If you're a California resident who is eligible for Medicare, don't go anywhere! We're telling you what you need to know about Medicare Supplements in California and explain in detail how the Birthday Rule works.
Once you become eligible for Medicare, you'll have the option to enroll in supplemental coverage. This supplemental coverage comes in the form of either a Medicare Advantage plan or a Medigap plan with an additional Part D drug plan.
You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan during your Initial Coverage Election Period. If you missed your Initial Coverage Election Period, you could enroll during the Annual Election Period that comes around each October. If you enroll in a Medigap plan instead, your first opportunity to do so is during your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period.
If you miss your Open Enrollment Period, you can still enroll in a Medigap plan at any time of the year. However, you'll have to go through medical underwriting and answer health questions.
Good news: if you're a California resident and want to change Medigap plans, you'll have an additional opportunity to do so without answering any health questions. The California Birthday Rule says that each year, 30 days before your birthday and 60 days after your birthday, you'll have the option to change your Medigap plan without answering health questions.
You're allowed to switch plan carriers, keeping the same plan with the same benefits, or switch to a plan with fewer benefits. For example, if you have Plan F, you can enroll in a different Plan F with another carrier. Alternatively, you can enroll in Plan G.
As another example, if you have Plan G, you can enroll in Plan G with a different carrier or enroll in Plan N. However, you won't be able to enroll in Plan F since Plan F has more benefits than Plan G.
Your premiums can increase year over year, so California residents benefit from the Birthday Rule. It allows you to shop other rates in your area to see if you can find one that's more affordable. If your health declines, you won't have to worry about that impacting your rates.
You can apply for Original Medicare (Parts A and B) in California, online, via telephone, or at your local Social Security office.
If you're ready to enroll in a Supplemental Medicare plan in California, give us a call! Once an agent collects some information from you, they'll be able to compare all your Medigap options for your area.
Medigap in California: https://www.medicarefaq.com/medicare-supplements/medigap-by-state/california-medigap-plans/
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If you're a resident in California and eligible for Medicare, don't go anywhere.
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We're going to tell you what you need to know about Supplemental Medicare in California
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as well as explain the details on how the birthday rule works.
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Hi everyone. My name is Lindsay
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Engle and I’m the Medicare expert for Elite Insurance Partners and MedicareFAQ.com.
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Medigap plans are standardized by the Federal Government.
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This means that regardless of where you live the benefits will stay exactly the same.
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Once you become eligible for Medicare, you'll have the option to enroll in supplemental coverage.
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This comes in the form of either a Medicare Advantage plan
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or a Medigap plan with an additional Part D prescription drug plan.
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You can check out our video on comparing Medigap vs Medicare Advantage plans here.
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If you choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can do
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so during your Initial Coverage Election Period. If you miss your Initial Coverage Election Period
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you can choose to enroll during the annual election period that comes around each October. If you
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Choose to enroll in a Medigap plan your first opportunity
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to do so is during your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period. If you
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would like more information on these enrollment periods,
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click here. However, if you miss your Open Enrollment Period you can
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still enroll in a Medigap plan at any time of the year.
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The only difference is that outside of your OEP you'll have to answer health questions
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and go through medical underwriting.
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The good news is if you're a resident of California and you want to change Medigap plans,
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you'll have an additional opportunity to do
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so without having to answer any health questions. The way the birthday rule works in California
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is that each year, 30 days before your birthday as well as 30 days after your birthday,
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you have the option to change your Medigap plan without having to answer health questions.
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You're allowed to switch from the same plan with the same amount of benefits
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or switch to a plan with a lesser amount of benefits.
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For example, if you have Plan F,
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you can choose to enroll in a different Plan F with another carrier.
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Or you can choose to enroll in Plan G.
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If you have Plan G, you can choose to enroll in a different Plan G with another carrier.
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Or enroll in Plan N. However,
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you will not be able to enroll in Plan F since Plan F has more benefits than Plan G.
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This is great news for residents in California since your premiums can increase year-over-year.
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It gives you an opportunity to shop other rates in your area to see if you
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can find one that's lower than your current one.
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If your health declines, you won't have to worry about that negatively impacting your rates.
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There are many different factors that can impact your rates.
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If you would like to learn more about those factors you can watch our video here.
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If you're unsure how to apply for Original Medicare Part A and Part B in California,
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you can do so online, over the phone, or at your local Social Security office.
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If you're ready to enroll in a Supplemental Medicare plan,
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give us a call. Our agents will be able to collect some information from you
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and compare all of your Medicare options in your area.
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I hope you found this video helpful, and if you did make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel,
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don't forget turn notifications on so you're notified each time
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we upload a new video. We also have a fantastic Medicare community
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on Facebook. We’ll make sure to include a link in the description below
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so you can join today. Until next time.
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Bye.