Buy healthy food online or in person. An ad saying there was $2,880 available in a Medicare Flex Card looked like a windfall to Laurence Archer. Phone: (800) 783-5901. Flex cards are debit cards that are used to buy medical supplies and equipment. Save Money on Current Coverage A lack of reviews, websites, or social media pages could indicate that a company or agent is new to the industry, or it could suggest that theyre not being honest about their business practices. Its also worrisome if theres no information to be found at all. Flex Card for Seniors - Senior HealthCare Solutions Flex cards are not a necessary benefit of a Medicare Supplement plan because Medigap beneficiaries typically save on out-of-pocket costs compared to Medicare Advantage plans. We do not offer every plan available in your area. If youve provided any credit card information, notify your card provider and cancel the cards to reduce the risk of any fraudulent spending. Select which Medicare plans you would like to compare in your area. Just like there are only certain items that can be purchased with an EBT card, there are only certain items that can be purchased with a Flex card as well. For example, the flex card can be used for the following expenses: Medicare Flex Card Coverages. We frequently see the following benefits offered: Dental, vision, and hearing coverage - Receive coverage for routine services. As part . Diagnostic devices. We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today. This year only certain foods with the $125 and only certain medical on the $500. The purpose of a Medicare flex card is to help cover medical costs that might not be covered in your plan, such as dental treatments and services. If you have regular, recurring medical expenses, this quarterly flex card model may work for you, but if your health needs are more variable, upfront funds may be a better choice. No. Fact Check: Government Medicare Program Does NOT Offer A Flex Card I was able to identify many flex cards from legitimate insurers like Humana but I could not find any that offered as much money as the advertisements claimed. Her work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle and more. Instead of offering flex cards for seniors, now theyre offering an All-Access Black Card. As a senior citizen, you may qualify for assistance programs that can help with health care costs, nutrition, and access to community volunteer activities and employment opportunities, among other benefits. This post may contain affiliate links. This is a marketing . In some cases, you can use your card to purchase healthy groceries at participating stores as well. Filed Under: All About Medicare, Blog Posts, Medicare Advantage Tagged With: flex card for medicare seniors, flex card for seniors on medicare, what is the flex card for seniors. 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. Ask your older adult to confirm their Medicare number or Social Security number so a new card can be mailed out. It can be used in addition to the basic benefits that are already provided in the plan. Monthly benefits are transferred to the seniors' personal Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT . The average SNAP benefit for seniors is $105/month A common myth about SNAP is that it only gives $16 worth of benefits per month. By. Transportation - Receive a certain amount of rides at no cost. Medicare Flex Cards For Seniors - Discover The Benefits | Assurance IQ New Medicare Benefit Gives Seniors "Flex Card' To Spend $2,880 Every If you are looking to reduce your healthcare spending, enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan could be a step in the right direction. Get More Details and Apply Here: Not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. For example, they may only be offered by certain private insurance companies in certain states, and even then, only for customers on select plans or who meet specific criteria. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) SSI is a federal government program that provides a monthly cash benefit for the elderly (age 65 and over), blind, or disabled of any age who have extremely low income and very few resources. Also, the cards have spending limits that vary by plan and carrier. Your remaining balance in your FSA, HSA or other healthcare account is displayed here. Senior Flex Card. Contact us at the number above or complete our online rate form to see affordable plans in your area today! Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. If you suspect that youve been victimized, the first step is to reduce the amount of damage the scammer can do to your identity or credit history. This is true even if they did not work during the Open Season. Im not saying its the government doing this. To qualify for a flex card, you must have health insurance that offers a flexible spending account. Benefits Counselors are available Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 9:00pm eastern time. You may also want to contact your primary care doctor and local pharmacist to head off any attempts by scammers to use your information. Health Plans have the freedom to create flexible benefit accounts that cover multiple categories to best suit member needs. Assurance IQ, LLC is not affiliated with Assurance Agency, Ltd., nor any government agency. So, below we compare the costs for the same medical bill through Medicare Supplement Plan G and a typical Medicare Advantage HMO plan. However, to participate in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be willing to abide by strict networks and higher out-of-pocket costs. Beware of These 15 Types of Senior Scams - MedAlertHelp.org Shop at participating stores like Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, Kroger. Often, Medicare Advantage plans have high maximum out-of-pocket costs. Senior beneficiaries can use these pre-loaded cards for certain healthcare purchases, including medical equipment and OTC medications. Suppose you do not enroll in Original Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period and do not have creditable coverage in place. In 2022, this amount is$3,050 per year. For example, if youre in the market for new glasses, but your Medicare Advantage plan does not provide vision coverage, you may be able to use your flex card to cover some or all of the cost. Speak with a licensed insurance agent Mon-Fri, 9AM-8PM EST . Enrollment in any plan depends on contract renewal. You can't use the Flex card for seniors by spending on anything you want. I am glad you found the information helpful! Ashlee Zareczny is the Compliance Supervisor for MedicareFAQ. Her work has also been featured by Google for Publishers and other leading industry publications. Not all Medicare Advantage plans participate in this program. In addition, policyholders cannot carry both Medigap and Medicare Advantage insurance. Home / Blog / Medicare News / Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? While some carriers offer a flex card benefit, it is rare to receive such a large amount. The FTC accepts complaints about all scams, like imposter scams, phone calls, emails, computer support senior scams, prizes, grants, and sweepstakes offers, student loan or scholarship scams, fake checks, and demands for you to send money. So, here are 3 ways you can protect yourself from most Medicare frauds. Don't Fall Victim to These 5 Scams During Medicare Open Enrollment For example, you might see an ad offering a Medicare flex card while these flex cards are part of Medicare Advantage plans, not being clear about this upfront is a red flag. Also Check: Getting Passport At Post Office. Government Flex Card For Seniors - SeniorsProTalk.com Medigap plans supplement Original Medicare. No such program exists and Social Security benefits are limited to certain groups . Health insurance is complicated enough without worrying about these bad actors, but its something we have to always be vigilant about. Here, the general rule is to supply as little personal information as possible until youre ready to purchase a plan and youre confident that the provider is legitimate. What Is Universal Life Insurance: A Comprehensive Guide. This card, though, has to be linked with a Medicare Advantage Plan that does actually cost money. If a service or benefit is not covered under Medicare Part A or Part B, it cant be covered by a Medigap plan, either. How can you protect yourself from scammers and bad actors? 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. In order to qualify for a flex card, you must qualify for a health insurance plan with a flexible spending account. While flex cards may be offered as part of Medicare Advantage plans, there is no government flex card for seniors. Although the flex card is an enticing offer, you need to make sure that you arent sacrificing other precious health care benefits to get it. Next, contact your bank to inform them that you may have been a victim of Medicare fraud and identity theft and ask them to watch for any suspicious activity. If youre a member of a Medicare Advantage Plan that offers flex cards, be sure to read through your contract to understand what you can purchase with it.Some plans will allow you to use Medicare flex cards to pay for anything, while others will only allow you to purchase health-related items, such as: You May Like: Citizen Complaints Against Police Officers. Typically, Medicare Flex Cards have pre-determined . Medicare flex cards for seniors are available exclusively through private insurance companies. Threaten to cancel your older adults health benefits if they dont share their current Medicare number or other personal information. What Is The Flex Card For Seniors? - YouTube Medicare-qualifying beneficiaries can use pre-loaded flex cards to pay for medical costs. Flex cards are only available with Medicare Advantage plans. Got questions about the flex card for seniors? However, it isnt difficult to see how private insurance companies can use them in a slimy way to promote free money and free Flex Cards. homeless He does not make any commission on any other plans, so he steers everyone toward United Healthcare even if it isnt in their best interests. Enter your ZIP code to pull plan options available in your area. Benefits.gov Twitter Senior discounts can save you substantial amounts of money 10% to 80% off the normal price of a wide range of goods and services, including restaurant meals, travel and even prescription drugs. The money on these cards is offered in addition to existing insurance coverage and allows cardholders to use them as they see fit. Only private insurance carriers offer Medicare flex cards, not the federal government. SSI Redetermination: What It Is and How It Can Affect Your Benefits . Beneficiaries often save more money in total health spending with a Medicare Supplement plan than with a Medicare Advantage plan. What Is the Flex Card for Seniors? | ClearMatch Medicare Consequently, there are several legitimate insurance companies that provide these advantages. Few seniors participate in SNAP Only 2 out of 5 eligible adults over age 60 are enrolled in SNAP. Medicare Advantage insurers make it a little easier by bundling all the benefits together and often packaging additional benefits into their plans. Compare Plans and Get Quotes Its not just online that you have to be careful, either. This is her home that her retirement pays for, which is good because the son has . Invitations for applications for insurance are made through Assurance IQ, LLC, a licensed insurance agency, only where licensed and appointed. 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. This card is often known by a few different names, including: Medicare food card; The scam consists of a recorded message advising callers that if they are sixty years of age or older they are eligible for the national senior assistance program. Many seniors have been lured into responding to ads that claimA request for payment that you submit to Medicare or other health insurance when you get items and services that you think are covered. Pre-loaded health cards offer a way to pay for services upfront but not out of pocket. The purpose of the flex card for seniors is to entice them into enrolling in new Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment season. Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? | Flex Card Benefits If you dont read the fine print carefully, you may end up paying the price in other areas of your plan. Qualify [sic] Seniors Can Spend up to $2,880 each year for medical appointments prescriptions and more. What is a Medicare Flex Card Youve probably seen TV commercials and ads online promoting a free Flex Card for seniors or Medicare Flex Card. Housing help. free food What Does Medicare Cover for Home Health Care? As a senior who has qualified for Medicare, you must choose a Medical . Plus, they will not call to ask about bank information. Nicole is the owner and lead researcher for Low Income Relief. seniors If someone is offering you a flex card with an Original Medicare or Medicaid plan they are trying to scam you. Truthfully, Medicare is not distributing flex cards for seniors. Heres what you need to know about flex cards and their function. Advertisements that claim or indicate that flex cards are being offered by government agencies are, therefore, patently false. The message states, "Sixty years old or older, you now qualify for the new national senior assistance to receive $3,000 in free grocery savings certificates.". Details such as your Doctor visit and facility co-pays, prescription drug costs, and other medical costs. Each insurer sets its own terms for the spending limit and permitted uses. This means they are not part of government-managed Medicare plans. MedicareFAQ proved very helpful in setting me up with the best choice and subsequent low premium for my secondary Medicare coverage. Medicare advertisements are constantly flooding our screens. . The flex card benefit is not a common feature of Medicare Advantage plans, but you can find it in a handful of plans nationwide.