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Tuesday, April 22nd
Since 2005, eHealth has been a reliable Medicare Supplement Plan provider in the industry, assisting more than 35,000 seniors in bridging the gap between what Medicare A and B cover and what they don't. This dedicated broker offers every available Medicare Supplement Plan, from A through N, so that you have a range of options to choose from.
Connected to over 30 insurance providers
With connections to over 30 insurance providers, including major names like United Healthcare and Cigna, as well as regional suppliers, eHealth is committed to providing you with choices that cater to your specific requirements. Plus, no matter which of the 50 states you call home, eHealth has you covered.
Offers info blogs, but less detailed information
In terms of keeping you informed, eHealth doesn't do quite as much as some of its competitors. While they do have a FAQ section of the site labeled "Medicare Answers”, the details are pretty generic. The site breaks down the process of getting Medicare Supplement Plans into a 3-step process. On top of that, there are a variety of blog posts that let customers in on how the process might look and how to dig for the best prices. However, this is a little less comprehensive than some of the info pages on other sites.
Quick online form, but call in for numbers
Initiating the process of finding the right Medicare Supplement Plan with eHealth is a straightforward experience. All you have to do is enter your zip code and then you will be prompted to call them with the promise that if you do, your call will be answered by an insurance adjuster. It was disappointing that there wasn't any online form to make the process faster. Further, when we used the toll-free number (1-877-543-6619), it didn't work. We had to call without the "1” in order to get the call to connect.
Slower quote process than competitors
The quote process at eHealth was a little slower than other brokers. Overall, eHealth had a longer processing time; from waiting for someone to take our call to being transferred to a second agent, the process felt very time-consuming. We also experienced some confusion during the interaction, as we had to ask specific questions to get the details we needed. And even then the adjuster was vague. For example, the price we received didn't include any riders and the adjuster wouldn't even estimate those rates for us when we asked.
Slow process with limited agents
So, how does eHealth perform when faced with a standardized quote scenario? We used our fictional persona of a 65-year-old woman in Wisconsin, a non-smoker, seeking Plan G to get a solid comparison between different plan companies. Based on our experience which involved speaking with representatives, we were a little surprised about how slow the process was. Since this site doesn't offer any kind of online portal to submit your information prior to a call, the entire interaction was spent in a lengthy 20-questions style interview that felt like it could have been avoided with the inclusion of an online portal. It was also interesting that eHealth records all phone calls.
Higher than average costs
In terms of cost, eHealth was not the most competitive. For our "customer” (our 65-year-old Wisconsin woman), the adjuster was extremely vague. He wouldn't give us any details beyond what he called a "rough estimate”. This came out around $170 to $185, which is much higher than many of the competitors in this review.
Watches the rate changes for you
One distinctive feature that serves customers well at eHealth is Rate Watch. After enrolling in any Medicare Supplement Plan, the company proactively monitors all companies' premiums and will notify you of any potential rate increases. This service is akin to having someone track changes in auto insurance premiums, and in this way your chosen plan remains the most cost-effective option over time. So, if you need to change plans or adjust to something more affordable, you can feel like eHealth has your back.
Award winning site
The company holds an impressive "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau, and it goes a step further by receiving the BBB International Torch Award for Ethics, surpassing 18,000 other companies. This recognition solidifies eHealth as a trusted name that prioritizes ethical business practices to give you a plan that fits your Medicare and supports your health at the best price. Independent customer reviews on verified sites also provide thousands of 5-star ratings, praising the helpful service delivered by friendly and well-informed representatives. So while the company might be a little slower and spendier than others, the high approval of the company stands for itself.
Top-notch in trustworthiness and ethics
While eHealth may have a higher premium compared to other companies in our review, the trustworthiness of the company is what really makes eHealth shine. Combined with the stellar track record with the Better Business Bureau, eHealth stands as a reliable option, even if it comes with a potentially higher premium. With thousands of 5-star reviews, happy customers, and coverage in all 50 states, eHealth earns a solid rating from us.
If you or a family member is approaching the age of 65, or if you are soon eligible for Medicare Parts A and B due to other qualifying reasons, now is the perfect time to start looking at additional coverage options for your Medicare. While Medicare insurance covers many of your medical expenses, it doesn't cover everything. To help pick up the extra slack, you can dive into a Medicare Supplement plan, often referred to as "Medigap”.
These plans work to address the gap between the 80% of medical concerns covered by Medicare and the remaining 20% that isn't covered. This way, you can reduce your out-of-pocket medical expenses and feel safer and more comfortable with your coverage.
The Medicare Supplement Plans are assigned letter names to differentiate them, which can sometimes lead to confusion. With an ever-evolving landscape of plans and their coverage, keeping up with changes like swapping Plan F (once a popular choice but was discontinued for new enrollees after January 1, 2020) with its successor, Plan G, (which offers similar benefits but introduced an annual deductible) can be extremely confusing. Paying attention to the changes in the market will help you make a more informed decision about your healthcare coverage and help you recognize what coverage you need and what you don't.
One thing to keep in mind as you plan for your Medicare journey is the "guaranteed issue period”. This is a period that spans the six months following your 65th birthday. During this period, you can get a Medicare Supplement Plan without any prerequisites beyond paying your premiums.
For example, this means that while health conditions won't disqualify you, being a smoker might result in higher premiums. However, once this six-month grace period concludes, insurers may request more detailed health information, such as your history of diabetes or heart conditions that may potentially impact your premiums and change what plans are available to you.
When it comes to purchasing a Medicare Supplement Plan, you have two primary options: buying directly from an insurance company or getting your plan through the services of a broker. Going with an insurance company means you might be able to continue using a company you already trust, which may be appealing due to lower rates or trustworthy insurance adjusters. On the other hand, if you choose to go with a broker, the company gives you access to a range of insurance providers, so you can compare rates and plans side by side, including the rates offered by your preferred insurance company.
Regardless of whether you choose to work with a broker or purchase directly from an insurance company, the most important thing about choosing a Medicare Supplement Plan is that you need to do your research. While you can initially explore various providers' websites, keep in mind that Medicare rules dictate plans must be sold either in person or over the phone, so you should be prepared to talk with a representative to finalize your Medicare Supplement Plan.
If you're not sure where to start with your Medicare Supplement Plan, we've put together a few things that might help you narrow down your options:
To help you stress less about your Medicare plans, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the best Medicare Supplement Plans available today. This way, you can save both time and money in your search. All you need to worry about is finding the best provider using our handy list and detailed reviews and getting back to enjoying your golden years stress-free!
Select any 2 Medicare Supplement Plans to compare them head to head