If you live in Jackson, Mississippi, and you want either a Medicare Supplement plan or a Medicare Advantage plan, then you have already met the first step in getting a plan: being a resident of Mississippi. Enrolling in these plans in Jackson is largely the same as enrolling in these plans in most other cities and states in the U.S. That is because Medicare has a slew of federal rules in regulations that must be followed, so often times the biggest difference between states is just the price you pay for a plan.
This article will give you a brief overview of how Medicare generally works in Mississippi. We’ll go over some costs and coverages of various plans, and we’ll even give you some tips about finding the best Medigap plans in your area. Medicare may be confusing, but it’s the job of our licensed agents to help make enrolling as easy as possible for you.
Medicare Supplement Plans in Jackson, Mississippi
For starters, we should note that Medicare Supplement plans are also called Medigap plans. That’s because these plans are designed to fill in the gaps that Original Medicare misses. “Medicare Supplement plans” and “Medigap” can be used interchangeably because they mean the same thing.
As for the Medigap plans themselves, Mississippi is similar to the rest of the nation in that Plans G, N, and F are the most popular plans. These three high-quality plans are very comprehensive in coverage, so that is why people like them.
Typically, Plan N has higher out-of-pocket costs than the other two plans. Plan F, while the most comprehensive plan available, is no longer available to new Medicare enrollees. So, if you’re new to Medicare and want the most comprehensive Medigap plan on the market, you should look at Plan G.
However, if you’re new to Medicare, there are eight different Medigap plans that you can enroll in, so it’s wise to review each plan thoroughly to find which ones suit your needs the best.
Mississippi Medigap Costs
While plan coverage is obviously important, price is also a key point in determining which Medicare Supplement plan is right for you. Medigap plan prices fluctuate depending on a number of factors such as age, gender, and whether or not you smoke, but the biggest determining factor is your location.
To be sure, Medigap plans are standardized across the nation, meaning that coverage is the same no matter where you live or who provides your plan. Price is the only thing that changes.
For example, using Medicare’s Medigap pricing tool, you can see that a 65-year old, non-smoking male living in Jackson, Mississippi, will have monthly premiums in the range of $107-$408 for Medigap Plan G. But if you’re a woman, the same age, and also a non-smoker you’ll pay a bit less for the same plan.
If you were looking to save a little bit of money but still wanted the same comprehensive coverage that Plan G offers, you could look at the high deductible Plan G option. This plan gives you lower monthly premiums in exchange for a higher deductible. In the Jackson area, high deductible Plan G for men could cost as little as $32 a month or as little as $28 a month if you’re a woman.
For exact quotes and further pricing options, you should contact your carrier.
Medicare Advantage Plans in Mississippi
Perhaps you’ve decided that you don’t want a Medigap plan, and instead, you would like a Medicare Advantage plan. Advantage plans can save you a little bit of money, with Mississippi’s monthly premiums ranging from $0-$110.
By law, Medicare Advantage must, at a minimum, cover what Medicare covers. However, many Medicare Advantage plans offer more benefits than just the bare minimum. For example, some plans will have coverage options for vision and dental.
The drawback to these plans is that they do require you to see a doctor within the plan’s network. If you already have a doctor and you don’t want to switch, Medicare Advantage may not be right for you.
But, with that said, 20% of Mississippian’s have a Medicare Advantage plan. While Medigap plans are the more popular option for beneficiaries, you will certainly not be alone if you go for a Medicare Advantage plan.
What is the Medicare Advantage plan most enrolled in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, there are only about 100,000 Medicare Advantage enrollees. Of these 100,000 people, Humana covers about 60% of them. Cigna and Aetna are also high-quality carriers if your doctor is in their network.
Medicare Part D in Jackson, Mississippi
If you’re one of the 55% of Americans that has to take a prescription regularly, then you know just how expensive some of these drugs can be. Worse yet, drug prices can go way up seemingly overnight, and if you’re not fully covered, this can really put you in a squeeze.
Medicare Part D plans – which cover prescription drugs – can cost anywhere between $13 and $80 a month in Mississippi. What you spend on a coverage plan you may makeup almost immediately in savings on your drugs.
If you decide that you would like Medicare Part D coverage, you will have 25 different options to choose from. When looking over your options, ensure that you check with your pharmacy network and drug formulary so that you pick the right coverage for your needs.
How many people use Medicare in Mississippi?
Right now, there are over 600,000 Medicare recipients in the state of Mississippi. Unfortunately, most of these beneficiaries do not have enough insurance coverage if something catastrophic were to occur.
Enrolling in either a Medigap or Medicare Advantage plan can help save you a lot of money in case something goes wrong. Properly planning for the future will always bring you peace of mind.
Medicare in Mississippi
We know that enrolling in Medicare can be a long and difficult process. There are a lot of different coverage options, and luckily for you, our licensed experts know all of them. Give us a call or drop us an email today so that you can enroll in a Medicare plan that best suits your needs.
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