Is there someone I could talk to – or somewhere else I could go for more information?
HSHS Medicare Plan Comparison and Enrollment Helpline
Serviced by MedicareCompareUSA
We understand how complex and confusing Medicare can be. There are many different types of Medicare insurance available all competing for your business – including Medicare Advantage, Supplement and Prescription Drug plans. But while many companies offer Medicare coverage, what most patients don’t realize is that healthcare providers do not typically accept all Medicare plans. HSHS offers patients a variety of FREE Medicare resources in partnership with MedicareCompareUSA. Our mission is to help patients in the search for Medicare insurance that meets their personal needs and preferences while enabling continued access to trusted healthcare providers. We encourage patients to take full advantage of these free resources.
Turning 65?
Preparing for Medicare eligibility? Turning 65? As you approach age 65 and Medicare eligibility, we are taking this opportunity to share some important information about Medicare with you so you can be aware and educated about your options with HSHS Hospital.
Medicare Patient Questionnaire
We request that all patients approaching age 65 take a few moments to complete a Medicare Patient Questionnaire. The information you provide helps us prepare to better serve you as you transition to Medicare. The questionnaire also provides information regarding helpful resources HSHS provides for our Medicare patients and the community. You can access the questionnaire and submit your responses online.
Click here complete our Medicare Questionnaire
About Our Partner: MedicareCompareUSA
MedicareCompareUSA is an independent insurance agency and call center that works closely with health systems and their Medicare patients. Their agents are licensed and extensively trained to help simplify your process of choosing a Medicare plan. MedicareCompareUSA also provides a lot of useful Medicare information on their website to help our patients.
Click Here to visit MedicareCompareUSA and for information on:
- Verify and compare Medicare plans accepted by your health care providers.
- Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement and Medicare Prescription plans represented
- Identify a Medicare prescription plan that covers your medications at the lowest cost.
- Receive assistance throughout the Medicare plan enrollment process.
- Specialize in Medicare education for those new to Medicare
- Assistance each year during the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) 10/15 – 12/7
MedicareCompareUSA is an independent insurance agency and call center not affiliated with the federal Medicare program. HSHS receives no financial benefit when patients use the service. MedicareCompareUSA is a resource provided at no cost and with no obligation, and Medicare beneficiaries are free to contact each Medicare plan directly, work with any licensed Medicare insurance agent, or access Medicare plan information by calling 1-800-MEDICARE or online at www.medicare.gov.
HSHS Hospitals and Affiliates
Hospital Sisters Health System (HSHS) is a multi-institutional health care system comprised of 15 hospitals and an integrated physician network across Illinois and Wisconsin including:
- HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital, Shelbyville, IL
- HSHS Holy Family Hospital, Greenville, IL
- HSHS Medical Group
- HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital, Eau Claire, WI
- HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital, Effingham, IL
- HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital, Oconto Falls, WI
- HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital, O'Fallon, IL
- HSHS St. Francis Hospital, Litchfield, IL
- HSHS St. John's Hospital, Springfield, IL
- HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital, Breese, IL
- HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital, Chippewa Falls, WI
- HSHS St. Joseph's Hospital, Highland, IL
- HSHS St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center, Green Bay, WI
- HSHS St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur, IL
- HSHS St. Nicholas Hospital, Sheboygan, WI
- HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay, WI
- Kiara Clinical Integration Network (KCIN)
- Physician Clinical Integration Network (PCIN)
- Prairie Cardiovascular
- Prairie Education and Research Cooperative (PERC)
- Prevea Health
What is Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies approved by Medicare. Medicare Advantage provides all of your Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans also offer extra coverage such as vision, hearing, dental, and/or health and wellness programs. Most Medicare Advantage plans also include Part D (prescription drug) coverage.
Is Medicare Advantage new?
The concept has been around since the 1970’s, but plans were renamed Medicare Advantage plans in 2003. As of 2019, there were 22.4 million people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans, accounting for about 38% of all Medicare Beneficiaries.
Is Medicare Advantage going to cost me more money?
You will always have to pay the Part B premium – whether you are on Traditional Medicare, adding Supplemental Coverage, or choosing Medicare Advantage. If you are lower-income and qualify for Forward, some of the Part B premium may be paid for by the state. Consider having a needs assessment done by an insurance agent to help you determine what type of plan will work best for you.
How is this paid for? The Medicare Part B premium is always deducted from the monthly check from Social Security. When you enroll in a Supplemental Plan, Medicare Advantage Plan or Part D plan – you can pay for your premiums in one of three ways:
- Have it deducted from your monthly Social Security check
- Auto-pay through a checking or savings account
- Receive direct, monthly billing
What are some benefits of choosing Medicare Advantage over Traditional Medicare?
Medicare Advantage plans are required to cover benefits (such as doctor’s office visits, lab visits, imaging studies, etc.) that are equal to or better than traditional Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans also include additional benefits such as Gym memberships, dental, vision and hearing not otherwise covered through Traditional Medicare.
- Medicare Advantage plans have a yearly Maximum Out-Of-Pocket (MOOP) for the medical expenses. If someone has a high medical expense year, the plan picks up at 100% once the MOOP has been reached. There is no MOOP with original Medicare.
- Many times, your Prescription Drugs are less expensive with Medicare Advantage. That is because you don’t have to pay the monthly premium for the stand-alone Part D plan as with Traditional Medicare. Your insurance agent will be able to show you the up-front cost savings in premium and Prescription co-payments.
- If someone has questions/concerns about their Medicare Advantage plan, the customer service department at their insurance company – or their insurance agent can help with most of the questions. When someone has Traditional Medicare, all of their questions and concerns need to be directed through Medicare.
It seems like a lot of private insurance companies have all different types of supplemental plans to offer. Is Medicare Advantage comparable to those other supplemental plans? What makes Medicare Advantage better than other plans?
Think of it like car insurance. You are paying the monthly premium for coverage whether you use the plan or not. When you do use the plan and need something covered – Traditional Medicare pays towards your claim first and then the supplemental plan generally pays the balance of the bill. There are several supplemental plans available. The more coverage you need/want – the more you are going to pay. Supplemental plans DO NOT COVER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Therefore, you would also need to pay an additional monthly premium for Part D Prescription Drug coverage.
Many of the Medicare Advantage plans – which have low-to-zero monthly premiums INCLUDE THE PART D PRESCRIPTION DRUG coverage, so this will save you up-front on the monthly premium cost. In return, you pay co-payments/co-insurances toward the medical services you need.
Who is eligible for Medicare Advantage plans?
- People 65 and older
- People under the age of 65 with disabilities (except those with end-stage renal disease)
- Participants must live within the service area of the Medicare Advantage plan they choose
What plans are in-network for HSHS?
HSHS participates in the following plans in the counties noted:
- Coventry/Aetna (all counties)
- Clear Spring Health (only in Boone, Clinton, Dupage, Kane, Kankakee, LaSalle, Macoupin, Madison, McHenry, Ogle, St. Clair, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago counties)
- Essence (only in Madison, Monroe and St. Clair counties)
- Health Alliance (all counties)
- Humana (all counties)
- United Healthcare (all counties)
How do I sign up/enroll for Medicare Advantage?
Medicare Advantage plans are offered through private insurance companies. Check with your chosen private insurance companies on the Medicare Advantage plans they offer.
If you are turning 65 …
You have up to 7 months to enroll (3 months before your birthday, your actual birthday month and then 3 months after your birthday).
If you are over 65 and are currently covered by Traditional Medicare …
Enroll in Medicare Advantage during the Annual Election Period (AEP) between October and December. Your new Medicare Advantage plan would then take effect on the first of the new year (1/1).
What if sign up for Medicare Advantage, and then decide I’d like to switch back to a different plan?
You can do that! Within the first year of participating in a Medicare Advantage plan, you have a one-time special enrollment option to switch back to Traditional Medicare and add a stand-alone Part D Prescription Drug plan. Also, the Annual Disenrollment Period (ADP) from Jan. 1 to Feb. 14 allows you to switch back to a Traditional Medicare and Part D Prescription Drug plan. What if I sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan, then move to an area that isn’t covered by the plan I chose? If you move out of your plan’s selected service area or lose Medicare coverage from your employer at any time during the year, the Special Election Period (SEP) allows you to choose another plan.
When I need to visit the doctor or have a medical procedure, how will I know what I am responsible for paying for and what Medicare Advantage is covering?
Before you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, your insurance agent will go through your plan’s Summary of Benefits with you and give you a copy to keep. The Summary of Benefits lists the co-payment or co-insurance costs for the year. Once you enroll in a plan, you’ll receive an insurance card in the mail, which you’ll need to show to your health care provider to make sure your claims are billed correctly.
Why are you encouraging me to sign up for this? There must be some benefit in it for you.
Overall - patients are going to be healthier and happier which ultimately lead to lower health care costs.
It’s helpful to know that Medicare Advantage plans are funded differently from Traditional Medicare. Traditional Medicare pays only if someone actually gets sick. The providers – or doctors – are reimbursed based on how many procedures they perform rather than the quality of care they deliver. This can lead to overuse, unnecessary procedures and hospital stays – and ultimately, higher health care costs.
With Medicare Advantage, providers track the outcomes of their patients – and are then reimbursed for keeping patients healthy through prevention, care coordination and disease management. The providers are more focused on the quality of patient care, rather than the quantity. Since Medicare Advantage plans are more focused on wellness and prevention - something HSHS has always been passionate about – quality of care improves and health care costs are reduced. Patients stay healthier and avoid unnecessary hospital stays.
Increasingly, the Medicare Advantage approach is being evaluated as a model for all health care.
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