N e w s   Y o u   C a n   U s e

Castell Insurance   ~   January  2013  Newsletter

A large Union in California is currently in an open season for a benefit year to start on March 1st. The plan changes this year are totally different from other years, especially for those retirees who are already on Medicare.

This year the Union will continue to pay their customary 75% of the allowed amount, BUT not if Medicare has paid first. If Medicare pays 80% of the allowed amount, the Union says, "That is in excess of the 75% we would have covered. We will not cover anything."

Previously the Union would pay after Medicare and the retiree had very close to 100% coverage.

If a person was not on Medicare or did not have other insurance, then the Union plan would continue to pay the 75%.

So for many members not only did the premiums increase they would effectively not have any additional coverage over and above traditional Medicare.

Fortunately members are able to opt out of this coverage and purchase individual plans and prescription plans (PDP's) but their costs are quite a bit higher than they have paid in the past.

If any of your friends and neighbors mention they have received a change from either their employer retirement plan or Union coverage please let them know that it is important to read the material closely. We are glad to help review your options. 

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Phil@CastellInsurance.com

The Medicare open season has come and gone, the election has come and gone, and the fiscal cliff has come and gone. So what do I talk about? How about the Annual Dis-enrollment Period.

This Special Election Period is for people who are on Medicare Advantage Plans (MAPD). The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have created a period between January 1st and February 15th when people who are on Medicare Advantage Plans can dis-enroll and re-enroll in traditional Medicare and a stand-alone drug plan.

You are able to enroll in a traditional Medicare supplement plan without health questions if you have had the MAPD for a year or less, otherwise a health questionnaire will have to be completed.

This special election period is available if you are a new member of the plan or even if you have had the plan for a number of years.  However, after February 15th you are locked into your current MAPD for the remainder of the year.

This ONLY applies to Medicare Advantage Plans. Stand-alone Medicare Part D plans are not affected.

Your insurance  

companies know you, probably better than you think they do.

After submitting a healthcare or auto insurance application you probably need a day of rest from gathering all of the information. It's safe to say that the companies you do business with know you.

Can we assume we know those companies nearly as well. More important is to know the policies we carry and pay for year in and year out.

There are basics to a home and auto policy. You know your limits of liability and how much your property is protected for. But do you know the other "bells and whistles" that come along with your policy?

Were you offered the "base model" or the "deluxe" policy? Many companies we represent have options for benefits like full windshield protection with no deductible, diminishing deductibles, accident forgiveness and roadside assistance.

Each company is unique in their version of "perks" and it may take asking about them to find out. Give us a call today and we can talk to you about different options that will make you feel better about writing that check once or twice a year to pay for your insurance plans.

Check out some of the options for  

Safeco Insurance, one of our top providers, to get an idea of what you may be missing out on.

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