Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Policies 

The state of Florida requires insurers to sell Medicare Supplement policies to people under sixty-five—inclusive of people with ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease).

 

Mini-COBRA (small group) 
Federal Law requires large businesses to provide health insurance for their former employees up to eighteen months after a split. In most cases, smaller businesses (2-19 employees) are required to cover their employees—mini-Cobra policies. However each state has different eligibility for “mini-Cobra” companies. In Florida, the law requires smaller businesses to cover past employees for twenty-nine months after termination of employment.

 

High Risk Pool 
Many states offer a public plan for those citizens who have been denied coverage in the private market (or who’ve been charged very high premiums) because carriers believe they’d be too expensive to insure. In Florida this high-risk pool is eligible to beneficiaries however it is closed to new enrollment.

 

State Medicare Savings Program 
Most states have a form of premium support for low-income Medicare beneficiaries; the amount of support is directly correlated to the beneficiary’s income as a percentage of the Federal poverty level.

 

In Florida:

 

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries—individuals are covered who have a monthly income under $903 and couples with a monthly income under $1,215, The state pays all premiums for Part B, co-pays and deductibles for Medicare Part A and Part B;

• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries—individuals are covered who have a monthly income under $1,083 and couples with a monthly income under $1,457, the state pays premium for Part B;

• Qualified Individuals—individuals are covered with a monthly income under $1,219 and for couples with a monthly income under $1,640 and the state pays premium for part B.

 

Please note that for all types of beneficiaries there is an asset limit of $6,600 for individuals and $9,900 for couples.

 

Florida State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) 
Florida’s Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders Program (SHINE) us a free program offered by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. SHINE is run in unison with the federally funded national SHIP program. The SHINE program is provided in order to help seniors make informed decisions when it comes to Medicare and health plans. SHINE services are free and unbiased. Counselors are there to help seniors answer questions on:

 

• Prescription Drug Plan Coverage

• Medicare Advantage Plans

• Medicare Supplemental Policies (Medigap)

• Medicare Savings Programs

• Long Term Care Insurance

 

Low-Income Subsidy (“extra-help”) for Prescription Drugs 
This program is a subsidy for Medicare Part D recipients with resources under $13,070 (or $26,120 for a couple) to receive money towards a Medicare prescription drug plan. The benchmark of support is different depending on which region of the country you live in. In Florida in 2012, the low-income subsidy was $23.82.

 

If you live in Florida, and you are interested in getting a Medicare Plan, please contact the Medicare experts at eAmeriFamily Insurance.  They are industry veterans and will guide you through the process of getting the right Medicare, Medicare Advantage, MediGap, or Medicare Supplement Plan for you.