you are completely comfortable with your decision.  I know when I am buying something new, I am uneasy about the unknown. When I work with you, I take that into consideration and map the whole thing out for you so that you can put your mind at ease. My prices will be identical to other brokers and the companies direct so I try to make your buying experience as easy as possible. I do face to face meetings, online enrollments, fax, webinars, regular mail or will work with you however it fits into your schedule.

 

Medicare Supplement Resources

Medicare Supplement Guide 2015

 

 

Medicare Supplement Plan G

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Cheapest Medicare Supplement Plan G  in NJ

Medicare Plan G is my number one choice for a Medigap Plan in NJ. We sell the most of the Medigap Plan F but that is because a lot of people feel most at ease with that plan.

 

Medigap chart plan f vs plan G

 

 

Medicare Supplement Plan G Benefits

As you can see in the chart above, Plan G is identical to Plan F except that you have to pay your $162 Part B deductible.  After that, everything is covered 100%.

 

Plan G Rates for Female Age 65 Absecon, NJ 08201

cheapest medigap plan g in nj for female age 65

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan G Rates for Male Age 65 Absecon, NJ 08201

cheapest medigap plan g for male age 65 in south jersey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like all of the supplement plans, Plan G is portable so you can take it with you throughout the country. Also since Plan G picks up excess charges, there is no worry about your physician accepting Medicare assignment. In addition, Plan G also has some limited Foreign Travel Emergency Benefits.

 

Medicare Supplement Plan G vs Plan F

Many people buy Plan F thinking it is the best option. In many ways it is but Plan G is usually the best buy when comparing the two. As long as the annual premium for Plan G is at least $140 less than the cheapest Plan F, I would buy G every time.

Another thing to consider is that there is a lot of adverse selection in Plan F. That plan tends to draw in people that have higher claims on average so the pool of individuals will tend to have higher rate increases over time. You can potentially sidestep some of that adverse selection by taking Plan G instead.

 

Medicare Supplement Plan G Drawbacks

Since Plan G is one of the best options, it is also the second most expensive. Before purchasing this plan you must be prepared to pay increasing prices as you get older. These plans are medically underwritten when you are out of your guaranteed issue period so there is the possibility that you won’t qualify for other coverage later if you find you can’t afford this plan.

If you are coming from a group plan and you are offered guaranteed issue rights, Part G isn’t part of that offer. You can only get Plan F. My suggestion to most people, is to apply for Plan G right away and go through medical underwriting. If you qualify, you are all set, but if you can’t then you still have time to purchase F before your guarantee period expires.

 Comparing Plan G to Plan N

When I run quotes for Medicare beneficiaries, I will usually also show Plan N to compare everything out. Plan N will be a bit cheaper than Plan G so is a good option but it does have some notable differences. Just like G, you need to pay your upfront Part B deductible, but then instead of your physician visits being covered 100%, you will pay a $20 copay. At the urgent care or emergency room, you will pay $50.

The last notable difference is that Plan N, you are not covered for excess charges. Excess charges don’t happen very often but if your provider doesn’t accept Medicare assignment, they are within their right to charge an additional 15% over the Medicare allowable amount. Again this doesn’t come up very often, but it does from time to time.

If you don’t mind the possibility of the excess charges or the copays here and there, I would also take a long look at Plan N. Either of the two plans will serve you well over time.

 

Insurance Companies selling Plan G in New Jersey

Here is my list as of 3/1/2016 from the New Jersey State Health Insurance Plan site. (NJ SHIP)

  • Aetna
  • American Progressive
  • Americo
  • Bankers Life
  • CSI
  • Colonial Penn
  • Combined
  • Genworth
  • Gerber Life
  • Horizon BCBS
  • IAC
  • Loyal American
  • Manhattan Life
  • Shenandoah Life
  • Sterling Life
  • United of Omaha

Of the list above, some of my favorites are Aetna and United of Omaha because they are very fast to issue policies, have some of the best rates, offer spousal discounts and are very easy to work with.

 

 

Request More Information On Medicare Supplement Plan G

If you are interested in Plan G, I would love the opportunity to earn your business. Please contact me for your:

Medicare Supplement Plan G Quote

Read more about NJ Medicare Supplement Plans

 

Medicare Supplement Quotes In NJ – Shopping Tips

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Medicare Supplement Quotes should be easy to get, but sometimes your head can spin with all of the different options. New Jersey has eleven companies that sell Medicare Supplements so I’d like to share some tips on getting  the best plan.

 

Medicare Supplement Quotes– Step 1 – Brief Review

Evaluate your options. The State of NJ has put together some nice resources and I also have put together some of my own. You can read about Medicare Supplement Plan F,  and Medicare Supplement Plan G here.

The plans I think you should focus your time on are Medigap Plan F, Medigap Plan G, Medigap Plan N and Medigap Plan F High Deductible.  Take a look at the chart below to get a feel for what each plan will cover.

medicare supplement

Medicare Supplement Quotes – Step 2 – Get Quotes

Now that you have a feel for what plan you may want to consider, it is time to start getting some quotes.

You can get Medicare Supplement Quotes from me by using my online request or calling me directly at Glenn Insurance at 609-641-3000.

You can also contact the insurance companies directly or use the local insurance agent that you are comfortable with.

If you are doing most of your research online, try to only send your information to insurance agencies and not “quote farms”. Some sites will take your contact information and sell it to many agents so that they may contact you.  (My site does not and will never do this).

Medicare Supplement Quotes – Step 3 – Analyze and Purchase

You have now done your review in step 1, gotten your Medicare Supplement Quotes in step 2 and now are ready to buy.

I like to compare each of the plans by making a spreadsheet and compare the prices between all of the plans and also take into consideration the company I am dealing with.

Some things to consider before buying:

  1. What is the reputation of the company I am looking at?
  2. Does my local agent work with them? If that matters to you.
  3. Who will I turn to for help if and when needed? Company directly or my agent?
  4. Do they offer discounts for spouses who purchase together or for other reasons?
  5. Do they have a history of high rate increases?
  6. Do they use medical underwriting and will I be able to get a policy approved?
  7. If I am choosing Plan F or Plan G, will I be able to afford the premiums in the future?

Go through your review and buy your plan. If you have followed the three steps, you will have made a sold choice for your Medicare Supplement Plan.

 

I would love the opportunity to earn your business.

Please contact me for your Medicare Supplement Quote.  609-641-3000

Read more about NJ Medigap Plans Here.

How to Get Dental Insurance in 5 Minutes – Dental Insurance for Seniors and Individuals

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This will be a quick guide to get the best dental insurance at an affordable price. You can do it all in about 5 minutes!

This will cover dental insurance for seniors and the best indivdual insurance for individuals. I’ll also show you how to package your health and dental coverage and include vision coverage too if you need it.

Five Minute Guide to provide:

  • Best Dental Insurance For Individuals
  • Dental Plans for Seniors
  • Affordable Dental Insurance
  • Or anyone else that needs dental insurance

If you fit the above criteria, here is the plan I recommend.

 

Horizon Individual Dental for New Jersey Residents

dental insurance for seniors

Full Horizon BCBS Summary Here: Horizon Individual Dental

How much is the dental insurance?

  • $180 per year per adult
  • $68.40 per year per dependent child

That comes to about $15 per month for an adult.

Dental Coverage Details

  • 12 month contract – you pay for the full year upfront
  • You must select a primary cary dentist from the list – Horizon Provider Directory
  • Preventive and Basic Care is covered 100%
  • Major Services are covered with a 30% discount in year one
  • Major Discount changes to 40% in year two and 50% in year three
  • Very affordable and one of the few plans available to New Jersey residents to purchase as an individual

 Look Good? Get the Dental Coverage Started in Five Minutes

  1. Download the Individual Dental Kit – this is a fillable pdf – Keep this open.
  2. Look up a primary care dentist and write down the code or put it directly into the kit you just downloaded – Horizon Directory – use the advanced search options to select “Horizon Individual Dental” from the plan options. This will only search dentists accepting this plan.
  3. Finish filling in the rest of the applicatoin that is in the kit.
  4. Print sign and mail.
  5. That’s it. If you mail it in before the 15th, the coverage will start on the 1st of th next month. If after the 15th, it will start the following month.

 

Package Health and Dental Coverage

If you are also needing individual health coverage,  we can take care of that too.

Your options for individual health:

  1. COBRA or NJ Continuation
  2. Individual Health Program – Horizon BCBS – Amerihealth – I would look at the Amerihealth PPO, Horizon Direct Access Plan A and the EPO Plus Plan
  3. Medicare with Medicare Supplement and Part D – NJ Medigap
  4. NJ Protect – if you have been without coverage for over six months.

 

Need Vision Coverage Too?

Go direct through VSP Insurance and purchase an individual vision plan. These are a great deal and just as easy as setting up the dental.

Get VSP Coverage for Individuals