Ask your older adult to confirm their Medicare number or Social Security number so a new card can be mailed out. Although they arent technically scammers, some of them dont mind playing dirty and being deceptive in their advertising. Medical equipment. Senior Flex Card. Benefits may vary by carrier and location. Educational assistance. Our agents are ready to help you review your options and find the most cost-effective plan for your needs. Since the free money associated with these cards is enticing, scammers get many people to fall for their tricks. To qualify, you generally need to be at least 65 years old and to have lived in the United States for at least five years as a citizen or permanent resident. These cards, which are typically linked to a flexible spending account, are a benefit that is trying to quality healthcare plans across the country. Most businesses with a good reputation will ask you to contact them first they will only do something with your permission. Not all Medicare Advantage plans offer dental coverage, but many do. While it is true that the maximum benefit Medicare will allow plans to offer is $2,880, that is not the amount they deposit on the Flex Card. You can take advantage of many senior discounts when you are as young as 50. You may be eligible for survivor benefits from the government following a family member's death. Government-provided Medicare plans do not come with a flex card. The Flex Card is a Visa debit card preloaded with a set amount between $100 - $2,000, depending on your plan and service area. 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. This is a scam. Extra benefits are a good thing, but dont sacrifice important medical benefits to get a Flex Card allowance. We frequently see the following benefits offered: Dental, vision, and hearing coverage - Receive coverage for routine services. If you have a Medigap policy that covers the Medicare Part BMedicare Part B is medical coverage for people with Original Medicare benefits. The flex card benefit is not a common feature of Medicare Advantage plans, but you can find it in a handful of plans nationwide. Low Income Relief is an informational website that provides tips, advice, and information to help you make ends meet. Beneficiaries often save more money in total health spending with a Medicare Supplement plan than with a Medicare Advantage plan. Seniors can get their "Medicare Flex Card" for a limited time. Health insurance fraud results in losses of up to $300 billion each year. This website is not connected with the federal government or the federal Medicare program. 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.". Save Money on Current Coverage What is the Flex Card for Seniors? As a senior, it is important to note that Medicare coverage is a complex issue and you need to discuss it with an unbiased health counselor before changing any health care plan. To apply for flex card benefits, contact your Medicare Advantage provider. Home / Blog / Medicare News / Does Medicare Have a Flex Card for Seniors? To get the card, you'll need to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers the program. 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. Read Article . This is a scam. The Medicare Flex Card is not an insurance policy, and it does not replace Medicare coverage. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Few seniors participate in SNAP Only 2 out of 5 eligible adults over age 60 are enrolled in SNAP. A flexible spending account, or flex card, is a type of flexible spending account that reimburses medical expenses. A flex card for seniors is a debit card offered by certain private Medicare Advantage providers. 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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. At best, it will be annoying. 10 Questions to Ask When Evaluating Life Insurance Options. Claims of free money are meant to distract from other costs, and are a red flag that providers arent being entirely honest. Medicare flex cards for seniors are available exclusively through private insurance companies. If you are looking to reduce your healthcare spending, enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan could be a step in the right direction. Another might offer $2,000 but spread that amount out over an entire year by adding $500 on the card in January, $500 in April, $500 in July, and $500 in October. No. members to the flexible spending program who need a flex debit card. You can report scams online with the FTC complaint assistant or by a phone call. rent Dont fall victim to online scams. But $2800 Flex card for seniors will be considered a health . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Suppose you do not enroll in Original Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period and do not have creditable coverage in place. So you will need to make sure your new plans network covers your physicians. Transportation - Receive a certain amount of rides at no cost. It is a pre-paid debit card that can be used to pay for dental, vision . Flex cards are only available with Medicare Advantage plans. 1-877-372-3337. 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. He went the extra mile. These are optional plans that bundle various parts of Medicare and other services into health care packages especially designed for seniors. Historically, the open enrollment period between October and December is a prime time for scammers who want to prey on seniors because this is when seniors can change their health care plans. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1800MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048) 24 hours a day/7 days a week to get information on all of your options. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hi, I'm 61 years old and on Medicaid,can I get a Flex card. Our popular Dental Plan includes Vision and Hearing options. The advertisements include claims that lead beneficiaries to believe they can receive a flex card with up to $2,880 from Medicare to spend as they choose. 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. 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. When you sign up for Medicare during the General Enrollment Period, your coverage goes into effect on the first day of the following month. Flex cards aren't the only extra benefit offered by Medicare Advantage plans. Is the full amount provided upfront or over a period of time? Call CareConnect USAs secure affordable hearing aid line at 888-258-5305 for assistance today! food Getting a card means signing up for a new insurance plan, which comes with its own set of costs, benefits, and coverage limits. If someone calls you & asks for your personal information, thats a big warning sign. Medicare flex cards carry a prepaid balance that cardholders can use to pay for specific healthcare services. Dont fall for it. But in some cases, fraud may be more subtle. SSI Redetermination: What It Is and How It Can Affect Your Benefits . 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. Medicare does not issue the flex card. Some Medicare Advantage plans with flex cards make all funds available upfront at the beginning of the year, while others opt for installment models that see additional money added every month or every quarter. It can be used in addition to the basic benefits that are already provided in the plan. Flex cards are not administered by the Federal Government and are not considered insurance. Medicare Flex Cards for seniors are only available on certain Medicare Advantage Plans. The spending allowance deposited on most cards is only a few hundred dollars. These cards, issued by private insurance companies, are only available on specific plans. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), What to Do If Youre a Victim of Medicare Fraud. Over-the-counter benefits - Receive a certain amount of money each . If so, you can reach them at 877-823-8276. It can be almost impossible to differentiate between the paid agents and the legitimate unbiased experts. Even if you are eligible, its important to evaluate any Medicare Advantage plan very carefully. Depending on the advertisement, some claimed these cards could be worth $2,880 or more! 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. Millions of Americans could now be eligible to get their "Flex Card" to spend up to $2,880/year free of charge. 3. Call 211 to find agencies and community organizations that can assist you with finding food in an emergency. 4706 Chiquita Blvd S. Suite 200-415 However, most of the time these cards do not have that high of an amount (in 2023 the average was $500) and the funds . According to one commercial, you can use the card for gas, groceries, new clothing, and shoes. The average flex card in 2022 is pre-loaded with $500. However, this is entirely not true. Only one agent from our office will contact you. legal The cards are available in limited geographic areas. This card, however, must be linked to a Medicare Advantage Plan, which is a paid service. . benefits Each insurer sets its own terms for the spending limit and permitted uses. 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. . . Just a couple less than honest sales people. Are the flex card for seniors legitimate or a scam? The amount of each monthly food stamps payment is based on household size and income, but the maximum monthly payment for the benefit period of October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023 is $281 for a one-person household and $516 for a two-person household. Additionally, Ashlee trains new and tenured Medicare agents on CMS compliance guidelines. Be especially careful with people who approach you without you asking or who push particular plans. That means 3 out of 5 seniors who qualify are missing out on benefits. To protect your older adult from Medicare card scams, educate them about 3 common techniques that con artists may use. You're just a few steps away from seeing your Medicare plan options, Understanding The Different Life Insurance Options. 1. You cant use the Flex card for seniors by spending on anything you want. For example, one plan might offer a flex card with $2,000 pre-loaded on the card at the beginning of each year that is then topped up to $2,000 every year thereafter. This might include higher deductible payments, larger copayment percentages, or an increase in your average healthcare premium. Health Plans have the freedom to create flexible benefit accounts that cover multiple categories to best suit member needs. Most legitimate organizations require you to reach out first; they wont contact you unsolicited. Weve had countless people reach out to us, asking if this is a legitimate offer or a terrible scam. These include: Currently in circulation are advertisements for Medicare-supplied flex cards from various carriers. 2022 GovernmentDigest.net | Contact us: contact@governmentdigest.net. The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is designed to provide low-income seniors with access to locally grown fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs; increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities through farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agricultural programs; and aid in the development of new and . 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. So I called the phone number 561-921-2600 that was on the email and ask many questions everything seemed good so Boca Raton, Florida Some Medicare Advantage plans, which are private insurance alternatives to government-run Medicare plans, offer flex cards, but very few Medicare recipients are eligible for the cards let alone cards with $2,880 in free money. So, who qualifies for Medicare flex card? Cash Services: Flex Card Program. Since the inception of his first company in 2012, he has been dedicated to helping those eligible for Medicare by providing them with resources to educate themselves on all their Medicare options. What they dont tell you is that this is basically just a flex card with a new and exciting name. 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). How Much Does It Cost To Refinance A Home? Instead, stop all contact with the scammer and report the scam to the authorities. Not everyone in a Medicare Advantage plan will qualify for a flex card. Fraud may also be carried out by companies who offer services that they never deliver or who obtain customers personal data and then use it to commit identity theft. Its a pre -paid debit type card such as Visa or Mastercard that can be used toward the cost of extra Dental, Vision, and Hearing services. The Flex card is NOT a cash card and cant be used to get FREE money or cash back. We'll also explain how . You may also want to contact your primary care doctor and local pharmacist to head off any attempts by scammers to use your information. Further, the ads tend to be unclear about which items are eligible for purchase with flex cards. 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. Additionally, Flex card is believed to be issued by Medicare plans, but Medicare does not provide Flex cards to seniors. They are offered as a benefit to some customers by private insurance companies that sell Medicare Advantage plans. This year only certain foods with the $125 and only certain medical on the $500. . As you may know from our previous video on Medicare benefits, Medicare has many parts and is very complicated. However, they all require beneficiaries to pick up their Medicare Advantage plans. 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. Posts claiming to provide a spending card for adults over the age of 51 through government programs are a scam. However, to participate in a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be willing to abide by strict networks and higher out-of-pocket costs. However, whats covered may vary from provider to provider. The devil is in the details. It can be used in addition to the basic benefits that are already provided in the plan. While these cards come with the advantage of directly available funds that can be used at your discretion for healthcare expenses, getting a flex card may be more complicated than advertisements make it appear and may come with additional costs and complications worth considering. They cover some of the out-of-pocket costs built into Medicare Part A and Part B, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsuranceCoinsurance is a percentage of the total you are required to pay for a medical service. Any information we provide is limited to those plans we do offer in your area. A Facebook post says that senior citizens can get a Medicare "flex card" that pays for groceries and prescriptions. Medicare Flex cards do not replace Original Medicare. This is a red flag because ads like this make it seem as though the government has some role in overseeing or managing these cards. Our service is 100% free and were happy to help you. medical assistance (The website) may receive paid compensation for clicks or sales produced from the content found on this webpage.. Would be nice if we knew what we can buy. Nicole started Low Income Relief after a personal experience with poverty. Ultimately, the amount of money that you may be able to receive on a flex card varies depending on where you live and what plan you select. Many of the flex card offers I found were only available for enrollees in specific states. 04:11 PM. While flex cards may be offered as part of Medicare Advantage plans, there is no government flex card for seniors. Health care is confusing and its too important to make mistakes on. Unlike flex cards, however, FSAs are linked to health insurance plans that are offered through employment. Medicare supplement insurance plans are not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. This is a scam. While this could be true under rare circumstances, a licensed physician must deem these items medically necessary. They will explain the important details of the coverage in the plan. For a complete list of available plans please contact 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week or consult www.medicare.gov. Medicare Supplement plans help beneficiaries reduce out-of-pocket spending by covering the holes in Original Medicare. This is especially true for insurance contracts, which may contain provisions or stipulations that can affect both your coverage and how much you pay. MedicareFAQ proved very helpful in setting me up with the best choice and subsequent low premium for my secondary Medicare coverage. Flex cards are not available in every state or with every carrier. A public service connecting you to services for older adults and their families. Never give someone who says they work for Medicare your address, name, bank account information, Social Security number, Medicare number, or any other information that could be used to find you. This skates on the edge of false advertising. free food For example, if you enroll during March, your coverage will become effective on April 1. Invitations for applications for insurance are made through Assurance IQ, LLC, a licensed insurance agency, only where licensed and appointed. Flexible spending accounts (FSAs), meanwhile, are offered through employer-sponsored healthcare. This is how the ad and the website appeared at the time of writing: 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. For questions about how to use your card, call the member help line at 855-396-0691 (TTY: 711). Not all private insurers offer flex cards, and not all flex card programs are created equal. SilverSneakers Now Offers Apple Fitness+ Benefit, Do Not Sell nor Share My Personal Information. 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. You May Like: Razor Company That Supports Police. We can help find the right Medicare plans for you today. Its also worth noting that theres no set amount for flex cards. However, these advertisements were not very clear on what a flex card actually is. The purpose of this site is the solicitation of insurance. Some Medicare Advantage plans, which are private insurance alternatives to government-run Medicare plans, offer flex cards, but very few . Truthfully, Medicare is not distributing flex cards for seniors. jobs The card also has no role in government-funded programs. If you dont read the fine print carefully, you may end up paying the price in other areas of your plan. Does any of this value roll over to the next year? Her work has also been featured by Google for Publishers and other leading industry publications. For example, the flex card can be used for the following expenses: Medicare Flex Card Coverages. 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. Advertisements that claim or indicate that flex cards are being offered by government agencies are, therefore, patently false. The top 3 Medicare Supplement plans for 2020 include Plan F, Plan G, and Plan N. Find out which ones you're eligible for here. If the healthcare service being provided is covered by the flex card, cardholders would swipe the card at point-of-sale (POS) terminals to pay for services, and the amount is deducted from the account. And youre wondering is it real or is it a scam? But the cards are not provided through Medicare -- the US insurance program for people 65 and older -- and experts say that such ads should be approached with caution, warning that some exaggerate eligibility and benefits. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) provides nutritious, domestically-sourced USDA foods to low-income persons 60 years or older. Flex cards are debit cards beneficiaries can use to purchase medical equipment and items. Get a personalized Health Insurance quote now. TTY 1-800-952-0450. Jan 10 2012. It has two parts. Medicare supplement insurance is available to those age 65 and older enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B and in some states to those under age 65 eligible for Medicare due to disability or End Stage Renal disease. In fact, in 2022, it looks like some savvy health care plans have changed their vocabulary. Federal Executive Institute. These flex cards are only available from a select few private insurance companies and only with a limited number of plans. These scammers often claim to be calling from Medicare and will lie and cheat to try to get your older adults current Social Security number-based Medicare number. If the Medicare plan offered $1000 of Dental benefits and the Flex card has a $500 allowance then you would have a total benefit of $1500. A non-government site powered by Health Insurance Associates, LLC., a health insurance agency. Learn about programs and resources for older adults. This card would allow beneficiaries to use funds from the private insurance carrier for medical services. If you believe that you have been the victim of a Medicare scam or you see advertisements for flex cards or other plans that seem suspicious, you can report these scams to the government. If you must work with someone who has a financial interest in getting you to sign up, then at least make sure they offer plans from many different providers so that youre more likely to get a good fit. This is a marketing tool of the private company and gets you to change your Medicare Advantage plan to another company. According to Healthcare.gov, a flex card can be used to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs. The senior flex card is usually linked to a Medicare Advantage plan. food stamps Its not just online that you have to be careful, either. Only talk to them if they approach you first. By. students When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, your provider will ask for personal and medical information to determine the overall cost of your plan and the best mix of coverages and limits that work for you. A Guide to Understanding Insurance Risks, Understanding The Role of Insurance Limits in Your Policy, Personal Liability Insurance: Protecting Yourself From Unforeseen Legal Costs, Loss of Use Coverage: What to Know Before You Need It, Understanding The Different Types of Home Insurance Riders. It is a scam that tries to get seniors to sign . 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. This means they are not part of government-managed Medicare plans. Medicare beneficiaries often wonder if their coverage includes dental services. coinsurance, you basically already have a Flex Card for all Medicare-approved expenses. Flex cards are debit cards that are used to buy medical supplies and equipment. Depending on the advertisement, some claimed these cards could be worth $2,880 or more! Her work has been featured in various print and online publications, including USA Today, The Daily Herald, The Chronicle and more. Key Takeaways. 1. However, if your prospective flex card plan is asking for personal information to provide you with a high-level overview of the plan, this is a red flag. transportation Last year ,2021, we got 50 and 500 but found out in November we could buy anything. health Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE to get information on all of your options. Depending on how many times you spend your money, you will have the same limits as on the other cards that youve got. A Guide for Older Adults . Learn more about the Medicare grocery card for seniors: Eligible members get a monthly grocery allowance. 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. The largest legitimate flex plan I found included a $1,000 flex card and a $50 monthly debit card for other out-of-pocket costs, for a total of $1,600 per year. Cape Coral, FL 33914 Get financial help for seniors from 2,500+ federal, state, and private benefits programs. The average flex card in 2022 is pre-loaded with $500. Developing senior leaders in the U.S. Government through Leadership for a Democratic Society, Custom Programs and Interagency Courses. * Average time of receiving a Medicare plan recommendation is less than 15 minutes from start of conversation, 2019-2021. No such program exists and Social Security benefits are limited to certain groups . Only a small number of private insurance companies offer flex cards, and even then, it . Flex cards share some similarities with flexible spending accounts (FSAs), which can be used to pay for deductibles, copayments, and prescriptions. . Here are three techniques to guard against the majority of Medicare frauds. Owned by: Elite Insurance Partners LLC d/b/a MedicareFAQ. This means they are not part of government-managed Medicare plans. Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. 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. You May Like: Do Post Offices Have Notaries. Fraudsters take advantage of times when things are changing and its more difficult to spot a scam. Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement. These cards, issued by private insurance companies, are only available on specific plans. Typically, Medicare Flex Cards have pre-determined . Going forward, I am happy to know he will be my contact person. Everything you need to know about flex cards for seniors: what they are, who needs them, and how Medicare can help provide coverage. FSAs also require you to pay for covered health services out-of-pocket and then submit a claim for reimbursement, while flex cards let you access money for costs directly. Tell your older adult there will be a charge for the new card, so they need to verify their personal information, bank information, or credit card information. The purpose of the flex card for seniors is to entice them into enrolling in new Medicare Advantage plans during open enrollment season.