Hello to our valued older California health insurance clients. Some clients transition from group plans to becoming Medicare beneficiaries with Medigap plans to serve their health coverage needs moving forward. Others amongst our Medigap clients have made the transition to a combination of Medicare and an insurance Medicare supplemental plan from a private California health insurance plan.

Whatever the path you’ve taken from your former health coverage to your present health coverage strategy, we welcome you and extend our sincere appreciation for your trust in our experience and expertise to help you and/or a spouse formulate a peace of mind health coverage strategy that is uniquely suited to your needs.

Some things in life get easier as we get older. Some things we expect to get easier don’t. Sometimes that might just be the case as you grapple with questions or concerns related to the Medicare coverage you’re signing up for or already have. As always, Vitality is on the lookout for reliable online resources that can help you understand how Medicare works. Resources like this along with the free counseling you can receive through your community’s local Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program office can be invaluable to Medicare beneficiaries and their families.

A quick word of advice to our readers – because we are voracious readers of news and commentary about Medicare and its operations – if you have an issue related to your Medicare benefits and contact Medicare about your questions, concerns, or request for guidance, please be certain to make notes and be very diligent about collecting and recording the names of the Medicare personnel you speak with. Later rulings, determinations, or appeal decisions about your specific Medicare issue(s) may hinge on your ability to provide officials with the names of Medicare personnel you spoke with and who provided information to you or a spouse previously.

A final important comment to readers who are struggling with the monthly cost burden of their Medicare Part B premium (Even Part A if applicable.). Medicare offers several Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that assist people with low income and assets. You’ll need to meet certain income and asset limits to qualify for these programs, which are administered by Medi-Cal, but if you are eligible, you’ll find these programs to be extremely helpful and beneficial to your monthly household budget.

Rely on Vitality – our website, accompanying Vitality Blog, and our personalized one-on-one client consultations – to help ensure your peace of mind in the selection of an affordable Medigap plan. We are also working hard every day to ensure that we are a reliable resource to Medicare beneficiaries in search of important information on the subject of Medicare benefits and their use.