Walmart to Sell Medicare Coverage: Should You Buy?

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Medicare
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Walmart has become a one-stop shopping experience for millions of Americans. You can find everything from home goods to groceries — and now, Medicare health insurance plans.

This week, Walmart announced that it will sell Medicare insurance plans during this year’s annual enrollment period, which runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

Walmart says shoppers will find Part D, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans from:

  • Amerigroup
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
  • Clover Health
  • Humana
  • Simply Health
  • UnitedHealthcare
  • Wellcare (Centene)

Walmart says additional carriers could join the list, and that plans will be available in all states and the District of Columbia.

Walmart will sell the plans through Walmart Insurance Services, LLC, a licensed insurance brokerage. The company says it hopes to “assist people with enrolling in insurance plans — and simplify what’s historically been a cumbersome, confusing process.”

To learn more, stop by the Walmart website, or call 833-486-0615 to speak with an insurance agent. Agents are available from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET on Saturdays.

Choosing the right Medicare plan

As noted above, Medicare open enrollment is right around the corner. If you plan to shop for coverage at Walmart — or anywhere else — it might help to know which plans get the highest marks from consumers.

Earlier this year, J.D. Power released its 2020 Medicare Advantage Study, which ranked plans based on ratings from more than 3,300 Medicare Advantage plan members.

Walmart is offering plans from two of the insurers who earned top marks in that study — Humana and UnitedHealthcare.

For more on which providers score best, check out “These Are the 4 Best Medicare Advantage Plans for 2020.”

Many Medicare plans improved in 2020, offering new benefits. So when comparing plans, keep an eye out for these perks. To learn more, read “New Benefits Coming to Medicare Advantage Plans.”

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