At the Benefit Link we work with great insurance companies offering Medicare Supplement plans for Maryland residents.
Many offer the most popular plans like Plan F and Plan G. Let us assist with the basics. Maryland Medicare Plans include 10 standardized options, lettered A – N. Each insurance company must offer at least Plan A, but companies can offer any of the other plans as well.
Our agency works with some of the best Maryland Medicare Plan F and Plan G insurance companies, such as Aetna, Bankers Fidelity, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, Mutual of Omaha, and Transamerica.
You can find a complete list of our Medicare insurance providers here.
Finding a Maryland Medicare plan is easy if you work with an independent agency like ours. We can provide details on the available Medicare supplements as well as information about Medicare Advantage plans in Maryland.
Like most states, Maryland allows residents who are either disabled or age 65 and older to qualify for Medicare. About 15% of Maryland’s residents qualify for Medicare currently. We expect to increase as the boomer generation continues to age-in to Medicare.
You are eligible for Medicare if you are age 65 and you are either a citizen or a permanent resident who has lived here in the U. S. for more than 5 years. Some people under age 65 also qualify for Medicare early due to disability.
If you are already collecting Social Security benefits, then you will be automatically enrolled at age 65. Just look for your Medicare card in your mailbox about 1 – 2 months before your 65th birthday.
If you are not yet taking income benefits, then you need to enroll in Medicare. You can do this at a local Social Security office, or you can go online to Social Security’s website to enroll. Your initial enrollment window for Medicare begins 3 months before you birthday and runs through 3 months after your birthday. As long as you enroll during this window, there will be no late penalties.
Some people who are still working at age 65 may decide to postpone enrollment into Medicare Part B. As long as your employer coverage has 20 or more employees, this is fine. Your employer coverage will be primary and your Medicare Maryland will be secondary.
Most states offer ten unique Medigap plan options, and Maryland is no exception. When a resident turns 65, he or she can qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A as long as he or she has worked at least 40 quarters in the United States. Beneficiaries must pay for Medicare Part B and premiums can vary based on level of income.
Since traditional Medicare does not include drug coverage, residents will want to purchase a standalone Maryland Part D Drug plan. Although prescription drug plans are voluntary, delaying enrollment without other creditable coverage can result in significant penalties. Part D drug plans also provide catastrophic coverage against future drug needs. Fortunately, there are some very inexpensive Part D drug plans options in this state.
Maryland Medigap Plan F is a popular plan option, since it provides first dollar coverage of all Medicare deductibles and coinsurance that normally a beneficiary would have to pay out of pocket. Although the prices may vary in different counties, the benefits for Plan F are always the same.
With first dollar coverage, you won’t pull your wallet out for ANY Medicare Part A or B covered services. Even a knee replacement will be paid 100% by Medicare and your Medicare supplement Plan F. Medigap plan F has been a popular seller for decades for this reason.
In 2020 though, Plan F will begin phasing out. People already enrolled in Plan F can keep their plan. Everyone else will need to choose a different plan going forward. One of the most popular alternatives is likely to Maryland Medigap Plan G.
Plan G works exactly like Plan F with one exception. You will pay the Part B outpatient deductible once per year. After that is paid, the plan will function exactly like Plan F for the rest of the year.
Medigap Plan G has lower premiums, so sometimes you may find out that it is more cost effective than Plan F anyway. Also, we have found that over the last few years, Plan G in Maryland has had lower rate increases than Plan F at several insurance companies. This provides an extra opportunity for savings.
Lastly, Medicare will not be phasing out Plan G, so you will be able to keep this plan going forward.
Maryland also has a number of Medicare Advantage plan carriers. In these plans, you agree to use a network of doctors. Premiums are often lower because of this. Many Advantage plans have a built-in Part D plan.
Unlike Medicare supplements, Maryland Medicare Advantage plans pay instead of Medicare.
Members will pay copays for various medical services like doctor visits, lab-work, hospital stays, and ambulance rides. Before enrolling, you should carefully review the plan’s summary of benefits to be sure that like the coverage. You should also check with your favorite physicians and hospitals to see if they are in the network.
One good thing about Medicare Advantage plans is that they have only one health question. This makes it easy to get approved. However, you can only enroll or disenroll from a Maryland Medicare Advantage plan at certain times of the year.
You can compare costs for Medicare plans in Maryland easily. Just reach out to us here at The Benefit Link and we can provide a list of plans operating in your area. We’ll work to determine which plans your doctor accepts. We’ll also check to be sure the plan’s drug formulary includes your medications.
Our service is 100% free. You can reach us at (972) 236-3348.
There is no charge to clients for our services. We would be honored to help walk you through this process!
The Benefit Link, a Licensed Insurance Agency with its physical office in Texas, employs insurance agents (producers), and through such agents, can provide these services to clients in all 50 States of the USA. We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
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The Benefit Link, a Licensed Insurance Agency with its physical office in Texas, employs insurance agents (producers), and through such agents, can provide these services to clients in all 50 States of the USA. By clicking on any form, you authorize The Benefit Link to call you and send pre-recorded messages, text messages, emails, and in-app Facebook messages to you about The Benefit Link’s products and services at the telephone number and/or email address you have on file with Facebook, or any other telephone number, email address or contact information that you provide to The Benefit Link, including your mobile phone, landline or other phone, if provided, using an automated dialer or email system, even if you are on the national or state “Do Not Call” list. The Benefit Link works with 3rd party technology providers, including session replay technology, and by clicking on any form, you are giving express prior consent for your data to be shared with the 3rd party technology providers. You understand that your consent is not a requirement to purchase products and services from The Benefit Link. Message and data rates may apply, and you can opt out anytime.
https://thebenefitlink.com/policies/ We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program.
The Benefit Link, a Licensed Insurance Agency with its physical office in Texas, employs insurance agents (producers), and through such agents, can provide these services to clients in all 50 States of the USA. By clicking on a form, you authorize The Benefit Link to call you and send pre-recorded messages, text messages, and in-app Facebook messages to you about The Benefit Link products and services at the telephone number you have on file with Facebook, or any other telephone number or contact information that you provide to The Benefit Link, including your mobile phone if provided, using an automated dialer and email, even you are on the national or state “Do not Call” list. You understand that your consent is not a requirement to purchase products and services from The Benefit Link. Message and data rates may apply, and you can opt-out anytime.
