Medicare Supplement (Medigap) Policies

Missouri requires insurers to offer a Medicare Supplement policy to adults under sixty-five afflicted with disability.

Mini-COBRA Policies (small group)

Missouri mandates small employer continuation coverage for nine months following separation although insurers can drop some services for those separated (e.g. dental, vision care).

Medicare Savings Program (premium support)Missouri has three Medicare Savings Programs:

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries (QMBs): For individuals with a monthly income under $903 and for couples with a monthly income under $1215, the state pays all premiums for Part B and all Co-Pays and Deductibles for Medicare Part A & Part B.
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries (SLMBs): For individuals with income under $1083 or couples with income under $1457, the state pays premiums for Part B.
Qualified Individuals (QIs): For individuals with income under $1219 or for couples with an income under $1640, the state pays premiums for Part B.

To qualify for any one of these programs, participants must have assets below $6,600 or be part of a couple with assets below $9,910.

High-Risk Pool
The Missouri Health Insurance Pool is open to state residents on the basis of HCTC, HIPAA and Medical Eligibility.
http://www.mhip.org/state_eligibility.html

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Missouri CLAIM is Missouri’s state health insurance assistance program. It is staffed by 250 trained, volunteer counselors providing free advice about Medicare to state residents. Services can be accessed by calling in, filling out an online form or attending a CLAIM event.
www.missouriclaim.org

State Tax Credits for Health Insurance
Missouri offers a nonrefundable tax credit to self-employed persons otherwise not eligible for the federal income tax health insurance deduction against personal income tax liability. The credit amounts to the portion of the taxpayer’s federal tax liability incurred due to such taxpayer’s inclusion of such payments in federally adjusted gross income.

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 Missouri in 2012, the low-income subsidy was $32.05 per month.

If you live in Missouri, 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, or MediGap Plan for you.