South Bend Indiana Medicare Plans for 2024

There are over 129,000 Medicare beneficiaries in South Bend, Indiana. Over 60% of those are enrolled in Original Medicare. But do they also have the right supplemental coverage?

Medicare Plans in South Bend, Indiana

Most South Bend, Indiana Medicare beneficiaries are age 72 or older. Of the 79,000+ who only have Medicare Parts A and B, some don’t have supplement coverage. The two most popular options are either Medigap policies or switching to Medicare Advantage.

Medicare Advantage plans

For South Bend residents who want the cheapest Medicare Advantage plan in Indiana, there are 33 to choose from in Saint Joseph County. Just under 50,000 residents are currently enrolled.

Since all plans have a $0 starting premium, you must look at other factors to determine the cheapest. UnitedHealthcare might qualify with a meager maximum out-of-pocket cost of $3,900. Its HMO medical network may also help you keep costs down.

What’s not the cheapest is Wellcare. It has a $5,500 out-of-pocket maximum and a PPO medical network. You get more choices with PPO medical networks, but sometimes those choices are more expensive.

Humana looks like a plan somewhere in the middle, but it’s got a somewhat higher out-of-pocket cap of $4,600. But the HMO medical network could cost you less. It’s also nice to know they have good customer service.

The average cost of Medicare Advantage plans in South Bend, Indiana

We answer more questions about Medicare Advantage on our FAQ pages.

Medicare Supplement plans

Affordable Indiana Medigap supplements are essential for managing your health care costs. They are small, standardized, private insurance plans. They pay for the gaps in Medicare coverage, so you don’t have to. Your most significant expense is usually your monthly premium.

Plan K is one of the cheapest options if you can’t afford a high-deductible plan. But this is because it splits the costs of Medicare coverage gaps with you 50/50. It helps, but you’ll still have out-of-pocket expenses.

Plans HDF and HDG are around the same price. You can get comprehensive coverage for a highly affordable premium if you can afford the high out-of-pocket deductible. The only difference is that Plan G does not pay your Part B deductible.

The least affordable would be Plan C. This is because it combines comprehensive coverage without a high deductible. Since your insurance company is paying for more, they charge you more in premiums to balance things. Due to the Macra Act of 2015, Plan C is unavailable to new Medicare beneficiaries.

The average cost of Medicare Supplement plans in South Bend, Indiana

We know you still have questions, and our Medigap FAQ pages have answers.

Medicare Part D prescription drug plans

The only people who don’t need an Indiana Part D drug plan have signed up for one with Medicare Advantage. But these plans are relatively simple to purchase and manage. And your prescription drug prices will be significantly discounted after meeting your deductible.

The average annual cost of a Part D drug plan before your benefits kick in is around $671. UnitedHealthcare is slightly cheaper than this at $661. Yes, the monthly premium is high, but the lower deductible makes it more affordable.

Humana will cost you $752 in premiums and deductibles before your benefits kick in. But they do have a 4-star customer service rating. And that $23 monthly premium isn’t unmanageable.

You could go with the cheapest plan, which would be from Aetna. Total anal costs before drug discounts kick in are just under $562. With any drug plan, you should check their formulary to ensure they offer the drugs you need before purchasing.

The average cost of Medicare Part D plans in South Bend, Indiana

Have you got questions about your drugs? Our Part D FAQ pages have more answers, too.

Special Needs plans

Sometimes, you may require so much medical care that you need a Special Needs Plan. You can only get these plans through Medicare Advantage. They are geographically limited and only open to Medicare recipients with chronic diseases.

Most of these plans will be HMO plans because limited medical networks save you money. Humana and Wellcare have the least out-of-pocket cost to you, so they might be a good choice.

Then you have Anthem Healthkeepers and Caresource. Both are HMO networks that could save you money. But their $7,550 maximum out-of-pocket cost to you could be burdensome.

UnitedHealthcare has the same maximum out-of-pocket cost but is a PPO network. Their medical network will give you more choices of providers and hospitals. But they might cost you more as a result.

The average cost of Medicare Special Needs plans in South Bend, Indiana

How to sign up for Medicare plans in South Bend, Indiana

For South Bend, Indiana, Medicare recipients, supplemental coverage is a way to ensure they have all the benefits they want or need. Only a monthly premium is required to have your out-of-pocket expenses not spiral out of control unexpectedly.

Our licensed insurance agents can help you sort through the different Medigap plans and guide you during the fact-finding process. Their time is free to you, which makes using their knowledge a significant benefit.

So give our agents a call today. Or complete our simple online rate form to be connected with the best rates in South Bend, Indiana!