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How To Sign Up for Medicare Online?

March 25, 2025 By Garrett Ball Leave a Comment

Signing up for Medicare online is, far and away, the best and most efficient way to enroll in Medicare. When you about three months before turning 65 or leading up to retirement and enrolling in Medicare for the first time, it is time to get signed up for Medicare A and B. This is done through the Social Security Administration.

Signing up for Medicare online is done through Sign up for Medicare | SSA . Once you go there, you will have two options – signing up for both parts of “original” Medicare, Part A and Part B OR signing up for only Part B (if you already have Part A). You would start by selecting whichever of those options applies to your situation.

There are a few things that you would need to have and provide when you are signing up. Those are listed here:

Basic information about yourself

Social Security number
Where you were born (city, state, country)

Health insurance information

Start and end dates for any current group health plans
Start and end dates for any group health plans after age 65

For Part B only

Valid email address
Your existing Medicare number

Once you start the process of signing up for Medicare online, you will be prompted for various pieces of this information. Also, as a part of that process, you will be prompted to create a login for the ssa.gov website if you do not already have one.

The alternatives to signing up for Medicare online would be going to a local Social Security office. You can find a local office near you using this tool: Social Security Office Locator, SSA Office Locator Social Security Office Locator, Social Security. However, it is strongly recommended, both by Social Security themselves and by us, that you apply for Medicare online if possible. Long wait times and other inconveniences associated with visiting a Social Security office in person are long-documented. You can also call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 as an alternative, although many tasks cannot be completed by phone.

Once you have enrolled in Medicare, you would need to decide whether you are going to stay with “original” Medicare and possibly get a Medigap plan or whether you are going to consider going with a Medicare Advantage plan. Either way, we are an independent brokerage that can help you compare all of your options in a centralized place.

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65Medicare.org is a leading, independent Medicare insurance agency for people turning 65 and going on Medicare. If you have any questions about this information, you can contact us online or call us at 877.506.3378.

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What To Do When Your Medicare Advantage Plan Drops You?

October 4, 2024 By Garrett Ball Leave a Comment

As we are approaching the start of the Annual Election Period (AEP), many people are getting letters in the mail from their Medicare Advantage plans containing coverage details for the following calendar year. Big changes are coming on some of the plans. However, others are getting a letter that can be even more ominous – a “Non-Renewal Action Notice”. This notice is required by Medicare when your Advantage plan is leaving the program altogether, not renewing their plans in your area, or making some other change that will end your coverage under that plan.

While this can be unsettling to some, there are protections in place, and you do still have options. Read on to learn more about what to do when your Medicare Advantage drops you.

What Type of Plan Can You Get When Your Medicare Advantage Non-Renews?

When your Medicare Advantage plan drops you, you have two options for coverage moving forward. We’ve detailed both of those options below:

A New Medicare Advantage Plan: One option that you have when your Medicare Advantage plan non-renews is to choose a new Medicare Advantage plan that IS going to be offered in your county for the following calendar year. You can do this during the annual election period (October 15-December 7) and it would take effect on January 1 of the following year. The transition would be seamless in that the current plan will cover you through the end of the calendar year, and the new plan would start on 1/1.

It is very important, when considering/comparing Advantage plans, that you do your due diligence to make sure that the plan you are choosing is accepted by your doctors, covers your medications and just altogether meets your medical coverage needs. There are many variables to consider when comparing this type of plan.

Return to “Original” Medicare with a Medigap Plan: The 2nd option that you have when your Medicare Advantage plan non-renews is to return to “original” Medicare (Part A – hospital coverage; Part B – doctor/outpatient coverage) and add a Medigap plan, sometimes called a Medicare Supplement. Medicare gives you a mandated “guaranteed issue” right into certain Medigap plans, when your Medicare Advantage drops you through no fault of your own. So, many Medicare beneficiaries take the opportunity, when dropped by their Advantage plan, to get the comprehensive Medigap coverage that they may have not otherwise qualified for.

Normally, to switch from an Advantage plan to a Medigap plan, you would have to go through medical underwriting and get approved. However, this is one of the few instances that would allow you to make this change with no medical underwriting or restrictions. Medigap plans pay the 20% that Medicare does not cover, and the most comprehensive Medigap plans (Plan F and Plan G) essentially pay all of your medical costs with no co-pays or out of pocket (with the exception of the Medicare Part B deductible of $240/year on the Plan G). Moreover, the Medigap plans do not ever non-renew and don’t change from year to year. They also do not have networks so you can go anywhere in the country that accepts Medicare.

How Do You Get Another Plan After Your Medicare Advantage Plan Drops You?

So, if your Medicare Advantage drops you for 2025, you have options to get another plan. Here are a few tips:

You should save all documentation that comes to you via mail regarding your plan’s changes, as you may need it to prove your eligibility for another plan.
Make sure you read any documentation carefully and observe all deadlines and requirements.
When choosing a new Advantage plan, make sure that the Advantage plan is accepted by your doctors/hospital. Also, make sure that your medications are covered under it and review any restrictions on coverage.
If choosing a Medigap plan, the plans are standardized (same coverage with every company) so you should compare the rates and pick the one with the best rates and ratings. A Medigap broker can provide you with a list of all the options.

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What Happened to CSI Life Medigap and Central States Medigap?

May 24, 2024 By Garrett Ball Leave a Comment

CSI Life Medigap and Central States Indemnity, and Central States Health and Life Company of Omaha were all companies owned by Berkshire Hathaway that played a fairly prominent role in the Medigap market for a few years. However, the Medigap market is in a constant state of flux. There are new companies that enter the market from time to time, and of course, there are companies that exit the market. As of 12/31/2022, all three companies had pulled out of selling Medigap policies.

What Happens to Existing CSI and Central States Policyholders?

With Medigap plans, any time your company stops selling new plans, you are still “grandfathered in” to your current plan. So that is the case for existing CSI Life Medigap and Central States Medigap policyholders. As long as the company has not completely gone out of business due to inability to pay claims, then your policy will continue to be serviced and you can keep the policy.

You do have the option to change plans if you’d like to do so. You would, however, be subject to the normal underwriting guidelines applicable in your state. This just means that you would have to answer some basic medical questions to be eligible to change. There are some states that have annual open enrollment rules, though, which would allow you to change without being subject to medical underwriting (What is the Medigap Birthday Rule and Which States Have It?).

Should You Change Plans if You Have a CSI Life or Central States Medigap Plan?

For existing CSI Life and Central States Medigap policyholders, you have the option of either keeping your existing policy or changing companies, if eligible, to a different insurer offering the same Medigap policy. All Medigap policies are standardized, and in most states, the plans go by the standard Medigap coverage chart. This makes it easy to compare plans “apples to apples” and switch to a “like” plan without sacrificing coverage if there is a better premium available elsewhere.

When a company stops offering plans, existing policyholders are in a closed “block”. This means that no new, often younger, policyholders are being added, and this can lead to more frequent and/or larger rate increases in the future (How Much Do Medigap Premiums Increase Each Year?).

So, it is usually prudent to compare your Medigap options and at least consider changing your plan if your Medigap company stops offering plans and if you are eligible to do so. You can get a list of Medigap options here.

Why Did the Central States Companies Stop Selling Medigap?

Companies entering and existing the Medigap market is not an unusual occurrence. Typically, when they stop offering plans, no real reason is given. It could because they did not find this line of business as profitable as projected or that they intended to focus more on other lines of insurance or segments of their business. In the case of CSI Life and Central States, their official release did not give specific reasons. They did announce another affiliate, Central States Health and Life Insurance of Omaha, but that affiliate company also pulled out of Medigap a couple of years later.

Will This Happen with Other Companies that Sell Medigap?

The short answer is “yes”. It has happened, is happening and will likely to continue to happen, as new companies enter and exit the Medigap market all the time. There is no way to know for certain if a specific Medigap company will exit the market at any given time. The best predictor of future stability is past stability, but even that is not always certain. As always with Medigap, it is a good idea to compare current prices, company ratings and past rate stability when comparing and choosing a Medigap policy.

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ACE Medigap Plan – Is It a Good Option for You?

February 21, 2024 By Garrett Ball Leave a Comment

ACE Medigap plans are one of the new options to pop up on the Medigap insurance scene. If you are researching Medigap plans, you will see some unfamiliar names show up in your research, and ACE is one of those names that may not be as familiar to most people. But, does that mean it should not be considered a viable option? Is it worth your consideration? Let’s take a look.

ACE Medigap Coverage – What Do They Cover?

First and foremost, ACE Medigap plans are the same as other Federally-standardized Medigap plans. They go by the regular Medigap coverage chart. This means that there is no difference in coverage with ACE plans vs. other plans from other companies. In other words, an ACE Plan G would be the exact same as a Plan G from any other company.

Typically, in most states, ACE offers both the Plan G and the Plan N (Choosing between Plan G and Plan N). Plan G is the most common and comprehensive Medigap plan, paying everything that Medicare A & B do not cover except for the Medicare Part B deductible (currently $240/year). Plan N is also a popular option, however, because it gives a lower premium in exchange for some minimal co-pays and out-of-pocket costs.

In some states, ACE Medigap does also offer the high deductible Plan G as an option. This plan is different than the regular/standard Plan G. It is a high deductible alternative with a $2800 that must be met before the plan pays anything.

Who Is the ACE Medigap Company?

ACE as they are commonly called has the full name of ACE Property and Casualty Insurance Company. They are a Chubb company. Chubb operates in 54 countries and is one of the largest insurance companies in the United States. Medigap plans are one small part of what they do – they are also active in commercial insurance, property and casualty, life insurance, reinsurance and other types of insurance.

They have more than $225 billion in assets and had $57.5 billion in premium written in 2023. ACE inherits Chubb’s solid ratings from AM Best (A++) and Standard and Poor’s (AA).

Medigap plans are a relatively new offering through ACE and Chubb. They started offering them in 2021 in most states. However, they are well-positioned in the markets where they operate, having a low premium and solid rating.

What Makes ACE Medigap Unique?

As previously mentioned, ACE Medigap plans are the same as the Federally-standardized plans offered through other insurers. However, there are few aspects of the ACE plans that are unique:

Competitive pricing in most markets – ACE plans are one of the lowest priced offerings in many areas of the country where they are available.
Household discount just for being married or having a household resident – In most states, ACE Medigap plans offer a 7% discount just for being married or having a household resident. In other words, it is not required that two people in the same household have a plan with them in order to qualify for this discount (state-specific laws may vary so it is always advisable to check with your broker for your exact rate). Should You Use a Medigap Broker?
No waiting period for pre-existing conditions – There are no waiting periods for pre-existing conditions under ACE plans. This applies whether you are applying during your initial open enrollment period or if you already have a Medigap plan and are just looking to reduce your costs.
Great financial strength ratings – As outlined above, ACE has very high AM Best ratings (A++), one of the highest of any Medigap plan available. This gives assurance that their plans are backed by a solid company with a solid financial backing.

Should You Consider ACE Medigap Plans?

If you are in the market for Medigap, whether new to Medicare or just looking to get a better rate, ACE Medigap plans are certainly a viable option to consider. It is always prudent to check the rates for all plans in your area before selecting a Medigap plan. You can get a list of the Medigap plans, with prices and company ratings, delivered by email here: Medigap quotes by email.

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Choosing Between Medigap Plan G and Plan N

February 21, 2024 By Garrett Ball 1 Comment

Medigap Plan G vs. Medigap Plan N

There are several factors which should be considered when choosing between a Medigap Plan G or Plan N. It basically comes down to making an informed decision based upon your personal situation, finances and lifestyle. Below I will explain some similarities and differences between these two plans, so that you will be better informed to make your choice.

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What Do Plan G and Plan N Have in Common

There are many similarities between Plan G and Plan N. In fact, they are more alike than they are different (which may be why you are considering these two plans). Many people consider them to be the two best Medigap plans. Here is a list of the primary similarities:

Medicare Part A deductible IS covered
Medicare Part B deductible of $240 (2024) per year is NOT covered
Hospitalization, skilled nursing facility care, blood, hospice care, foreign travel ARE covered
An application must go through medical underwriting unless you are enrolling during open enrollment or have a guaranteed issue situation

What are the Differences Between Plan G and Plan N

Although there are many similarities, there are also a few significant differences between Plan G and Plan N:

Plan G has:

No Part B doctor/outpatient copays
No emergency room copay
No Part B excess charges of 15% (the difference in cost between the Medicare-approved payment amount for services and the amount your health care provider charges). They cannot charge more than 15% above the assigned rate and still be reimbursed by Medicare.

Plan N has:

Part B doctor/outpatient copay of up to $20 per office visit
Part B copayment of up to $50 per each emergency room visit. Note: If you are admitted to the hospital, then this copayment is waived.
Part B Excess charges of up to 15% (if the provider charges Part B excess charges and does not accept Medicare “assignment”)

Medigap Plan G Premiums vs. Medigap Plan N Premiums

In most states, Plan G generally runs about $20-25 more per month than Plan N (More about Plan G prices). Depending upon the condition of your health, it might be a better idea to sign up for Plan N, even though there is a copay and may be 15% in excess charges associated with it.

Example 1: Tom is a 72-year old man, who lives a healthy lifestyle. He does not take any medications, except for vitamins and herbs, and works out almost daily at the YMCA. The only time he sees a doctor is when he goes for his annual physical. In his case, it would be more cost effective for Tom to choose Plan N over Plan G. Why? Because even though he will have had to pay a copay and perhaps more if his doctor doesn’t accept Medicare assignment, it will amount to less than if he paid that higher premium for Plan G.

Example 2: Linda is 69-year old woman, who lives a sedentary life. She’s a smoker, slightly overweight, and has high blood pressure. She only works out about 1 to 2 times per week. She’s on medication for her blood pressure, and takes an antidepressant daily as well. She visits her doctor at least four times a year, if not more. In Linda’s situation, it would be more beneficial for her to enroll in a Plan G. Why? Because by the time she adds up all her doctor visits, possibly incurring lab copays and 15% in excess charges, she will have paid out more annually, even though her monthly premium is lower.

Other Considerations Between Plan G and Plan N

When choosing between Plan G and Plan N, another consideration that you must make is about the future. The initial open enrollment selection of a Medigap plan is not necessarily a “final” choice. You can always change plans or companies in the future. However, and this is an important and commonly misunderstood point, you have to answer medical questions and be “approved” if you change plans later.

So, what this means is that, even if your current health dictates that you enroll in a Plan N (or possibly even in an Advantage plan), you should think about that decision on a long-term basis. What you enroll in initially, if you have or develop health problems, may be what you keep out of necessity.

Choosing the right plan to meet your needs may either be an easy decision or more complicated than you imagined it to be. The bottom line is that it all depends on your current personal health profile and what you anticipate your health status to look like in the near and distant future. You may have an elective surgery coming up that might increase the amount of times you will need to see a health care provider. Your finances may also be impacted. So, these are all things that should be taken into consideration in your final decision between Plan G and Plan N.

Bottom-line, there is no right or wrong answer to choosing between Plan G and Plan N. The right decision depends on your unique situation. What we do is provide the list of options – companies, rates, and ratings – for both Plan G and Plan N so you can make an informed choice. Get a list of Plan G and Plan N quotes, delivered by email, here.

medigap coverage chart

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