Verify: Can Medicare recipients receive a free Medicare flex card? There are many legitimate-looking websites that are just trying to phish your information. What they dont tell you is that this is basically just a flex card with a new and exciting name. help If a scammer calls you or your older adult to ask for their Medicare number or other personal information, hang up immediately. members to the flexible spending program who need a flex debit card. If you decide to keep Original Medicare, you can purchase a dental plan alongside this coverage to pay for cleanings, exams, and other dental care. Boca Raton, Florida. 1. Please note that this line is for HEARING AIDS and not for information about the Flex Cards. Medicare Flex Cards are debit cards offered by private Medicare Advantage providers and insurance companies. 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. Do not give them your name, address, Medicare number, Social Security number, or other personal information. Every plan has a different credit card spending cap and list of permitted uses. Flex cards are only available with Medicare Advantage plans. Because Medicare supplement plans also called Medigap are designed to help offset out-of-pocket costs for services that are not covered by Original Medicare, flex cards are not available with these plans. Since the free money associated with these cards is enticing, scammers get many people to fall for their tricks. Compare Plans and Get Quotes A flex card is not free money. This card, however, must be linked to a Medicare Advantage Plan, which is a paid service. 2. You May Like: Razor Company That Supports Police. ). A Medicare Advantage Flex Card is a prepaid debit card you can use to pay for specific health care costs. Although flex cards do come pre-loaded with a set dollar amount you can use, the benefits of this money may be offset by additional out-of-pocket costs such as higher deductibles, higher coinsurance rates, and higher monthly premiums. Therefore, if the Flex card has a $500 allowance and the Medicare plan offers, let's say, $1000 in dental benefits, your total benefit for the year would be $1500. Thats far less than the $2,880 that I originally saw advertised. Thanks EIP! The cards are not provided by Medicare. Over-the-counter benefits - Receive a certain amount of money each . Dental Insurance Along with watching out for red flags, there are also other steps you can take to protect yourself against fraud, such as taking your time when considering a new provider and ensuring that you get clear and accurate answers to any questions you may have about a flex card and how it works. Federal Assistance Open Season for FSAFEDS enrollment happens yearly between the months of November and December. A Facebook post says that senior citizens can get a Medicare "flex card" that pays for groceries and prescriptions. Senior beneficiaries can use these pre-loaded cards for certain healthcare purchases, including medical equipment and OTC medications. The money will be debited immediately from your balance when you use your Flex Card to make a purchase. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. However, these advertisements were not very clear on what a flex card actually is. In fact, many of the advertisements were downright deceptive and implied that the seniors flex card was basically free money that all seniors could get. Home / Blog / Medicare News / Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? As a general guideline, you should never provide private information online to unknown businesses. The Administration on Aging (ACL) promotes the well-being of older individuals by providing services and programs designed to help them live independently in their homes and communities. We also have written an article on whats a flex cards for seniors? This is how the ad and the website appeared at the time of writing: Lastly, you can look for help through independent organizations. Invitations for applications for insurance are made through Assurance IQ, LLC, a licensed insurance agency, only where licensed and appointed. Our service is 100% free and were happy to help you. free museum days Enter your ZIP code to pull plan options available in your area. Not all plans offer all of these benefits. seniors If someone asks you for your information, for money, or threatens to cancel your health benefits if you don't share your personal information, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Depending on how many times you spend your money, you will have the same limits as on the other cards that youve got. Ashlee is a Medicare expert who specializes in Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D education. What Is Permanent Life Insurance and How Does It Work? In my experience, the best way to find a trustworthy Medicare counselor is to reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging. What is the Flex Card for Seniors? Visa flex card I got a email from the flex card program that said I could get up to 10,000 in credit. The blog notes that the cards are distributed by Medicare Advantage plans and says they are not available in every state and are not available with every carrier. These ads usually include a multitude of misleading or false claims. You may find out that the flex card for seniors is just a distraction from damaging fine print that would put you in a far worse financial situation overall. Money on Medicare flex cards, meanwhile, is disbursed according to a schedule set by Medicare Advantage providers. As a result, any money loaded onto a flex card is offset by payments somewhere else. Youre not alone! food stamps Youve probably seen TV commercials and ads online promoting a free Flex Card for seniors or Medicare Flex Card. Assurances license information can be found here. They are offered as a benefit to some . Flex Card Program offered me a $1000 with a deposit of $69, I was appoved and offered another $1000 for $29 NO CARD EVER CAME Boca Raton, Florida. Our agents are ready to help you review your options and find the most cost-effective plan for your needs. As a result, its worth asking your prospective provider-specific questions and demanding clear answers in return. Got questions about the flex card for seniors? This is a scam. If you complete a purchase using one of our links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. 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. What Is A Seniors Flex Card. The government does not set up Flex Card but these are connected to a specific health insurance plan. . 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 means that a Medicare Advantage plan might have a flex card benefit in Georgia and North Carolina, but it may not be available in Texas.If youre interested in finding out whether there are plans that offer flex cards in your area, to see if there are any available. Once the money in the flex card account is spent, the card cannot be used again until it is reloaded by the insurance provider based on their guidelines. These private insurance company-issued cards are only accessible on specific plans. Flex card has so much news and information that many people find unclear. At worst, it could result in you being scammed. You may be eligible for survivor benefits from the government following a family member's death. First, take the time to verify that the company or agent youre dealing with is legitimate. You May Like: Do Post Offices Have Notaries. However, theyre not offered by Medicare directly. For example, if you enroll during March, your coverage will become effective on April 1. Heres what you need to know about flex cards and their function. As a general rule, you should never provide your sensitive personal information online to unknown organizations. You will probably get a lot of phone calls and contact from insurance companies that have paid for your information. Only a small number of private insurance companies offer flex cards, and even then, it . You cant use the Flex card for seniors by spending on anything you want. For example, you might see an offer for a flex card with a $1,000 balance but if the insurance plan tied to the card comes with a $25 per month increase over your current Medicare Advantage premium and doubles your deductible from $500 to $1,000, you could end up paying more each year even with your flex card. If someone reaches out to you and then asks for your personal information, thats a big red flag. Home / FAQs / Medicare Coverage / What Dental Services Are Covered by Medicare. As you may know from our previous video on Medicare benefits, Medicare has many parts and is very complicated. Health Plans have the freedom to create flexible benefit accounts that cover multiple categories to best suit member needs. However, whats covered may vary from provider to provider. Medicare flex cards carry a prepaid balance that cardholders can use to pay for specific healthcare services. Senior Flex Card. Medigap plans are a direct extension of Original Medicare, available through private insurance companies. 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. So heres the deal, every year right around the annual open enrollment period which runs from Oct 15th to Dec 7th, theres always a certain benefit thats heavily advertised by medicare sales agencies. library Are You Confused About Medicare and Having Trouble Choosing the Right Plan? Its also worth noting that theres no set amount for flex cards. Some would half do the work, ask for money or take money . veterans. So make sure you know which are. Were always tempted to cave to our anxiety and offer them our private details. It is the single reason I elected to go with Elite. legal Most of the time it is a combined benefit . Nicole is the owner and lead researcher for Low Income Relief. It helped me a lot to understand what the Flex card is about. Each insurer sets its own terms for the spending limit and permitted uses. The amount that comes preloaded on the card and the services and items you are allowed to spend it on is determined by your Medicare Advantage provider. The amount of money you can use will depend on your health care insurance provider and plan. Typically linked to a flexible spending account, these cards are a benefit linked to qualifying health plans throughout the nation.