Fill the Gaps
Although Medicare is a great program for covering your standard medical expenses, like hospital, doctor and prescription coverage, there are a lot of gaps that can end up costing you thousand of dollars out of pocket. These are some of the programs available to help you cover some of the expense and risk of what Medicare does not cover:
Hospital Indemnity
A hospital stay can be traumatic — to your health, wallet, and family. Even if you have other medical insurance, some costs won’t be covered. That’s when a Hospital Indemnity insurance plan can provide peace of mind by offering customized protection that pays benefits in your time of need.
What Hospital Indemnity insurance is:
Hospitalization is expensive on its own, but it’s easy to overlook the additional costs you can incur while you’re hospitalized. Deductibles and co-pays will start piling up, and you may require follow-up outpatient care or a stay in a nursing facility. That’s where Hospital Indemnity insurance fills in the gaps in a way other insurance plans don’t. You receive your benefit directly, and you may use the payment however you want — from deductibles to travel and lodging expenses.
Why you need Hospital Indemnity insurance
Health insurance and Medicare cover some costs associated with a hospital stay, but not all of them. Hospital insurance acts as a supplemental plan to your existing primary insurance coverage to ensure you’re not dipping into your savings account or retirement income to pay for your hospitalization.
Cancer, Heart Attack & Stroke
If you were diagnosed with cancer or suffered a heart attack or stroke, the last thing you would want to worry about is your finances. Cancer, Heart Attack and Stroke Insurance helps you receive the financial peace of mind that allows you to focus on what matters most – your recovery.
53% of the costs associated with cancer are non-medical, indirect costs. [5] Cash benefits from your policy can be used to help supplement lost income for you and your spouse, to pay for car and mortgage expenses and travel to and from medical facilities. It will also allow you to seek treatment that is out of network or not covered without worrying about costs. And, it will give you 24/7 access to Ask Mayo Clinic support services!
Every 40 seconds an American will suffer a stroke.
- American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2015 Update, 2015. Each year over 735,000 people in the U.S. have a heart attack.
- American Heart Association, Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics – 2015 Update, 2015. 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer in their lifetime.
- American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts & Figures, 2015
Short Term Care
It’s usually difficult to plan for the unexpected, but Short-Term Care insurance makes it easier to prepare for unforeseen injuries or illnesses. You’ve likely heard about long-term care insurance, but you may be surprised to discover that a Short-Term Care plan could be a better fit for you.
What Short-Term Recovery Care is
When you suffer an illness or injury that requires a short stay of 12 months or less somewhere other than a hospital, Medicare doesn’t cover all the costs. That means, if you need care in a nursing home, assisted living facility, adult daycare, or hospice, you could face considerable out- of-pocket costs. A Short-Term Care plan not only fills in coverage gaps, but it may also give you the flexibility to receive home healthcare, depending on the benefits available in your state.
Why you need Short-Term Recovery Care
If you think a fall or a sudden decline in health can’t happen to you, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says seven out of 10 people ages 65 or older will require some kind of skilled care or custodial care in their lifetime. Medicare doesn’t cover custodial care, which is help with basic personal needs, such as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing, eating, and getting on and off the toilet. Short-Term Care insurance covers skilled and custodial care, so you don’t have to drain your savings account or retirement income to receive the recovery.
Dental & Vision
Dental and vision needs can be very costly if you don’t have the right insurance. Since most health insurance plans don’t cover routine checkups for your teeth or eyes, it’s important to find a supplemental insurance plan that fits your needs and budget.
What Dental and/or Vision insurance is
A Dental insurance policy helps you pay for preventive dental care; diagnostic services; procedures, like root canals; and dental apparatuses, such as dentures and bridges. Dental Insurance generally include a mix of dental plans and an optional vision plan that can be added for an additional cost. The Vision insurance provides coverage for routine eye exams, frames & lenses or contacts.
Why you need Dental, Vision, and Hearing coverage
Medicare and most health insurance plans do not cover basic dental and vision exams and services. Medicare only covers these types of procedures if you have a medical emergency or if your doctor orders them for medical treatment.
As you age, your teeth, eyes, and ears need more attention.
- Seniors are more likely to suffer from dental health problems and require dental work, like bridges and crowns. Oral problems should be monitored because they can signal other health conditions, such as diabetes, oral cancer, and heart disease.
- Many eye diseases have no early symptoms, which means they can change your vision permanently before you realize they exist. That’s why the American Optometric Association recommends regular eye exams for everyone over age 60.
Having an insurance policy that covers regular exams and common procedures means you can maintain your health without draining your savings account or retirement income.