Compare by State – Medicare Plans in Maine
Maine Medicare Plans
Maine residents turning 65 become eligible for Medicare.
Medicare plans in Maine have special enrollment rules which apply only to Maine. All states follow federal requirements that give beneficiaries a 6-month Medigap open enrollment period when they first get Medicare Part B. However, Maine’s state law requires that each insurance company also offers Medicare Supplement Plan A to anyone regardless of health conditions, for one month each year. This guaranteed-issue open enrollment is determined by the individual insurance carrier.
Maine Medicare Plans Open Enrollment
Medicare beneficiaries in Maine are eligible for Medicare at age 65. Initial enrollment begins three months before your birth month and lasts three months after. During initial enrollment, you can also apply for Medicare Supplements.
While you can enroll in a supplement at any time, initial enrollment is the best time to do so because you cannot be turned down due to health conditions considering you won’t have to answer health questions on your application. If you miss this window, you’ll likely have to answer health questions to apply, which means you could be turned down by other Iowa Medicare supplement plans.
However, as a resident of Main, after this initial enrollment, there is a one-month window for Medigap plan A.
Maine Medicare Advantage
The state of Maine offers up to 31 Medicare Advantage plans available, depending on what county you live in. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, you will get your care from the plan’s network of providers. This means that the private plans will pay instead of Medicare.
Maine Medicare Part D
While Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans don’t offer coverage for prescription drugs, there is an option to enroll in Medicare Part D in the state of Maine. If this is enticing for you, there are 26 Part D plans available.
Maine Medigap Plans
Contrary to popular belief, your Part A & Part B benefits do not cover all of your medical expenses during retirement. Medigap plans to help people pay for things like deductibles and coinsurances.
Medicare Supplements in Maine cover some, or even all, of the deductibles and coinsurance left over by Original Medicare.
This can save you thousands in out-of-pocket expenses, putting a cap on those costs, and this plan doesn’t limit you to a network of doctors that accept Medicare only.
There are 10 plans lettered A through N that offer standardized coverage. This means all plans lettered the same have to offer the same coverage and the only difference is price. So, be sure to shop your coverage.
In Maine, if you have never gone without Medicare supplemental coverage for more than 90 days, then you can switch to a Medigap plan at any time, so long as the plan has the same or fewer benefits.
Medicare Advantage for Maine Residents Under the Age of 65 with Disabilities
While Medicare is generally reserved for those turning 65, there are cases in which someone may be eligible for Medicare under the age of 65. This includes individuals with disabilities who have received Social Security Disability Income for 24 months or have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
It is important to note that there is a five-month waiting period after a beneficiary is determined to be disabled before they can begin to collect Social Security Disability Income. People who meet all the criteria for Social Security Disability Income are generally automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. For the people who meet the standards, but do not qualify for Social Security Income, have an option to purchase Medicare by paying a Part A premium monthly as well as a monthly Part B premium.
An exception to the 5-month waiting people does apply for those people with ESRD and ALS. These individuals do not have to collect benefits for 24 months in order to become eligible for Medicare.
The requirements for Medicare eligibility for people with ESRD and ALS are:
- ESRD – Generally 3 months after a course of regular dialysis begins or after a kidney transplant
- ALS – Immediately upon collecting Social Security Disability benefits
Regrettably, those with disabilities often have lower incomes, require more health care, and find it more difficult to pay for and obtain care compared to Medicare beneficiaries over 65 years of age. Take our questionnaire to see if you qualify for Medicare benefits, even if you are under the age of 65.
Every state is different, and so obtaining Medicare benefits in Maine can be complicated or confusing. If you are disabled or under the age of 65 wondering if you qualify, it is best to contact us directly to see if you are eligible.
What Medicare Advantage benefits am I eligible for under the age of 65 in Maine?
At 100Insure, we can help you discover benefits you might be eligible for including:
- Premiums starting at $0 per month
- Coverage for copays and deductibles
- Prescription drugs
- Dental
- Vision
- Hearing
- And transportation to the doctor and pharmacy
That’s right. Our company has helped qualified people under the age of 65 in Maine receive benefits like:
- Massage services
- Meals after a hospital
- Food for their service dog
- A gym membership
- Money for vitamins and groceries
- Home improvements
- In home care & aides
- And pest control services
Contact us to see if you qualify.
Medicare Coverage for Working People in Maine with Disabilities
Medicare eligibility for working people with disabilities falls into three distinct time frames.
- Trial work period– extends 9 months after a disabled individual obtains a job
- Second period– This period is for 93 months after the end of the trial work period.
- Third period– An indefinite period following those 93 months.
Keep in mind that Medicare eligibility during each of these periods applies only while the individual continues to meet the medical standard for being considered disabled under Social Security rules.