Compare by State – Medicare Plans in Illinois

Illinois Medicare Plans

Illinois residents turning 65 become eligible for Medicare will need to make a decision as to whether to enroll in Medicare Supplement insurance or Medicare Advantage.

The Medicare Supplements plan will cover the deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and more than Original Medicare which can save you thousands of dollars. Additionally, you will have the freedom to see any doctor that accepts Medicare.

Medicare Advantage plans offer similar coverage to Original Medicare, but offer extras, like prescription drug coverage, and don’t always cost you an additional premium.

Illinois Medicare Plans Open Enrollment

Medicare beneficiaries in Illinois 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.

Initial enrollment begins three months before your birth month and lasts three months after. This is also the time you can 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 Illinois Medicare supplement plans.

Illinois Medicare Advantage

Not everyone is able to afford a Medicare supplement. Fortunately, the state of Illinois has multiple Advantage plans available to its residents. With this option, you can have your Plan A, B, and D benefits packages in an “all-in-one” insurance option. There are 44 Medicare Advantage plans available, depending on what county you live in.

Illinois Medicare Part D

While Original Medicare or Medicare Supplements don’t offer coverage for prescription drugs, there is an option to enroll in Medicare Part D. There are over 27 Part D plans available in Illinois. Medicare Advantage is another option as well.

Illinois 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 Illinois 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 many states, people under age 65 who qualify for Medicare early because of a disability can’t buy the same Medicare supplement insurance as people age 65+.

In Illinois however, Medicare supplement open enrollment period is offered to people of all ages on Medicare.

The best time to enroll in a Medigap plan is during your open enrollment window. This period occurs during the first six- months after your Part B eligibility date. It’s important to note that during this time, you do not have to answer health questions as you apply for an Illinois Medigap plan.

Medicare Advantage for Illinois 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 now 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 Illinois 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 benefits am I eligible for under the age of 65 in Illinois?

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 Illinois 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

Medicare Coverage for Working People in Illinois 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.