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Combined Medicare Supplement Plans Review

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Quick Combined Medicare Supplement Plans review: Combined Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) plans are offered in some U.S. states and are underwritten by Combined Insurance Company of America, a member of ACE Group of Companies.

Combined Insurance Company of America has provided supplemental life, accident, disability, and health insurance for almost 100 years. Combined’s parent company is Chubb, a global insurance company. Combined offers a variety of standardized Medigap plans, but they are not visible on their website, nor are specific ratings and reviews.

Combined’s Medigap plans are unique compared to most other carriers’ plans because of their pricing structure, which is based on issue age. Issue age policy premiums are locked in when you first enroll and only rise with inflation.

To find out if a Combined Medigap plan is available to you, contact a licensed insurance broker or find an agent by submitting your information on Combined’s website.

Pros and Cons of Combined Medicare Supplement Plans

What we like about Combined Medigap plans: The drawbacks of Combined Medigap plans:
  • Limited availability of plans
  • Pricing and reviews not readily accessible

What Do Combined Medicare Supplement Plans Cover?

Also known as Medigap, Combined Medicare Supplement plans work with Original Medicare Parts A and B. They help reduce your out-of-pocket costs by lowering or eliminating copays, coinsurance payments, and deductibles. Coverage is valid at Medicare-participating doctors and hospitals across the United States even when traveling, and plans are guaranteed to be renewable as long as you continue to pay your premiums. Medicare Supplement policies are compatible with Part D plans that can lower your prescription drug costs.

Combined Medicare Supplement plans provide standardized coverage. While many Medigap insurers offer additional services and discounts, Combined’s extras are not advertised online. To find out if you are eligible for discounts or additional benefits, talk with an agent who sells Combined Medigap plans.

Combined Medicare Supplement Plan Options

There are 10 universal Medigap policies known as plans A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N, including standardized benefits and copay reductions. Plans C and F are only available to existing Medicare enrollees who became eligible for Medicare before 2020. New beneficiaries can sign up for a Medigap plan without restrictions during their seven-month initial enrollment period. Otherwise, insurers can base eligibility on your medical history.

Except for Plan F, you’re responsible for paying your $226 Part B deductible (in 2023) for medical services and diagnostics. Medigap policies can reduce or eliminate your Part A hospital deductible, which can save you up to $1,600 per benefit period in 2023. Some plans may pick up excess charges beyond Medicare-approved amounts, and they can limit your out-of-pocket expenses.

Combined’s Plan A is the most basic coverage and includes hospital copayment costs up to a year after Medicare benefits are used up, the first three pints of blood, hospice care, and Part B coinsurance after your annual deductible is met.

Plan G is the most comprehensive plan available to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries after January 1, 2020. Unlike Plan F, it doesn’t cover the Part B annual deductible but does cover excess charges and up to 80% of foreign travel emergency expenses.

Monthly premiums vary by the age, tobacco use, and gender of the applicant. Keep in mind that Medigap plans are per person, so if you’re married, both you and your spouse need to purchase one. All of Combined’s Medigap plans have issue age pricing.

Compare some of your Combined Medicare Supplement Plan options before making a decision. You can compare plans on Medicare.gov. Input your zip code to find out if Combined Medicare Supplements are offered in your state. Alternatively, you can visit Combined’s website and find an agent to assist you.

Here are a few examples from Combined’s Florida offerings in 2023: (Note: Plan N, a popular plan, is not offered by Combined in Florida).

Plan name Monthly premium† Part A hospital deductible Part B medical deductible Member responsibility for excess charges Out-of-pocket maximum
Plan A $181-394 $1,556 $233 All costs N/A
Plan G $222-403 $0 $233 $0 N/A
Plan F**  $273-481 $0 $0 $0 N/A

*Based on pricing in Miami, FL for a 65-year-old female, no tobacco use
†Rates are based on medical eligibility, gender, and your age at the time of enrollment
**Plan F is only available to Medicare beneficiaries eligible before January 1, 2020.

Combined Medicare Supplement Plans Reviews and Ratings

Trusted ratings and reviews can help you understand how an insurer’s plans stack up against the competition. Ratings and reviews from A.M. Best and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are not specific to Combined’s Medicare Supplement plans. A.M. Best reflects the financial strength of Combined’s parent company, Chubb, and the BBB rating is based on the Combined Insurance Company of America. Customer reviews and complaints are not used to determine the BBB rating, but the average rating is noted below. Consumer Affairs does not have any rating for Combined or its parent companies.

A.M. Best financial strength rating: A+ A.M. Best sets credit ratings for insurers. Chubb U.S. Group of Insurance Companies, the parent company of Combined Insurance Company’s A+ rating in this category indicates a superior ability to meet financial obligations.
BBB rating: A+ Combined Insurance Company of America has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau since 1954 and has an A+ rating. Eighty-five complaints have been closed in the past three years. The BBB rating is not based on customer reviews but is heavily weighted on the company’s responsiveness and resolution of complaints.
BBB customer reviews average rating: 1.37 stars BBB customer reviews average rating is 1.37 out of five stars for Combined Insurance Company. The majority of the 83 customer complaints relate to sluggish customer service response time to claims. This rating is for the whole company and not specifically for Medicare Supplement products or services.
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Kelly Blackwell
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.

Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.

A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.

As a CSA®, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.

Kelly-Blackwell Headshot
Kelly Blackwell
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®

As a health care professional since 1987, Kelly Blackwell has walked alongside and cared for seniors as they journey through the season of their fourth quarter of life. Blackwell holds a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Northern Colorado, a Master of Science in health care administration from Grand Canyon University, an interprofessional graduate certificate in palliative care from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and holds a Certified Senior Advisor® credential from the Society of Certified Senior Advisors.

Blackwell contributes to the University of Colorado-Anschutz blog and has been published in “The Human Touch” distributed by the University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities. She cowrote “Dying Is” for Pathways Hospice.

A registered nurse, Blackwell understands health insurance choices influence quality of life and are driven by values, goals, and beliefs. She’s passionate about engaging with, educating, and empowering seniors as they navigate the health care system. She’s equipped to lend an experienced, compassionate voice to beneficiaries seeking information about Medicare Advantage Plans.

As a CSA®, Blackwell has access to valuable resources for Medicare beneficiaries. Her work as a bedside nurse and clinical manager has given her the opportunity to see how Medicare rules, regulations, and benefits work when patients need them. With a passion to learn and to make a difference in the lives of seniors, Blackwell supports seniors through Medicare and fourth-quarter life decisions.

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