Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Policies 

The state of Hawaii 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 Hawaii, the law requires smaller businesses to cover past employees for three months after termination of employment.

 

State Disability Insurance Program 
A small number of states have a system of partial wage replacement for individuals who become disabled while working; Hawaii is one of them. This is awarded independently of Social Security Disability Insurance.

 

State Medicare Savings Program (Premium Support) 
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 Hawaii,

• Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries—individuals are covered who have a monthly income under $1,039 and couples with a monthly income under $1,397; the state pays all premiums for Part B, co-pays and deductibles for Parts A and B

 

• Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries—individuals are covered who have a monthly income under $1,246 and couples with a monthly income under $1,676; the state pays all premiums for Part B

• Qualified Individuals—individuals are covered with a monthly income under $1,402 and for couples with a monthly income under $1,885; the state pays all premiums for Part B

Asset limits on all beneficiaries are $6600 for individuals and $9910 for couples.

 

Hawaii’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) 
Sage PLUS program is Hawaii’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), a program that offers one-to-one counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families. They provide free counseling and assistance via telephone calls, face to face meetings and public education presentations / programs. SAGE counselors are prepared to answer your questions on the following:

• Prescription Drug Plan Coverage

• Medicare Advantage Plans

• Medicare Supplemental Policies (Medigap)

• Medicare Savings Programs and,

• Long Term Care Insurance

 

Low-Income Subsidy (“extra-help”) for Prescription Drugs 
This program is a subsidy for 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 Georgia in 2012, the low-income subsidy was $30.41

 

If you live in Hawaii, 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.