How Much Does A Medicare Supplement Plan Cost In South Carolina?
How much does a Medicare supplement plan cost in South Carolina? Well, that depends upon a variety of factors. Generally, Medicare supplement plan monthly
premiums tend to run slightly lower in South Carolina than they do in other nearby states. But there are other factors that have a far greater impact on price.
Keep in mind that when searching for the ideal Medicare supplement plan, cost is a significant factor, is should not be the only factor you should consider.
The most important factor should always be the overall quality of the plan you choose. This includes the benefits of the plan itself, as well as the company
that is behind the plan. Once you are satisfied with the aforementioned qualities of the plan, only then should you consider price.
Good to know: Many plans don't provide drug benefits, or discounts, even on generics, until you reach your deductible, which is often in the thousands of dollars. Instead of just accepting your insurance plan's lousy prescription drug benefit, try using websites such as
Blinkhealth.com or
Goodrx.com to shop around for the best price for your medication in your area.
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
- Gender
Plan Type
The most significant factor is the plan type that you choose. For example, the monthly premium of a plan type
"F" will likely be consistently higher than the monthly premium of a plan type
"K" - no matter which
insurance carrier you decide upon.
This is because each Medicare supplement plan type designates a unique plan 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.
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
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Medical University of South Carolina
171 Ashley Ave
Charleston, SC 29425
Telephone: (843) 792-1414
Plus Code: Q2MX+PP Charleston, South Carolina
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Company
In South Carolina, 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 South Carolina 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 South Carolina will charge you a higher rate if you have specific medical issues. Please contact us if you have questions concerning this.
Gender
Both Medicare supplement and Medicare advantage plan insurance companies tend to offer slightly lower premium rates for women.
Where you live in South Carolina
Your Medicare Supplement plan monthly premium will vary depending on where you live in South Carolina. Usually, monthly premiums in rural areas tend to be slightly lower than
monthly premiums in large metropolitan regions.
Insurance companies offering Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans include:
- AARP
- Mutual of Omaha
- Combined
- IAC
- Gerber
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Humana
- Cigna
- Aetna
On Average For 2024
On average, in South Carolina, for a standard plan A, the average monthly premium for a 65 year old non-tobacco,
female applicant would be:
$112.00 - $121.00.
On average, in South Carolina, for a standard plan A, the average monthly premium for a 65 year old non-tobacco,
male applicant would be:
$122.00 - $148.00.
Good to know: Ask for a discount. You can potentially reduce the cost of your medical bills by asking for a discount upfront. It may seem unconventional, but many hospitals and practitioners offer certain discounts for which you may be eligible. For example, some hospitals are part of networks that will reduce your medical bills by a certain percentage if you pay over the phone. More often than not, these discounts are only available to consumers who ask for them. Depending on your economic status or the price of your procedure, some medical facilities offer additional discounts that can be paired with your medical insurance to substantially reduce the cost of your procedure. For example, it's not uncommon for hospitals to offer discounts of up to thirty percent for qualifying customers.
Even if you don't find a discount related to your particular situation, your doctor or hospital may provide you with valuable information about discounts you can use in the future.
To get an exact rate, click the "
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Other articles:
What Are Medicare Advantage Plans?
Resources
Outside Resources:
3 Steps To Finding Affordable Health Insurance In Greenville, South Carolina
3 Steps To Finding Affordable Health Insurance In Spartanburg, South Carolina