How much does a Medicare Supplement Plan Cost In California?
How much does a Medicare supplement plan cost in California? Well, that depends upon a variety of factors. Generally, Medicare supplement plan monthly
premiums run slightly higher in California than they do in most other states. But there are other factors that have a far greater impact on price.
We will list the factors that impact the premium rates of Medicare supplement insurance. They are ordered from the most significant impact, to the least:
- Plan Type
- Age
- Company
- Tobacco Use
- Health Status
- Region
Good to know: Read bills carefully. Up to 50 percent of your doctor or hospital bills may contain mistakes that end up costing you money, says Jane Cooper, president of Patient Care, a consumer advocacy group in Milwaukee. Something as simple as an incorrect billing code could prompt your insurance to pay less than expected or even reject your claim. Other common errors: mistakes in an account number, claims with incomplete information - even claims sent to the wrong insurance company address by a doctor. Read your benefits booklet carefully to make sure your plan is paying all it should. If you catch an error, send a certified letter to your insurer. Follow up in a few weeks to make sure the mistake is corrected.
courtesy of Parents.com
Plan Typecourtesy of Parents.com
The most significant factor is the plan type that you choose. For example, the monthly premium of a plan type "G" is going to be somewhat higher than the monthly premium of a plan type "A". This is because each Medicare supplement plan type offers a different benefit structure. All supplement plans are designed to cover medical costs that are not covered by traditional Medicare. However, some plans pick up more medical costs than others. These benefit differences are reflected in monthly premium.
Age
With very few exceptions, the older you are, the higher your monthly premium.
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Company
In California, Medicare supplement monthly premiums vary wildly depending upon which insurance company you buy the plan from. The fact that plan benefits may be exactly the same, does not mean the monthly premium will be. While traditional Medicare is a government program, Medicare supplement plans are offered by private insurance companies. They get to set the pricing of the plans they offer.
Tobacco Use
Most insurance companies in California will charge a slightly higher monthly premium for Medicare supplement coverage if you smoke or chew tobacco.
Health Status
In some cases, if you are not enrolling within the open enrollment - guarantee issue time frame for Medicare supplement coverage, some companies in California will charge you a higher rate if you have specific medical issues. Please contact us if you have questions concerning this.
Gender
Unlike most states in the U.S., Medicare supplement insurance plan rates in California are not affected by gender. Regardless of your gender, the monthly premium rates are the same.
Region
The cost of your Medicare supplement plan can vary moderately dependent on where you live within the state. There are a multitude of factors that impact this variance of pricing within California. Such factors include: The regional costs of physician and hospital services, Fee schedule negotiated by the insurance companies for services. Fee schedule negotiated by the insurance companies for prescription drug pricing.
On Average For 2024
On average, in California, for a standard plan A, the average monthly premium for a 65 year old non-tobacco applicant would be: $89 - $172.
Good to know: Ask whether tests, prescriptions or procedures are really necessary. The latest drugs aren't always better than older, cheaper drugs - just more expensive. If you tell the doctor you're paying cash, he/she may suggest you wait to see if the condition resolves before ordering an expensive test. Instead of paying for 20 sessions of physical therapy, pay for one and learn exercises to do at home.
Other articles:
Explaining the Growth of HealthCare Sharing Plans.
3 Steps in Acquiring Medicare Supplement Insurance Coverage in California
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