Arizona Medicare Plans Blue Cross Arizona
Arizona Medicare Plans
Welcome to Michael Higgins Insurance, LLC. A health insurance broker with more than 30 years of experience, Michael Higgins offers individuals, seniors, and large and small businesses a variety of Arizona health insurance, Arizona dental insurance, and Arizona Medicare plans from Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona.
Arizona Medicare plans
With the continual rise in Arizona Medicare Advantage costs, most folks who are 65 years old and up, and eligible for Medicare, simply can’t afford to go uninsured or under-insured. Arizona Medicare plans, also known as Arizona Medigap or Arizona Medicare Supplemental plans, is a type of private health insurance that helps seniors who have Medicare A and B pay for most of their “out-of-pocket” expenses such as co-insurance, co-payments, or deductibles that the original Medicare policy does not cover. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona Medicare Plans cover all of these costs, excluding prescription medication. Arizona Medicare plans only work in conjunction with Medicare A & B primarily. Michael Higgins would like to remind you that a husband and wife must each buy separate Arizona Medicare plans. One spouse’s Arizona Medicare plan won’t cover any health care costs of the other spouse. A husband and wife may also have different benefits with their Arizona Medicare plans if they would like.
Arizona Medicare plans
Here is an Arizona Medicare Plans comparison sheet.
For Arizona residents, you are eligible to apply for an Arizona Medicare plan if you are 65 years of age or older, enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, and meet Arizona residency requirements.
For those disabled under the age of 65 that qualify for Medicare A & B, any insurance company offering a Medicare Advantage plan in Arizona must offer coverage to those in this group. Humana is one such company. Humana may be reached at 800.457.4708. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona does not offer Medicare Advantage plans, only Medicare supplement policies to those 65 and up. There are no insurance companies in Arizona offering Medicare supplement plans to those under 65 with Medicare A and B. Here is a publication that may be helpful in understanding enrollment periods and eligibility requirements of Medicare Advantage plans, Arizona Medicare Advantage Rules. Please feel free to call Mike if you have any questions, it can be confusing to say the least, 602.405.8769.
Although Arizona Medicare plans have been standardized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, these plans are sold and administered by private companies, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, a non-profit organization. Each Arizona Medicare supplement plan, Arizona Medicare plan, or Medicare Advantage Arizona policy offers a different combination of benefits, and premiums can differ from company to company. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona does not offer Arizona HMO Medicare Advantage plans.
Mike Higgins has chosen to represent Blue Cross Blue Shield of AZ because, ” Over the years my experience has been that each time I compared prices and coverage offered by other Arizona health insurance companies for a client, Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona was always the best value.” This is still true to this day.
Click the Senior Security link below that is highlighted in blue to view all the Arizona Medicare plans, premiums, and application offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona. Senior Security Plan F is a true Medicare supplement policy, not an Arizona Medicare Advantage plan. Senior Security is considered, “Cadillac,” coverage by most in the industry. Please call Mike Higgins at 602.405.8769 to assist in obtaining a separate Part D prescription benefit, or visit these links… Arizona Medicare plans Part D, or the www.Medicare.gov website.
Arizona Senior Security Medicare supplement applicants must have residency in Arizona when applying for coverage, though you may move out of state after enrolling and keep the policy, eliminating the need to shop for another plan in your new hometown. Click the following link to view information on BCBSAZ Senior Preferred PPO Medicare Supplement plans.
Arizona Medicare plans
The Senior Security Plan F from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona offers the most flexibility and choice for the consumer. There are no “lock-in” provisions and no “service area” restrictions as are found in Medicare HMO plans or the Blue Cross Arizona Senior Preferred PPO plans. Another convenience is having full Medicare supplemental insurance coverage while traveling throughout the United States. You have the complete freedom to see any Medicare participating doctor or a specialist whenever and wherever the need arises.
Part D PRESCRIPTION COVERAGE
Prescription medication is not a covered expense on any Blue Cross of Arizona Medicare plans. Purchasing a separate Medicare Part D prescription plan is simple and inexpensive, several considerably less than the national average monthly premium of $35.00. The Walmart/Humana Part D plan linked above is a good example of this, it is around $15.00 a month. This may be the perfect Part D plan for those that take no prescriptions, or one or two very inexpensive medications, yet want to avoid the federal government’s penalty of 1% per month for having no Part D coverage. As an example, say you went three years without Part D coverage, but have now been prescribed a $300.00 a month medication. Purchasing a Part D policy to cover this prescription will cost you 36% more per month over the national standard rate at that time. The 36% figure is calculated by multiplying 1% by the three years of no coverage, or 36 months.
As a footnote, Mike Higgins does not sell any Part D plans, and has no financial incentive to suggest any particular plan, but of course is happy to help obtain Part D coverage to go along with your Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona Medicare plan, of which Mike receives a 10% commission for the first year. Your premium is the same whether using Michael Higgins as your broker or going directly to BCBSAZ.