Page 2 - Cover Letter and Medicare Evaluation for Vic Bosiger

Because Medicare has not yet released the cost-sharing information for 2022, your evaluation
uses this year’s numbers for the Part B premiums and for the Part B deductible. Next year’s
numbers will be slightly higher.

Before enrolling in an Advantage plan, it’s a good idea to verify with Dr. Paulus’ office that he is
still in the plan’s network. Appendix A indicates that he is a network provider in all three plans
compared in your evaluation, but occasionally the network directories are out of date, so be
sure to check.

To enroll in one of the Advantage plans compared in your evaluation, you can enroll through
your insurance agent – or if the agent does not sell the plan you want to enroll in, you can call
the plan’s toll-free number (shown on pages 2-4).

Medigap policies

The most important thing to be aware of is that during the first six months that you have Part B,
you can get a Medigap policy without having to answer health-related questions. But after that
six-month period guaranteed-issue period is past, in Virginia and most other states you will
likely have to answer questions about your health before you can get a Medigap policy. And
since you take a number of drugs, it’s unlikely that you would be able to get a Medigap policy
later.

Perhaps the most desirable attribute of Medigap policies is the flexibility they offer. There are
no networks, and you do not need referrals to see specialists. You will be covered when you see
any provider who accepts Medicare (as more than 99% of doctors and public hospitals do).

The Medigap plan compared in your evaluation is Plan N, and its estimated annual premiums
are about $1,100 a year. It covers most of the gaps in Medicare-covered services, but it does
not cover the Part B deductible ($203 this year). And with Plan N, you will have co-pays of up to
$20 for each visit to your doctor’s office and a $50 co-pay if you were to go to the emergency
room. As noted, if you were to get a Medigap policy you would also need to enroll in a stand-
alone drug plan.

If you would like more information on Medigap policies, I can send you a list of each company’s
premiums. Benefit designs of each of the ten Medigap plans are on pages 6-7 of the evaluation.

Medicare Advantage plans

Your evaluation compares three Advantage plans that have relatively low costs for the Rx drugs
you take (Appendix B1 ranks the Advantage plans in Campbell County that have the lowest
costs for your drugs). As you know, Advantage plans are managed-care plans – primarily HMO’s
and PPO’s. In a PPO plan you will have some coverage when you see an out-of-network
provider, but the costs are typically much higher (unless it’s an emergency).

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