Best Resources for Comparing Medicare Plans
Best Medicare Resources
Medicare is complex – here are some Medicare resources that can help you get the information you need to make better decisions about your plan coverage.
Over 60 million Americans are eligible for Medicare. If you think the government has made it easy for people to compare, think again.
The Medicare choices you make are important – very important. They can be irreversible or at least difficult to change. Making the wrong choice can impact your health care. It can also cost you money; a lot of money.
Have we sufficiently made it clear that getting as much information as you can is vital. This is true if you are just becoming eligible for Medicare. It’s also true if you are already on Medicare and not happy with your current coverage.
Insurance companies and marketers spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year on television ads. They all invite you to call their Medicare hotline. And when you are about to turn 65, your mailbox is filled with mailers from insurance companies and agents.
The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance believes that INFORMATION IS POWER. With that in mind, we’d like to point out a variety of Medicare resources available to help consumers. We welcome hearing from you as well as your suggestions of resources to add.
Medicare Resources: Find Local Medicare Insurance Agents
The Association makes available an online directory that lists local Medicare insurance agents.
Access is free and completely private. Enter on the right hand side of this webpage.
Simply enter your Zip Code. Instantly, the directory will show you agents listed in your area. See their phone number and email them privately.
Read 10 questions to ask Medicare agents about their experience, the number of plans they can discuss with you and important information like rate increases and future support.
Medicare.gov’s Plan Finder
The government website for Medicare (Medicare.gov) can help you compare Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D). It can also provide information on Medicare Supplement (also called Medigap) and Part D drug coverage.
You can create an account or proceed without doing so.
The government’s website is especially ideal for those who take drugs. Have your prescriptions ready to enter. The system can help you find out if you can get better coverage.
Read what Medicare.gov misses. Click the link.
State Health Insurance Assistance (SHIPs)
SHIP offers assistance designed to help seniors navigate the complexities of Medicare. The State-run programs have people ready to assist. That said, many are volunteers and often we hear from consumers who find they lack the full knowledge of all available options.
You can visit their website to find your local SHIP office.
Coming Soon: Easy Medicare Drug Plan Comparison
Seniors with Medicare are able to change their drug plan coverage once a year during Medicare Annual Enrollment.
The Association is working with a third-party partner to offer a private online drug plan comparison tool. You will be able to use this tool to enter your medications and see if your plan is the best coverage for the coming year.
Other Medicare Resources from AAMSI
Here are links to pages on our website that can provide valuable information.
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