Owned by: Elite Insurance Partners LLC d/b/a MedicareFAQ. This tool makes it easy to search for and compare plans in your area. Just add your info below. Thanks for your comment. Some plans offer a higher spending limit on the flex card than others. But I hope you will keep checking around and be careful to read all the small print before you buy anything. There is not really an application process for Medicare Flex Cards. Barbara. I wrote an article about saving money on prescriptions. I spoke to 2 ladies, they asked me if I had Medicare and I answered Yes. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. The WellCare Flex Card is a Visa debit card preloaded with a set amount between $200 - $2,500 depending on plan and service area. Select which Medicare plans you would like to compare in your area. To be eligible, you must enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers the card benefit. At least they tell you up front that they are not a Medicare program. You are very correct, so many companies just want your money. Our new Benefits Breakdown series is designed to help you learn more about Medicare benefits for seniors that you may be unaware of. So I went to the office covered by the plan. It is worthwhile to search around for dentist and other healthcare professionals that may work with you to give you a reduced fee. Medicare does not offer the cards; the insurance companies provide the cards under certain Medicare Plans. Medicare Advantage vs Medicare Supplement, American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance, What To Do if Your Savings Arent on Track for Retirement, Crucial Tips for Downsizing Your Budget During Retirement, How To Reduce Senior Medical Debt in America, $35 Insulin Cap is Not Reflected on 2023 Medicare Plan Finder, New Medicare Rules for Enrollment and Coverage, Medicare Advantage Vs Medicare Supplement, Medicare Supplement Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions, Other medically necessary expenses check your plan details for a complete list. So I thanked them and left, vowing to never return. Dental, vision, and hearing services. I am glad you found this information helpful. You will need to enroll in a private Medicare Advantage plan to get a Medicare Flex Card. A Flex Card is a card where you can store monetary values. Want to know more? Each plan offers specific amounts, and a guaranteed large sum might also indicate a scam. . Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. As of this writing, I dont see anything. If you are looking to reduce your healthcare spending, enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan could be a step in the right direction. Do your calculations. I asked her how much and she said free. Out-of-Network. Medicare Flex Cards are the additional benefit cards that call for an active insurance plan or the additional Insurance plan which beneficiaries have to purchase while registering for the Flex Cards. Spending more than necessary for healthcare is frustrating. Dear Lillian: Thank you for your input. Best of all, one debit card can provide access to all Flex Accounts - FSA, HSA, HRA and Commuter. What is a Medicare Flex Card? It seems to be a scam. Remember that there are other things to consider about these Medicare Advantage plans beyond the flex card benefit. . Flex cards give you the freedom to choose what you want to focus on since you know your needs best. Typically linked to a flexible spending account, these cards are a benefit linked to qualifying health plans throughout the nation. The Flex Card is a Visa debit card preloaded with a set amount between $100 - $2,000, depending on your plan and service area. Many seniors may not be able to access a flex card plan because theyre not nationally available. All Rights Reserved. These cards are usually linked to a debit or credit card, work like an FSA, and can be a valuable plan to offset the costs of specific Medicare benefits. In reality, a very small percentage of plans available nationwide offer this benefit. No matter what type of plan youre looking for, Medicare Allies can help. It is not covered by Medicare. Current enrollees in Medicare who wish to switch to a Medicare Advantage plan with a flex plan benefit will have to follow a slightly different process. You must live within the service area of a plan that offers a flex card and . Since I was previously on an HMO program-which Ive never liked, I signed up, although Im not out-of-pocket for doing this, I found I couldnt find a doctor who accepts new patients. Humana Healthy Options, OTC and Flex allowances. After I read your article, I looked at the back of the card and it said this: Aetna and its agents are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare program. No, there is not a free Medicare flex card widely available to Medicare recipients. And that you can get up to $2,800 from the government. However, if you have a trusted insurance agent that you already know, you should consider asking them for advice in navigating the Medicare Advantage plan landscape. Barbara. Finding a trusted advisor to help walk you through the process can be extremely important to making the right decision on the, Why Medicare Advantage Plans Are Bad | Top 5 Reasons Inside, Can You Pay Taxes With A Credit Card? So yes. I know it can be a challenge as I was a caregiver for my Mom, although I had help. Medicare Advantage utility cards. And then you can use that money any way you want. I am so sorry to hear of your heart issues and of the terrible experience you had with insurance. Not all Medicare Advantage plans participate in this program. These cards are debit cards typically linked to a flexible spending account. However, this may not be so simple. Review of WOW! Your Medicare plan is fundamentally about your health care coverage needs. Flex cards are an additional benefit to Medicare Advantage plans. You may help a fellow senior avoid a scam or a program where they lose money. Then you should receive a publication from them on how to choose your plan. They are only available as an additional benefit in specific plans nationwide. Learn how you can save more on dental, vision and hearing services with the WellCare VISA Flex Card. You should automatically receive your flex debit card in the mail around the beginning of your plan Medicare does not issue Goodrx.com . Let the perk and extras, like flex cards, be the icing on the cake and not the reason to enroll. Here is a fairly comprehensive list of items that can be paid for with your flex card. I welcome your comments. Once you choose, your Social Security benefits kick in to cover your premium. Barbara. Luke is passionate about 3 things, and 3 things only: senior insurance, football, and food! Took me 5 months on the phone 6 hours a day to get off the advantage plan now I back to old Medicare with a supplement and I now fully covered today I get so mad all day on tv or my phone I keep hearing I have to go back as every ones doing it I yell back not me I never go back the government should shut this scam down, Norm! Some Medicare Advantage plans allow you to use your flex benefits card for certain healthy food items. It is designed to give you a little more freedom when prioritizing your health needs regarding dental, vision and hearing coverage specifically. However, that is not the case! The flex cards are only available through certain Medicare Advantage plans. For example, if your doctor agrees that it is medically necessary for you to wear a certain type of orthopedic shoe, then your flex card could likely be used to buy it. And contact Social Security to find out what her account says. Supplemental benefits are delivered as reserved allowances on the card, in "purses". They take more than they give. Add to that the limited offering of plans with flex cards and its easy to see why flex cards may be more trouble than theyre worth. Flex cards are not available through Original Medicare. However, to participate in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be willing to abide by strict networks and higher out-of-pocket costs. Copyright 2022 Medigap.com | All rights reserved | 382 NE 191st Street, Ste 57537, Miami, FL 33179. Sign-up for our free Medicare Part D Newsletter, Use the Online Calculators, FAQs or contact us through our Helpdesk -- Powered by Q1GROUP LLC and National Insurance Markets, Inc To be eligible for a flex card, you must be enrolled in a health insurance plan that includes a flexible spending account The senior flex card is usually linked to a Medicare Advantage plan. Flex cards are not available through Medicare supplement plans (Medigap plans). Medicare Advantage plans, which are privatized Medicare . No one that I know. This card, though, has to be linked with a Medicare Advantage Plan that does actually cost money. 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. In many cases, you can enroll for health care coverage with the company online. Barbara. Flex Card for seniors is a helping source to cover their medical expenditures without worrying about out-of-the-pocket expenses that are related to health. However, most of the time these cards do not have that high of an amount (in 2023 the average was $500) and the funds . No! Plans are increasingly adding more and more supplemental benefits compromising the member experience, which can lead to an increase in grievances. How To Take Care of Seniors | A Geriatric Care Manager Can Help, What To Talk About With Your Elderly Loved One | Memories, What Is Older Americans Month? Medigap.com is privately owned and operated by Excel Impact, LLC. What is the Flex Card? Similarly, chronically-ill patients who are prescribed a special diet by their physician can generally use their flex card to buy the special foods they require. First of all, bless you for helping your Mom out. Your email address will not be published. Check out this link to see one of them. Write it all down today. Even though we are seeing more private Medicare Advantage plans provide this benefit, they aren't common. . Not long ago my husband received an aetna payflex card. And now I have to stop writing cause I cant type when laughing maniacally but you did make my day. Dear Ron: First, thanks for your sweet support in reading my article. Thank you. However, let me tell you it wasnt easy to un-enroll. And finally the dentist did a brief exam and then told me I would need up to $2,000 worth of work done. Not exactly. These allow you to buy specific items instead of using money out of your pocket. Thank you thank you thank you. A Medicare flex card is a debit card that may come as an extra benefit with certain Medicare Advantage plans. If you are still determined to get one, you can search online for offers. We seniors are one of the most targeted demographic for scams. 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. 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. So you will need to make sure your new plans network covers your physicians. | How To Get Approved, Does Medicare Cover Mental Health Services? However, enrollment in just any Medicare plan wont do it. Barbara. Thanks for your comments. Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? Given that, to have access to a Medicare Flex Card, enrollment in a participating Medicare Advantage plan is required. Required fields are marked *. Thanks EIP! 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. However, make sure that you closely examine all the coverage details offered by the plan. Thus, these cards are not part of the government-run program. I agree. Offer the Medicare Advantage flex card from WEX. Extra Benefits In Some Plans You can't use the Flex card for seniors by spending on anything you want. No, you cant. Flex cards are debit cards beneficiaries can use to purchase medical equipment and items. Barbara. These cards, issued by private insurance companies, are only available on specific plans. I called back and went through the same problem. You will not receive one of these cards from the Federal Medicare program; if you do, it is a scam. The answer is, not really. Theres a lot of uncertainty and confusion surrounding this benefit included in some Medicare Advantage plans. 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. Go ahead and contact the insurance company that manages the Advantage plan to get started. Thanks for your comment. Also, good to know that people are reading this post, because I think the Flex card is a ripoff. Vital Rx Flex | Flex Rx Flex | Flex Rx PPO Monthly Premium 1. Unfortunately, there are many scams out there today that advertise free flex cards. Bottom line, do your homework before you sign up for an advantage plan. Generally speaking, you may be able to use a flex card for things like: Some plans may stipulate that the flex cards can only be used for dental, vision and hearing while others may be less restrictive. 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