|
January 13, 2021
Shopping for health insurance can be confusing, and this doesn’t end with retirement. When you turn 65, you are eligible for Medicare, but what exactly does this mean? Original Medicare is split into two parts, Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B. While this system does cover many costs associated with receiving healthcare, it does not cover everything.
To keep your healthcare costs down, you may want to consider a Medicare Supplement Plan. It is important when considering a Medicare Supplement Plan that you explore your options so that you may choose the company and plan that best suits your lifestyle. One of our favorite options is the insurance provider Humana.
Humana Company Background
Humana was founded in 1961. Beginning as a nursing home company called Extendicare, it was renamed Humana in 1974 when it began opening hospitals. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana is now one of the largest health insurance providers in the United States. They offer a wide range of services, including Medicare-related plans, as well as dental plans, and group life insurance. Humana currently insures hundreds of thousands of people in the United States.
FYI: Medigap plans require that the premium on Medicare Part B be paid before allowing enrollment.
Humana Medicare Supplement Plans
For Medicare-eligible individuals, Humana offers a range of Medigap Plans. Here is an overview of each of them.
Humana Medicare Supplement Plan Benefits
| Humana Medigap Plan | Estimated Monthly Premium* | Coverage Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| A | $116 |
|
| B | $126 |
|
| C | $145 |
|
| F | $153 |
|
| G | $123 |
|
| K | $69 |
|
| L | $97 |
|
| N | $97 |
|
*Pricing estimates based on a customer who is a female living in Kentucky. Prices will vary based on age, location, and other health factors.
FYI: Some companies offer separate plans that offer a combination of dental and vision coverage for routine dentistry and eye care. Dental care can get especially expensive when not covered under insurance.
Applying For a Humana Medigap Plan
To apply for a Humana Medigap Plan, the first step is to visit Humana’s Medicare Supplement Plans webpage. They provide an easy-to-navigate site, and I was able to view a breakdown of the plans they offer by following a few simple steps.
First, they ask for the zip code for the individual looking for coverage. The site then directed me to a page that asked for additional information: gender, date of birth, Medicare Part A & B coverage, and the intended start date for Medigap coverage. Clicking on the ‘compare rates’ button brought me to a page that listed every Medigap Plan available in the state for which the individual in question qualified, including specific coverage and monthly premiums.
The Humana site has a nice added feature that allowed me to choose up to three plans to compare. Selecting these took me to a page that laid out these plans side by side in a very intuitive, easy-to-understand way.
To enroll in one of these Medigap Plans, licensed agents are available by phone from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The Humana website also has a chat feature on their website for tech-savvy individuals to request additional information.
MyHumana Mobile App
Humana also has an app (MyHumana) available through the App Store for iPhones and through Google Play for Android users. On this app, you are able to keep track of your deductibles and claims, view your plan details, view your medical ID cards, locate hospitals and urgent care centers in a given zip code, and find healthcare providers by specialty. MyHumana also allows you to share your Medigap coverage information and ID cards you’re your doctors via fax.
FYI: Humana also offers Humana Pharmacy, an app for your mobile phone that allows you to refill and track your prescription medications.
Humana Medigap Alternatives
While Humana offers solid coverage and a great online experience, we have a few additional favorite Medigap providers. Providers such as Aetna offer nationwide coverage, whereas broad insurance companies like State Farm allow you to bundle Medigap with other types of insurance. If you’re shopping around for Medigap providers, here are some other options to consider:
- Cigna: Cigna serves customers in over 30 countries around the world, offering a range of services, including health, dental, and Medigap Plans F, High Deductible F, G, N, and A. Their high deductible plans mean that premiums are lower, and Cigna offers discounts if more than one person in a household is enrolled.
- Aetna: Aetna offers a wide range of coverage and serves over 39 million people worldwide. They have Medigap Plans A, B, C, N, G, and F, with some high deductible options available. Aetna has a user-friendly website and a free Aetna Health App to track policies and manage accounts.
- Blue Cross Blue Shield: Blue Cross Blue Shield offers Medigap Plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Unlike some other providers, Blue Cross Blue Shield has what they call a Select option on some of their plans that offer a lower premium but require members use doctors within a specific network.
- United Healthcare: United Healthcare offers a wide range of Medigap Plans: A, B, C, F, G, K, L and N. They are partnered with AARP for Medigap services, but plans can be purchased through United Healthcare directly.
In Closing
There are a wide variety of options for Medicare Supplement Plans. As you consider which Medigap Plan is right for you, keep in mind that cost and coverage depend on a number of things: your location, your lifestyle, and the kind of premium you feel comfortable paying each month. Humana and other major private insurance companies offer a range of these plans so that you can find the one that works best for you.
Humana Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Humana offer Medigap plans?
Humana offers Medigap Plans A, B, C, F, G, K, L, and N. They also offer a High Deductible Plan F. To figure out which plan is right for you, you’ll want to contact a representative who can help you assess your potential healthcare costs and needs.
- Who can apply for a Humana Medigap plan?
Those who are at least 65 years old, enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A & B, and live in a state where Humana offers Medigap coverage are eligible to apply for these plans.
- How do Humana’s High Deductible Medigap plans work?
Humana offers a High Deductible Medigap Plan F. This means a higher deductible must be met before the Medigap Plan coverage kicks in, but it does result in lower monthly premiums.
- Does Humana offer Medigap plans that provide coverage outside of the United States?
Yes, Humana’s Medigap Plans C, F, G, and N cover a percentage of cost incurred by healthcare services needed outside of the United States.
- Are there Humana Medigap plans that cover the cost of prescription drugs?
Prescription drug costs are covered under Medicare Part D and are not included in Humana’s Medigap Plans.
Amie has been writing about senior care products and services for the last decade. She is particularly passionate about new technologies that help improve the quality of life for seniors and their families. Seeing her parents and grandparents age made Amie ask herself, “Would this be good enough for my loved ones?” In her spare time, Amie enjoys outdoor adventures and spontaneous road trips. Learn more about Amie here