Nov 19, 2021
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For many retired folks who can no longer rely on an employer-sponsored health insurance plan, Medicare can often be the only available way to access health insurance.
But like many public services, Medicare is overly complex. Eligible folks have to wade through mountains of jargon and red tape from both the government and private companies to take advantage of this “free” health care coverage.
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Until now.
We’ve found a company called CoverRight that delivers a simple and seamless service which demystifies the jargon and handles the red tape for you, so you can get the right Medicare coverage you need without any of the hassle.
Signing up for Medicare shouldn’t be this complicated
For decades, the Medicare enrollment process has been complex and confusing.
“Medicare.gov does not make life easy for consumers and is filled with jargon and hard-to-understand content,” says CoverRight CEO Richard Chan.
“Research has shown that of those newly eligible for Medicare, 68% don’t understand what’s covered under the various options and 57% are overwhelmed with finding the right plan.”
CoverRight’s service addresses these issues by providing a simple, online step-by-step process to help you understand your options and choose the right combination of Medicare coverage for your long-term health care needs.
“Unlike local brokers who typically represent one or two companies, our technology helps make instant recommendations and automatically shops a broad panel of national and regional health insurers to make sure you’re getting the most benefits and savings out of Medicare. We don’t favor any single insurance company over another.”
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The company’s service lets you find and shop plans on your own terms. While the process starts online, you also get access to a dedicated licensed agent that you can speak with as much or as little as you want.
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Get free Medicare plan guidance in 3 easy steps
To get started choosing a plan through CoverRight, you simply create an account and:
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Fill out a simple online form. With basic information about yourself — like your ZIP code, age and tobacco use — and answers to a few simple questions about your preferences, CoverRight can deliver a recommendation of the right plan type for you in less than two minutes.
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Compare your options online. Once you know what type of plan is right for you, you’re able to access instant quotes, so you can compare your options side by side. You can use CoverRight’s calculators to estimate your prescription and other out-of-pocket costs for each plan.
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Speak to a dedicated CoverRight agent. Your dedicated agent is available via email or phone to answer any questions you have about comparing plans or your coverage before you enroll. Once you choose a plan, they’ll take care of everything to get your coverage started on time.
Demystifying Medicare coverage
Part of what makes Medicare so confusing is that it’s not a single plan you simply opt into once you turn 65. Unlike typical health care coverage, Medicare is segmented into a variety of public and private plans, and you have to enroll in the right bundle to get all the coverage you need.
CoverRight helps you figure out which combination of coverage is best for your situation.
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The company provides a free 20-minute Medicare 101 video education series to get you up to speed, easy-to-read online guides via their blog, and its unique technology uses just a few key pieces of information to determine which combination of plans is right for you (so you don’t have to do all the research yourself).
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Enroll now to avoid a penalty
Given how complicated the system is to navigate, you might feel like avoiding Medicare coverage for a while and sticking with private insurance instead.
But that could come with a cost.
For anyone who is over 65 and not still working, you risk a late enrollment penalty added to your premium if you don’t sign up when you’re first eligible.
For example, if you enroll late, you have to pay an additional 10% in monthly premiums for every 12-month period you didn’t have coverage. You also continue to pay the late enrollment fee for as long as you have Medicare.
In addition, many people are unaware that if you enroll in drug coverage late you will also pay a penalty. This means that even if you don’t currently take any prescription drugs, you need to be enrolled to avoid penalties. The exception is if you still have coverage from an employer that is as good as Medicare’s.
CoverRight will help you determine when is the right time to enroll and make sure you are enrolled in the right plans, so you don’t have to put it off and risk paying a penalty for late enrollment.
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Dana Sitar has been writing and editing since 2011, covering personal finance, careers and digital media. She’s written about work and money for The New York Times, Forbes, CNBC, The Motley Fool, a column for Inc. and more.
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