Am I Eligible For Medicare Supplemental Insurance?
Q: I am 60 years old and am receiving Medicare benefits as the primary insurance. I am on Medicare because of a kidney transplant. Is it possible for me to get Medicare supplemental insurance?
A: According to the Guide to Medicare, published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, you can get a Medicare supplemental plan if: 1) you join a plan in your service area, 2) you have both Medicare Part A and Part B, and 3) you do not have End-Stage Renal Disease. There are exceptions to this rule that are explained on page 63 of this publication http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10050.pdf.
Since health insurance is state regulated, there may be laws in your state that supersede these federal regulations. The best thing for you to do is contact an insurance carrier in your state, or an agent that sells Medicare supp products.
You can find a list of agents in your state that sell Medicare supplemental products by visiting our Medicare Supplemental directory for Tennessee.
You might also contact Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee.
I am 58 and have been on long term disability for 3 years. I became eligible for and obtained medicare parts A and B last year. I have contacted three different insurance carriers (blue cross blue shield, colonial penn, and aarp), I was told by all three that I am not eligible until I reach 65 to obtain supplemental insurance. After arguing with each of them I finally said please just send me information and I will try from there. None of them have sent me any correspondence of any kind. What else can I do?
Comment by willie — June 23, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Did these insurance companies provide you with a specific reason as to why you are not currently eligible for a Medicare supplemental plan? Med supp plans are available to persons under the age of 65 that are permanently disabled and meet other qualifications. There are circumstances that can prevent you from being eligible, and I suspect that one of the circumstances applies to you, which is why they deferred you to the age of 65. There are typically several questions on a Medicare supplemental insurance application in which a “yes” answer to can affect your pre-65 eligibility.
Comment by admin — June 23, 2008 @ 12:39 pm