THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 17, 2022 Page 17 Meet the 2022 Mystic Valley Regional High School Eagles Varsity Baseball Team a y avvy S iorenniiooro a Everett resident, pitcher Brandon Paris Saugus Shortstop Dylan Santoro. Pitcher/Centerfielder Riya Tanazaki of Malden. avvyavvy iori Almost 65 Dear Almost, If you’re enrolling in original Medicare, getting a supplemental policy (also known as Medigap insurance) too is a smart idea because it will help pay for things that aren’t covered by Medicare like copayments, coinsurance and the Part A deductible. Here are some tips to help you choose an appropriate plan. Medigap Plans In all but three states (Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin), Medigap plans, which are sold by private health insurers, are available to new enrollees in eight diff erent standardized plans. These plans are labeled with the letters A, B, D, G, K, L, M and N, with two more, C and F, that are only available to those eligible for Medicare before 2020. Plan G is the most popular policy among new enrollees because it covers the most comprehensive range of benefi ts. Monthly premiums for Plan G typically range between $100 and $300, depending on your age and the state you reside in. If that’s more than you’re willing to pay, there are also high-deductible plans that have lower premiums but impose higher out-of-pocket costs. For more information on the diff erent types of plans and covMalden Center-fi elder Lukas DeGuuire. Saugus resident Tyler Santoro is a pitcher and third baseman. erage details, including Medigap options in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, go to Medicare.gov/publications and type in “choosing a medigap policy” in the Keyword box, and download their 2022 guide. Or call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask them to mail you a copy. How to Choose To pick a Medigap policy that works best for you, consider your health, family medical history and your budget. The diff erences among plans can be small and rather confusing. To help you choose, visit Medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans and type in your ZIP code. This will give you a list of the plans available in your area, their price ranges and the names, and contact information of companies that sell them. But to get specifi c pricing information, you’ll need to contact the carriers directly or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program. See ShipHelp.org or call 877-839-2675 for contact information. Since all Medigap policies with the same letter must cover the exact same benefi ts (it’s required by law), you should shop for the cheapest policy. You’ll get the best price if you sign up within six months after enrolling in Medicare Part B. During this open-enrollment period, an insurer cannot refuse to sell you a policy or charge you more because of your health. You also need to be aware of the pricing methods, which will afSenior Captains, pictured from left to right: Brandon Paris (Everett resident), Tyler Santoro (Saugus resident), David Janakowski (Medford resident), Jacob Stover (Medford resident) and Amine Jamouq (Melrose resident) with assistant coaches Sean Regan, second from left, with Thomas Hannifan, far left, and Head Coach Bryan Straccia, far right. (Advocate photos by Tara Vocino) Library kicks off a summer of reading and fun J oin us on Thursday, June 23 from 1-2:30 p.m. on the front lawn of the Malden Public Library for our Summer Reading Kickoff Celebration. Ice cream will be served, live music will be available, and you will be able LIBRARY | SEE PAGE 22 to sign up for our summer read- ing program. This year’s theme fect your costs. Medigap policies are usually sold as either: “community-rated” where everyone in an area is charged the same premium regardless of age; “issue-age-rated” that is based on your age when you buy the policy, but will only increase due to infl ation, not age; and “attained-age-rated,” that starts premiums low but increases as you age. Community-rate and issue-age-rated policies are the best options because they will save you money in the long run. You can buy the plan directly from an insurance company, or you can work with a reputable insurance broker. Drug Coverage You also need to know that Medigap policies do not cover prescription drugs, so if you don’t have drug coverage, you’ll need to buy a separate Medicare Part D drug plan too. See Medicare.gov/ plan-compare to compare plans. Also note that Medigap plans do not cover vision, dental care, hearing aids or long-term care. Alternative Option Instead of getting original Medicare, plus a Medigap policy and a separate Part D drug plan, you could sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan (see medicare.gov/plan-compare) that provides allin-one coverage. These plans, which are sold by insurance companies, are generally available through HMOs and PPOs that require you to get your care within a network of doctors. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. n r by Jim Miller How to Choose a Medicare Supplemental (Medigap) Policy Dear Savvy Senior, I’m planning to enroll in original Medicare in a few months and have been told I probably need to get a Medicare supplemental policy too. Can you off er any tips on selecting one?
18 Publizr Home