Medicare Plan Options in Minnesota

Sometimes people need help with learning their Medicare options. In Minnesota it can get quite confusing because of all the different possibilities you can choose for your Medicare Supplement Plan. 

What’s even trickier is that plan options here are different than most other states.

At Boomer Benefits, we represent numerous insurance companies. Therefore, we are not partial to any particular company. Instead, we are able to look at multiple plans and prices to find what’s most suitable for you.

Basic & Extended Benefits of Minnesota Supplement Plans

There are minimum benefits that Minnesota is required to provide in their supplement plans. These include: Part A and Part B coinsurance, the first three pints of blood each year, Part A hospice and respite cost sharing, Part A and Part B home health services and supplies cost sharing.

In Minnesota there are two main types of supplement plans, the Basic Plan and the Extended Basic Plan. Figure A is a chart we have designed for you to see the differences between the Basic and Extended Basic plan options.

With the Extended Basic Plan there are a few items that have an out-of-pocket cap. Once you pay $1,000 in these items, your plan will then begin paying 100% of those costs. These include: Coverage while in a foreign country along with emergency and usual and customary fees.

There are also versions of regular supplement plans that Minnesota offers. Minnesota has forms of Plan K, L, M, N, and a high-deductible F. You can view the normal versions of these plans at our website.

Optional Riders in Minnesota

Riders are options you can opt into adding to your Medigap plan in Minnesota. There are four total and you can add just one or all four if you’d like. They each come at an additional fee.

Minnesota offers riders for Part A inpatient hospital deductible, Part B deductible, usual and customary fees, and non-medicare preventative care. Because you have these options, you are able to mix and match with your plan to build the policy you want.

In Minnesota you have additional coverage in the way of excess charges. Excess charges are basically when your doctor believes the rates that Medicare charges should be higher. In some states the doctor has the right to add an extra 15% to your bill that you would be responsible for. State law in Minnesota doesn’t allow this. Therefore, you are covered from seeing excess charges.

Minnesota Advantage Plans

Unlike supplement plan in Minnesota, their advantage plans are quite similar to all the other state’s advantage plans. These plans come in usually two versions, HMO and PPO. With each of these you will seek care from within a network of providers, making it a little more difficult to see all your normal doctors. It’s a good idea to check ahead of time to see if your doctors participate in the plan you want before you enroll.

Even though these plans are restrictions, they are usually much cheaper than supplement plans.

A good thing about advantage plans is that instead of paying for all your coverage for all items in one lump sum, you pay as you go. You will pay copays and coinsurance as the time occurs that you need that specific benefit.

We Can Help

If all these options and considerations overwhelm you, contact us so that we can give you some clarity. Having someone on your side while dealing with Medicare will benefit you in the long run.