Compare rates side by side with plans & carriers available in your area. Once the card arrives, you can begin using it for qualified medical expenses like copays, deductibles, OTC medications, and other expenses. You might find yourself owing taxes or penalties on the money used for non-qualified expenses. No, you cant. This tool makes it easy to search for and compare plans in your area. All Medicare beneficiaries pay a premium for Part B coverage, and most Medicare Advantage plans require the payment of a monthly premium. Select which Medicare plans you would like to compare in your area. The cards can be used to pay for "qualified" medical expenses, such as: Medical equipment Copays Deductibles Prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines Dental, vision and hearing. If you watch TV, you have likely seen commercials advertising Medicare Flex Cards and their benefits. Barbara. You might be required to pay a higher monthly premium, have a higher deductible, or have higher coinsurance amounts to offset the benefit provided by the flex card. The cards pay for several out-of-pocket costs associated with your plan. Hi, I have Humana insurance I would like to know how to go back to Medicare if you could give me some info sure would appreciate it very much thank you for your time. This didnt immediately alarm me as Im always looking to find the best coverage for me, plus, theres always a possibility of an insurance provider having a benefit such as this. But you will be encouraged to do so. I have a separate dental plan that has an annual fee, but offers reduced dental costs for participating dentists. Enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan requires you to meet the essential eligibility criteria for Medicare. Dearest Barbara, I was too late at finding your article, but I still enjoyed reading what you had to say. I welcome your comments. However, this may not be so simple. We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today. 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. We typically associate the card with the spending account's flexibility, and is a benefit associated with specific medical plans across the country. The benefits are for items approved by your health insurance plan. Since the private insurance companies who administer these Advantage plans set their own rules, you need to check each plan individually to determine whether a flex card is part of their plan. If you are interested in a plan with a flex card, you will need to see if one is available in your area. Plain text explanation available for any plan in any state. In most cases, flex cards are used to purchase items like over-the-counter medications (OTC), eyeglasses, or other medical necessities. What songs should play at your funeral? Best of all, one debit card can provide access to all Flex Accounts - FSA, HSA, HRA and Commuter. First of all, bless you for helping your Mom out. Finally, ensure that you are looking for Medicare Advantage plans and not Medicare supplement plans. Find a reputable dentist. I went to DuckDuckGo and entered the term and you were the first hit and I started reading. It also appears that anyone who is enrolled in Medicare can get one. They usually have their own practices and are not part of a group. So, to qualify, you must have a participating policy. Im a Senior Citizen Who Wants To Learn Something New, Agencies that Help Senior Citizens (especially during COVID19). Im glad you hung up. Start Learning Here. I wish that the government website for Medicare (www.medicare.gov) had an article about this card. Let me know if I can be of more assistance. Hopefully your experience and telling about it here on this comment will help others. So, what is a flex card? Barbara. However, that is not the case! I indeed found a PPO policy which is the type of provider I had before retiring. Members can pay for supplemental benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, fitness, chiropractic, healthy foods, over-the-counter (OTC) items, and more with the Medicare Advantage flex card from WEX. No matter what type of plan youre looking for, Medicare Allies can help. Flex card has so much news and information that many people find unclear. It is sad that once we become senior citizens, so many businesses come after us for the little money that we receive. Flex cards are debit cards beneficiaries can use to purchase medical equipment and items. Using the Wellcare Medicare Flex Card. I saw the ad on TV, over the Internet. Extra Benefits In Some Plans You can't use the Flex card for seniors by spending on anything you want. Our agents are ready to help you review your options and find the most cost-effective plan for your needs. Getting a flex card requires enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers this particular benefit. The advertisements are not specific to your area or plan. Im glad you found my dry humor entertaining. Why Is There a Big Push to Buy Medicare Advantage? Let the perk and extras, like flex cards, be the icing on the cake and not the reason to enroll. Thank you for your comment. And now I have to stop writing cause I cant type when laughing maniacally but you did make my day. Scam Alerts for Seniors Part 3, What is a Scam and How to Avoid Them? This card is normally connected with a flexible spending account and is a benefit associated with health plans across the country. Reach out and give us a call to compare your options so you can make an informed coverage choice. He is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for other expert columns regarding Medicare. Yes! What is the process for applying for a senior Flex Card? Your health insurance card and flex card should arrive in the mail a few days after your enrollment is completed. You will need to wait until the annual open enrollment period unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. Barbara. You have added more information to this article by your investigations. Private Medicare Advantage plans distribute the cards in these ads not Original Medicare. No premiums right just $267 dollars a day for the first 5 days in the hospital and everything has a copay. Spending more than necessary for healthcare is frustrating. Offer the Medicare Advantage flex card from WEX. I just got a call telling me I could get a flex card. You can visit the plan finder tool at Medicare.gov to locate Advantage plans in your area. I am so sorry to hear of your heart issues and of the terrible experience you had with insurance. Medicare does not offer the cards; the insurance companies provide the cards under certain Medicare Plans. So, what can you purchase with your Medicare Flex Card? They will use terms such as free money with your Medicare coverage. The claim is the government did something right! In the meantime, yes, I think the Flex card is a scam. But that simply isnt true. The purpose of a Medicare flex card is to help cover medical costs that might not be covered in your plan, such as dental treatments and services. Updated. Rose, Thank you for your comment. So, you must live in an area where at least one of these plans is available and sign up during a qualifying Medicare enrollment period. I called back and went through the same problem. For example, you may see an advertisement with claims that you can receive a Flex Card with up to $2,880 from Medicare to spend however you want. If you received a Healthy Spending Account card in the mail, you must activate your card before you can use it to access your Healthy Options allowance. Medicare beneficiaries can use these cards for various out-of-pocket expenses. Obviously, you will need to be eligible for Medicare to enroll in one of these plans. Thats because Medicare Supplement insurance plans are additional insurance to Original Medicare. I found a dentist that offers very good services as well as respecting the reduced fees for dental visits and restorative services. But I hope you will keep checking around and be careful to read all the small print before you buy anything. Find coverage that's right for you. . 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. There are no government flex cards for seniors available through Medicare. If you qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in your state, you will receive an . Flex cards are typically given in the form of prepaid debit cards butnot for everyone enrolled in Medicare. Remember that Medicare Advantage plans must include at least the same minimum level of coverage as Original Medicare, although many plans provide additional benefits beyond this minimum level of coverage. Our secure app makes managing your benefits easy through real-time access and intuitive navigation to all your . However, this is almost never the case. Why? In most cases, the flex card is tied to a flexible spending account (FSA). Medigap plans are a direct extension of Original Medicare, available through private insurance companies. Your email address will not be published. Flex cards are debit cards beneficiaries can use to purchase medical equipment and items. There are no government flex cards for seniors available through Medicare. Given that, to have access to a Medicare Flex Card, enrollment in a participating Medicare Advantage plan is required. A Medicare Flex Card is a new benefit from private insurance companies offering Medicare Part C health plans. Senior Flex Card. Often, Medicare Advantage plans have high maximum out-of-pocket costs. Age My Way | May 2022, How To Honor Memorial Day| Remember the Ultimate Sacrifice, Tips To Help Senior Citizens To Be Organized | Use This Book. Thank you thank you thank you. This card, though, has to be linked with a Medicare Advantage Plan that does actually cost money. Not all plans are available in all areas, and you must live within a plans service area to qualify for coverage. What is a Medicare Flex Card? It seems like false advertising to me. wellcare Medicare done well. Flex cards are not available through Medicare supplement plans (Medigap plans). I dont think the money for advantage programs is taken out of SS benefits, but Medicare is. Does Medicare Pay For Wheelchairs? Many health insurance companies use these flex cards as an incentive to get people to enroll in their plans. 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