Medicare and ICHRA

Take Command has made several improvements to our service offerings and platform just in time for open enrollment, including partnering with Chapter to make it easier to find the right Medicare solution to integrate with an Individual Coverage HRA (ICHRA).

If you have Medicare-eligible employees, Chapter’s white glove service will help them find the right Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplemental plans that are designed to help cover the costs of various deductibles, co-payments and coinsurance charges that Medicare alone does not include.

As a concierge service for those in need of Medicare coverage, Chapter and Take Command have partnered to make it easy to sign up for Medicare plans that are reimbursable through an employer-sponsored HRA.

The process is simple, streamlined and coordinated. All employees have to do is choose a coverage option from leading insurance companies based on where they live and their individual needs, then submit proof of coverage to Take Command, along with receipts for eligible care, and get reimbursed tax-free.

Medicare and ICHRA: What to know

Enrollment in Medicare is a great way to participate in an employer’s ICHRA, but it’s important to understand how ICHRA and Medicare integrate and what the rules are.

When you’re signing up for Medicare, there are two routes you can go.

The first is “Medicare Advantage” (aka “Part C”)—these are the newer arrangements that have all of the parts together. You buy one Medicare Advantage plan and you’re covered. They can be tied to an HMO or PPO network.

Medicare Advantage is a privately administered program that feels more like private health insurance with a specific provider network and cost shares up to a limit. These programs are provided by familiar national brands such as United, Aetna, Humana, etc. as well as more local insurance companies.

The second route is traditional Medicare (“Part A”) which helps cover hospital expenses along with Medical insurance (“Part B”), which covers certain doctors’ services, outpatient care, medical supplies, and preventative services. Traditional Medicare (i.e., government administered red / white / blue card) can be paired with a Medicare Supplemental (“Medigap”) policy to help cover out-of-pocket expenses.

For a Medicare plan to qualify for reimbursement through an ICHRA:

The employee eligible for Medicare must have coverage of Part A and Part B together or Part C. Part B by itself doesn’t qualify.
ICHRA may be used to reimburse premiums for Medicare and Medicare supplemental health insurance (Medigap), as well as other medical care expenses. Premiums for Parts A,B, C, D, and Medigap policies are all eligible for reimbursement.

About Chapter

Chapter exists to optimize Medicare through greater choice and clarity, while minimizing cost and complexity. Their dedicated team of Medicare experts has a 5/5 star rating across hundreds of reviews. They provide holistic, fiduciary-type Medicare guidance to you and your clients to guarantee that they can find optimal healthcare coverage.