Contact: Yeraldin
Deavila, Public Information Officer
Phone: (775)
687-0772
E-mail: ydeavila@doi.nv.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE– January 13, 2020
Some consumers may not be eligible
for Medicare Supplement plans in 2020 due to some changes in the law
Carson City, NV –
The Division of Insurance (“Division”) would like to remind consumers that Medicare
Supplement plans C and F, also known as Medigap C and F, are no longer
available to newly eligible consumers, as of January 1, 2020.
Congress passed the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization
Act of 2015 (“MACRA”), a law which states that Medicare Supplement plans will
no longer be allowed to cover the Part B deductible to newly eligible
individuals on or after January 1, 2020. That is why consumers who turned 65 or
who first became eligible for Medicare due to age, disability or end-stage
renal disease on or after January 1, 2020 will not have the option to purchase Medicare
Supplement plans C or F because those plans cover the Part B deductible.
This does not affect consumers whose 65th
birthday was before January 1, 2020 or those who first became eligible for
Medicare before January 1, 2020 and had already purchased those plans before
such date as these are “grandfathered” plans. Similarly, consumers eligible for
Medicare before January 1, 2020 but have not yet enrolled in such plans, may still
be able to purchase one of these plans.
“Considering purchasing supplemental coverage for Medicare
is a personal decision,” said Insurance Commissioner Barbara Richardson. “To
aid consumers in reaching that decision, the Division has developed several
resources and we suggest taking time to educate yourself on your options.”
The Division encourages consumers to contact a licensed
agent, broker, producer or consultant to assist in selecting appropriate
Medicare Supplement insurance coverage. In addition, consumers are also
encouraged to learn more about these products by reading the Division’s Medicare Supplement Insurance Premium Comparison Guide located on the Division’s website at http://doi.nv.gov/News-Notices/Publications/.
The Division also has available on its website a Medicare
Supplement Rate Lookup Tool at http://doi.nv.gov/Health_Insurance_Rates/Medicare_Supplement_Rates/. The rates on this tool are for all ages and zip codes in Nevada. Once a consumer
has input their information on the tool, the available plans based on this
information will be displayed.
While the rates displayed are the effective rates based on
smoking status, gender, location and age, the actual premium rate each company
charges may be based on a number of different factors.
About the Nevada Division of Insurance
The State of Nevada Division of Insurance, a Division of the
Nevada Department of Business and Industry, protects the rights of Nevada
consumers and regulates Nevada’s $14 billion insurance industry. The Division
of Insurance has offices in Carson City and Las Vegas. In 2018, the Division
investigated more than 3,100 consumer complaints and recovered over $8.4
million on behalf of consumers. For more information about the Division of
Insurance, visit DOI.NV.GOV.
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