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Senior Life Insurance Article
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Supplemental Health Insurance for Seniors
from:Because of the state of affairs caused by government dependence to take care of our senior citizens and lack of new sources of funding for these programs, it is now often necessary to provide supplemental health insurance for seniors. It’s a fact of life that, as we age, our bodies begin to break down, and long term medication is necessary, as well as more frequent visits to the doctor. While a portion of this is covered by Medicare, the left over cost is still too high for individuals living on a fixed income from Social Security, which will run out one day as well. Supplemental health insurance for seniors can help cover these costs, and though these plans are often not provided for low premiums, the rates are often a blessing compared to the cost of some of the medications required.
How does supplemental health insurance for seniors work? Because it is supplemental, the primary coverage will kick in first. Typically, this is Medicare. Then, if perhaps another form of insurance is carried, this policy will be utilized to further reduce out of pocket expense. Often, however, there is no individual in the household covered by a group policy. In either case, the next step is to apply the supplemental health insurance for seniors to the remainder of the bill. Depending on the policy, a secondary insurance will often pay anywhere from 50-80% of the balance remaining. While this may not seem like much when you figure in your premium, the thing to consider is that the medication often costs hundreds of dollars and may not be covered at all by Medicare, depending on the diagnosis, prescription, and how long the drug has been on the market.
Supplemental health insurance for seniors may also cover additional doctor visits above and beyond the allowance of whatever Medicare policy is held by the insured. In many instances, seniors must see specialists for particular problems, and while Medicare may not cover such a necessity, most supplemental health insurance for seniors policies will. Always read the policy carefully prior to signing the acceptance of the policy, and guarantee in writing that the coverage is what it claims to be.
In many cases, it may seem like an extreme expense, but the additional coverage provided by one of these policies is worth the premiums charged. Starting early at a lower price may save some pocket money later on as the monthly cost rises with age. However, a policy that costs one hundred dollars per month as opposed to prescription and doctor’s costs of over one thousand dollars is definitely worth the expense.