Quick Medicare Supp Question

[chp]

Hi everyone. I have a quick couple of medicare questions for you. I just want to confirm what I think...is true.

If a doctor accepts medicare, and the client has a supplement, say plan F, or J....will the doctor accept the supplement regardless of the carrier? For Example I have a client who wants a high deductible Plan F. They would like Humana, and it is only $58 a month. However, Standard Life has the same High Deductible plan F, and is is only $18.98.

I just want to make sure if I advise them to take the Standard Life plan, knowing they are the same plan, that they will have no problems with networks, etc. (I sell mostly ind health, so networks are a big deal).

Last but not least, I assume that the doctor/medicare/medicare supplement company takes care of all the claim paperwork, is this true?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

The doctor has nothing to do with it. If Medicare covers it, the supplement will too.

 

[chp]

Thanks a million. Just wanted to confirm it.

 

[insurance0707]

Doctors/Hospitals are required to bill Medicare. Most Medicare supplements have "cross over" which means that when Medicare gets billed, Medicare will then bill the Medicare supplement directly, the hospitals/doctors just need to bill Medicare in most cases.

 

[Frank Stastny]

Hi everyone. I have a quick couple of medicare questions for you. I just want to confirm what I think...is true.

If a doctor accepts medicare, and the client has a supplement, say plan F, or J....will the doctor accept the supplement regardless of the carrier? For Example I have a client who wants a high deductible Plan F. They would like Humana, and it is only $58 a month. However, Standard Life has the same High Deductible plan F, and is is only $18.98.

I just want to make sure if I advise them to take the Standard Life plan, knowing they are the same plan, that they will have no problems with networks, etc. (I sell mostly ind health, so networks are a big deal).

Last but not least, I assume that the doctor/medicare/medicare supplement company takes care of all the claim paperwork, is this true?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Although it is very rare, there are a few doctors across the country who do not accept Medicare patients. However, Medicare has initiated a new program that sets higher reimbursements, or additional money, to doctors when they treat patients who are on Medicare.

This is being done to not only make it more profitable for doctors to treat Medicare patients but also to encourage them to continuing to do so.

As Paul said, if the doctor accepts Medicare then it does not matter who the senior has their Med Supp policy with. The doctor only submits the claim to Medicare. Medicare is the one who notifies the insurance company. Technically the doctor does not even to know who the Med Supp company, only that their patient has a Med Supp.

All claims are handled automatically once the provider notifies Medicare.

 

[InsureGuy5]

I am surprised by the low cost with Standard. You'll want to make sure that it is not a "Select Plan" which means there is a network the insured must stay in. That is an awfully low price.

 

[hardwork]

I am surprised by the low cost with Standard. You'll want to make sure that it is not a "Select Plan" which means there is a network the insured must stay in. That is an awfully low price.

That's what I thought too!

 

[motorcyclegogo]

Why a hdF?

I've rarely seen premium rates that make that a good choice. Save $500-600/year in premium, but have a $1900 ded.

 

[Guest]

As Paul said, if the doctor accepts Medicare then it does not matter who the senior has their Med Supp policy with. The doctor only submits the claim to Medicare. Medicare is the one who notifies the insurance company. Technically the doctor does not even to know who the Med Supp company, only that their patient has a Med Supp.

All claims are handled automatically once the provider notifies Medicare.

Frank, how well does this work? I only have about a dozen Med Supp clients vs. your many hundreds, but I've never heard a complaint from any of my few folks about problems with Medicare not paying their docs.

I only ask because everyone here moans about a single-payor system, and Medicare is almost that.

Frank, do you get a lot of complaints from your folks about their docs not getting paid? (Yeah, I know that docs bitch about AMOUNT they get, but that's another story. I'm asking about efficiency of the system.)

 

[Frank Stastny]

Frank, how well does this work? I only have about a dozen Med Supp clients vs. your many hundreds, but I've never heard a complaint from any of my few folks about problems with Medicare not paying their docs.

I only ask because everyone here moans about a single-payor system, and Medicare is almost that.

Frank, do you get a lot of complaints from your folks about their docs not getting paid? (Yeah, I know that docs bitch about AMOUNT they get, but that's another story. I'm asking about efficiency of the system.)

It works perfect. I virtually never have to deal with a claim problem.

If there is one it is because the doctor's billing person coded the claim incorrectly. A simple phone call to the doctor's office straightens out the perceived "problem".

I have not even had any of those for several years.

As I do for other agents, if you would like more information give me a call.