FAQ: Are There Updates To Medicare and Medigap For 2019?
Medicare Supplement guidelines are updated yearly to keep up with the changing times and 2019 is not an exception. In fact, existing and would-be members can expect to see major changes in some of the rules that govern claims and applications, as well as in the lineup of plans that are available. Here are the changes and updates that Medigap policies are expected to see in 2019.
1. Plan C and Plan F will no longer be offered to new enrollees starting January 1, 2020
Plan C and F will no longer be available to new Medigap enrollees because all Medigap plans will crease to cover the Part B deductible. If you already have either of these before January 1, 2020, you can keep your plan. If you were Medicare eligible before the said date but not yet enrolled, you can still buy Plan C and Plan F.
2. In place of Plan F, insurance providers will likely be highlighting Plan G.
Plan G is largely similar to Plan F, except for a $185 Part B deductible that should be paid at the start of the year. Since this deductible will no longer be offered starting January 1, 2020, the practical substitute for those who can no longer avail Plan F is Plan G. New members can expect that insurance providers will be marketing this plan more aggressively by then.
3. Out-of-pocket limits for Plan K and L have been increased.
Based on US per capita cost estimates by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the OOP limits for Plan K and Plan L in 2019 are $5,560 and $2,780, respectively. These are up from $5,240 and $2,620 in 2018.
4. Original Medicare beneficiaries will no longer pay in full for outpatient, speech, physical or occupational therapy.
The U.S. Congress has removed the therapy cap on Original Medicare, which has previously limited the coverage for such types of services. This means that beneficiaries will no longer have to shoulder their full cost.
5. The doughnut hole for Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage will close in 2019 and 2020.
The doughnut hole is the coverage gap created when enrollees with expensive prescription drugs are left paying more after reaching a certain spending amount in a year. Under the Affordable Care Act, this “hole” will close for branded medications in 2019 and for generic medicines in 2020.
6. New laws allow new Medicare Advantage subscribers to try the plan for up to 3 months and then switch to another plan or enrol in Original Medicare if they are not happy.
Under new laws (21st Century Cures Act), people can try out a Medicare Advantage Plan first for up to three months before they make a final decision. At the end of this “trial” period, they can choose to stay, switch to another Medicare Advantage policy, or enrol in Original Medicare (and then supplement with Medigap, if they want).
7. Medicare Advantage plans will be allowed to provide lifestyle support starting January 2019.
Starting January 2019, providers of Medicare Advantage policies may be allowed to cover doctor recommended prepared meals and home-safety improvements. These can include meals delivered to one’s house, bathroom grab bars, wheelchair ramps, and transport expenses to the doctor’s clinic among others.
8. More Telehealth services will be made available.
Medicare will start covering telehealth services in 2019 for people who are undergoing treatment for stroke or those diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Telehealth services cover calls or internet emails/chats to a doctor or nurse.
Do you have more questions about how Medicare and Medicare Supplements will be affected in 2019 and how to prepare for these changes? Our qualified Medigap advisors will gladly provide guidance.
