Medicare Supplement Quotes In NJ – Shopping Tips

May 20, 2016 By Mike Sheeran

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 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:

What is the reputation of the company I am looking at?
Does my local agent work with them? If that matters to you.
Who will I turn to for help if and when needed? Company directly or my agent?
Do they offer discounts for spouses who purchase together or for other reasons?
Do they have a history of high rate increases?
Do they use medical underwriting and will I be able to get a policy approved?
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

Review of Horizon BCBSNJ Omnia – Everything you need to know about Omnia Plans

February 25, 2016 By Mike

Horizon OMNIA Plans

Horizon Blue Cross released their new set of plans as of January 1, 2016 and they have created a ton of press, both good and bad. I won’t go over the criticisms of the plan, but I will cover what patients and business owners need to know before enrolling in one of the Horizon BCBS Omnia plans.

*The short summary is that these are great plans that everyone should look at to save money in premiums and out of pocket costs at their providers.

Horizon BCBS Omnia Explained

Blue Cross released these plans with their major goal of providing some lower priced plans for consumers and encouraging quality of care with financial incentives to your doctors. They hand selected certain providers that have proven success of providing good low cost care and other metrics they decided were important. Some of the goals that were established were; lowering re-admissions to the hospital, infections and other costly issues that can arise through normal course of care. So if you needed surgery and have to be readmitted to the hospital in a month because of complications, the provider would not get any incentives for that. If your doctor does the perfect job every time with no infections, no re-admissions etc.. that provider would receive a financial bonus. Its good for you and the doctors. (As an aside, you would think that would be the goal anyway but…. that’s a story for another day)

Omnia Network

The Horizion Omnia network continues to be confusing to people and I can certainly understand why. All of the literature that Horizon has put out is basically just patting themselves on the back for their great new product and how great the hospitals are and other things that don’t really help with understanding the plan.

The hospitals in the Omnia plans are IDENTICAL to the normal Horizon Managed care network. So if you had HMO, Advantage, POS or EPO, your hospitals have not changed… What has changed is what Tier structure those hospitals fall into. The Omnia plans use a Tier structure so you pay less at Tier 1 providers than you would at Tier 2.. If your provider is Tier 2, you can still visit those doctors but it will be higher cost.

Horizon BCBS List of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Hospitals

Depending on if you are in a small group plan or large group, the Tiers will be slightly different. In South Jersey, there is a large difference. Atlanticare is Tier 1 for Midsize market and Tier 2 for small group. Shore Memorial hospital is Tier 1 for small group and Tier 2 for midsize.

Find your doctor:

Go to HorizonBlue.com and use their provider finder.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][image_with_animation image_url=”2693″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/2″][image_with_animation image_url=”2694″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]When you are doing your search, make sure you select the plan that you have in the drop down list.

Midsize and Large Group:

Select: Omnia

Small Group and Individual:

Select Omnia Silver, Omnia Bronze etc…

Omnia Deductible and Max Out of Pocket

With the exception of the Bronze and H.S.A, the Omnia plans do not have deductibles for Tier 1 providers. You will also notice that there are different maximum out of pockets listed for each Tier.

If you see a Tier 1 provider, that service will accumulate towards your Tier 1 Max and deductible if it applies. Those costs will also cross accumulate to your Tier 2 max.

If you see a a Tier 2 provider, those costs ONLY count towards Tier 2.. They do not cross accumulate back to Tier 1.

Omnia Plan Options

Omnia Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ

Do I need to select a primary care doctor?
1. Nope, although you will pay the lower copay.
Do I need referrals?
1. No, they are all no referral plans
Can I go out of network?
1. No, this is in network only unless it is an emergency
How are prescriptions covered?
1. Prescriptions are all Tier 1
How is urgent care covered?
1. From what I have seen, all urgent care centers are Tier 1 for 2016. Even if the hospital is Tier 2..
Do I get BlueCard nationwide access?
1. The midsize plans do have BlueCard attached, but the small group and individual plans do not.
My doctor says they don’t take Omnia, now what?
1. Double check this.. Many people think that if the provider is not Tier 1, they aren’t part of the network. This is not true. Always double check with the website and ask for clarification. Get help from your broker with this.
How is it fair that Horizon can pick and choose the Tier 1 hospitals?
1. This is one of the criticisms on the plans and we will see what happens. There are many people fighting this.
What if Horizon is told they can’t sell these plans anymore because it is not fair in how they selected their providers?
1. If this does happen, Horizon will likely change the plans at renewal and you will need to select a new plan. Not much different than what they have been doing.
I’m interested in learning more, what do I need to do?
1. You can reach out to me anytime and I will review the plans and prices with you.
What is the best Omnia Plan?
1. I’m going to ignore the benefits and base my decision on the best value. Of all the plans I’ve reviewed, I like the H.S.A option and is what I personally own. The out of pocket limit is much lower than the other plans for their Tier 1 providers at $3500 annually.

Best NJ Dental Plan for Individuals and Families

August 3, 2015 By Mike

Security Life of Denver – Best Individual Dental Plans for NJ

Finding a good dental plan in New Jersey has been almost impossible up to this point for individuals and families. Yes there is the very basic Centurion Plan from Horizon and their Individual Dental Plan but they are really just ok at best. They are more along the lines of discount dental plans and not something like you would find at your employer.

Not only that, you can also purchase an Individual Vision Plan that uses the VSP Network.. Start with a quote by clicking the image above.

How the Security Life Dental Plan works in New Jersey

Plan Options

1) Essential Plan – the essential plan is basic coverage with no network restrictions. Its an indemnity plan so you can use it wherever you choose. The benefits are limited to $500 annually but your cleanings are covered 100% and Basic Coverage (fillings/x-rays) are covered at 80%. They pay 80% and you pay the remaining 20%. There is no coverage for major services on this plan.

2) Advantage Plus

The Advantage Plus plan uses the Maximum Care network so you will get the most benefit by staying in that network. In fact, if you can’t find a dentist in the network, I wouldn’t recommend the plan anyway so make sure you check that network link out.

Moving on..

What makes this plan great and the best NJ Individual Dental Plan is that the benefits are very similar to group dental plans. It offers 100% coverage for basic, and then then benefits for Basic and Major are enhanced each year as long as you keep the plan. It starts out with an annual $1,000 maximum but you can increase that amount to $2,000 by buying up. Check out the full benefits below but in my opinion, this is the best plan I’ve seen that isn’t part of an employer based plan.

Limitations

Ok nothing is perfect. The plan does have some limitations just like any dental plan.

1)Network – make sure your dentist takes it before purchasing the plan.

2)Benefit scales up as you go – If you only want the plan for a year, the benefits aren’t as attractive on the Advantage Plus plan. It gets better after year one as they enhance the benefit.

3)This is just a general limitation on all dental plans.. I get a lot of calls from people who want 100% coverage on day 1 for all their dental ailments. There is no such thing. This is because people wait until the last second to buy their insurance and then expect the insurance company to pay their $1,000 Crown and after which the person will cancel the plan.. Because of this, they uses benefit that increases over time because from a business perspective, they can’t just collect a month of premium and then pay $1,000 only for you to leave the plan a month later. Anyway, read through the benefits on their site..

How to enroll in the Security Life Dental Plan for NJ

If you think this is a good plan for you, and enroll through my link below, I am compensated by Security Life. The price is the same whether it is through me or through any other agent or even direct with the company so that is up to you on how to enroll.

They only do online enrollment which is great and means no paper forms to fill out!! They allow you to enroll any day of the month and the process seems easy and very straightforward.

If you have any questions, you can always contact me at [email protected] and if you want to enroll please use my link below.

Read about more dental plans in NJ here.

Cheapest NJ Medicare Supplement Plan F

July 23, 2015 By Mike

New Jersey Medicare – Plan F

Monthly premium ranges for Medigap Plan F are from the $150’s for a 65 year old male up to as much as $249.87. How much are you paying?

Female age 65 Cheapest Medigap Plan F in New Jersey

I just did a quick quote for a female age 65 in Absecon, NJ and these are currently the cheapest rates for Plan F. If you have someone else in the household with a supplement, these rates can go down as much as 7%. Contact me for an official quote.

Male Age 65 Cheapest Medigap Plan F in New Jersey

The above rates are for the South Jersey region. Depending on your zip code the rates could be more or less so you should always contact me first.

More Information About Medigap Plan F

It is the most comprehensive plan of any of the Medicare Supplements
The coverage is identical regardless of the carrier you choose.
I will repeat, that.. The coverage is identical regardless of the carrier. Do not overpay, just because you recognize the carrier name. We’ve sold almost all the carriers and they all work perfectly.
Some people like to purchase Plan G instead of F and I think that is also a good idea. Please contact me and I will tell you why.
Plan F is the most popular plan sold because it is easy to use and own. Not that the others aren’t as well, but with Plan F, if you get a bill from a provider, it is wrong.. Unless Medicare denied the bill and in that case, we need to take a look.
You can change your plan at any time if you see something cheaper. All you need to do is go through underwriting with some simple medical questions. If you don’t get accepted, oh well. Companies can’t terminate your coverage unless you fail to pay the premiums. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
Any other questions, contact me. I usually email back within the hour.

Amerihealth Medigap Review – 2016

January 16, 2015 By Mike

Amerihealth began selling Medigap plans in New Jersey starting this year and they have been one of the top sellers for good reason. The Amerihealth Medigap plans have been received very well in New Jersey and are a solid choice for anyone wanting a solid brand and great coverage.

Amerihealth Medigap Plans

This year, Amerihealth is selling Medigap Plan F, Medigap Plan N and Plan A. Unfortunately, they don’t also sell Plan G, but plan F is the most comprehensive available so no worries on getting a great supplement plan.

Just like every other Medicare Supplement, the Amerihealth plans can be used anywhere in the country where is Medicare is accepted.

Amerihealth Medigap 2015 Rates

You can download the rates here but please check with me in case they update before I have a chance to update this page.

Additional Benefits

I should have put these up top since they are unique to any of the Medicare Supplement plans in NJ, but they have some fantastic added benefits.

These benefits are part of the healthy lifestyle benefits. The gym benefit is for $150 reimbursement after 120 workouts at an approved gym; they can call member service to see if a gym is approved or to request that a gym be approved. Most facilities are approved. The other benefits include:

Receive up to $150 for joining a qualified weight management program
Receive up to $150 for program enrollment
Receive up to $150 for smoking cessation program enrollment

These benefits are usually reserved for Medicare Advantage plans so the ability to get them through your Plan F or Plan N is great.

How to Apply for a new Amerihealth plan

Very easy! Call or email me. 609-703-3536 or email at [email protected]

Amerihealth is very easy to enroll with just as every other carrier in New Jersey. They don’t require a payment with your application and are one of the few companies that allow monthly payment without a direct draw from your bank account.

One of the slight drawbacks of applying with Amerihealth is that that in my experience they take a bit longer to process applications. With some carriers, I can pull your ID number within 48 hours but with Amerihealth it has been a few weeks. So that being said, if you need a card right away, let me know and we can talk about the best course of action.

If you want to see what the application looks like see it here. Amerihealth Medigap Enrollment Form. Keep in mind, if you are coming from a group plan or are just enrolling in Part B, you do not need to answer the medical questions.

More Information about Amerihealth

I have sold the Amerihealth small and large group medical plans for years as well as their individual health. They continue to offer some of the best service of any of the carriers we work with. Amerihealth is a fully owned subsidiary of Independence Blue Cross from Pennsylvania.

Amerihealth vs Other NJ Medigap Carriers

It ‘s hard to predict what the future will hold for the rates but I don’t predict any significant rate changes in the years to come. While they are one of the best-priced plans and top plan for many folks, they aren’t priced so low that we would expect large increases. When comparing them to AARPMedicare Supplement, Mutual of Omaha, or any of the big companies, the coverage will be the same, but you do get the added benefits of the gym membership reimbursement as well as some of the other benefits.

If you want to read more about Medicare Supplement Plans in NJ, check out my other posts here. NJ Medigap Plans.