New Era/Philadelphia American Medicare Supplement Plans: What is Covered Under the Plans?

New Era and Philadelphia American are partner companies. They are owned by the same parent company and the two different companies operate in different states. We’ll refer to them as New Era plans in this information; however, the information also applies to plans sold through the Philadelphia American name.

New Era Medicare Supplements are among the most competitively-priced plans nationally. They abide by the Federal Medigap coverage chart, as all plans are required to do. This means that they offer the standardized plans – there are a total of 10. However, not all companies are required to offer all plans, and New Era’s most common offerings are listed to the left. Their plans are nearly always competitively priced and a great option for those on Medicare.

Because plans are Federally-standardized, you should rely in large part on price and company reputation when comparing the available Medicare Supplement options. When comparing, it all comes down to price and company reputation, and New Era is almost always a very reputable and good option, nationwide.

Here is a rundown of what the New Era Medicare Supplement plans cover. First and foremost, New Era Medicare Supplement plans ALL cover what Medicare calls “basic benefits”. Here is a summary of what basic benefits include: the 20% that Medicare doesn’t pay at the doctor and hospital. Additionally, many of the plans that are offered by New Era also cover the Medicare deductibles (which are: Part A Deductible = $1,132/benefit period for 2011; Part B Deductible = $162/year for 2011). In addition to these primary benefits that are covered under all of the plans, there are additional benefits that are offered under many of the New Era plans. Some of these additional benefits that are offered in some cases include: Skilled Nursing Facility coinsurance, hospice coinsurance, Part B excess charges and foreign travel emergencies. To get a full rundown of which plans offer which benefits, take a look at the Medigap coverage chart.

How Do New Era Medigap Plans Operate?

New Era Medigap plans, because they are Federally-standardized, operate just like all other Medicare Supplement plan options. In short, the most important thing to know is that you can go to any doctor or hospital nationwide that takes Medicare. There are no network restrictions, and there is no network directory that must be checked before you go to a doctor or hospital. Additionally, there are no paper claims to file. With Medicare Supplement insurance, claims are filed, regardless of plan or company, through the Medicare crossover system. This greatly simplifies things for the insured, as they don’t have to be involved in the process whatsoever. Once you have your New Era card, you take it to your doctor upon your first visit there. From that point forward, your claims are automatically handled through the Medicare system.

It is important to sign up for a Medicare supplement plan during your open enrollment period, or a “guaranteed issue” period. The open enrollment period is a one-time 6 month period that allows you to sign up without answering any medical questions at all. During these times, you cannot be made to answer health questions or pay more for coverage of pre-existing conditions. Your Medicare supplement open enrollment period starts the first day of the month that you are both over 65 and on Medicare Part B and lasts for 6 months. Most companies allow you to sign up (under open enrollment provisions) up to 6 months prior to your Medicare start date.

Why Is New Era a Good Option for Medicare Supplement Insurance?

New Era is a ‘B+’ rated company that often has the most competitive, or close to the most competitive, rates in all of the states where it operates. Some of the primary states where New Era has very competitive rates currently are: Texas, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and many more. One important thing to keep in mind is that New Era also has a partner company, Philadelphia American Insurance Company, which offers plans under their name in some of these states. Their plans, like New Era’s, are also competitively priced and highly rated.

How Do You Get a New Era Medigap Plan?

To sign up for a New Era plan, you can either sign up directly through the company or through an independent agent. Whenever possible, we recommend using a broker (independent agent). This allows you to compare multiple options in a centralized place and get an unbiased opinion and guidance. Also, it doesn’t cost you any more, and you get the unbiased service and support from an agent who is working on your behalf. If you were to sign up directly through the insurance company, you do not have a dedicated person to call if you ever have any problems or questions. Whereas with an independent agent, their loyalty is to the customer, not an insurance company. This ensures that your questions are answered and any problems are taken care of.

To get a rate quote comparison, which will include New Era (if they serve your state) and other well-priced options for your age and zip code, simply request the information online using: New Era Medicare Supplement Quotes. We can provide the information you are seeking so you can compare multiple quotes in a centralized place and make an informed decision.

New Era/Philadelphia American Medicare Supplements – Which Plans are Offered?

NOTE: Plan offerings can vary from state to state, but these are generally the plans that New Era/Philadelphia American currently offers in most states. Contact us for specific plan availability in your state.