InTouch with Southern Kentucky January 2020 | Page 30

in our area annually about Medicare
enrollment and Medigap (supple-
ment insurance).
Medigap pays for health care
costs that Medicare does not cover
(deductibles, coinsurance, and
other related health costs). Medigap
policies are accessible from state-li-
censed insurance companies with
about 10 plans available in most
states.
“Medicare doesn’t pay all of it,”
Whitehead says. “Your supplement
picks up what they don’t pay.”
If new to Medicare in 2020, there
basically are different plans cover-
ing key health costs—Part A (hos-
pitalization), Part B (overall health
costs), and Plans C (Medicare
Advantage) and D (prescriptions).
30 • I n T ouch with S outhern K entucky 
The remaining ones available are
supplemental insurance.
“You generally have an initial
enrollment period during the month
you turn 65 or become eligible for
disability,” Whitehead says. “There
are several kinds of plans, but I
advise people to get what they feel
comfortable paying and makes them
feel secure if something medically
major happens.”
Whether you are just entering
Medicare eligibility, or are an exist-
ing recipient, there are changes this
year that perhaps can affect you.
Medicare plans change year-over-
year and Whitehead discloses there
are several key ones for 2020.
“Between us (Greer and White-
head), we have over 25 years of
experience and are well-established
with the companies that offer
coverage,” he says. “We take annual
continuing-education courses to
keep us up to date.”
One notable change is the rid-
dance of both Plans C and F to all
new enrollees beginning in 2020.
They are Medigap plans compensat-
ing the Part B deductible.
This is a result of the Medicare Ac-
cess and CHIP Reauthorization Act
(MACRA) of 2015. The bi-partisan
legislation attempts to curb the use
of Medicare coverage.
For Medicare enrollees 2020 and
beyond, they will be responsi-
ble for more out-of-pocket costs.
Plan F (it covers all deductibles
and copays) is a longstanding and
J anuary 2020