Three things to watch for to avoid overpaying

  • Paying more for the same coverage
  • Paying more for less coverage
  • Paying too much for add-ons

Medicare beneficiaries can buy Medigap insurance to help cover out-of-pocket costs associated with Medicare. However, shopping for Medigap plans can be confusing. Here are three scenarios to watch for to avoid overpaying: 1. Paying more for the same coverage: All plans of the same letter are exactly the same, so there’s no reason to pay more for one plan over another. 2. Paying more for less coverage: Sometimes lower-coverage plans are priced higher than plans with more coverage. It’s important to compare prices carefully to find the most cost-effective option. 3. Paying too much for add-ons: Some companies offer add-ons for purchase with their Medigap plans, but these add-ons can significantly increase the price of the plan. It’s important to consider whether the add-ons are worth the extra cost. By avoiding these mistakes, Medicare beneficiaries can find the most cost-effective Medigap plan for their needs.

Factuality Level: 7
Factuality Justification: The article provides information about Medicare Supplement Insurance, or Medigap, and offers tips on how to avoid paying too much for coverage. The information provided is generally accurate and objective, with examples and quotes from experts. However, the article does contain some unnecessary background information and details that are tangential to the main topic, such as the mention of Social Security’s trust fund depletion and the inclusion of the author’s contact information. Overall, the article is informative and helpful, but could be more focused and concise.
Noise Level: 3
Noise Justification: The article provides useful information about Medigap policies and how to avoid paying too much for coverage. It gives examples and explanations for each scenario, making it easy for readers to understand. The article stays on topic and does not dive into unrelated territories. However, it contains some filler content at the beginning and end, such as the mention of text-to-speech technology and the author’s contact information.
Financial Relevance: Yes
Financial Markets Impacted: Private health insurance companies
Presence Of Extreme Event: No
Nature Of Extreme Event: No
Impact Rating Of The Extreme Event: No
Rating Justification: The article discusses the pricing and coverage options of Medicare Supplement Insurance, which pertains to financial topics. There is no mention of any extreme event.
Public Companies: Cigna (CI), UnitedHealthcare (Unknown)
Private Companies: State Farm,Mutual of Omaha,Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Key People: Maureen McIntyre (CEO of Connecticut’s North Central Area Agency on Aging)


Reported publicly: www.marketwatch.com