Health Insurance Services

Medicare and Medigap Plans – If you are already 65 or will soon be turning 65, Midwest Health XChange will explain how Medicare works in simple, understandable terms.  We will provide a free, no obligation consultation and help you select the Medicare program that best fits your needs!

Medicare provides many great benefits, but it can still leave you stuck with large medical bills to pay on your own. Midwest Health Insurance offers Medicare Medigap Plans that help to fill the gaps left by Medicare. The benefits automatically adjust with Medicare. You cannot be cancelled on this policy once it is issued, as it is guaranteed renewable for life. In most states, we offer a lower non-tobacco-use rate.

Medicare Supplement Insurance
Medicare includes parts: A, B, C, and D
Part A: Medicare Hospital Insurance
With very few exceptions, this is free. It helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, as well as skilled nursing care, hospice, and home health care. However, it may not pay 100% of these costs.

Midwest Health XChange will explain how a Medigap Policy can reduce your exposure to part A, out of pocket, expenses and save you money!

Part B: Medical Insurance
Medicare Part B covers physician’s services, (hospital) outpatient care, home health care services, and some preventive services to help support your overall health and to prevent certain illnesses from getting worse.

If you are concerned that you might have additional expenses not covered, you may want to consider purchasing a Supplement Plan (or Medigap policy).

Part C: Advantage Plans
These are individual insurance plans offered by private companies that are approved by Medicare.

An Advantage Plan offers all of your Part A and all of your Part B coverage. By law, Medicare Advantage Plans must cover all the services covered by Original Medicare, except hospice.
So what about hospice care? Original Medicare covers that, even if you have an Advantage Plan.
Are Medicare Advantage Plans supplemental coverage? No: see below.

Part D: Prescription Drug Coverage
This helps cover the cost of your prescription drugs. Part D is run by private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare. It may not cover the complete cost, but offers a very significant discount.

Advantage Plan or Supplement Plan?

Once you turn 65 and go on to Medicare Part B, you come have a choice to make. You are only allowed to select one of the following:

1: If you choose an Advantage Plan (see “Part C” above), you are actually opting out of the Medicare System and choosing a private insurer. Depending on which company you choose, there may or may not be an annual fee, and coverages and co-pays will vary.

2: It you choose a Supplement (or Medigap) Plan, you still get to choose a private insurer but, oddly enough, you are staying within the Medicare System. You will pay monthly installments on an annual fee – this varies according to the insurance company you choose – but zero co-pays.

When is the best time to sign up?
If you already receive Social Security and are nearing 65, you will receive your Medicare card in the mail about three months before you reach 65. If you decide to wait until age 66 or later to apply for Social Security, you should apply for Medicare about three months prior.

When can I apply for Medicare?
Your Medicare card will arrive in an envelope from CMS (Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services). It will have the effective dates of both Part A and Part B already filled in. Be sure to keep this – and any additional documentation or information you receive from CMS.

If you don’t want Part B, then follow the instructions on the card and return it. Otherwise you will have to pay the Part B premium.

Can I say NO to Part B?
Absolutely yes! Assume you work for a company that has a good medical plan, and you want to keep it after you turn 65. You may decide not to sign up for Part B at this time. Check with your Human Resources Department to decide the best solution for your situation.

Once you have left your company, you can contact Social Security and request a new card, with your preferred start date for Part B. Generally, this is the first day of the month after your company health benefits end.

You have 6 months to decide!
Don’t Let This Time Slip By
From the time you go on Part B, you have only six months for the Open Enrollment Period. During this 6 month period, you have the guaranteed right to:
1. Enroll in any Medicare Advantage Plan available in your service area, or
2. Purchase any Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policy sold in your state.

You cannot be turned down for coverage during this time. But it only comes around once. When this six-month period is over, your option to buy a Supplement policy may be limited, it may cost you more, and you will probably have to pass medical tests to apply for one in the future.

Supplemental Cancer Coverage – Being diagnosed with internal cancer is a life changing event. Let Midwest Health XChange reduce your out-of-pocket exposure to medical bills or everyday expenses with a supplemental cancer insurance plan.

We have Cancer policies that pay lump-sum cash benefits for first diagnosis of cancer up to $50,000. These policies do not require a physical exam.

As long as you have not previously had any type of cancer, you may purchase these policies regardless of your other health conditions. These insurance plans are guaranteed renewable and can cover inpatient/PLUS outpatient care.

Supplemental Accident Coverage – Accidents happen, but being burdened with out-of-pocket expenses and hospital bills can be avoided!  Let Midwest Health XChange be the solution to your accident coverage needs.

You never know when or where an accident may occur.

Midwest Health XChange’s, accident policies will help you have the peace of mind that when tragedy strikes, you and your family will have an additional source of cash and security. Depending on the coverage you select, these policies can pay from a few hundred dollars to over $100,000 for you, your family or employee.

Whether it’s hospitalization, outpatient treatment, doctor’s office, emergency room visit, or even a chiropractor visit, the policies have the option of paying cash direct to you. You can use the money where it is needed for:

• Medical expenses
• Mortgage
• Living necessities
• Household bills
• Whatever you deem necessary

And in the event of accidental death one of our policies provides cash benefits of up to $50,000 to your family.