Central States Indemnity Insurance Review [2023]

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About Central States Indemnity

Central States Indemnity was formed as the Central States Health & Life Co. of Omaha in 1932. Central States Indemnity was established in 1971 as the unemployment and casualty insurance arm of the company. A life insurance subsidiary was added to the mix before Berkshire Hathaway acquired the company in 1992. Central States Indemnity still operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire.

Maintaining headquarters in Omaha, Neb., Central States Indemnity uses a network of independent agents to provide insurance products across the country. A primary feature of the company is Medicare Supplement Insurance, also known as Medigap.

Medigap vs. Medicare Advantage Plans

Medigap is another name for Medicare Supplement Insurance. This type of insurance supplements the coverage included in Original Medicare to help pay for the rest of your healthcare expenses. These plans are sold by private companies like Central States Indemnity, unlike Original Medicare coverage, which is provided by the government.

Supplemental insurance fills the gaps in coverage left over by Medicare Part A and Part B. Medigap covers items like co-pays, coinsurance, and deductibles, as well as extra expenses due to unique circumstances. 

In contrast, Medicare Advantage Plans offer an alternative to Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage supplies all the coverage of Medicare Part A and B, but is sold by private insurers and generally includes prescription drug coverage. Central States Indemnity doesn’t offer Medicare Advantage plans.

It is important to know the difference between Medicare Supplement Insurance and Medicare Advantage, as you are not allowed to retain both plans at the same time. Medigap plans sold by Central States Indemnity work with and extend coverage of Original Medicare. Medicare Advantage replaces Medicare Parts A and B and expands on them to include prescription drugs and other expenses.

Central States Indemnity Medicare Supplement Insurance

Despite being eligible to provide insurance in every state but New York, CSI only provides Medicare Supplement plans in 38 states. Residents of Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maine, Missouri, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington are ineligible for coverage.

Medigap plans purchased from Central States Indemnity are not restricted to a network of physicians, nor do you need a referral to find care. If you get your Medicare Supplement Insurance from CSI, you can visit any hospital or doctor who participates in Original Medicare. 

Nationwide, there are 10 types of Medicare Supplement Plans available. For Medicare customers in eligible states, there are six types of Medicare Supplement plans, or Medigap plans, provided by Central States Indemnity.

The six types of Medigap coverage provided by CSI are as follows:

• Plan A. Covers some Original Medicare costs including Medicare Part A hospice care, coinsurance, co-payments, and general hospital costs.
• Plan B. Covers specific out-of-pocket costs not covered in Medicare Parts A and B, including what is covered in Plan A plus Original Medicare Part A deductibles.
• Plan C. This plan combines the coverage of Plan A and Plan B and adds coinsurance for nursing facilities, foreign emergency travel, and your Medicare Part B deductible. Plan C varies by state and is only available to patients enrolled before 2020.  
• Plan F.  Plan F features the coverage in plans A, B, and C, plus excess charges not covered by Medicare Part B. This plan pays all out-of-pocket Medicare expenses including deductibles, coinsurance, and travel expenses.
• Plan G. Plan G excludes the Medicare Part B deductible but otherwise includes all previous coverage.
• Plan N. Covers Original Medicare Part A and B and some out-of-pocket expenses but not Medicare Part B deductibles or excess charges.

With the most coverage options, Plan F is the most popular Medicare Supplement Insurance plan offered by Central States Indemnity. Let’s take a closer look at who is eligible to receive Medigap insurance from CSI.

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Central States Indemnity Eligibility

While Medigap plans are standardized across the country for consistent pricing and coverage options, not all six of the plans offered by CSI are available in every state. Before you determine which plan is right for your needs, call your agent to find out which plans are available in your state. 

If you are under 65 and a Medicare enrollee with a disability or renal disease, you may not be able to purchase Medicare Supplement Insurance from CSI. This will vary depending on what state you live in.

All Original Medicare Part B subscribers over the age of 65 are eligible to buy Medigap coverage from Central States Indemnity. If you have turned 65 in the last six months, you won’t need any additional medical underwriting. During this period, known as open enrollment, you cannot be denied coverage or charged for a pre-existing condition when purchasing CSI Medicare Supplement Insurance.

Once you are enrolled in Medicare Supplement Insurance from CSI, you have multiple options to contact the provider. You can use the Central States Indemnity provider phone number to get answers to your questions or file a claim. The CSI website also has a provider portal you can log into to check the status of your claim. The FAQ section of CSI’s website also provides a good bit of information to answer questions you may have about your Medigap coverage.

To see the details of your coverage, or check the status of a claim, simply create a username and password, and then use your Central States Indemnity login to access your account. 

When you contact CSI, in addition to your personal and policy information, you will want to have your Central States Indemnity Payer ID handy. This is generally a five-digit set of numbers and characters unique to each insurance company. Often located on the back of your insurance card, this information helps verify your eligibility, benefits, and claims status.

The Bottom Line on Central States Indemnity Medicare Supplement Insurance

Health insurance is complicated. For those eligible for Medicare coverage, options can be difficult to understand without a comprehensive Medicare guide. Supplement plans are no different, but CSI is here to help you get the best Medigap coverage for your needs. With nearly a century of operation under its belt, a strong industry reputation, and balanced customer reviews, Central States Indemnity is worth consideration as your supplemental Medicare health insurance provider.