When it comes to health insurance, you want to make sure you stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry. If you don’t, it could cost you in the long run.

It’s an unfortunate fact that long-term medical care can bankrupt you or your children, thanks to exorbitant costs that continue to go up every year. Luckily, life insurance or living benefits can help you cover some of these bills while you’re alive.

Medicare supplement insurance plans, also known as Medigap plans, help bridge the gap between your original Medicare plan and everything else that Medicare doesn’t cover.

Here are two Medicare supplement trends to keep an eye on this year straight from Michael Melle, an insurance broker in Philadelphia.

1. More competition in the Medicare market

More and more Medigap plans launch every year, each with highly-competitive premiums and tantalizing supplemental benefits.

More often than not, these supplemental benefits are what will sway you one way or another. With add-ons like podiatry and acupuncture now being offered as part of these insurance plans, they will surely become the norm over the next few years.

With all these options available, it will become even harder to choose the right insurance plan. If you’re having trouble choosing the best plan for you, consider using the following strategy as you shop the insurance marketplace.

First, you’ll want to make two lists: one with all of the features and benefits you absolutely must need in your Medigap insurance plan, and another one with things that are nice to have. Compare your options against these lists to ensure that you get the best Medicare supplement plan with everything you need and more.

2. Disparity in the level of customer service you receive

Although a larger list of options to choose from doesn’t sound like a bad thing in itself, the truth is that newer companies may not have the infrastructure to support you with your pressing health insurance concerns.

Many health insurance startups don’t have a huge budget to hire a dedicated customer service team, so they may decide to outsource this work to an agency instead.

However, because these agencies will also work with other insurance companies, you won’t get the same level of personalized service you’d get with a longstanding authority in the industry.

If this is a concern for you, consider reaching out to these companies for questions beforehand to gauge the kind of customer service you’ll receive as a customer. Also make sure to read reviews on the company you plan on purchasing from before you finalize your decision — you may find that other people have had bad experiences with them in the past.

Health insurance is crucial, after all, and you want to make sure you’re well taken care of.

Shop for affordable health insurance with Michael Melle

Once you’re ready to sign up for your Medicare supplement plan, get in touch with the most trustworthy insurance broker in Philadelphia.

It’s worth noting that each Medigap plan offers you the same coverage across insurance companies, regardless of who you purchase it from. However, the prices can vary greatly, as many brokers tack on pricey premiums that could hurt you in the long run.

But as a broker, I have exclusive access to affordable rates from many “A-rated” insurance companies. I’ll use this to help you find the best coverage for your situation at the best price, as I’ve done for hundreds of clients over the past 18 years.

Shop for health insurance policies on the website, or get in touch with my team today if you need assistance or have any questions.