The 2010 California Health Care Almanac, an online clearinghouse that collects data and analyzes the state’s health care system, indicates that California’s senior population (65 and older) is expected to more than double between 2000 and 2030. Compared to California’s 131 percent increase, the rest of the country’s senior population is expected to increase 104 percent in the first three decades of the millennium.
This information helps important decision makers, such as consumer advocates and policymakers, to better understand California’s Medicare population, said Alan Weinstock, an insurance broker at http://www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com. That will enable them to design programs and policies that meet Medicare beneficiaries’ needs.
Currently, California has the largest number of Medicare beneficiaries of any state at 4.5 million enrollees. And as the state’s population ages, the percentage of Californians covered by Medicare is expected to rise.
Furthermore, few of California’s Medicare enrollees have traditional Medicare exclusively. This means they rely on Medi-Cal (California’s version of Medicaid), employer-sponsored insurance or Medicare supplement insurance to help cover costs.
Weinstock indicates that http://www.MedicareSupplementPlans.com offers older adults the opportunity to review and compare rates, plans and benefits for Medicare supplement insurance, also known as Medigap insurance, from several prominent insurance companies.
If we can make it easier for seniors to select the best Medigap insurance for their needs then we’ve done what we’ve set out to do, Weinstock said.
The Web site also provides a link to information about the 47 Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) currently available. The site posts plan benefits as well as costs, which can change each year. Weinstock stresses the importance of checking your plan annually as a senior, to make sure it still meets your needs. He indicates those facts are also available from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid.
