Medicare Information

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MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTS

Michael Glasser, Insurance Broker License #0D12569
Tel: 415-992-9374 / Fax: 415-993-9374

Why Purchase Medicare Supplements?

Medicare is divided into two parts. Part A, available to most Americans without a monthly premium, helps pay for hospital bills. Medicare Part B is available for a monthly premium and covers most costs of doctors' services. When you turn 65 and begin to use Medicare as your health insurance, you may decide that you need more coverage than Medicare Parts A and B provide.

Here are some examples of the gaps in Medicare:

With Medicare, you pay deductibles.

With Medicare, you often pay for a share of the covered services.

With Medicare Part A, in the calendar year 2006, you must pay a $912 deductible when you are hospitalized. After 60 days in the hospital you pay $228 a day with that cost increasing after 90 days. A new benefit period, with another $912 deductible, starts when you have been out of the hospital for 60 consecutive days.

Medicare Part B requires you to pay the first $110 of your doctor bills.

With Medicare Part B, you pay 20 percent of the doctor's Medicare-approved fees.

Medicare does not provide any prescription drug benefits.

Many private insurance companies sell policies for the specific purpose of filling the gaps in coverage with Medicare. These plans are often referred to as "medigap" policies.

In all states (except Mass., Minn., and Wis.), Federal law requires insurance companies to sell medigap policies that are one of 10 standard policies. These policies must be labeled with the letters A through J to make it simple for consumers to compare policies.

Michael Glasser, Insurance Broker License #0D12569
Tel: 415-992-9374, Ext.8422 / E-mail mginsurance@usa.com
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