Need Some QUICK Help !!!!

[chp]

Hi guys/gals, I need some real quick help. I have a client who is on a temp health policy with Assurant. She is 62, and just qualified for medicare due to disability. She is in SC.

I was under the impression that once she was on medicare, even at age 62, she was guaranteed issue. I was wrong. She was declined by G.R. She takes a ton of medications, due to anxiety, etc.

How can I get her a plan? She wants Plan F. She has Medicare A, B and D. I am not up to speed on Medicare, but thought I could help her. Most of the companies I use do not offer supplements for anyone under 65, but GR does, at a much higher price. She is ok with that.

Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.

 

[InsureGuy5]

You might call the SC Dept of Insurance as these rules will vary by state. Most states do not require the insuranc companies offer Medicare supplements to those under age 65 - Illinois and Missouri are two exceptions.

She may only be able to get a high deductible plan F.

 

[myinsurebiz]

What about a MA plan?

Tom

 

[chp]

This is what I found on the SC dept of insurance website:

When Should I Apply for a Medicare Supplement Policy?

When you elect coverage under Medicare Part B either due to age or disability, you have a 6-month open enrollment for a Medicare supplement policy, which guarantees you coverage with a plan and company of your choice. You may choose from a list of standardized plans – listed as A through L. If you do not purchase a plan within your 6-month open enrollment, any company you apply to can deny coverage based on your health conditions. There are some limited additional open enrollment periods available to some persons disenrolling from a Medicare HMO.


Any SC medicare experts out there? Again, she was declined due to medical reasons, just like a regular plan, she went through underwriting?

Thanks,
Mike

doi.sc.gov - Health Insurance

 

[chp]

Thanks for all the help guys. I just got off the phone with Golden Rule. I did not talk to the underwriters. I talked to the agent support people. I explained exactly what the sc dept of insurance web site says. She told me, "in our records, we do not have SC listed as guarantee issue." She is going to pass it on the the underwriters and see what they can do. They promised a call back by Thursday.

The lady is effective with Medicare 1 June 09, and she is already at a doctor's office visit today, of all the luck. I cant wait to see how this works out.

The website clearly states to me at least, that she should be covered. GR offers under 65 med supps, so I would assume they have to take her on.

 

[Todd King]

Unfortunately SC is not a guarantee issue state. Even though she got her disability, there is no such thing as open enrollment for underage diability. They all have to "qualify".
The problem with underage disability med supps is that they still have to qualify and then end up with only a plan B or something like it and they pay double to get it!!
Tom is correct...the best thing for her would be an MA plan if you can get one at this late date.
Now, here's a game if you would like to play it...put her with an MA plan and if it goes away this year, like we all expect, she should be able to get a guaranteed issue underage med supp starting at the beginning of the year.
If you have further problems you can call me any time.

 

[chp]

Here is the update. I talked to the Dept of Insurance, and they read what the website states with me and said "holy crap, that is incorrect". They will change the wording. I guess in SC, only a couple of companies write under 65 medicare supplements, and they can and will underwrite. The guy told me that the only people they know of that get approved are folks who are completely healthy, and blind!

I talked to the client, and she is ok with it. She is going to keep her Medicare Part A, B, and D, and just wing it until she gets 65.

Thanks for all your help, especially Todd, it was a pleasure talking to you!

Mike