Big news for anyone looking to buy Anthem Medicare Supplement Plans in New Hampshire. Starting April 18, 2020 New Hampshire's largest writer of Medicare Supplement plans, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of NH, will begin to ask medical questions AND also offer tobacco/non-tobacco rates but ONLY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
Good News Up Front
Not everyone applying will be subject to the new underwriting. Here are a few groups of applicants who will NOT NEED to answer questions, or be subject to tobacco rates.
- NEW TO MEDICARE or in their INITIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD
- COMING OFF AN EMPLOYER GROUP PLAN
- NEW to MEDICARE PART B
- Departing a Medicare Advantage Plan during the 1st year on that type of plan
The applicants in one of the scenarios listed above will be GUARANTEE ISSUE, meaning that they will NOT BE ASKED MEDICAL QUESTIONS and they will also not be subject to TOBACCO RATING.
So for people that are NOT within one of the GUARANTEE ISSUE scenarios, Anthem will Medically Underwrite their NH Medigap policy. In laymen's terms, Medical Underwriting means that an applicant's approval- or - denial will be based upon their medical history and background. Anthem will ALSO be able to charge a higher rate for tobacco users.
What are the questions that Anthem will ask..?
A review of the new application shows questions like...
- Are you currently confined, or has confinement been recommended to a bed, hospital, nursing facility...?
- Within the past two years, have you been:
weeks or longer, or been to the emergency room more than three times?
b. Advised to have surgery that has not yet been done, or advised that you will need
to be admitted to a hospital, skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation facility?
See APPLICATION ATTACHED (PAGE 7) for MEDICAL QUESTIONS ANTHEM WILL ASK NH MEDICARE SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICANTS.
Silver Lining to New Rules
One nice feature to this new underwriting method, is that it will open up Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield's NH Medicare Supplement Plan G to people who can qualify medically. (In the past only NEWLY eligible medicare applicants were eligible for this popular plan).
Here at Atlantic Insurance & Benefit we realize understanding the ins and outs of Medicare can be complicated.
If you have questions about Medicare, Medicare Supplement, Advantage or Part D RX plans- please give us a call today at 603-882-2909.
Or you can apply for a confidential NH Medicare Supplement Quote online here.
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See Some helpful Questions & Answers on Anthem NH Medicare Supplement rules below:
Q: If I have a Medicare Supplement Plan with ANTHEM NOW will this affect my coverage?
A: No
Q: How long does Medical Underwriting take?
A: Typically 1-2 business day. In periods of HIGH VOLUME,annual open enrollment it can take longer.
Q: Does Anthem go out to Medical Information Bureau to gather info on an applicant?
A: No.
Q: Will Anthem ask for an applicants height & weight?
A: No.
Q: What about specific conditions?
There are some medical conditions like Alzheimers and Cancer that can be considered when determining an approval or denial.
What are the questions asked?
Anthem has a NEW MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT ENROLLMENT FORM see copy of the enrollment form for 2020 HERE- page 7 for medical underwriting questions.