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Consumer Reports Rates MediGap and Medicare HMOs

Tue, 08/22/2000 - 11:00pm — Karen Stevenson
Description: 

Consumer Reports has issued a rating of MediGap and HMO plans in 30 major cities around the country, including comparative premiums for each of the 559 Medicare-supplement policies and 273 Medicare HMOs they reviewed. The report also explains terminology to help consumers understand the difference between terms like "Attained Age," "Issue Age," and "Community Rating." (MediGap policies with "Attained Age" provisions charge different premiums to people as they grow older. "Issue Age" provisions lock in premiums based on the age of the beneficiary at the time the policy is taken out, and "Community Rating" provisions ignore the age of the beneficiary and charge premiums based on the health of the whole group of beneficiaries in that community.)

Consumer Reports has issued a rating of MediGap and HMO plans in 30 major cities around the country, including comparative premiums for each of the 559 Medicare-supplement policies and 273 Medicare HMOs they reviewed. The report also explains terminology to help consumers understand the difference between terms like "Attained Age," "Issue Age," and "Community Rating." (MediGap policies with "Attained Age" provisions charge different premiums to people as they grow older. "Issue Age" provisions lock in premiums based on the age of the beneficiary at the time the policy is taken out, and "Community Rating" provisions ignore the age of the beneficiary and charge premiums based on the health of the whole group of beneficiaries in that community.)