Virginia Senior Health Insurance
Explore Your Options
Virginia is the 15th smallest state in terms of square miles, however it is the 12th most populous state in the United States. Many people age in place here, meaning many born and raised here will most likely retire here as well. When you become eligible for Medicare, it is important you understand your Senior Health Insurance options. Virginia follows a slightly different model when it comes to the options available to them. While most states follow a county-by-county model, Virginia is split by counties and in some cases by cities. This holds true for Medicare Advantage Plans. The other options that Virginia has available are Medicare Supplement Plans and Prescription Drug Plans.
Medicare Supplement Plans, also known as Medigap Plans, are plans standardized by the government and act as your secondary insurance. These are non-network based meaning you can see any doctor that accepts Medicare. Plan options range from Plan A-N, offering different levels of coverage. Medicare Supplements help cover coinsurance, deductibles and copays. Medicare Supplements do not cover prescription drug coverage; therefore, they are often paired with a Prescription Drug Plan.
Prescription Drug Plans, also known as Part D, are stand-alone plans provided by private insurance companies. Different plans will cover prescriptions based on their assigned tier level. To determine which of your prescriptions will be covered and the costs associated of each, contact a Specialist at MySeniorHealthPlan.com. If you need Extra Help paying for your prescriptions, please click here to see if you qualify.
Medicare Advantage Plans, also known as Part C, are stand-alone plans provided through private insurance carriers that hold annual contract with CMS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Although you still have Medicare Parts A and B, these benefits are now provided by your Medicare Advantage Plan. This type of plan is network based meaning you must see an in-network doctor to avoid any additional costs. As explained earlier, Medicare Advantage Plans are usually divided by counties, however with Virginia’s model in some cases they are divided by cities or areas. To learn more about what plans are available to you, call a Specialist at MySeniorHealthPlan.com to help walk you through this process.
Now that you understand the different plan types available, you are ready to compare your different options. Unlike a group employer plan or COBRA plan, Medicare supplemental options are very individualized. The perfect fit for you will most likely not be the perfect fit for your neighbor. By calling MySeniorHealthPlan.com, we can walk you through the process and make sure you feel confident in your senior healthcare decision.
Senior Resources:
Medicare: www.medicare.gov
Virginia Department of Human Services: http://www.dss.virginia.gov/
Virginia Division for the Aging: http://www.vda.virginia.gov/
