Jagger Esch is the Medicare expert for MedicareFAQ and the founder, president, and CEO of Elite Insurance Partners and MedicareFAQ.com. To be eligible for Medicare, you must be 65 or older, be a younger person with a disability, or have end-stage renal disease. A new benefit getting a lot of attention is Medicare Flex Cards. So I thanked them and left, vowing to never return. Have you called this new insurance and told them about your issues? Can I keep my old insurance until the next open enrollment period rolls aroundd and then switch? Barbara. Flex cards are not part of the federal Medicare program and Medicare does not distribute these cards. Medicare Supplement plans do not include flex card benefits. Thanks for your comment! Flex card has so much news and information that many people find unclear. Our agents are ready to help you review your options and find the most cost-effective plan for your needs. Bottom line, do your homework before you sign up for an advantage plan. Are you saying you have two health insurance plans now? So, you must live in an area where at least one of these plans is available and sign up during a qualifying Medicare enrollment period. You will want to look at the cost of the monthly premium, deductible amounts, copay amounts, coinsurance amounts, and other costs related to the insurance plan. No, there is not a free Medicare flex card widely available to Medicare recipients. Plans with the flex card benefit are not available nationally, so you will have to see if a plan is offered in your area. So again, check her paperwork. So when you get old they price you right out of any type of plan G and force you into an advantage plan. Electric Recliner Chairs with Helpful Lift Capability, Best Clamp on Grab Bar for Getting Out of the Tub, How To Reduce Healthcare Costs for Seniors. Thats because this card is exclusive to Medicare Advantage plans. Offer the Medicare Advantage flex card from WEX. $40. Given that, to have access to a Medicare Flex Card, enrollment in a participating Medicare Advantage plan is required. It can be used at any health care provider that accepts Medicare, including hospitals, doctor's offices, and pharmacies. The Visa Flex Card Gives you: Choice: Visit in-network and out-of-network providers However, this plan is hard to find across the nation as a limited number of insurance companies are up in the market and offering this plan to . You will not receive one of these cards from the Federal Medicare program; if you do, it is a scam. Transportation - Receive a certain amount of rides at no cost. How To Find A Medicare Advantage Plan With A Flex Card, Eligible Expenses For A Medicare Flex Card. What can you do with the Medicare Flex Card? Easy. They take more than they give. You can pay for: Barbara. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. Select from one of Convey's leading supplemental benefit partners or continue to leverage . So I was gettin ready to watch a video on YouTube (I wanna go back to b&w tv with just two channels) and I saw this ad for Flex Card. Barbara. On the other hand, other plans may limit it to dental, vision, or hearing costs or OTC items. I contacted them on a 1800 561 #. I am sorry it didnt help you though. * How it Works Your Flex Card gives you easy access to the funds in your Flex Account by swiping the card at the point of sale. Medicare Coverage Outside the United States Lets take care of each other. Once in awhile in my posts, I do like to say what I am really thinking. Hope this answer is helpful. There are significant, differences between Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement plans. Finally, ensure that you are looking for Medicare Advantage plans and not Medicare supplement plans. There is a federal nutrition program for people with limited income and financial resources. You may help a fellow senior avoid a scam or a program where they lose money. Medicare Flex Cards arent available as a Medigap plan benefit. Cosmetic services are not covered. You can set up an online account that might be helpful. "Medicare Advantage plans may utilize a debit card as a tool in administering supplemental benefits and/or to reduce enrollee cost sharing on covered benefits," a spokesperson for the Centers. When logging in for the first time, you will have to create a new account by clicking the "Get Started" button. The Medicare Flex Card is a credit/debit card that can be used to pay for Medicare-covered expenses. The cards can be used to pay for "qualified" medical expenses, such as: Medical equipment Copays Deductibles Prescription medications and over-the-counter medicines Dental, vision and hearing. Be sure to review your plan to find out exactly what's eligible. Some plans may require a doctor's certification of a chronic illness. And contact Social Security to find out what her account says. Barbara. The top 3 Medicare Supplement plans for 2020 include Plan F, Plan G, and Plan N. Find out which ones you're eligible for here. He is featured in many publications as well as writes regularly for other expert columns regarding Medicare. A Medicare flex card for seniors is similar to a debit card or credit card that can be used to pay for qualified medical expenses. This is a relatively new benefit to be offered and it is only available in a limited number of Medicare Advantage plans from some private carriers. Some will tell you that you need work that you dont really need. Reviews: Yes and No. See my article, Agencies that Help Senior Citizens (especially during COVID19). . Medicare itself doesnt offer this benefit. However, many of these ads can be confusing or misleading. Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Although some major carriers offer plans with flex cards, they are not part of most available plans. These help purchase pre-approved items like medical equipment and more. If you want to learn more about the flex card, just keep reading. In fact, most health companies want to know all your insurance plans because they can bill them all. Unfortunately, I couldnt use my own dentist, whom I love and who is very professional. It can pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with covered products and services within the Dental, Vision and Hearing benefits, including: Expand All add_circle_outline Flex cards are an additional benefit to Medicare Advantage plans. Once the card arrives, you can begin using it for qualified medical expenses like copays, deductibles, OTC medications, and other expenses. Enter your ZIP code to pull plan options available in your area. Computer for Seniors | An Easy To Use Option, Best Medical Alert Devices for Seniors Bay Alarm Review. ), A flex card may not cost any additional cost beyond your Medicare Advantage premiums, but that does not mean that it is free. If you qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in your state, you will receive an . We seniors are one of the most targeted demographic for scams. Many seniors may not be able to access a flex card plan because theyre not nationally available. Do your calculations. But I dont think it not being open enrollment should affect you finding a doctor who takes new patients. $0. Flex cards can only be used for qualifying medical expenses. These cards are debit cards typically linked to a flexible spending account. 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? I saw the ad on TV, over the Internet. While there may be one plan with this benefit, its unavailable in all areas or for all beneficiaries. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has allowed private insurance companies to offer a new benefit-like-debit card (flex card). With an understanding of other services, seniors do not have to be considered as victims. Typically linked to a flexible spending account, these cards are a benefit of qualifying health plans. Heres their link; Medicare.gov. The funds can be used to help pay for dental, vision or hearing needs beyond your plan. Let the perk and extras, like flex cards, be the icing on the cake and not the reason to enroll. Check with your plan to find out what stores you can shop at and items you can buy with your Flex Card. Co-payments and deductibles. The Flex card isnt what its advertised to be. It also appears that anyone who is enrolled in Medicare can get one. To their credit, they do have a link to protect yourself against fraud under the Learn category. So I went to the office covered by the plan. We are committed to protect your privacy. However, strict rules govern flexible spending accounts, so you should confirm these details with the plan administrator. He has been helping consumers find the right coverage since the site was founded in 2013. The HMO tied to her Medicare has been issuing a MasterCard that also acts as her insurance card. The Wellcare Flex Card is a prepaid Visa debit card that . Yes! Im going to vent here, so if you arent interested, skip to the next section. Since not all plans are available in all locations, you will want to make sure that you are specifically looking for plans available where you live. Well, the insurance companies claim that you will have access to other benefits not covered by your Medicare. Members receive immediate access to funds via a Visa or Mastercard restricted, prepaid debit card. As a senior who has qualified for Medicare, you must choose a Medical Insurance Plan. For instance, you could be taking advice from an insurance agent who is getting a commission from making a sale. All rights reserved. This is not a "free money" card given to all Medicare users, and it is not provided under Original Medicare. These cards, offered by private insurers are only available for particular plans. Even with the flex card benefit, the Medicare Advantage HMO plan still produces higher out-of-pocket costs than the Medicare Supplement Plan G. In fact, a recent study by the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance shows that a higher number of people are enrolling in Medicare Supplement Plan G to help save money on out-of-pocket costs. Request a replacement Medicare card online. So, you will need to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes the flex card benefit. 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. Next, make sure that you are not following the advice of someone who has ulterior motives. Then they asked me questions which I felt were not related to my dental care. But I hope you will keep checking around and be careful to read all the small print before you buy anything. Told her no thank you, Ill stick with what I have. The easiest way to do this is by using the Medicare plan finder tool at Medicare.gov. Thanks for your comment. | Coverage Guide, Social Security Break-Even Calculator + What It Means, Does Medicare Cover Stair Lifts? Senior Flex Card. Not all Medicare Advantage plans participate in this program. Flex cards are debit cards that are used to buy medical supplies and equipment. Not exactly. I made several phone calls, got the run around and had to get rather nasty to have them cancel my coverage. Our secure app makes managing your benefits easy through real-time access and intuitive navigation to all your . Its bad enough we have to pay for an Alzheimer drug I dont need, yet Medicare recipients on Eliquis dont get help paying for it. In certain areas, Medicare Advantage plans are offering these cards. Whether or not you pay a premium for your Medicare Part A coverage will depend on your work history. Many TV commercials would have you believe that you can use the card to buy groceries, clothing, shoes, and many other items. . Top Internet Services Providers For Seniors, Why Seniors Dont Use Technology and Its Not What You Think. . Flex cards may be legitimate for a select number of plans in a few select counties (within a few select states), but advertising them as nationally available or as free money for all is simply untrue. This tool makes it easy to search for and compare plans in your area. . Please everyone out there beware. Not long ago my husband received an aetna payflex card. FlexCard Contact: Fitness membership $0 or low premium Transportation 1-855-460-6667 (TTY: 711) 7 days a week, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m . Aetna shouldnt be able to charge you anything without your consent. Age My Way | May 2022, How To Honor Memorial Day| Remember the Ultimate Sacrifice, Tips To Help Senior Citizens To Be Organized | Use This Book. The name flex card harkens to what some of us know as a flexible spending account that reimburses for medical expenses. But Im pretty sure they are all very similar. So, to qualify, you must have a participating policy. Thanks EIP! Since she is already on an advantage plan for the rest of the year would she get ANY benefit from a Flex card? Medical equipment, like a wheelchair, walker, or glucose monitor, might also qualify. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Some flex cards come pre-loaded with a certain amount of money already available for use. Depending on the plan you choose. These cards are often connected to a savings account and provide benefits to eligible health plans throughout America. I was very disappointed with my plan and dropped it when I realized it wouldnt really help me. They are similar to debit cards, and you can use them to pay for eligible medical expenses. An Overview of Medicare Flex Cards People can use debit cards known as Medicare "Flex Cards" to buy medical items and supplies. However, let me tell you it wasnt easy to un-enroll. Unfortunately, there are many scams out there today that advertise free flex cards. members to the flexible spending program who need a flex debit card. . The benefits are for items approved by your health insurance plan. Check out this article about phone scams seniors should avoid. So, what can you purchase with your Medicare Flex Card? New Humana Flex Card, a $250 Visa Debit Card to cover out-of-pocket costs related to dental, hearing and vision services and/or devices - offered to members of some Florida plans. The Flex Card Is Linked to a Medicare Advantage Plan The name flex card harkens to what some of us know as a flexible spending account that reimburses for medical expenses. You might be giving up valuable coverage just to get the flex card. While some carriers offer a flex card benefit, it is rare to receive such a large amount. - Ray C. My agent was outstanding. Are You a Senior That Wants To Build a Website? Members can pay for supplemental benefits such as dental, vision, hearing, fitness, chiropractic, healthy foods, over-the-counter (OTC) items, and more with the Medicare Advantage flex card from WEX. Its really overwhelming being seniors and having to navigate scams while trying to be healthy and protect ourselves from so much, including physical crimes. Who Qualifies As A Caregiver Under Medicare Rules. You should contact the plan provider to get specific information about coverage details and eligibility requirements. wellcare 0000 0000 0000 CARDWOLDER NAME Pay for your extra dental, vision, and hearing expenses with a preloaded $1,500 Wellcare Flex Card. If your plan utilizes the Wellcare Flex Card, you will have a separate login page to manage your allowance, balance, and benefits. However, most of the time these cards do not have that high of an amount (in 2023 the average was $500) and the funds . | Coverage Guide Inside. However, that is not the case! There are several things that you can do to stay away from these traps. Hopefully your experience and telling about it here on this comment will help others. These cards are for qualified medical expenses like medical equipment, copays or coinsurance, Dental, vision, or hearing care, prescriptions, over-the-counter items, diagnostic devices, healthy food, and more. 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