MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT

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Basic Medicare a.k.a. Original Medicare includes Parts A and B, which is going to pay 80 percent of your basic hospital and doctor expenses. Unfortunately, 20 percent of the expenses Medicare does not cover becomes the responsibility of the beneficiary.  A Medicare Supplement is a private plan designed to protect you from paying the 20 percent original Medicare will not cover. 

• You are currently covered under Medicare Parts A & B
• You are within 6 months of turning 65
• You are within 6 months of receiving Part B coverage
• If you are about to lose your group health insurance plan

• The Initial Enrollment Period. During your first 6 months of Part B coverage, your acceptance is guaranteed, regardless of your current level of health
• The "Guaranteed Issue" Period. If you are on the verge of losing coverage through an employer, you will have a "guaranteed issue" period lasting 63 days where you can purchase any Medicare supplement policy with no health questions asked. 

If applying for a Medicare supplement outside of these time periods, you will need to qualify for a plan by going  through medical underwriting and answering a lot of health questions.