FAQs: Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
General Medicare Supplement Questions
- What is a Medicare Supplement insurance plan?
- What Medicare Supplement insurance plans does Humana offer?
- Am I eligible to purchase a Medicare Supplement insurance plan?
- Does a Medicare Supplement insurance plan replace Medicare Parts A and B?
- What are the enrollment dates?
- What if my open enrollment period is over?
- How can I apply for a Humana Medicare Supplement insurance plan?
- When does my coverage begin?
- Can my Humana Medicare Supplement insurance plan be cancelled?
- Do I have to take a physical examination when I apply for a Humana Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
Medicare Supplement Costs
Medicare Supplement Coverage
- Do I have to use certain doctors?
- How can I find out which services are covered by the plan I am most interested in?
- Do Humana's Medicare Supplement insurance plans cover prescription drugs?
General Medicare Supplement Questions
Q. What is a Medicare Supplement insurance plan?
Medicare Supplement insurance plan helps cover the costs that are left unpaid after Medicare Parts A and B pay their portion of your healthcare expenses. Medicare Supplement policies pay only for services Medicare considers medically necessary. Payments are generally based on the Medicare-approved charge. The policy might not fully cover all of your medical costs.
Medicare Supplement policies are available from private insurance companies. While the costs of these policies may vary, individual insurance companies must provide the same standardized benefits.
Q. What Medicare Supplement insurance plans does Humana offer?
Humana offers plans A, B, C, D, F, High Deductible F, F Select, G, K, L, and N. Plan offerings vary by state.
Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin do not offer the standard alphabetized plan menu.
Q. Am I eligible to purchase a Medicare Supplement insurance plan?
If you're enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B, you're probably eligible to buy a Medicare Supplement policy. During your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period – for people 65 or older, that’s six months after you sign up for Medicare Part B – a company must allow you to buy any Medicare Supplement insurance plan offered. In some states these plans may be available to those under age 65.
Q. Does a Medicare Supplement insurance plan replace Medicare Parts A and B?
Unlike a Medicare Advantage plan, which is an alternative option to Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Supplement insurance plans are purchased in addition to your Medicare Parts A and B benefits.
Q. What are the enrollment dates?
There are no specific enrollment dates for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan. The best time to buy an insurance policy is during your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period which lasts six months. It starts on the first day of the month in which you are BOTH age 65 or older AND enrolled in Medicare Part B. In some states, these plans may be available to those under age 65. For those enrolling in a Medicare Supplement insurance plan prior to the age of 65, your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period begins on the first day you're enrolled in Medicare Part B. Once your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period starts it cannot be changed. Find more details at Medicare Supplement Enrollment and Eligibility.
During this period you cannot be denied coverage, nor be made to wait before coverage begins.
Q. What if my open enrollment period is over?
You can still apply for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan after your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period has expired. However, your application may be subject to medical underwriting (i.e., a review of your medical history and current health) unless you qualify under guaranteed issue rights.
You also may have the right to buy a Medicare Supplement policy outside of your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment Period if you lose certain types of health coverage. In general, this right is for 63 days from the date coverage ends or from the date you receive notice that your coverage will end. Colorado residents receive a guaranteed right to purchase a Medicare Supplement insurance plan for six months if their current coverage is involuntarily terminated and 63 days if terminated voluntarily. You must provide proof of the loss of your previous coverage. Otherwise, applying after your guaranteed issue period has expired may subject your application to medical underwriting which will help determine if your application will be accepted. More details can be found at Medicare Supplement Enrollment and Eligibility.
Q. How can I apply for a Medicare Supplement insurance plan?
Depending on where you live, you can enroll fast and secure on our Website. For details on how, visit our Enroll Online page. You can also enroll with the help of one of our licensed agents/producers at the number at the bottom of the page.
Q. When does my coverage begin?
In general, your coverage begins on the first day of the month after Humana receives your completed application - unless you request a later effective date, or you applied prior to your Medicare Part A or B effective date.
Q. Can my membership in Humana's Medicare Supplement insurance plan be cancelled?
Medicare Supplement coverage is guaranteed renewable for life, which means Humana cannot cancel your policy because of your age or health. Your policy may be cancelled if you fail to pay any monthly plan premium or due to a material misrepresentation on your application.
Q. Do I have to take a physical examination when I apply for a Humana Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan?
No, but you may need to answer health questions depending on where you live. Responses to medical questions are not required if you are applying during open enrollment or qualify for guaranteed issue.
Medicare Supplement Costs
Q. How do I pay my premiums?
In addition to the monthly Medicare Part B premium to Medicare, you pay a premium to the insurance company that provides your coverage. Humana offers several ways to pay, including automatic bank account withdrawal or credit card. You also have the option of a coupon book. Choosing automatic bank withdrawal or credit card as your payment method, results in a $2 discount to your monthly plan premium.
Q. Will my premium change?
Premium changes are dependent on the type of policy you purchase. For example, if your policy is issued as an "attained-age" policy, your premium will increase as you age. Premiums are also annually adjusted to reflect changes in Medicare.
Medicare Supplement Coverage
Q. Do I have to use certain doctors?
No. With a Medicare Supplement insurance plan, you have the flexibility to choose any doctor or hospital who accepts Medicare.
Q. How can I find out which services are covered by the plan I am most interested in?
Medicare Supplement policies are standardized into 10 plans, labeled "A" through "N", each with its own set of benefits. Plan A covers the most basic benefits: coinsurance for hospitalization plus coverage for 365 additional days after Medicare benefits end; coinsurance or copayments for medical expenses like doctor office visits and outpatient services; if you require blood transfusion, coverage for the first three pints of blood you receive; and pays for the Part A coinsurance associated with hospice care. Plans B through G cover all the services of Plan A, plus one or more additional costs such as coinsurance for a skilled nursing facility, your Part A deductible, or your Part B deductible. Plans K, L and N cover similar services as plans A-G, but the costs for the basic benefits are different.
For information about what a specific plan covers, enter your ZIP code at the bottom of this page. You will be taken to the Plan Comparison section of our Website where you can get detailed information on the plans in your area.
Q. Do Humana's Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans cover prescription drugs?
No. If you're buying a Medicare Supplement insurance plan and want prescription drug coverage, you'll need to enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan. Some supplement plans sold before 2006 included drug coverage; people who had already purchased those plans were allowed to keep the same coverage.