Page 3 - Cover Letter and Evaluation for Craig Callan

they are in the plan’s network, since the online directories that we rely on are
sometimes out of date.

 If you decide to get a Medigap policy and a Part D stand-alone plan, you should
first decide which Medigap plan you want – Plan N or HDF or another plan. Then
we suggest that you call three or more insurers before deciding which company
you’ll get your policy from. If you do decide to get a Medigap policy or want to
see current quotes, let me know and I’ll send you a list of the insurers licensed to
sell Medigap plans in Maryland, their phone numbers and the most recent
quotes from your state insurance department.

 Finally, you can enroll in the Part D stand-alone plan that you choose by calling
the plan’s toll-free number that’s shown on page 4 of the evaluation.

Two of your physicians may (or may not) accept Medicare-approved rates

While all your physicians accept Medicare, it’s not clear whether Drs. Shetty and Wenick accept
Medicare-approved rates, as shown in Appendix A. When doctors accept Medicare but do not
accept Medicare-approved rates, they can charge up 15% more than the approved rates.
Usually that turns out to be a few dollars, although for expensive treatments it can be more
substantial. This isn’t an issue in Advantage plans but in the two Medigap plans in your
evaluation, these excess charges are not covered.

Moving your coverage to another state

Medicare’s rules protect people who move to another state and in some cases give them
guaranteed rights to get certain types of coverage. If you initially get a Medigap policy, its
coverage is good anywhere in the United States and can be used in Florida as well as Maryland.
And if you initially get a Medigap policy and want to switch to an Advantage plan when you
move to Florida, it’s likely you will need to do so during Medicare’s annual open enrollment
period (October 15 through December 7).

If you initially enroll in an Advantage plan in Maryland, you will have guaranteed access rights
to switch to another Advantage plan when you move to Florida and you can get certain
Medigap plans without answering health-related questions. These rights are good for a 60-day
period from the date that you move. Appendix D include explanations of the protections you
have when you move to another state.

The two Medigap plans in your evaluation

First, it might be helpful to review certain features that all Medigap policies share (you may
already be aware of these). Perhaps their most desirable feature is the flexibility they offer.
There are no networks, and you are covered when you see any provider who accepts Medicare

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