Your Questions Answered

Transcription

1 Your Questions Answered 1. GENERAL 1.1 What is happening to my retiree medical and prescription drug benefits for Medicare-eligible participants as of January 1, 2015? Effective December 31, 2014, CIGNA and HIP VIP medical and prescription drug benefits for retirees and their spouses who are eligible for Medicare will no longer be offered by Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA). If eligible, you and your spouse who are eligible for Medicare will be able to enroll in medical and prescription drug coverage, through SelectQuote Senior, for coverage effective January 1, Why is BSA making these changes? Through extensive research of the significant changes in the Medicare marketplace, BSA has found that many individual insurance plans can provide more affordable coverage than the group health coverage BSA is able to offer. Such individual insurance plans enable participants to have more options for premiums and coverage while stabilizing costs for BSA. 1.3 What do I need to do? Are there certain deadlines I should be aware of? You must call SelectQuote Senior at 1 (866) to speak with a benefit advisor who will assist you in signing up for medical and prescription drug coverage. You should have received an introductory packet including a Health Matters booklet from SelectQuote Senior. Review the information and call SelectQuote Senior to enroll for coverage effective January 1, Why was SelectQuote Senior selected to work with BSA to provide the new retiree medical and prescription drug program? BSA chose SelectQuote Senior as a partner as they offer a broad range of individual healthcare coverage options for Medicare-eligible retirees, including Medigap (also known as Medicare Supplement), Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans. SelectQuote Senior offers plans from over 25+ different insurance carriers. SelectQuote Senior: Provides greater number of plan options for retiree/spouse Provides expanded choice of plan designs Provides a personal benefit advisor who will focus on the unique needs of each eligible individual in selecting a plan that meets the needs of the retiree/spouse (based on location, premium, utilization, etc.) and help to enroll for new medical and prescription drug coverage to become effective January 1, SelectQuote Senior operates a call center with a dedicated toll-free number to support BSA retirees. Once you are enrolled in a medical and/or prescription drug plan through SelectQuote Senior, you will receive an ID card from the insurance plan that you enroll in that will include a customer service number 1

2 that you can use to address questions about your coverage. You can also contact SelectQuote Senior for support at any time after enrollment. 1.5 Will there be future changes to retiree benefits? BSA maintains the right to modify, amend, or terminate benefit plans at any time, including Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) contribution levels. 1.6 If I don t like the plan that I enrolled in, when can I change? Every year, you will have a Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (October 15 December 7) during which you may investigate other Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans and enroll in a different plan. You will receive notification from SelectQuote Senior of the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period in the fall of 2015; we encourage you to contact SelectQuote Senior should you have any questions. If you are enrolled in Medicare Supplement, you may explore your options at any time, however; your medical conditions may limit your ability to change your Medicare Supplement Plan. 1.7 How will my transition to SelectQuote Senior impact my scheduled surgery? Please discuss any transition of care situations with a SelectQuote Senior benefit advisor. 1.8 If I m hospitalized during the enrollment/transition to SelectQuote Senior, will my BSA Medical Plan coverage continue, or do I need to enroll in coverage through SelectQuote Senior? You need to enroll in medical coverage through SelectQuote Senior on or before December 31, You will need to discuss your specific situation with your current insurance carrier to find out how a hospitalization or ongoing treatment will be handled. It can depend on the carrier and the timing of the hospitalization. 1.9 Can I access support through SelectQuote Senior online? How do I register to access my account? There is no need to register and no password needed to access the SelectQuote Senior website for purposes of evaluating plan options. If you are eligible for the HRA, once your account is activated (on or after January 1, 2015), you will have access to a password-protected site to review your HRA credit balance and reimbursement activity I have TRICARE for life, how will my new plan pay? TRICARE for Life will pay secondary to Medicare or third, if another plan is purchased such as a Medicare Advantage Plan, a prescription drug plan or Medigap. Please call TRICARE regarding specific information on coordination of benefits. 2

3 1.11 I attended a retiree meeting. Can I get a copy of the presentation? There is a recorded version of the retiree meeting presentation available on line at and then click the Resources link at the top of the page Do you sell my personal information to marketing companies? No, SelectQuote Senior is highly regulated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The privacy of your information is of the utmost importance. It is not shared or sold How does this change in my benefits relate to the Affordable Care Act/National Healthcare Reform? SelectQuote Senior operates a private Medicare exchange. SelectQuote Senior is entirely and completely separate from the Affordable Care Act and the public exchanges that were launched in the fall of MEDICARE 2.1 How does Medicare work? As you turn 65 years old and become eligible for Medicare, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A/hospital insurance. You are generally not required to pay a monthly premium for Part A coverage. At age 65, you can enroll into Medicare Part B coverage; however, as a current Medicare-eligible participant in the BSA Medical Plan, you have already enrolled in Medicare Part B. Part B helps cover physician charges and other diagnostic and outpatient medical services. You are required to pay a monthly premium for Part B coverage. You may have to pay a late enrollment penalty if you did not sign up for Part B when you were first eligible. Note that Part B coverage can be deferred if certain conditions apply. You may also become eligible for Medicare prior to age 65 due to a disability. Medicare determines what it will reimburse for services covered under Parts A and B, and does not pay 100% of all expenses. To fill these gaps, you may choose to enroll in Medicare supplemental coverage: A. A Medicare Supplement plan (i.e., Medigap plan) covers all or part of what Medicare does not pay. There are no networks, and you may go to any doctor or hospital, as long as Medicare is accepted. Your cost for Medigap coverage varies by carrier, plan, residence and age. You also may choose a Part D plan, which provides coverage for prescription drugs. You must pay a monthly premium for Part D coverage, which varies by the carrier and plan you choose. B. Medicare Advantage (also referred to as Medicare Part C) plans cover medical and prescription drug expenses with a single premium, generally lower than Medigap plan premiums. In exchange for this convenience, Medicare Advantage plans often charge a per-visit fee, either through a copayment or coinsurance. In most cases, Medicare Advantage plans utilize a network of doctors (a PPO or HMO) that allows for even deeper cost savings. In general, it isn t possible to enroll in both a Medicare Advantage plan and a Part D plan. Your premium cost varies by Medicare Advantage carrier, plan and residence (but not your age or health status). You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to enroll in Medicare supplemental coverage. 3

4 2.2 Do I need coverage in addition to Medicare Parts A and B? It depends on your circumstances. There is no coverage for prescription drugs under original Medicare Parts A or B if you are receiving care on an outpatient basis. If you want outpatient drug coverage, you ll have to elect a Medicare Part D plan. It s also important to note that Medicare will generally not pay for all of the health care services you use. If you are solely enrolled in original Medicare Parts A and B, you may want to purchase additional Medicare supplemental medical insurance. 2.3 What if I m eligible for Medicare, enrolled in Medicare Part A, but not in Medicare Part B? You must be enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B in order to enroll in Medigap (Medicare Supplement) or Medicare Advantage coverage. If you are not enrolled in Medicare Part B, you will not be eligible to enroll in Medigap (Medicare Supplement) or Medicare Advantage coverage through SelectQuote Senior, or directly through any other provider, until you have enrolled in Medicare Part B. If, for some reason, you do not have Part B coverage, you may have to wait until the General Enrollment Period, which is January 1st through March 31st, to enroll for Part B coverage effective July 1st. Penalties may apply at this time. Benefit advisors will direct you to the Social Security Administration for more information. 2.4 What is a Medicare Special Enrollment Period? You can enroll in and make changes to your Medicare Advantage and Medicare prescription drug coverage when certain events happen in your life, like if you move or you lose other insurance coverage. These chances to make changes are called Special Enrollment Periods (SEPs) and are in addition to the regular enrollment periods that happen each year in the fall. Due to the fact that your BSA group coverage is ending, this opens up a Special Enrollment Period that will allow you to enroll in Medicare supplemental coverage. From October 1-December 31, 2014, you will also be guaranteed issue for Medigap supplement plans. Guaranteed issue means you cannot be denied coverage due to pre-existing or current medical conditions, nor will you have to pay higher premiums. 2.5 Will I be able to change my individual Medicare supplemental plan elections in the future? You can change your Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D elections during the federal Medicare Annual Enrollment Period for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans, which is October 15 through December 7 each year. Medicare Advantage and Part D plans announce the following year s plan information each October 1. Be sure to call SelectQuote Senior whenever you move as this could open a Special Enrollment Period if where you are moving to is not in your plan s service area. For Medigap plans, you may change to a different Medigap plan at any time, with any plan changes effective on the first day of the month following your election change. With changes to a Medigap plan, you may be subject to medical underwriting (proof of good health). Please call a SelectQuote Senior benefit advisor prior to making any changes to a Medigap policy. Annual information on Medicare supplement plans for the next year, including premium rates and benefit levels, will also generally become available in October. 4

5 2.6 How can I get more information about Medicare? You can call MEDICARE ( ) or visit Medicare s website at Each fall, you will also receive a federal Medicare and You Guide, which includes important information on your health insurance options. 2.7 How does the Medicare star rating for plans work? Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug plans get overall and/or summary ratings that summarize all categories and measures into a single star rating. The star rating of the plan s performance makes it easy for you to compare plans. If you re interested in more detail, you can look at the health or drug plan summary scores, or you can drill down to the star ratings category details (like member experience with drug plan) or to individual measures within the categories (like members ability to get prescriptions filled easily when using the plan). A plan s star rating is calculated each year and results are available each fall. A plan can get ratings between 1 and 5 stars. SelectQuote Senior will only accept plans on their platform that have at least a 3-star rating. 2.8 Do I need to contact Medicare to make them aware that my coverage is changing? No, you do not need to contact Medicare. This change does not impact your Medicare Part A or B coverage. Medicare will be notified of your new coverage choice by your new insurance company. 3. ELIGIBILITY 3.1 Can I cover my spouse who is eligible for Medicare as a dependent under the same individual plan I choose? No. While you and your spouse may both enroll in the same medical and prescription drug plan, your coverage elections are not linked as you will each enroll in an individual plan. Each person who is eligible for Medicare must choose and pay for his or her own plan separately. 3.2 My spouse is not eligible for Medicare and I am eligible for Medicare (or vice versa). Do we need different coverage? Yes, anyone who is eligible for Medicare should choose a new plan through SelectQuote Senior for coverage beyond Medicare Parts A and B. Covered dependents who are not eligible for Medicare remain enrolled in the CIGNA or Vytra programs available in the BSA Medical Plan. Information about their coverage and cost will be provided by BSA. 3.3 Will my dependent children still have coverage sponsored by BSA? Yes, your eligible dependents currently enrolled in the CIGNA or Vytra programs available in the BSA Medical Plan and who are not eligible for Medicare will continue to be eligible for coverage through BSA. 5

6 3.4 I m retired and about to become eligible for Medicare. What rules apply to me? When you become eligible for Medicare (such as when you turn age 65), your coverage under the CIGNA or Vytra program in the BSA Medical Plan will end, and you ll be able to enroll in individual Medicare supplemental medical coverage through SelectQuote Senior. You may enroll with SelectQuote Senior before your eligibility date; however, your coverage will not become effective until the first day of the month in which you reach age 65 and you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Please call SelectQuote Senior at least 30 to 60 days prior to your 65th birthday for more information. If you are disabled, you may be eligible for Medicare earlier than age INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE 4.1 Do I have to choose individual coverage? No, you do not have to choose individual coverage. However, if you don t choose individual coverage, after December 31, 2014 you will only have Medicare Parts A and B, which may not cover all of your health care expenses. In addition, you will have no outpatient prescription drug coverage unless you elect Medicare Part D coverage, either as a standalone Part D plan or as part of a Medicare Advantage plan. 4.2 Do I have to choose a plan offered by SelectQuote Senior? No, you are not required to elect a plan offered by SelectQuote Senior. However, in order to receive the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) contribution from BSA; you must select and purchase a Medical plan through SelectQuote Senior. You do not need to elect a prescription drug program through SelectQuote in order to receive the HRA contribution. 4.3 When do I have to choose new coverage in order to be covered by January 1, 2015? You must enroll in a new plan through SelectQuote Senior between now and December 31, 2014, for new coverage effective January 1, It s important to complete your enrollment by December 31, 2014, to ensure that you do not face any coverage gaps. We encourage you to complete your enrollment early to allow for adequate time for processing all your applications and the issuing of your policies by the carriers. 5. PLAN AVAILABILITY AND COSTS 5.1 I want to enroll in a plan that provides similar coverage to what I have today. What plan is that? With over 25 carriers and many Medicare supplemental plans offered through SelectQuote Senior, your benefit advisor can provide plan options similar to the plan benefits you have today. 5.2 I am a snowbird. Do you offer plans that cover me if I live in more than one state? Medigap plans are accepted by every Medicare-participating provider in the U.S., with some emergency benefits worldwide. If you travel frequently or live part of the year out-of-state, one of these plans may 6

7 be right for you. Part D plans provide nationwide coverage from participating pharmacies. Medicare Advantage plans cover urgent and emergency services nationwide, but some may not provide nationwide coverage for non-emergency services. If you live part of the year out-of-state, Medicare Advantage plans may not be right for you. When you call SelectQuote Senior, be sure to fully disclose your situation to the benefit advisor who will help you find the plan that works best for your situation. 5.3 Are there plans that will cover me when I travel domestically or internationally? Medigap plans are accepted by every Medicare-participating provider in the U.S., with some emergency benefits worldwide. If you travel frequently or live part of the year out-of-state, one of these plans may be right for you. A few Medicare Advantage plans also have world-wide emergency coverage. A SelectQuote Senior benefit advisor will help you find the plan that is right for your situation. 5.4 Why can t I see information about AARP plans online? SelectQuote Senior, along with other insurance exchanges, is not allowed by the insurance carriers to show plan designs or pricing for these plans on its web site. However, AARP plans are available to you and will be discussed with you during your appointment. You can get information, including premiums, on AARP plans by calling a SelectQuote Senior benefit advisor at Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Eastern Time, to explore other plans that meet your budget. 5.5 Will my premium rates increase every year? If so, by how much? In general, insurance premiums increase every year. The increase in plan cost year-to-year can vary widely. We suggest that you contact SelectQuote Senior to compare your plan options if you see significant rate increases. 5.6 How can I get more information about my plan choices, including information about specific services that are included/excluded by a plan? You should have received a Health Matters guide from SelectQuote Senior. This communication will provide information about how Medicare works and the types of plans offered. You will be able to call SelectQuote Senior and speak with a licensed benefit advisor who will help you learn about the plans available to you through SelectQuote Senior based on where you live. They will be able to provide you with information about the services and benefits offered by plans in your area, including any dollar limits a plan may put on specific procedures or products. They will also help you to determine your coverage needs, and what plans would work best for you financially. Then they will walk you through the enrollment process and ensure that you understand your choices and the coverage that will apply to you effective January 1, PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT 6.1 What are the coverage gap (donut hole) and catastrophic coverage components of Medicare prescription drug coverage? In 2015, the coverage gap begins once total prescription drug costs reach $2,960 (paid by you and the plan) and ends after an individual s total out-of-pocket costs exceed $4,700. In the gap, you are generally 7

8 responsible for paying 45% of the plan s cost for covered brand-name prescription drugs, and 65% of the plan s cost for generic prescription drugs. Once you get out of the coverage gap, you automatically get catastrophic coverage. 6.2 Will I need to get a new prescription for my individual prescription coverage starting January 1, 2015, or can the current carrier transfer it? You will need to ask your doctor for a new prescription any open prescriptions with CIGNA under your current retiree medical coverage will not be carried over. Be sure that ask your doctor for a new prescription in time for your next refill after January 1, I take a maintenance medication and I ll be running out of my prescription in December. Can I still get my prescription refilled through CIGNA Home Delivery? Yes, however you must submit the refill request in time for it to be shipped prior to December 31st. If it cannot be fulfilled before the end of December, then you will need to get your prescription through your new carrier. 7. ENROLLMENT 7.1 How long does the process take to enroll with a SelectQuote Senior benefit advisor? Benefit advisors work with you to find the plans that best fit your situation, so the duration of calls will vary. Allow at least one hour per person to complete your enrollment. Most are able to complete their enrollment in one call if they are ready to make a decision. You do not have to make a decision on your first call. 7.2 When are the best times to call to minimize wait time? The SelectQuote Senior service center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday-Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. In general, our busiest days are Mondays and Tuesdays, with lower call volume the remainder of the week. 7.3 Can I come in and speak to someone face to face and enroll in person? No, all of the enrollments provided through SelectQuote Senior are completed over the phone. You can call in and speak to a benefit advisor as many times as you need to have all your questions answered until you are ready to enroll and you may have someone (such as a family member or friend) assist you. 7.4 I have an appointment with SelectQuote Senior to complete my enrollment. What can I expect on that call? During your scheduled appointment, your benefit advisor will first verify your information, ask questions about your current plan and future needs, and talk to you about your Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). The benefit advisor will make recommendations based upon your needs and budget. This part of the process will take about 45 minutes because it is highly personalized. Once you have selected a plan or plans, either your agent or an enrollment specialist, will work with you to complete the process. The length of time will be dependent upon the number of applications that 8

9 need to be completed. The approximate length of time is 20 minutes per application. Instead of using a paper enrollment process, which takes time and introduces errors, SelectQuote Senior uses a real-time, automated enrollment process. This takes time, but it avoids the mailing, completion and processing of paper forms. By law, the agent/enrollment specialist is required to review your plan selections with you and confirm that you do want to enroll in the selected plans. For each application, you will be required to state your full name, address, Social Security Number (if applicable), date of birth as well as the date you would like the coverage to become effective. For most of you, that date will be January 1, This information is required by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for enrollment in Medicare plans, and by the insurance carriers. Medicare regulations require the agent/enrollment specialist to read through the plan benefits before completing the enrollment. At the end of each application, you will be required to approve the enrollment by verbally acknowledging that you agree to enroll in the selected plan. You will also be required to listen to a series of statements (called voice disclaimers) for each plan application. Disclaimers, which are the same as the legal language you would find on a paper application or contract, give you important information about your plan and are designed to protect you as a consumer. 7.5 I am a retiree who suspended coverage under the BSA Medical Plan. Will I receive an enrollment packet so I can understand how the new programs will work? No, BSA has mailed packets to plan participants currently enrolled in coverage. If you wish to enroll in coverage through SelectQuote Senior, you ll first need to call the BSA Benefits Office to confirm eligibility, and they will inform SelectQuote Senior. Then, you will receive information about SelectQuote Senior and can call SelectQuote Senior to enroll. You can reach the BSA Benefits Office at , or How long of a time period is there between when I enroll and my coverage effective date? Coverage is always prospective and begins on the first of the month following enrollment, but not earlier than January 1, In order to ensure coverage, the retiree and/or spouse should enroll at least 30 days in advance of the date he or she wants coverage to start. 7.7 Will I have to re-enroll every year? No, once you have made your plan selections, you will not have to enroll every year (unless you want to). You can stay on the plans you select as long as you like and you do not need to do anything. You will only need to call SelectQuote Senior during the Annual Enrollment Period in the fall if you have changes in your medical needs or would like to look at different options. 8. HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT (HRA) 8.1 What is the Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)? A Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) is an account that has been established for you and to which BSA will contribute money that you can use to help reimburse yourself for eligible health care premiums and 9

10 other eligible expenses, up to the monthly allocated amount. The HRA is tax-free that is, you do not owe any taxes on the reimbursement received from your HRA. BSA has established certain requirements that you must meet in order to qualify for the HRA (if eligible), which are explained in the next answer. 8.2 How do I qualify for access to the HRA? If you are eligible for a HRA, you must enroll in a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan through SelectQuote Senior in order for your account to be set up. The HRA will be available starting on January 1, I am enrolled in a medical or prescription drug plan on my own. Can I get the HRA if I enroll in a dental or vision plan through SelectQuote Senior? No. BSA is providing the HRA only if you enroll through SelectQuote Senior for a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan. 8.4 Due to my military service, I have coverage under TRICARE or the Veterans Administration (VA). Do I still have to enroll in a plan via SelectQuote Senior Medicare exchange (Medigap, Medicare Advantage or prescription drug) to be eligible for the HRA? Yes. BSA retirees who are eligible for health coverage under TRICARE or from the VA must enroll in a Medical plan via SelectQuote Senior to be eligible for the HRA. 8.5 If both my eligible spouse and I have HRAs, can we share them to pay for coverage? If your spouse is currently enrolled in coverage as your dependent, then your HRA will be set up as a joint account that can be used for eligible health care premiums for one or both of you. You share the HRA contributions. If you and your spouse are enrolled separately in the BSA Medical Plan each as a BSA retiree and neither as a dependent your HRAs will be set up separately (as individual accounts) and you will only be able to receive reimbursement from your own HRA. Please note that this situation generally pertains only to couples who both retired from BSA. 8.6 My spouse and I are both currently receiving the HRA contribution. If I die, will my spouse continue to receive the HRA contribution and be able to have coverage through SelectQuote Senior? In most cases, yes, the monthly contribution will continue for your spouse and your spouse will receive that as long as they remain eligible for coverage and enrolled through SelectQuote Senior. At your passing, your eligible spouse will be able to use any remaining contribution balances in the account. Future HRA contributions for the retiree will cease after his/her death. 8.7 Can retirees enroll in any medical or prescription drug plan in order to receive the HRA? For example, would Medicare Parts B and D qualify? Would supplemental plans through AARP qualify? Or does medical and prescription drug coverage need to be arranged through SelectQuote Senior? 10

11 In order for the retiree or spouse who is eligible for Medicare to qualify for the HRA contribution assuming they are eligible they MUST enroll in a medical plan through SelectQuote Senior. 8.8 For what expenses can I use my HRA? If eligible for the HRA and you enroll in a Medigap or Medicare Advantage through SelectQuote Senior your HRA can be used to reimburse your individual Medicare supplemental and prescription drug premiums, and Medicare Part B premiums. Health care expenses such as deductibles, copays and coinsurance are also eligible for reimbursement from the HRA. 8.9 What happens to unused HRA funds at the end of the year? Will they be forfeited? Unused HRA dollars roll over from year to year and can be used towards health care premium and other eligible expenses in future years How quickly will my premium be reimbursed from my HRA? The reimbursement process can take from two to three weeks from the time you submit your request until you receive your reimbursement. If you would like to receive your reimbursement in the quickest way possible, be sure to set up direct deposit. This will allow SelectQuote Senior/Acclaris to electronically deposit your reimbursements directly into the designated bank account of your choice Can I leave SelectQuote Senior and come back? Yes, you can suspend you BSA Medical Plan coverage by notifying the BSA Benefits Office. However, you will not receive the HRA unless you are enrolled for medical coverage through SelectQuote Senior. Once you reinstate your coverage through SelectQuote Senior, your HRA will be reinstated. You will not be entitled to contributions during the time you are not enrolled with SelectQuote Senior What about those BSA retirees who suspended coverage? Does this program apply to them? Individuals who have suspended BSA coverage should contact the BSA Benefits Office to see if they will be eligible in the future and to initiate the process if they are eligible now. 9. BILLING 9.1 How often will I be billed? By whom? Can I pay by check? When you enroll in a new plan, you will need to begin making premium payments to the insurance company of the plan(s) you selected in order to maintain your coverage. Some insurance companies may require the first month s premium payment (January 2015) during the application process. In this case, you should expect to make a payment within a few days of your enrollment. Please have your billing information ready when you make your enrollment call to SelectQuote Senior. 11

12 Most insurance companies give you several billing options for ongoing payments: direct billing, pay by check each month, Electronic Funds Transfer from your checking account, or automatic deduction from your Social Security check. Depending on the carrier, you can choose to pay monthly, quarterly, or annually. 9.2 My doctors currently submit forms to Medicare and my insurance company. Will I have to send claims in to Medicare or the plan carrier? No, you will not have to be responsible for sending claims or payment information to Medicare or your new insurance carrier. You should present both your Medicare card and your new carrier s card at the time of service. 10. PAYING FOR COVERAGE 10.1 Why did I have to pay my new insurance company right away, even though my coverage hasn t started yet? When your first insurance premium is due varies depending upon which kind of plan you have selected. Here are some general guidelines to help you know what to expect: Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans: Most Medigap applications require payment of the first premium at the time of the application. If you did not pay at the time of the application, you will receive a bill before your coverage begins. Medicare Advantage and prescription drug coverage (PDP) plans: Your insurance company will first need to process and approve your application. In most cases, you can deduct this from your Social Security check If I ve already paid my first insurance premium, can I submit a claim for reimbursement from my HRA now? If you are eligible for the HRA, your account will be established on January 1, No claims can be reimbursed prior to January You will receive an additional mailing from SelectQuote Senior in late November that will explain how to access and manage your account Can insurance premiums be paid via auto draft from my bank account? Yes, many plan carriers offer auto debit where monthly premium payments can be withdrawn directly from the bank account you designate I have money taken out of my Social Security check for Part B premiums. Will this change? No. SelectQuote Senior Insurance Services is a division of SelectQuote Insurance Services. Go to for licensing details SelectQuote Senior Insurance Services. All rights reserved. 12