Medicare is a federal health insurance plan that is available in Minnesota. The health plan provides medical coverage to senior citizens and the disabled for their treatments and regular appointments. This allows them to receive affordable healthcare within their area.
Stats from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reveal that there are more than a million beneficiaries in Minnesota are enrolled in Medicare. The numbers keep increases year over year.
Here are some other stats on Medicare health plans within Minnesota:
In short, Medicare health insurance has become a vital source of medical support over the years. The residents are provided with multiple choices for medical insurance.
You need to consider these options before applying for Medicare. With the right guidance, you get a chance to acquire coverage that suits your medical expenses. We plan to help you out in this area by discussing the basics and then offering further assistance through free consultations.
Medicare Health Plans offer a diverse range of options to its beneficiaries. Common healthcare services and expenses are distributed amongst each segment. The enrollee has the right to sign up for health plans that are compatible with their medical needs.
At O’Neal Insurance Group, we offer practical advice to the residents of Minnesota who’re eligible for the health plans. With our help, you get a better idea of what each health plan entails and how it benefits you.
Let’s look at the primary Medicare Health Plans in Minnesota:
Part A of the Original Medicare Plan covers hospital insurance for its beneficiaries. It allows them to receive full coverage for basic inpatient care. This includes everything from nurse care, medications, meals, and semi-private rooms. You also get coverage for skilled nursing facilities and hospice setups whenever required.
Additionally, health coverage can get extended for home healthcare under critical circumstances. However, individuals on this health plan have to pay for pay copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance associated with hospital care.
Part B of the Original Medicare Plan acts as a medical insurance policy. The plan offers financial aid for different types of medical expenses for outpatients. These include services such as doctor appointments, therapy sessions, and medical supplies (e.g., wheelchair). Home health care services can be part of this plan if the situation calls for it.
Part A and B act as a standard health coverage plan for Medicare beneficiaries. Many beneficiaries find it limiting due to the exclusion of routine exams and tests (e.g., eye, dental, and hearing checkups). That’s why Medicare introduced supplementary plans to accommodate the extra services.
Medicare Advantage Plan is the ideal choice for beneficiaries who need additional coverage. All you’ve got to do is sign up with an affiliated insurance company and select an advantage plan.
Most Advantage Plans are seen as a cost-effective alternative to the previous plans. That’s because it offers everything from the original method, along with other medical privileges. These include routine appointments (e.g., vision, dental, and ENT checkups) and membership for local wellness programs (e.g., fitness class).
The underrated health plan is an appendage for Medicare Health Plans. It covers the out-of-pocket expenses associated with your treatments. It includes coverage for coinsurance, deductibles, copayments, and other medical costs that your initial health plan doesn’t cover.
As the name suggests, this type of Medicare Health Plan focuses on prescribed drugs. It allows you to get reimbursed for the money you spent on prescribed medication, which isn’t always included in the original health plan.
It’s important to note that your access to affordable drugs might vary according to your zip code.
There are two ways to register for this health plan. You can choose a standalone coverage that covers your regular prescription and is compatible with your Original Medicare Health Plan. If that isn’t feasible, then you can opt for Part D as supplementation with your Medicare Advantage Plan.
On the whole, Medicare provides flexible offerings for the residents of Minnesota. The best idea is to weigh the pros and cons of each type before finalizing your health plan.
Multiple factors come into play when we discuss eligibility requirements for Medicare Health Plans. These variables include citizenship, age, and health conditions. In some cases, the enrollment can be connected to other health plans and tax payments too.
Let’s take a closer look at Medicare eligibility:
On the whole, if you are over 65 or have a disability, then you can enroll in a Medicare Health Plan. The only condition is that your chosen health plan must be available in your service area. Otherwise, you will have to apply for extra medical coverage from your insurance company.
Hint: Medicare disability is for residents who have permanent disabilities and impairment (intellectual and physical). The rule is beneficial for people who require continuous medical support.
Medicare Advantage Plans are seen as additional medical coverage for anyone who wants more from the Medicare Health Plans. The health plan is offered through affiliated healthcare insurance companies to any beneficiary who wishes to increase their medical coverage.
Unlike Original Medicare Health Plans, this health plan covers routine checkups, membership to health and wellness programs, along with additional medical services. The medical coverage also covers the hospital and medical insurance that was previously given through Part A and B, respectively.
Moreover, premiums on deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance are more affordable on this health plan compared to previous models. It’s why beneficiaries often switch to Medicare Advantage Plan.
Let’s look at the main Medicare Advantage Plans available in Minnesota:
The HMO is a network-oriented health plan. That means beneficiaries in this health insurance plan will only receive financial aid if they get treated from chosen healthcare providers and facilities. Policyholders are also required to get a referral from their primary care provider if they wish to see a specialist. Otherwise, they will have to foot their bill.
The benefits include affordable premiums, discounted rates, and complete coverage, and access to certified healthcare providers within their area.
In spite of the advantages, this health insurance plan is still limited. You should consider other options if your treatment is dependent on specialists and healthcare facilities that aren’t on the list.
The HMO is a network-oriented health plan. That means beneficiaries in this health insurance plan will only receive financial aid if they get treated from chosen healthcare providers and facilities. Policyholders are also required to get a referral from their primary care provider if they wish to see a specialist. Otherwise, they will have to foot their bill.
The benefits include the choice of healthcare providers, elimination of referrals and additional steps, and access to licensed healthcare providers. These reasons make it the go-to option for beneficiaries in Minnesota.
These reasons make it the go-to option for beneficiaries in Minnesota.
Medicare opens three main enrollment periods for the residents of Minnesota. If you receive Social Security, then you’ll get enrolled to the Original Medicare Health Plan automatically. If that isn’t the case, then you have to register for both federal programs when you turn 65.
The three enrollment periods to sign up for Medicare are as follows:
The first period of enrollment lasts for seven months. It begins three months before your 65th birthday and lasts 3 months after the big birthday.
Example: If you are born in April, then your initial enrollment will start in November and end in July.
Residents who are registered with group coverage (received through spousal coverage or company), then you can’t enroll in the Medicare Health Plan immediately. You get a chance to enroll for Medicare once the original coverage is terminated.
The delayed enrollment will begin right after the first coverage expires and ends within eight months.
This is also known as the annual enrollment period (Jan-March). All eligible applicants can register for Medicare within this period. The medical coverage begins in July once the registration is approved.
Pro Tip: Beneficiaries have to sign up for Part B during the initial enrollment. Otherwise, you get penalized for the delay. The penalty charges are 10% of the Part B premium, and it lasts throughout their Medicare coverage.
O’Neal Insurance Group is offering free consultation services to the residents of Minnesota. Our experienced team is well-versed in all topics regarding the Original Medicare Health Plan and Medicare Advantage Plans. You can approach them before enrollment or to understand the complexities of upgrading your original medical coverage.
They can also nudge you in the right direction if you’re considering alternatives.
Minnesota Area Codes: 218, 320, 507, 612, 651, 763, 952
Largest Cities: Minneapolis | Saint Paul | Rochester | Duluth | Bloomington | Brooklyn Park | Plymouth | St. Cloud | Eagan | Woodbury
Cities: Ada, Aitkin, Albert Lea, Alexandria, Andover, Annandale, Anoka, Austin, Bagley, Bemidji, Benson, Big Lake, Blue Earth, Brainerd, Buffalo, Burnsville, Caledonia, Cambridge, Cannon Falls, Chanhassen, Chaska, Circle Pines, Cloquet, Cottage Grove, Crookston, Crosslake, Dalton, Deer River, Delano, Detroit Lakes, Duluth, East Grand Forks, Eden Prairie, Elk River, Ely, Excelsior, Fairmont, Faribault, Farmington, Fergus Falls, Forest Lake, Glencoe, Glenwood, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, Granite Falls, Hastings, Hibbing, Hopkins, Hutchinson, International Falls, Inver Grove Heights, Kasson, La Crescent, Lake City, Lakeville, Lindstrom, Litchfield, Little Falls, Long Prairie, Luverne, Mankato, Maple Lake, Maple Plain, Marshall, Melrose, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Montevideo, Monticello, Moorhead, Mora, Morris, Mound, New Prague, New Ulm, Nisswa, North Branch, Northfield, Olivia, Osseo, Owatonna, Park Rapids, Paynesville, Pelican Rapids, Pequot Lakes, Perham, Pine City, Pine River, Pipestone, Princeton, Prior Lake, Red Wing, Redwood Falls, Rochester, Rogers, Roseau, Rosemount, Saint Cloud, Saint James, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Sauk Centre, Sauk Rapids, Savage, Shakopee, Sleepy Eye, South Saint Paul, Spicer, Stillwater, Thief River Falls, Two Harbors, Virginia, Waconia, Wadena, Waite Park, Walker, Waseca, Wayzata, Willmar, Windom, Winona, Worthington, Wyoming, Zumbrota,
Counties
Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Carver, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Dodge, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kandiyohi, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac Qui Parle, Lake, Lake of The Wood, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mahnomen, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Rock, Roseau, St. Louis, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine,
Zip Codes
