Healthcare News & Stories

Having quality medical insurance is extremely important. Living without healthcare may leave you susceptible to substantial medical bills that you can’t afford. There are several different options for healthcare including employer insurance and Medicare. So, you may be wondering, “Can I have both employer insurance and Medicare?”.
Employer coverage refers to health insurance purchased by your employer. This insurance is then offered to their employees as part of a benefits package. An employer health plan is considered private health insurance coverage. 
Meanwhile, Medicare is a form of federal health insurance offered to people 65 or older, younger people with disabilities, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. Since it is federal-based insurance, it is not considered private. 

In today’s world, taking care of your health starts with proper health coverage. Without health care coverage that meets your medical needs, you could get stuck with massive, avoidable debt. Private insurance and Medicare are two of the more popular forms of medical insurance. You may be wondering, “Can you have private insurance and Medicare at the same time?”
Private insurance refers to health coverage offered by the private health insurance industry. A private insurance plan is offered by private insurance companies that operate as separate, individual businesses. According to a 2020 report from the U.S. Census Bureau, 68 percent of Americans have some form of private health insurance.
Meanwhile, Medicare is a federal insurance plan eligible for adults 65 or older, individuals with disabilities, or people suffering from End-Stage Renal Disease. The government directly offers Medicare, not private insurance companies. 

Medicare Advantage continues to grow in popularity with Medicare beneficiaries. Data released in January 2023 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services shows Medicare Advantage provides coverage for just over half of all Medicare-eligible beneficiaries. So out of almost 60 million people enrolled in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B, just over 30 million are enrolled in a private plan.

At Health Plans of NC, our experienced and professional team of locally based health insurance agents are here to help you. We've recently launched a new website to make it even easier for anyone living in North Carolina to access the best health insurance plan.  You can request a quote online in seconds simply by providing your zip code. It's a great way to get a quote fast, and we'll assign you to one of our knowledgeable North Carolina agents here to help you find the right plan for your health needs and budget. But if you want more control over your chosen agent, we recommend you look at our new 'Find an Agent' feature. This tool gives you the power to choose which insurance broker you use. 

What Else Should I Consider When I Apply For Medicare?
To start, you will only need to apply for Medicare once. This is done through the Social Security Administration. You can stay with Original Medicare or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan.
Medicare Advantage plans have an out-of-pocket limit. This means that after paying a set amount, Medicare will fully cover all eligible medical expenses. 

While it is essential to have comprehensive health insurance, fees can be concerning. Monthly premiums, copays, and coinsurance can all add up. However, for Medicare members, there are potential solutions to lessen high pocket costs.
Medicare Supplement plans, also known as Medigap, can be an effective method to cover costly medical expenses. With proper information, you can better understand what the supplemental is and the benefits it can have. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about Medigap, and answer the question “Do I really need supplemental insurance with Medicare?:
What is Medicare Supplemental Insurance (Medigap)?

An Individual’s health should be one of their top priorities in life. Trying to find the correct medical insurance, though, can feel tricky and confusing. For many, the options are Medicare vs private health insurance. It is important to understand and compare the two. With the right information, you will be able to make a proper decision on what is best for you.
Medicare vs. Private Insurance: Comparison Overview
Medicare is a health insurance program established by the federal government. 

U.S. President Joe Biden recently signed the Inflation Reduction Act authorizing the government to negotiate prices on some prescription drugs and allow the government to cap the costs of Medicare. With over 63 million Americans receiving Medicare health benefits, the law is likely to affect many people throughout the country, including those living in North Carolina. 

Medicare Part D is an optional prescription drug plan for anyone currently enrolled in Medicare. Before its introduction in 2006, many Americans spent thousands of dollars each year covering the costs of their prescriptions.  If you need help finding a prescription plan, our locally based NC health insurance brokers can help. We specialize in assisting people in North Carolina find the best prescription drug plan for their needs.

With many people finally able to start planning for travel again after Covid-19, it's essential to consider your health insurance coverage while you're away. While there's nothing like exploring new places, being prepared for any unexpected costs is necessary to ensure you're not left significantly out of pocket on your vacation.  Where you're traveling, and the type of Medicare policy you have can impact your coverage while you're away. It can also be a good idea to purchase additional insurance depending on your coverage. If you have any questions, a local health insurance agent can help you decide on the right policy for you, so you can rest assured and enjoy your trip.

Medigap Plan M is a type of Medicare Supplement Plan offering basic coverage to help cover the gap for costs not covered by Original Medicare Part A and Part B. It provides a low monthly premium, but you must pay for half of your hospital deductible and 100% of your yearly outpatient deductible. 

Medigap Plan L is a type of Medicare Supplement Plan. This plan helps cover the gaps not covered by Original Medicare, such as deductibles and coinsurance. In addition, Medigap Plan L provides a lower premium if you're willing to share some of your health care costs with your insurance provider. 

Medigap Plan K is a basic Medicare Supplement plan, offering similar benefits to other types of plans but with lower premiums. Purchasing a Medigap Plan K also provides you with a cap on your out-of-pocket maximum. A Medigap Plan K plan supplements Original Medicare Parts A and B.

Medigap Plan D is a Medicare Supplement Plan that helps cover the gaps in coverage not covered by Original Medicare. There are 10 different Medigap plans available in North Carolina. Medigap Plan D offers more coverage than Medigap Plan A or Medigap Plan B, but not as many benefits as you can get if you purchase Medigap Plan C, Medigap Plan F, or Medigap Plan G. It's important to realize that Medigap Plan D is a different plan from Medicare Part D, which provides coverage for prescription drugs. Though their names are very similar, Medigap plans do not provide coverage for any prescription drugs. 

Medigap Plan A refers to coverage that helps you pay for some out-of-pocket costs from Original Medicare, including Medicare Part A (Hospital) and Part B (Medical.) Medigap Plan A is also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan A. It shouldn't be confused with Medicare Part A, a different plan that offers distinct benefits. 

Medigap Plan B is a standardized Medicare Supplement plan. In North Carolina, you can choose from 10 different Medigap policies to supplement Original Medicare Parts A (Hospital) and B (Medical.) Although Medigap Plan B sounds similar to Original Medicare Part B, they are not the same and offer different levels of coverage.

A Medigap Plan C is a health insurance plan covering almost all of Original Medicare's coinsurance requirements, except for excess charges relating to Medicare Part B. Medigap Plan C is also known as Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan C.  As of January 1, 2020, Medigap plans sold to people new to Medicare can no longer cover the Medicare Part B deductible.  Because Medigap Plan C covers the Part B deductible, this plan is no longer available to people new to Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. It's important to realize that Medigap Plan C is not Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage). These are two unique plans with different levels of coverage included. 

When you're a part of an employer-sponsored high-deductible plan or health savings account plan, you might want to consider purchasing a High-Deductible Plan G supplement also known as a Medigap plan. This plan is similar to the High Deductible Plan F, but it doesn’t provide coverage for your Medicare Part B deductible. 

If you previously had a health savings account plan or a high-deductible plan through your employer, you may be interested in purchasing a Medicare Supplement High-Deductible Plan F plan, also known as Medigap coverage. High-Deductible Plan F includes the usual benefits you expect from a regular Medigap Plan F. The key difference is that you manage your health care costs until you reach your yearly deductible. After that, your plan works just like a standard Medigap Plan F. Choosing a high deductible for your plan can help reduce your monthly premiums.

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Medigap Plan N is also known as Medicare Supplement Plan N. It's a low premium plan where you must pay a small yearly deductible and some copays. Regardless of which insurance provider you choose, Medigap Plan N policies all feature the same benefits and are widely available throughout North Carolina. 

Medigap Plan F is commonly known as the most thorough Medicare Supplement plan available in North Carolina. It covers both Medicare deductibles and all of your coinsurance and copays, which means no out-of-pocket costs.

Medigap Plan G is the second most popular Medicare Supplement Plan behind Medigap Plan F. Medigap Plan G is similar to Medigap Plan F. It offers excellent value to anyone willing to pay an annual deductible. In addition, it provides complete coverage for the gaps in Original Medicare, covering your copays, hospital deductible, coinsurance, and the 20% that Medicare Part B doesn’t cover. 

Medicare Supplement Plans, also known as Medigap plans, provide coverage for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. These plans help pay for any gaps not covered by Medicare, such as your coinsurance or deductibles. These plans are a great choice if you don’t want to ‌pay out-of-pocket for your health care, and there are a range of plan options available in North Carolina.