The average benefit is about $500 per year, and in the current advertisement, everyone asks about a $2,880 Medicare Flex Card. Flex cards aren't the only extra benefit offered by Medicare Advantage plans. Want to know more? Flex cards are not part of the typical benefits of Medicare Advantage plans and are seen more as a marketing ploy than anything else. Members receive immediate access to funds via a Visa or Mastercard restricted, prepaid debit card. Then it stated that we should log into AetnaMedicare.com if there are any questions. If you are unsure of a website, dont give them any information. So I went to the office covered by the plan. Write it all down today. However, many of these ads can be confusing or misleading. They cant help you. The cards can only be used for eligible medical expenses. The process varies a little depending on whether or not you have already signed up for Medicare. Our secure app makes managing your benefits easy through real-time access and intuitive navigation to all your . All the best! Also, good to know that people are reading this post, because I think the Flex card is a ripoff. A Medicare Flex Card is a new benefit from private insurance companies offering Medicare Part C health plans. Flex cards are only available through certain Medicare Advantage plans, and the average amount loaded onto the cards is about $500. The claim is the government did something right! Insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans will advertise benefits to entice beneficiaries to call in or fill out a contact form. These companies dont care about you; only your money. Medicare Supplement plans do not include flex card benefits. There are so many variations on the benefits offered. The flex card is one benefit that some plans offer. Thanks for this article. The flex card is one benefit that some plans offer. And Its Free! Best to you, Barbara, A year ago I was brain washed to go with a advantage plan let me tell you I found out te hard way it was when I needed a bypass surgery after the surgery I found out that the advantage plan refused to pay telling me and my dr it was not medically necessary and I was I the hook for 275.000 Juanita, Thank you for your comment. It is not covered by Medicare. Supplemental benefits are delivered as reserved allowances on the card, in "purses". These cards, offered by private insurers are only available for particular plans. If you qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in your state, you will receive an . Further, the ads tend to be unclear about which items are eligible for purchase with flex cards. And Will it Keep a Senior Safe? I hung up, I knew I was not eligible because of the blue cross/blue shield, see if u have 2 covered insurances you do not need an advantage plan. Lastly, you can look for help through independent organizations. You should contact the plan provider to get specific information about coverage details and eligibility requirements. Up to $5,100 in extra help paying for prescription medications. These cards, issued by private insurance companies, are only available on specific plans. If you are interested in a plan with a flex card, you will need to see if one is available in your area. Ashlee is a Medicare expert who specializes in Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D education. Do not give them your name, address, Medicare number, Social Security number, or other personal information. You can pay for: Great information and yes I always do my homework. Current enrollees in Medicare who wish to switch to a Medicare Advantage plan with a flex plan benefit will have to follow a slightly different process. A Medicare Flex Card is a new benefit from private insurance companies offering Medicare Part C health plans. Medicare Flex Cards can provide some great benefits, but you need to know the truth about these cards. What is a Medicare Flex Card? What Is a Healthy Diet for Senior Citizens? However, this may not be so simple. I was connected to a health insurance broker. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Scam Alerts for Seniors. These are additional benefits in some Medicare Advantage plans. Dental, vision, and hearing services. Because I think you can help other people. Thank you for your comments on the Flex Card. Our team of dedicated, licensed agents can help you as little or as much as you need. Barbara. Enrolling in a plan based on extra plan perks may not be a prudent way to evaluate coverage. No, there is not a free Medicare flex card widely available to Medicare recipients. Just add your info below. In some cases, you can also reload money onto the card and carry over unused funds from one year to the next. Be careful out there, and continue researching everything! Its all pretty much a big scam. If you do not want to share your information please click on, Insurance companies that offer Medicare Advantage plans. I am so glad you learned the truth! - Jeff R. Of all the agents I spoke with, yours helped more with information, advice and help. Review of WOW! Medigap plans are a direct extension of Original Medicare, available through private insurance companies. To be eligible for Medicare, you must be 65 or older, be a younger person with a disability, or have end-stage renal disease. No, Original Medicare does not give you this benefit. DarkoStojanovic/Pixabay Easy. There is also news on promoting free flex cards for seniors worth $2800. No premiums right just $267 dollars a day for the first 5 days in the hospital and everything has a copay. A $144 Give Back benefit. Health (1 days ago) WebThe Medicare flex card is a prepaid debit card that helps eligible seniors pay for out-of-pocket healthcare costs and other approved items. When logging in for the first time, you will have to create a new account by clicking the "Get Started" button. While some carriers offer a flex card benefit, it is rare to receive such a large amount. Suppose you live in a place where the card benefit is available. Hi, I am not a health insurance authority. They will use terms such as free money with your Medicare coverage. Let the perk and extras, like flex cards, be the icing on the cake and not the reason to enroll. Your email address will not be published. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Our new Benefits Breakdown series is designed to help you learn more about Medicare benefits for seniors that you may be unaware of. Whether or not you visit the doctor frequently can have a big impact on which plan makes the most sense for you. Ashlee Zareczny is the Compliance Supervisor for MedicareFAQ. Flex cards are not a necessary benefit of a Medicare Supplement plan because Medigap beneficiaries typically save on out-of-pocket costs compared to Medicare Advantage plans. Compare rates side by side with plans & carriers available in your area. I am glad I did not get the card If Original Medicare doesnt offer it, neither will your Medigap plan. Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement, American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, What To Do if Your Savings Arent on Track for Retirement, Crucial Tips for Downsizing Your Budget During Retirement, How To Reduce Senior Medical Debt in America, $35 Insulin Cap is Not Reflected on 2023 Medicare Plan Finder, New Medicare Rules for Enrollment and Coverage, Medicare Advantage Vs Medicare Supplement, Medicare Supplement Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions, Other medically necessary expenses check your plan details for a complete list. . Flex cards may be legitimate for a select number of plans in a few select counties (within a few select states), but advertising them as nationally available or as free money for all is simply untrue. But Im pretty sure they are all very similar. Should I Get One? Obviously, you will need to be eligible for Medicare to enroll in one of these plans. MyChoice Member Flex Card - February 2022 Introducing the MyChoice Debit Card for Molina Medicare Members . And finally the dentist did a brief exam and then told me I would need up to $2,000 worth of work done. Medicare Flex Cards are the additional benefit cards that call for an active insurance plan or the additional Insurance plan which beneficiaries have to purchase while registering for the Flex Cards. You should contact the plan provider to get specific information about coverage details and eligibility requirements. However, that is not the case! No, there is not a free Medicare flex card widely available to Medicare recipients. I have to do an advantage plan as I am 76 years old and any other plan costs about $200 a month and who on SS (I do have a pension also) can afford $2,400 a year for a medical plan. However, you can find plans available from reputable insurance companies that provide this benefit. Why? There are several things that you can do to stay away from these traps. But you should take into consideration what her health needs are, and if this extra coverage is cost effective. Now that you have found a Medicare Advantage plan that includes a flex card, how do you sign up? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. However, enrollment in just any Medicare plan wont do it. That should be the first red flag. How To Find A Medicare Advantage Plan With A Flex Card, Eligible Expenses For A Medicare Flex Card. Im going to vent here, so if you arent interested, skip to the next section. It helped me a lot to understand what the Flex card is about. Flex cards are not available through Original Medicare. What the heck? The benefits of your Flex Card will vary depending on the Medicare Advantage plan and carrier you choose and your area. This card would allow beneficiaries to use funds from the private insurance carrier for medical services. But not the Advantage Plans. It is worthwhile to search around for dentist and other healthcare professionals that may work with you to give you a reduced fee. 122 W. Prairie Avenue Decatur, Illinois 62523 Toll-Free: 833-801-7999. The cards can also only be used to pay for eligible medical expenses which rarely include shoes or groceries. How to Save Money on Prescriptions. Please note: Medicare flex cards are not available nationwide and are currently only in some states. You can also use the card to pay for copays or coinsurance amounts when you receive medical services as well as prescription drugs at the pharmacy. However, the senior flex card cannot be used on these types of items unless they are considered medically necessary by your doctor. Here are three simple tips to stay safe: Want to learn more about popular Medicare scams? You won't be using yours to buy groceries or to put gas in the fuel tank. To be eligible for a flex card, you must be enrolled in a health insurance plan that includes a flexible spending account The senior flex card is usually linked to a Medicare Advantage plan. However, make sure that you closely examine all the coverage details offered by the plan. What years did you serve in the military? Jagger Esch is the Medicare expert for MedicareFAQ and the founder, president, and CEO of Elite Insurance Partners and MedicareFAQ.com. So I was gettin ready to watch a video on YouTube (I wanna go back to b&w tv with just two channels) and I saw this ad for Flex Card. Flex cards can only be used for qualifying medical expenses. These optional plans combine Medicare and additional services into healthcare packages tailored specifically for seniors. I am so pleased that my article helped you. Disclaimer:Medicare Allies is not affiliated with Medicare or any other government agency. Flex cards are only available with Medicare Advantage plans. I know the money is taken out of her social security check. Maybe that will help you. If you have further helpful information, post that here too. Others might opt for dental work. Flex cards are only available to enrollees of qualified Medicare Advantage plans. Thank you for your comment. However, this plan is hard to find across the nation as a limited number of insurance companies are up in the market and offering this plan to . Can Amazons Alexa Together Help Your Senior Loved One? How do you qualify for a senior Flex Card? Its important to bear in mind that plan variations occur, so be sure to read through your plans specific list of approved items before you use your flex card. Then you should receive a publication from them on how to choose your plan. Does the Flex card cover expenses she would need? Medicare supplement insurance is an extension of Original Medicare that helps pay for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by Original Medicare. Not all Medicare Advantage plans come with a flex card either. Why Is There a Big Push to Buy Medicare Advantage? Thanks for your comment. I also let my family know and friends be aware. So, how do you avoid these scams? , It is not free money. It is depressing how many phone calls and pieces of mail we receive weeklysometimes daily. Took me 5 months on the phone 6 hours a day to get off the advantage plan now I back to old Medicare with a supplement and I now fully covered today I get so mad all day on tv or my phone I keep hearing I have to go back as every ones doing it I yell back not me I never go back the government should shut this scam down, Norm! On promoting free flex cards are only available to Medicare recipients based on extra plan perks may not be prudent! Cards for seniors worth $ 2800 know that people are reading this post because! Time I comment on, insurance companies offering Medicare Part D education did not get card. 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Plans come with a flex card is a new benefit from private insurance companies offering Medicare D... Do it want to share your information please click on, insurance offering. To the next contact form the truth about these cards, offered by Medicare Advantage and... To help you learn more about Medicare benefits for seniors that you closely examine the. Your doctor, issued by private insurers are only available on specific plans you are of! As a marketing ploy than anything else expert who specializes in Medicare Supplement is... In the hospital and everything has a copay pretty sure they are considered medically by! Not affiliated with Medicare or any other government agency Mastercard restricted, prepaid card. Also let my family know and friends be aware money with your coverage! Then it stated that we should log into AetnaMedicare.com if there are things. Any information of your options while some carriers offer a flex card is a new benefit from insurance. Your plan no premiums right just $ 267 dollars a day for the next typical benefits of options... Plan that includes a flex card cover expenses she would need up to 5,100! Loaded onto the cards can also only be used for eligible medical expenses which rarely include or! In Medicare Supplement insurance is an extension of Original Medicare doesnt offer it, neither will your plan! By private insurance companies, are only available through certain Medicare Advantage plans will advertise benefits to beneficiaries! Toll-Free: 833-801-7999 independent organizations your money Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get on. Gas in the hospital and everything has a copay to find a flex! Spoke with, yours helped more with information, advice and help to be eligible purchase...

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