Medicare Cost Plans are hybrid Medicare plans that share features from Medicare Advantage and Medigap supplemental insurance plans. They’re offered by private insurance companies. Why Are Medicare Cost Plans not Renewing? To meet competition requirements, Medicare Cost Plan contracts were not renewed in areas with more than one Medicare Advantage plan available. What are the options for […]

The 2023 Open Enrollment Period (OEP) begins November 1, 2022, and ends January 15, 2023, in most states. The chart below shows the 2023 OEP dates for the states that use the federal ACA exchange. Coverage begins January 1. If you have a Special Enrollment Period, coverage will begin the first day of the month […]

Want to renew the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance plan you had last year? It’s the easiest way to go. Right? If your plan provided you with the health insurance you needed for healthcare, doctor’s visits, medications, and other healthcare needs, automatic re-enrollment might make sense. Were the premiums and out-of-pocket expenses affordable? Did you […]

For Americans turning 65 or older, the beginning of fall is also the beginning of the Medicare season. Whether you are new to Medicare or have been using it for years, each season brings changes to your plan options. These five Medicare tips can help you verify that you are getting the most out of […]

Did you know that you don’t get prescription drug benefits automatically when you enroll in Original Medicare, which includes Part A hospital insurance and Part B medical insurance? If you want to get coverage for your medications, you can enroll in a Medicare Part D drug plan during the annual Medicare Part D Open Enrollment. […]

Preparing for the Medicare Advantage Enrollment Period? HealthMarkets can help you decide if applying for Medicare Advantage is right for you. What Is Medicare Advantage? Medicare Advantage (MA) is a plan that provides an alternative way to get Original Medicare Part A hospital insurance, Part B medical insurance, and extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t […]

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period—or Medicare AEP for short—occurs during the fall between October 15 and December 7. The AEP is when you can change from Original Medicare (Parts A and B) to Medicare Advantage (MA) and vice versa, add a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) to your Original Medicare benefits, or switch […]

Have you been wondering “When can I apply for Medicare?” It’s a commonly asked question. Most Americans become eligible to receive Medicare benefits once they turn 65 years old. However, depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for Medicare even earlier. Do I Automatically Get Medicare When I Turn 65? If you’re receiving Social Security […]

When you received your health insurance cancellation letter, it may have come as a surprise. Luckily, it’s not as bad as it might seem. You’ve got plenty of time to take action, replace your policy, and ensure you have health coverage. HealthMarkets can help explain: Why this happened and how it can affect your coverage […]

Many people who buy health insurance on the federal and state exchanges receive premium subsidies that reduce the cost of their monthly payment. But who benefits? And how is this tax credit amount determined? It’s all based on the federal poverty level (FPL). In the 2019 and 2020 Open Enrollment Periods, approximately 87% of people […]

Medicare can be hard to understand, especially if this is your first experience with it. When you’re just starting out, you probably have a lot of questions. To get you started, we’ve provided answers to some of the most frequently asked Medicare questions. Who Qualifies for Medicare? To qualify for Medicare, you need to be […]

For Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, the Open Enrollment Period for families begins on November 1 and ends on December 15.¹ During that time, you are responsible for making sure that you and your dependents have health insurance. If you do not obtain health insurance, you may be subject to a fine depending on the […]