Medicare is a federal health insurance program with about 67.3 million American enrollees — about 18.7% of the U.S. population. It mainly provides essential healthcare coverage to older people who are 65 and older, as well as some younger people who have disabilities. Even though Medicare covers many essential healthcare services, it does not cover everything, and its beneficiaries might still have to pay a lot of their own money to get the healthcare services they need.  Supplemental Medicare (or Medigap) plans are meant to fill the gaps in Medicare coverage by covering costs like copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.

Medigap plans make healthcare costs more predictable and easier to manage for millions of Americans. But for a long time, there have not been many federal consumer protections to protect people from unfair practices when buying these plans. This has led to some unfair practices, with older adults and people with disabilities often having to pay a lot more money for their plans.

Below, this supplemental Medicare provider in Merrillville, Indiana is going to explain the recent changes in federal regulations that will fix some of these long-standing problems and make things fairer for everyone.

Medigap plans have historically been able to discriminate against people.

Medigap plans have always operated under a different set of regulations compared to other health insurance programs, especially when it comes to nondiscrimination rules.

According to Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), people cannot be treated unfairly because of their age, disability, and sex. But these protections have never been fully extended to Medigap plans. Because of this, insurance companies can charge older people and people with disabilities more money or even deny them coverage based on their past health issues. This means that many of these people have a hard time getting access to necessary healthcare services or end up paying a lot more for them than they should.

For example, if you are a Medicare beneficiary and you are looking for a supplemental Medicare provider in Merrillville, Indiana, you might notice that some insurance companies charge more money if you are older or if you have pre-existing conditions.

But new federal regulations are being introduced soon and they could change how these insurance plans are sold and governed. These changes should be able to create a fairer market so that more people can get the healthcare services they need without spending too much money.

These changes will (hopefully) make the Medigap market fairer and more accessible to everyone.

Starting on January 1, 2025, new federal regulations will extend the protections of Section 1557 of the ACA to Medigap plans offered by insurance companies that receive federal funding. These companies will no longer be able to discriminate against people based on their age, disability, or sex. With these new changes, the goal is to make it easier for everyone to get affordable health insurance, no matter how old they are or if they have had any health problems in the past.

What could these changes mean for you?

If you are currently a Medicare beneficiary or nearing the age of eligibility for Medicare in Merrillville, Indiana, you should pay close attention to these changes coming in 2025. These changes could have a major impact on the Medigap market, which in turn could affect the range of coverage options available to you.

Looking for a Supplemental Medicare Provider in Merrillville, Indiana?

When looking for a supplemental Medicare provider, you should consider working with a local company like Senior Care Insurance Services. We know what people in the community need, and we can give you personalized service that bigger companies might not. At Senior Care Insurance Services, we offer a hassle-free, no-pressure insurance buying process that puts your needs first. As the most trusted supplemental Medicare provider in Merrillville, Indiana, we can help you understand everything you need to know about Medicare and Medigap so you can find the best coverage at the best price.

 Are you ready to sit down with an expert to discuss? Contact SCIS today to get started.