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Understand the importance of choosing a solid California Medigap carrier

Half the equation when choosing a good California Medicare supplement insurance plan is picking the right the carrier.  That may sound like an exaggeration but it's more true with California Medigap plans than with most types of insurance in general.  Why?  The Medicare plans are same for a given lettered plan.  The C plan with one California carrier will be identical to the C plan with another carrier.  There can be very minor tweaks in how the carriers treat in-network providers but it's usually a question of small copay differences.  Once we've decided on the right health plan for your situation based on benefits and monthly costs, it then comes down to carrier.  Why does this matter so much?  Picking the right California Medicare supplement insurance carrier is all about stability into the future.  Let's understand why.

Let's say you just turned age 65.  You find an F plan that is priced well and the F plan address your core needs.  The pricing for your F plan is very low compared to the other carriers so you figure it's a good deal since the benefits are the same.  You purchase the California Medigap plan and all is well with the world.  What you might not fully realize is that you are making a decision for decades potentially.  If you have more serious health issues, it can be impossible to switch plans.   Most people are under the faulty assumption that they can change their Medicare supplement insurance plan at the end of each year but that's annual open enrollment window is for Part D or other options.  To change your California Medigap plan outside of a few guaranteed issue windows, you will have to answer health history/status questions.  It's not guaranteed and that's the main take away.  Back to our selection of California carrier.  What if the carrier you chose is newer to the Medicare supplement market or maybe the market in California?  Due to this lack of experience or maybe by intent to gain market share, they under-price their plans and have to adjust into the future to compensate.  This means that low-priced Medicare supplement plan you purchased will be less stable in terms of pricing over the long run.  That long run is important because you're making a decision for that same time period.  In light of this, it's important to focus on strong California Medicare supplemental insurance carriers with a long history in the market.

We also like California carriers that are traditionally health insurance carriers at their core.  There are some life insurance carriers that also offer California Medigap plans but health insurance in all it guises is really a specific type of business and requires an in-depth ability to underwrite and price insurance plans with a high degree of certainty.  

Below are the providers we specialize in working with:

Anthem Blue Cross of California
Blue Cross of California and BC Life & Health Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Association. Blue Cross began serving California in 1936 offering affordable medical care to Californians through a network of participating hospitals. The company was able to grow even through World War II and expanded its coverage to over 35 million Americans by 1950. Blue Cross of California was established in 1982 when the Northern and Southern California Blue Crosses united under one.

Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. In 1940 Blue Shield began its first year of operation. It has since been a technological leader in the insurance field, being the first company to offer online benefits and enrollment information. Currently the company is very involved with state reform programs, altering its plans to be more affordable for state employees and blue collar workers.

Health Net of California
Health Net provides coverage in all 50 states and offers Medicare, Medicaid, and veterans’ benefits.

Pacificare of California
Is the state name for the much larger United Health Group that acquired the original Pacificare of California in 2005. They still provide insurance policies but are now backed by the larger multi-state group.

Humana Health is a strong California health carrier and is generally thought of as one of the strongest nationwide carriers in the U.S.  Cigna and Aetna also fall within this category and therefore provide a competitive option for California seniors looking for Medicare supplement insurance plans.