Tony Capraro III, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: Medicare agents have a question about Social Security. I'm overwhelmed by conflicting advice and want to claim Social Security. I imagine that I should take it early at 62, wait for full retirement age, or delay until later.

Amazing question! I wish people took more time to make sure they're getting the maximum from Social Security. Regardless of what you hear from other people about when you should take it, here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, we use a program called Money Guide Program.

So we put all the factors into Money Guide Pro. Is it just you getting Social Security? Is it you and a spouse? Should we be looking at different ages for each of you to take it? This program will actually show you how to maximize Social Security as opposed to taking an uneducated guess.

This tells you in black and white how you and your spouse will max out Social Security. I'll be glad to help you with that. I help clients with it every day. Best of luck!

Answer: Medicare agents, HUB, you have questions? We have the answers. Why do so many seniors wait until the last minute to enroll in Medicare? And how can agents help prevent bad decisions? Great questions.

What I find here, the last 20 years at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street here in Manchester, New Hampshire, is the confusion. Remember, you apply for Medicare at 65. You have the three months prior to your birthday, the month of your birthday, and three months afterwards to get Medicare.

So what I do is get our folks in six months prior to their 65th birthday to give plenty of leeway and time to answer questions and address concerns. We go based on your goals and objectives—what are you looking to do and how can we help to avoid those bad decisions?

So we're looking at a Medicare supplement that's going to supplement Medicare Part A and B. Are we looking at a Medicare Advantage, typically called Part C? Six months prior gives us plenty of time to give you options. Remember, good decisions come from great information. Let us help you.

Answer: Medicare Agents Hub is one of the amazing resources for seniors. Have questions or concerns regarding Medicare?

Question: Who will make medical decisions as to what is necessary to inform me, my doctor, or the insurance company?

That is an amazingly good question, and I'm glad you asked. So you have two choices. You can go with Medicare supplement or you can go with Medicare Advantage. You hear all about Advantage all the time. The 800 number is them stuffing your mailboxes with the zero premiums. What they don't tell you is the copays and out-of-pocket costs.

However, I sell both, so I have no bias. It's about what the client wants or needs. We go based on your goals and objectives.

With a Medicare supplement, your doctor and you will make the decision as to what is necessary. With a Medicare Advantage, you have shifted that decision over to the insurance company. So don't be confused. Work with someone like myself or anybody on Medicare Agents Help in your state who's licensed. They can answer all these questions and make things very simple with this Medicare alphabet soup. But great question!

Answer: Medicare agents have a lot of resources for seniors to get their questions answered. I'm Tony Capraro from the State Farm Chaparro Agency here on Telly Street in Manchester. Is my son or daughter allowed to help me with my Medicare plan? Absolutely! We encourage it here at my agency. My folks, when we book an appointment with our clients, we'll ask them to bring in their kids. Just so everybody's in one place and everybody's on the same page, especially when you're doing Medicare planning. It's extremely important for everybody to know what's going on.

So we give them all their options, whether it's Medicare Advantage, whether it's Medicare supplement, or whether it's a part D prescription drug plan. Then everybody knows what's going on. And it really helps out in the future when the parents get a little bit older, and then the kids can come in and help and say, "Hey, this is exactly what we did, and we know how it works."

So please let someone like myself help you, and then we'll bring in your kids, and everybody will know what's happening. Everybody on the same page. Thank you!

Answer: Medicare agents have lots of questions, and we've got the answers. Are Medicare Advantage plans really free, or is that just clever marketing? I don't know that I've seen that they're free. I hear them touting from the rooftops and on TV 24/7 that they have zero premiums per month, but that doesn't mean they're free. Medicare Advantage plans have copays and out-of-pocket costs.

Every one of them here in the state of New Hampshire, where my State Farm agency is located on Kelly Street in Manchester, has an out-of-pocket cost maximum. Most of them are anywhere from $5,000 to $9,500, so they are not free. Again, you may be mesmerized when they have all the ads and all the mailbox stuffing that show zero premiums per month. But remember, copays and out-of-pocket costs add up quickly.

Work with someone like myself who can offer not only Medicare Advantage plans but also Medicare supplement plans. I have no preconceived notions of what you need to buy. I go based on your goals and objectives. I will explain Medicare Advantage, and I will explain Medicare supplement so that you know it inside and out and won't make any decisions based on incorrect information.

We will give you great information so that you can make a good decision. Please allow me to do that or any of the folks, whatever state you're in.

Answer: Hey, folks. Medicare agents heard the Tony Capraro State Farm Cafaro agency, Kelly Street in Manchester. You have questions? We have the answers. Is there a Medigap plan company with a non-increasing premium? Good question. I've been doing it for the last two decades, helping all of our clients with Medicare planning, whether it's a Medigap, Medicare supplement policy, or a Medicare Advantage plan. I have not heard or seen of a Medigap plan company with a non-increasing premium each and every year. The premiums increase a little bit. You can get on Medicare.gov and check out all the companies that offer Medigap plans. Medicare supplement and you'll see that state from the company. I represent is always in the top three as far as competitive rates without major increases. Every year I work with someone like myself who can offer you both Medicare and Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage and has no leanings toward one or the other. It's based on your goals and objectives and what works for you and your family. Let me give you the great advice and information so that you can make a great decision with Medicare. Don't leave it to chance. Don't put it off. It's a very important decision and I can help you with that. Or any of the talented folks on Medicare. Agents hub can do the same. Thank you.

Answer: Medicare agents hub, you have questions? We have answers. Tony Capraro, State Farm, Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. I just enrolled in Medicare. I've got my Part A and Part B, but I'm hearing there are gaps in coverage. What are these gaps exactly?

Well, to start off, Part A has a deductible, the hospital piece, of $1,692. And that will increase in 2026. Part B, the government pays 80% of the cost to the doctors in patient, all your exams, tests, etc. They'll pay 80%, and you'll pay the 20%. But there is no maximum out-of-pocket on that 20%. So there's a massive gap.

What you really should do is sit down with someone who does Medicare planning on a daily basis, like myself or these other fine folks on Medicare Agents Hub, and go through it. What makes sense for you? What makes sense for your family? What your goals and objectives are? And then you can put together a plan, whether it's a Medicare supplement added to Parts A and B or a Medicare Advantage plan, commonly called Part C, which includes Part B and your drug prescriptions. So work with someone like myself.

Answer: You tell your lovely neighbor that Medicare Advantage is not free. He may have, and they may have, a zero premium monthly payment for the Medicare Advantage, but they will also have copays, deductibles, and maximum out-of-pocket costs. In the state of New Hampshire, the out-of-pocket costs go anywhere from $4,500 to $9,500 a year. And that's every year.

What they should do, and what you should do, is work with someone like myself at State Farm. Both Medicare Advantage and Medigap, or Medicare supplement plans, decide which is best for you because both fit in certain situations. Don't put it off. Don't lose sleep over it. Work with someone like myself or these other fine folks on Medicare Agents Hub that can help you. I look forward to helping you. Thank you.

Answer: Medicare agents, HUB, you have questions? We have the answers. Hi, I'm Tony Capraro from State Farm, the Capraro Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester. The question today is, what is one of the most common misconceptions people have about Medicare?

Listen, I've been doing this for a couple of decades now. There are a lot of misconceptions about Medicare. There's a lot of misinformation out there. You get blinded by these commercials over and over again about Medicare Advantage, Part C. Do yourself a favor at 64, work with someone like myself. We have a year to plan. They can talk to you, and I can talk to you about Medicare, Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage, Part D drug plans.

What makes the most sense for you based on your goals and objectives? It's really it. I hear every single day in my state, "Agency so-and-so said this," or "I was told this," and I'm like, "No, that's incorrect." So work with a professional. There's a lot of great ones here at Medicare Agent Hub that would love to help you. And they can give you the great information so you can make a great decision for you and your family. I'd love to help you.

Answer: Hey folks, Medicare agents Tony Capraro from State Farm on Kelly Street in Manchester. What shift has been observed in Medicare spending, particularly regarding Medicare Advantage plans? Good question. You're gonna see more and more changes with these Medicare Advantage plans. When they came out in the 90s, they were a wonderful thing. They combined Parts A and B and then gave you drug prescription coverage. As more and more people have gotten on the Medicare Advantage plans, obviously the costs have increased, and more and more folks are going towards the Medicare Advantage plans.

I think here in New Hampshire for 2026, when we do open enrollment in October, there's going to be a lot of major changes, and not for the better. I believe a lot of the Medicare Advantage plans will be looking to limit coverages. They'll be looking to get rid of the bells and whistles, I think. And again, I don't know yet. We won't know for a while. But I think the dental division, that type of thing that always entices people to do the Medicare Advantage plans, might be something of the past.

But do yourself a favor. Work with someone like myself who not only does Medicare Advantage plans but also does Medicare supplement plans. We'll have all the information for you, probably right around the next couple of weeks, I would think, about the Medicare Advantage plans and who's in New Hampshire, who's not going to be in New Hampshire, what hospitals and doctors are getting out of the Medicare Advantage plans. This way, we can educate you with all of that stuff so you can make a great decision. Love to help!

Answer: Medicare agents have a resource for seniors, and we're happy and proud to be a part of giving the answers. What's the biggest mistake seniors make when choosing a Medicare Part D plan? Simple, they don't search out all of the options that are available on an annual basis for the Part D plans. The Part D plans change every year, just like Medicare Advantage, so you want to look at what options are out there.

What we do here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, just like I did for my free appointment today, is we go on and look at the different options that are available. For the four medications that she was taking, the plans ranged from zero premiums to $51 a month for the same plan to cover the same prescriptions.

So work with someone like myself who's going to do that extra homework for you and make it work for you. Please work with someone like myself who will help you with that. We'll do all the legwork, and then any time every year you have to renew, we look at what's out there now, and we can help you with that. We'd be honored to help you. Thank you.

Answer: Medicare Agent's Hub, isn't it great there's a forum now and somebody thought of this to have everybody ask their questions and get answers? Medicare Agent's Hub, what is the biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage? What I see on a daily basis at my State Farm Agency, I hear on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, is that folks do not understand or were not told the maximum out-of-pocket for the Medicare Advantage plan. So each time you go to a doctor, facility, or hospital, there is a copay. In the state of New Hampshire, most of the Medicare Advantage plans have a copay anywhere from out of pocket $4,500 to $10,000 a year, and that's each and every year. However, if you understand that, if your health is decent, Medicare Advantage plans absolutely make sense. Work with someone like myself who offers not only Medicare Advantage but Medicare Supplement. We can talk to you about both. We have no inclination of what you should be doing other than based on your goals, objectives, and cost. So work with someone like myself who will go over both the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement, what's covered, what's not covered, what works, what doesn't work, and then this way you are not guessing at age 65 if you have the best health plan. That is not when you want to be making decisions because at 65, no one that I know—family, friends, clients—does their health get better. Anyway, work with someone like myself; I'd be glad to help you. Great decisions come from great information.

Answer: One of the pros and cons of Medicare supplement Plan G versus Medicare supplement Plan N. Great question. Most of my folks that I deal with here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, we show them the differences between Plan G and Plan N. Really, the only difference is that with Plan N, you have additional co-pays: $20 for doctor visits and $50 for emergency room visits. We weigh out the difference in cost between Plan G and Plan N. Whatever fits the clients' goals and objectives best and is most affordable, that's what we go with. But both plans will offer you the protection you need. We would love to help you with that. I'm helping seniors every day. I've been doing it for the last 10 years specifically with Medicare. We would be glad to help you. Take the time to sit down with a professional who deals with this every day. You do not want to make mistakes in choosing Medicare after age 65. Believe me, it becomes very costly. So spend 15 minutes, 30 minutes with someone like myself. We'll explain all the differences, and then you can make a decision. Great decisions come from great information. Love to help you.

Answer: Medicare agent hub, you have questions, we have the answers. I thought I was covered during my snowbird months in Florida, but apparently not. What kind of plan do I actually need for that? Well, most of my clients who are snowbirds, I talked to at my State Farm Agency here on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. We do a Medicare supplement or Medigap policy which will cover you across the country. So as long as you go to a doctor that accepts Medicare, you're all set.

Sounds like you might have a Medicare Advantage plan, which is region to region, state to state. So do yourself a favor, talk to someone like myself who offers both Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement. It can tell you based on your goals and objectives, hey, being a snowbird, you may not want a Medicare Advantage plan because when you get to Florida, although it covers you in New Hampshire, it won't cover you in Florida. However, a Medicare supplement would cover you in both New Hampshire and Florida.

Anyway, folks, take 30 minutes to sit with someone like myself or anyone on Medicare agent sub in your state that can give you the answers so you don't have to guess about things. We'd love to help you out.

Answer: The short answer is YES! Work with someone like me who knows all the "ins and outs" of Medicare! Who works with clients everyday and can offer BOTH : Medicare Supplement AND Medicare Advantage! These decisions are huge and have lasting impact! Work with me and we'll help you with Great information so you can make a Great decision! AS I ask my clients -"do you know of anyone that has BETTER health as they get older?? We can make you feel confident in your choices!

Answer: Medicare agents hub. Seniors have questions regarding Medicare. We have answers. What a resource. What is the trap of Medicare Advantage plans? Wow, that's worded suspiciously. Anyway, as long as you know the pros and cons of Medicare Advantage plans, they fit in a lot of situations. Work with someone like myself here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, who not only offers Medicare Advantage plans, but also offers Medicare supplement plans, so that you can see the difference between both, both the good and bad of each plan. Remember, original Medicare is Parts A and B. Medicare Advantage plans, called Part C, incorporate A and B in the drug prescription plan. So you need to know the differences. When you say trap, what I look at a lot of times, and when people come in and I'm reviewing what they currently have for Medicare Advantage, they don't realize or weren't told the maximum out-of-pocket expenses that can and will occur with a Medicare Advantage plan. Your co-pays, your deductibles in the state of New Hampshire, the average Medicare Advantage plan maximum out-of-pocket, which means you'll write a check for, is anywhere between $4,500 and $10,000. But again, if you're explained that and that's what you decide to go with, they do fit. Work with someone like me and I'll be glad to help you. This way you can know about Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare supplement plans, and what works best for you and your family. Remember, you need great information to make good decisions.

Answer: Medicare agents have people who have questions. We have the answers. What a great resource for seniors. Why is it helpful to follow up with your parents after discussing Medicare? What I like to do here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, is bring in the parents with the children. When I say that, you're talking 65-year-olds and their kids are usually 35 or 40. So everybody's in the same room. If the parents have any questions that they don't know to ask or are hesitant to ask, the kids will usually ask, and it just creates a great environment because the kids want to make sure that the parents are taken care of. I want to make sure that the parents understand the differences between Medicare, Original Medicare Parts A and B, Medicare Part C, which is Medicare Advantage, or a Medicare Supplement to supplement Parts A and B. Anyway, we discuss all of that. I've had two of those this week. We had four of them in, two parents, two kids, everybody watching, everybody asking questions. It was amazing, and everybody walks out on the same page. Then the kids can follow up with the parents and say, "What else do you have to do?" A lot of times, the kids will get to me directly, and that works out well too. We'll be glad to help. Medicare is alphabet soup. You need to be making the right decisions for you and your family. We can make sure that happens. Let me help you. Thank you.

Answer: Question, can you have A and B and not enroll in anything else and still have good coverage? Original Medicare, just parts A and B, that's the $64,000 question, which it may cost you out of pocket if you only have parts A and B. You really need to see someone like myself here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, who can give you your other options in addition to parts A and B, maybe a supplement or maybe looking at Medicare Advantage. Remember, on part A you have a deductible, and on part B you have an out-of-pocket cost of 20%. In other words, whatever the cost on part B is, the government will pay 80%, and you are responsible for the other 20% with no out-of-pocket maximum. So $64,000, believe me, can be reached. So talk with someone like myself, I'd be glad to help you. We'll give you all the good and bad of Original Medicare, we'll give you the good and bad about Medicare Supplement, the good and bad about Medicare Advantage, and we'll provide great information so that you can make a good decision for you and your family. I'd be glad to help.

Answer: Why do some agents push Medicare Advantage plans over Medigap? Should I be skeptical? Here's the way I look at it. I offer both Medicare Advantage and Medigap, or Medicare Supplement policies, here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester. Most of those agents are pushing Medicare Advantage plans because that's all they sell. They do not offer Medigap or Medicare Supplement plans.

What you need to do, so you're not skeptical, is work with someone like myself who offers both and has no preconceived notions of which one you should purchase or which one I need to sell. We will do it based on your goals and objectives, on what you're looking to do for you and your family. I will give you great information so that you can make great decisions. Again, the Medicare Advantage plans are pushed because that's all they can offer. So do yourself a favor. I'd be glad to help.

Answer: Medicare agents hub, where your questions get answers. What advice would you give to seniors who are feeling overwhelmed by all the Medicare options available? Wow, I can't imagine why. All those commercials, all those 800 numbers, all of those celebrities telling you what you should have? That's a great question. What you should do is work with someone like myself here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, who can go over all of the pros and cons of Medicare, including original Medicare parts A and B, a Medicare supplement which will supplement parts A and B, or a Medicare Advantage that you see all the commercials for. I have no preconceived notions of what you need or what you should buy or what I need to sell. I go strictly off your goals and objectives. I give you great information so that you can make great decisions for you and your family. Medicare agents hub has a ton of professionals here. Get to any one of them that can help you. That's the first place to start, and start six months prior to your 65th birthday so that you can get all of this done in a timely fashion. I'd be glad to help.

Answer: Welcome to Medicare Agents Hub. Why are seniors losing Medicare Advantage plans? I think that more and more folks are finding out that these Medicare Advantage plans change every year. The doctors and the plans change, the facilities change, and the prescription drug coverage changes. So people are now seeing and starting to realize on a regular basis that, "Hey, my doctor, my facility, and now my new prescription drugs aren't covered by this Medicare Advantage plan."

Work with someone like myself here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, who offers both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement. I know Medicare inside and out, Original Medicare Parts A and B. I know how supplements work. I know how Medicare Advantage plans work. I will give you great information so that you can make great decisions for you and your family.

But that's the reason we're seeing these Medicare Advantage plans and seniors getting out of them, or their doctors and facilities getting out of them. Please talk to someone like myself. I'd be glad to help you. Then you can make a great decision.

Answer: Welcome to Medicare Agent's Hub, a great place to get Medicare information for seniors. My friend lives in a different city and has a much more detailed Medicare plan. Is their plan dependent on their location? You must be talking about a Medicare Advantage plan, and yes, they are absolutely totally different from zip code to zip code, even in each state.

So what I look at for my clients on the Medicare Advantage side is what plan has the best coverage that covers your doctors, your facilities, and your prescription drugs. So again, great question, but yes, the Medicare Advantage plans also change every year, so you really have to keep up on it each year to make sure that your doctor, your facilities, and your drugs are still covered by that plan. That's what I do for clients every day here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Each and every year, we look at how their plan worked the prior year and what it's going to do the following year. Is the doctor there or the facilities there? Are their drugs still covered? Those are the things you want to work with a Medicare agent like myself who can keep you ahead each and every year and make sure there are no critical mistakes made. I'd love to...

Answer: Medicare agents have a great forum for seniors to get their questions answered about Medicare today. What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent? There are so many right now I couldn't even list them in the 90 seconds that I have here to answer you. What you really want to look at is working with someone like myself here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester who can truly advise and explain how Medicare works.

Original Medicare parts A and B, original Medicare parts A and B with a Medicare supplement added to cover your deductibles and out-of-pocket costs. Or we want to get a Medicare Advantage plan, which incorporates everything including prescription drugs. Those are the things that most seniors at age 65 really need to know before they make this all-important Medicare decision.

Let me ask, who do you know at age 65, as they get older, has better health? No one. So you need to make that right decision. Work with someone like myself who offers both Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage and can give you the pros and cons of each. I'll give you great information so that you can make a great decision for you and your family. Medicare is much too important to put off or to make an incorrect decision. I'd love to help you.

Answer: Medicare agents hub, you have questions, we have answers. One of the red flags to look for when interviewing agents is making sure you're not just getting sold, but genuinely advised. Aha, smart consumer. What you want to do is deal with someone like myself here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, who can offer both Medicare supplement, or Medigap, and Medicare Advantage. We have no preconceived notions of what you need or what you want. We go based on your goals and objectives. More importantly, we will give you all the ins and outs of original Medicare parts A and B, how they work, what the deductibles are, and what the out-of-pocket costs are. Then we will educate you on Medicare supplement, or Medigap, and Medicare Advantage. We will give you the pros and cons of each. Again, we have no preconceived notions. We are not required to sell one over the other. So we give you great information so that you can make a good decision for you and your family. The other question I always ask is, at age 65, who do you know whose health gets better as they get older? Medicare is an extremely important decision. You need to make the right one. So be advised, and I'd love to help you with that.

Answer: Medicare agents hub, you have the questions, we have the answers today. Can you explain what credible coverage means and what it applies to? Credible coverage means that you have delayed enrolling in Medicare. You're working past age 65, your employer has 20 or more employees. They do not have to be on the health plan, just as long as they have 20 or more employees. And you delay coverage for Medicare. Then when you retire, whatever that date is, the government wants to know that you had credible coverage. It's called an L564 form that your HR person would fill out. This means you won't have any penalties for delaying enrolling in Medicare. Great question. Deal with someone like myself here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street, Tony Capraro. We deal with this every day. Credible coverage. A lot of folks think that when they're on COBRA, then they delay and then they want to go on Medicare. COBRA is not credible coverage. And some of my clients have found out that the hard way. You don't want to find that out the hard way. We can give you all the information you need to make great decisions for your healthcare for you and your family. The other question I ask all the time is, who at age 65 do you know whose health has gotten better? These Medicare decisions are far too important to listen to the neighbor or the work group that says it gives incorrect information. We can help you with all that and I'd be delighted to help you.

Answer: Medicare agents hub, you have questions, we have the answers. As a senior turning 65 but still working, should you enroll in Medicare and delay it? You have that question most every day. Most folks are working past age 65. A couple of real important things you have to look at is the company. First off, if the company has 20 or more employees, you do not have to go on Medicare. You can stay on your company's plan as long as there are 20 or more employees. If they're 19 or less, you do have to enroll in Medicare. Work with someone like myself, Tony Capraro, here at my State Farm Agency in Manchester, New Hampshire, who knows these rules inside and out. You do not want to make a mistake here. Also, you want to look at whether Medicare coverage is better than what you currently have with your employer. So there are all these variables and options, and at age 65, you want to make sure you're making the right decisions for you and your family. I'll ask you a quick question I ask everybody. Who do you know at age 65 whose health gets better as they get older? So you want to make all the right choices here with Medicare. We will give you the ins and outs. We will give you great information so that you can make a good decision for you and your family. Medicare is much too important to put off or to make an incorrect decision. I'd be glad to help. Thanks.

Answer: The question is, are Medicare plans and requirements different for every state? Medicare plans basically, from a functionality standpoint, pretty much all work the same way. In Florida, most of the Medicare Advantage plans have zero premium. It's that way throughout the country as well, although some other states have more plans that do have premiums.

One thing that is important to know about a Medicare Advantage plan is you have to live in the service area. So if you move from a state and you move to Florida, for example, you are gonna have to change your Advantage plan because you have to live in the service area. If you are moving to Florida or you are moving out of Florida and you need some insight on what to do, feel free to reach out to me. You could set up an appointment with me, and we could talk through it. I have done this thousands of times for clients throughout my 20-year career. I look forward to hearing from you, and I will speak to you soon. Hope to answer some more Medicare questions.

Answer: Medicare Agent's Hub. How cool is it that so many people have questions about Medicare, and Medicare Agent's Hub sets up a place where you can get all your questions answered by folks like myself who have been doing Medicare planning for the last two decades? Anyway, the question is, "In your experience, what are the best Medicare Supplement Insurance companies and why?" Well, I represent State Farm here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, and we're one of the biggest and largest that sell Medicare. The other thing I like to do when my clients come in, like my couple today, is show them on Medicare.gov all of the supplement companies, their ratings, and their premiums each month. State Farm is always in the top three as far as competitiveness. Remember, the supplement policies are all the same. The only thing that's different is what you're paying for it and the person you're dealing with to help you with it. Work with someone you're comfortable with, someone like myself, who's been doing it forever, and we'll be glad to help you. We'll show you the other companies' costs that people love to see. So I offer my services, and we would love to help you.

Answer: Medicare agents have where people ask questions and we give answers. Is it okay to meet with multiple Medicare brokers and agents as I start looking for help? Absolutely, and amen. Six months prior to being eligible, interview three of us. See who you feel comfortable with. See who you think aligns with your goals and objectives. Here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, we have people every day answer their questions. Medicare is much too important, and financially, you've got to make the right decisions for you and your family. So six months prior, as I said, interview two or three of us, and then you'll figure out who you're comfortable with, and then we can answer all your questions. I would love to help you myself.

Answer: What does Medicare Part B cover and is it enough? Medicare Part B of original Medicare will cover doctor services, healthcare providers, outpatient care, lab tests, x-rays not covered by Part A while you're in the hospital, home healthcare in certain situations, and durable medical equipment if you need a wheelchair or walker and it's prescribed by a doctor. Part B handles that. Also, it covers preventative services, your vaccinations, your screenings, your x-rays, those types of things. Is it enough? Here's how it works. Part B, the government comes in and pays 80% of the total cost under that Part B. You're on the hook for the 20% out-of-pocket, and there is no out-of-pocket maximum, so it can get very scary what you owe. Talk to someone like myself here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester so we can talk to you about a Medicare supplement or Medigap policy, which will alleviate all your fear of that 20% payment because that will cover that gap. The only thing you'll pay is the Part B deductible, all of $275, which is much better than the 20%. No maximum out-of-pocket cost. But talk to someone like myself. Look for me under Medicare Agents Hub. I also send out to clients this Medicare and Social Security Cheat Sheet that helps people a lot, and I'd love to help you. Thank you.

Answer: Great question from one of those caretakers of parents out there. My mom is considering switching to a Medicare Advantage plan because her friends say it's better. Love that. She's scared of losing her current doctors. How can we check?

A very easy way you should be able to check is whatever plan you're on. You should be able to go on their website and see what doctors and hospitals are associated with that plan. Remember, Medicare Advantage plans change every year. The doctors can change, can be in the plan, out of the plan, in the facilities. The hospitals can be in and out of the plan depending on the year.

What we do here at my state firm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, is bring the client in, and then we do the research for them to make sure that their plan with Medicare Advantage includes their doctors and facilities. I would be glad to help you with that. It will save you a ton of time, effort, and mistakes. But again, those Medicare Advantage plans, you've got to be careful. They change every year, doctors and facilities.

Answer: I've had the same Part D plan for years, but this year my insulin shot up in price. Did the Inflation Reduction Act not fix this yet? Good question. Those Medicare Part D drug plans change every year for what they cover and how much they cover. So what I do at my State Farm agency here on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, is bring clients in every year. We take a look at all the myriad of Part D plans that are available out there to make sure that their prescriptions are covered and at a reasonable cost. This way, we save a lot of time, effort, and mistakes. I'd be glad to help you with that. Again, those Plan D plans change every year, so you have to be cognizant of that and what prescriptions you're on. I'd be glad to help you.

Answer: Here's a good one. For Medicare Part D, why would someone pick a plan with a high total cost? I have no idea why someone would do that. Medicare Part D is your prescription drug plan. There are many of those out there. I deal with it every day here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. I actually bring people in with a list of their prescriptions, and I log on and save them a ton of time, effort, and mistakes by helping them pick and choose the Medicare Part D plan. There are many plans out there now. If you're just on generic drugs, like a lot of my clients, there are plans that are zero premium and zero out of pocket. So work with someone like myself. In fact, I'd be glad to help you. I did two plans today. So again, I'm sorry. I don't know why anybody would pick a higher total cost. I'll give you a perfect example. A client last week that's been with me for years was on another company's drug plan, Medicare Part D, and they were spending $48 a month. We switched their plan, which covered all their prescriptions. They have a zero premium and a zero deductible. So they're making out much better. Let me help you.

Answer: What is the main benefit of Medicare Part D? Part of Medicare's alphabet soup, Part D is your prescription drug plan. I deal with it every day here with clients at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. We help them go through the myriad of different plans that are out there based on the prescriptions they're taking to what makes best sense financially. The other great thing about Medicare Part D as of 2025 is that the maximum out-of-pocket for prescriptions is $2,000. And that may not seem like a big thing, but it's huge for my clients who in the past have spent five or six thousand dollars a year for their Medicare Part D prescription drug plans because they have heart medications or cancer medications. So it's a huge win. But I'd be glad to help you with that. There are many plans out there, and today I had a client with just all generic drugs. The cost monthly is zero, and everything is covered, but you want to have that Medicare Part D plan in place. I'm glad to help you with it.

Answer: Do I have to apply for Medicare if I'm still working past 65? I hear that question every day at my State Farm agency here on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. Here's the rules. As long as your employer has 20 or more employees, they do not have to be on the health plan, but if they have more than 20 employees, you can stay on an employer's health plan. However, you should deal with someone like myself who can show you exactly what Medicare would be. I've had situations over the last couple of weeks where it makes much better financial sense to go on Medicare than it does to stay on the employer's company plan. So please let me help you with that. We'll give you some great information so that you can make good decisions. Thank you.

Answer: Here's a great question. Don't you think Medicare should ban all those celebrity Medicare Advantage commercials? I couldn't agree with you more. The problem with all of those commercials featuring celebrities and non-celebrities is that they only sell Medicare Advantage. They're gonna get you with all the shiny objects, the dental, this, that. But those Medicare Advantage plans change every year, and they've changed dramatically for 2025. So here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, we talk about Medicare Advantage, and it works in certain situations, but we also offer Medicare Supplement or Medigap. So deal with someone like myself who can help you with either Medicare Supplement, Medigap, or Medicare Advantage and knows the ins and outs of both and can give you great information so that you can make a good decision. But I absolutely agree those Medicare Advantage commercials should be taken off the air because they are misleading. And again, I offer Medicare Advantage, and in the right situations, they work perfectly. So work with someone like myself. I'd be glad to help you. I'll let you know all the good, all the bad, and then you can make a great decision for you and your family.

Answer: The question I went to a free Medicare seminar and it felt like a timeshare pitch. Are any of those events actually helpful? What do you think? Here at my State Farm Agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, I like the one-on-one working with a couple or an individual. I've been to some of these seminars, and some are actually helpful when they're educational. For me, you better be able to offer your clients both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement and be able to talk about original Medicare parts A and B. Do I add a supplement to parts A and B to cover the gaps? Do I go to a plan C, which is a Medicare Advantage? Yes, Medicare alphabet soup, we call it. Why does it have to be so difficult? It isn't. Work with someone like myself who deals with it every single day. We'll find out what your goals and objectives are and what makes better sense for you, your spouse, your partner, whoever, and then we'll go from there. But work with someone who offers both because they'll be able to give you the good and bad for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement. I would love to help you out.

Answer: Today's question of the day: do Medicare Advantage plans save money? Oh, that's a loaded question. We answer it every day. Are you talking about saving money on the monthly premiums you pay or for the coverage you get with a Medicare Advantage plan? Here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, we help people with both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement. You want to know the good and bad about both. Do Medicare Advantage plans save you money? Well, with a Medicare Advantage plan, every year out of pocket—not what you pay every month—but out of pocket for facilities and doctors can average anywhere from $4,500 to $10,000 a year in copays. That's out of pocket, out of your pocket. So, what you want to be able to do is work with someone like myself who offers both. We offer Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage. So, work with me. We can decide based on your goals and objectives what works better for you. I would love to help you, and I help people every day.

Answer: I've heard that once you're in Medicare, you might not need life insurance as much. Is that true? I have never heard that. They are two totally distinct things. One, Medicare is for your health. Life insurance is to make sure that if something happens to you, your family is taken care of and can continue their life normally without you in the picture. The great thing about being a State Farm agent, as I am here in Manchester, New Hampshire, is we deal with both on a daily basis. We have clients today with Medicare. Tomorrow, I have two life insurance appointments. Work with somebody who knows the difference between the two and can describe and go into detail about the difference. Again, one is for your health, Medicare, and the other, life insurance, is to make sure your family goes on while you're not there and their lives continue normally as much as possible. Deal with someone like me. I'd be glad to help. Thanks.

Answer: What's your go-to strategy for helping someone decide between Medicare Advantage and Medigap? I love those questions here, mostly every day. The great thing about working with someone like me at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, is that we offer both. We have no preconceived notions about what a client should have until we discuss their goals and objectives. We talk to them about Medicare Advantage and Medigap Medicare Supplement, sharing both the good and bad of each plan, and then let them decide. Again, it's a personal decision and a financial decision. Making these decisions at age 65, we all know that health doesn't get better as you get older. So work with someone like me who can offer both Medicare Advantage and Medigap Medicare Supplement policies to give you the pros and cons. Then you can make that decision. Great decisions come from good information. I would love to help you with that.

Answer: Will Medicare cover everything my current employer plan does? That's a great question to ask before you make any decisions. What we do here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, is we get the plan documents from the current employer. They send it to us, we take a look, we see what they cover, we see what the deductibles are, we see what the limitations are, then we bring our client in and say, here's how this would compare to original Medicare parts A and B. But then we also talk about adding a Medicare supplement, which would cover all of the gaps and limitations in original Medicare. Do your homework for us, work with someone like myself who deals with this every single day and can give you great information so that you can make good decisions. I love that question, I'd be glad to help.

Answer: Is Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage better? Why do you recommend one over the other? That question is asked in my office every single day here at State Farm on Kelly Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. What you want to do is work with someone who knows this info inside and out and can give you all the good and all the bad.

What you also want to look at is whether Medicare Advantage is better than Original Medicare. Is a Medicare supplement better? What about my Part D plan? Work with someone like myself who can offer all of those options to you. We don't recommend one over the other. We sit with each individual client or couple and let them decide what makes the best sense for them. We give them great information so that they can make great decisions.

This is way too important to put off or make quick decisions about Medicare. So work with someone like myself. I'll be glad to help you, let you know all the good and all the bad, and then let you decide what makes the best sense for you. Please allow us to do that. Thank you.

Answer: These rights typically occur after specific events, such as:

Losing coverage under a group health plan that paid secondary to Medicare.

Switching from a Medicare Advantage Plan to Original Medicare within the initial 12 months of enrollment.

Your current Medicare Advantage Plan terminating service in your area.

The end of your Medicare open enrollment period.

Also-3 months before the month of and 3 months after your 65th Bday! :)

You can get a Guaranteed Issue Medicare Supplement policy REGARDLESS of your Health!

HUGE!

Work with someone like me who can answer ALL your questions and help you make the Best decisions for you! I help folks everyday with these important decisions! Great decisions come from great advice!

Answer: I'm turning 65 in three months but still working with employer coverage. Do I need to sign up for Medicare right now, or can I wait? I hear that question every day here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester. As long as your employer has 20 or more employees, they don't have to be on the health plan, but they have 20 or more employees. You can stay on that employer coverage.

Here's what you have to ask yourself: What are my deductibles with the employer coverage? What are my out-of-pocket expenses? Does it make sense to go on Original Medicare, Parts A and B? Does it make sense to go on Medicare Parts A and B and add a supplement, or go Medicare Part C? All the alphabet soup! That's why you want to deal with someone like myself who deals with these questions every day and helps people make these decisions. Great information will help you make great decisions. Please allow us to help you.

Answer: How can I save money on my Medicare supplement plan? Great question! Remember the Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song, "You Better Shop Around"? That's what we tell people. Remember, Medicare supplement plans are government programs, so whatever company you go with, the coverages are all the same. The only differences you're going to have are in the cost that you pay each month. Here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street, we help people with it every single day. We will also show you how competitive we are, and we actually show people the top three companies with the most competitive prices, and we're always one of them. Allow us to help you. We will give you great information to make great decisions. Thank you!

Answer: Should I keep Original Medicare or go with a Part C Medicare Advantage Plan? Which is better all depends on the client and the circumstances. Here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester, we help people every day with that question. We're going to be able to give you all the pros and cons of sticking with Original Medicare Parts A and B or going to a Medicare Advantage Plan, now called Part C. It’s all Medicare alphabet soup, and it’s difficult until someone like myself can explain it so that it’s easy to understand. Then you can make the best decision for you and your family. Please allow us to help you with that; we’d be happy to.

Answer: I'd refer you to: Medicare.gov Those folks are wonderful and know how to guide and help folks!

Answer: How do you explain to clients that zero premium doesn't mean zero cost with Medicare Advantage? Great question! What we do here at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street in Manchester is tell folks exactly what the out-of-pocket costs can and will be with a Medicare Advantage plan. Just because there's zero premium, there are always out-of-pocket costs. In the state of New Hampshire, they're anywhere from $4,500 to $10,000 every year. It resets every year.

So, the 800 numbers, your mailbox being stuffed, the commercials, all are leading you toward Medicare Advantage because that's all they can offer and sell. Here at my State Farm agency, we do offer Medicare Advantage, but we also offer Medicare Supplement. We give people the pros and cons of both, the good and bad, and then let them make the decision.

But work with someone like myself who can offer both, not just the zero premium Medicare Advantage plans that they don't tell you about the out-of-pocket costs. We'll be glad to help you. We help people every single day.

Answer: Can I be denied for a Medicare supplement plan? We tell people here at State Farm Capraro Agency in Manchester that you're gonna have a magic window. Three months prior to your 65th birthday, the month of your 65th birthday, and three months after your 65th birthday, that magic window opens so that you can apply and get a Medicare supplement plan non-medically. Any company has to accept you regardless of your medical condition. If you miss that window, then you will in fact have to be underwritten medically, and based on your medical history, the company can deny you. So do yourself a favor and work with someone like myself that can make sense completely of the Medicare alphabet soup. We help people every day. In fact, I helped two clients today. We give good information so that you can make great decisions. Medicare is way too important to take a chance or to procrastinate with. Please let us help you. Thank you.

Answer: The question was, how will the new 2025 Medicare Part D out-of-pocket cap impact seniors and prescription drug costs? The great news is, as of 2025, the maximum out-of-pocket for prescription drugs will be $2,000 per person. I personally, here at my State Farm agency, have people jumping up and down in the streets because they've been paying five or six times that for their drugs for the past five or six years. Fortunately, folks got together and said, "You know what? Let's make the maximum $2,000 out-of-pocket."

You have to look at your prescription Part D drug plans. They change every year. That's why you want to work with someone like myself who will review them with you every year to make sure that you're up-to-date and that your prescription Part D drug plan is covering the drugs that you're on. So please do some homework and work with someone like myself who can go through those with you each year to make sure that you're taken care of. But rejoice, because $2,000 out-of-pocket is way better than some of my clients who were paying $10,000 and $12,000, especially for cancer and heart drugs. So that's a huge positive. Thank you.

Answer: Should there be stricter regulations on Medicare Advantage marketing and sales practices? My answer to that is the government, which always offered Medicare Part A and B, called Original Medicare, decided in the '90s, "Hey, let's give folks another option," and sent it over to the insurance companies. Unfortunately, these Medicare Advantage 800 numbers and all the ads you see only sell Medicare Advantage, so they're only going to tell you how great they are and blind you with zero premiums every month. You can get glasses and you can get hearing aids. What they don't mention is there's always a maximum out-of-pocket every year for what folks go to the hospital and the doctors for with Medicare Advantage plans.

In the state of New Hampshire, where I am at my State Farm agency on Kelly Street, it's anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 a year out of pocket. So that's each and every year. Work with someone like myself who can offer not only Medicare Advantage but also Medicare Supplement and help you choose a Medicare Part D prescription plan. That's what I do on a daily basis. I do Medicare planning, I do retirement planning, and I do Social Security planning.

That's a great question. I wish I had the actual answer for it, but the government is pushing people towards those Medicare Advantage plans. I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theorist here, 'cause I'm not. Again, I offer both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement, so I wish you the best of luck.

Answer: Is it better to get Medicare Part D or Medicare Advantage? Another good question. Each and every situation I deal with, whether a client or couples, on a daily basis here with our Medicare planning is unique to the individual goals and objectives in their health. So what you really have to look at is what are my options, and where am I in that game as far as health? Am I in good health, okay health, or is my health declining? Because those decisions can cost you a lot of money out of pocket.

So deal with someone like myself here at State Farm on Kelly Street and say, "Hey, this is what I'm looking to do, Tony. Here's my history. Here's my family's health history. Give me some information so that I can make some great decisions." And that's what we do. Please don't take someone else's advice. I hear a lot of, "I asked my friends, I asked my boss, I asked the guys I golf with." Talk with someone like myself who all they do daily is Medicare, Social Security, and retirement planning. Good luck.

Answer: I picked a Medicare Advantage plan based on a low premium, but now I'm facing high co-pays. Did I make a mistake? We hear that all the time. You wanna work with someone like me who can offer both Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage to tell you all the good and bad, all the pros and cons about Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement. The Medicare Advantage commercials, the 1-800 numbers, all of that, they make a ton of money from the government for selling those plans. Don't get me wrong, we offer those too, but in the right situations, they fit perfectly. You should know the differences between Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage. The Medicare Advantage plans blind you with the low premiums or zero premiums, and then on the back end, out-of-pocket costs can be anywhere from $4,000 to $10,000 a year. I saw one of those Friday, $10,000 a year maximum out-of-pocket with a zero premium. So if you have health issues or you're going to the hospital, seeing doctors on a regular basis, or God forbid you have cancer or a heart condition, you're gonna hit that $4,000 or $10,000 out-of-pocket with a Medicare Advantage plan every year. So work with someone like me who can offer both. Good luck.

Answer: Question: What's the financial risk of sticking with Original Medicare without a Medigap plan? I just saw this question come across, and I didn't even hang up my headset because I had to answer this one. With Original Medicare Part B, the government will pay 80%, and you are responsible for 20% of the total cost. There is no out-of-pocket maximum.

A specific example: I've got a client at CMC who had some heart issues. The bill was $65,000. Thankfully, they have a Medigap policy, which will pay all of their 20% for them. Had they not had the Medicare Medigap supplement policy, they'd be paying $13,000 out of pocket, and I don't know who has that just laying around.

So please, before you make any decisions or non-decisions on Medicare, Original Medicare, Supplement, or Medicare Advantage, speak to someone like myself who deals with it every single day with clients and has real-life experience and real stories to tell about horror stories from making the wrong decisions.

I would be glad to help you. We'll go over the pros and cons of Original Medicare, sticking with that, or doing a Medicare supplement to add to A and B that will pay all of your out-of-pocket costs, or even going to a Medicare Advantage plan, which I believe would be better than sticking with just Original Medicare. Anyway, we're here to help. My office is right on Kelly Street in Manchester, Tony Capraro State Farm. Have a great weekend!

Answer: Ah, great question! I'm worried about choosing the wrong plan and being stuck with it for Medicare. How often can I change my Medicare coverage? Well, are we talking Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage Plan, or a Prescription Part D plan? These are all important questions and answers that you need to know before you make your choice. So, work with a professional like myself who deals with Medicare planning every single day. I helped three clients today and gave them great information so they can make good decisions.

What makes more sense? Do I do Medicare A and B, which is Original Medicare? Do I add a Medicare Supplement, which supplements A and B in my out-of-pocket costs? Or do I go for a Medicare Advantage Plan, which I can change every year, and they change every year?

So, do yourself a favor. Before you make any decisions, sit down with someone who knows this stuff inside and out so that you can make a great decision. Age 65 and Medicare decisions are hugely important. Let us help you!

Answer: I'm worried about the donut hole in my Part D plan. How do I manage my medication costs once I enter it? Great news for 2025: there is no more donut hole. As of 2025, the maximum out-of-pocket for prescriptions will be $2,000 per individual. For my clients, that's huge, because I've had clients who have spent $5,000, $6,000, or even $7,000 in the past years on medicines due to cancer or heart issues. So good news for you, my friend, whoever asked this question: there is no more donut hole. It will be a maximum out-of-pocket of $2,000 for prescriptions. Work with someone like myself who can go over Medicare Supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Prescription Part D plans. I've worked with clients for the last decade to help them make the right decisions. I'm Tony Capraro, I'm on Kelly Street in Manchester with State Farm. Let us help you, we'd be glad to.

Answer: Question: If Medicare Supplement Medigap plans are better for long-term coverage, why don't more people choose them? What I see in my practice here at State Farm on Kelly Street, and I've been doing Medicare planning now for the last decade, is that people don't understand the differences between Medicare Supplement Medigap and Medicare Advantage. Of course, Medicare Advantage gets all the commercials, all the hype, and stuff in your mailbox.

What we do here is explain to our clients both the advantages and disadvantages of Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage. Whatever makes better sense for the client, we help them with that. So, work with someone who can offer you both Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage. More importantly, work with someone who's dealt with it for years and knows the good and bad about both plans. We would love to help you. Please, these decisions are way too important to take by chance or wait until the last minute. Let us help you. We'd be glad to.

Answer: People don't understand the differences between Medicare supplement, Medigap, and Medicare Advantage. Of course, Medicare Advantage gets all the commercials, all the hype, and stuff in your mailbox. What we do here is explain to our clients both the advantages and disadvantages of Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage. Whatever makes more sense for the client, we help them with that. So, work with someone who can offer you both Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage. More importantly, work with someone who's dealt with it for years and knows the good and bad about both plans. These decisions are way too important to leave to chance or wait until the last minute. Let us help you. We'd be glad to.

Answer: I heard something about Medicare drug costs being kept at $2,000 in 2025. Is that really happening or just talk?

No, it's a reality and it's a fact. As of January 2025, the maximum out-of-pocket drug costs for any Medicare individual will be $2,000. This is huge, folks, because up until this year, I've had clients that have spent $4,000, $5,000, or even $6,000 out of pocket for drugs, especially cancer drugs or heart medications. It used to be called the donut hole because you didn't know what you were gonna end up paying. But great news for 2025: it is being capped at $2,000 out of pocket.

Please do yourself a favor and work with someone like me here at State Farm on Kelly Street in Manchester. I work with Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Medicare Part D prescription drugs—the whole Medicare alphabet soup, if you will. I work with it every day and I would be glad to help you with it so you can make the right decisions. Great decisions come from good information, and we're here to help. Thank you.

Answer: Why does Medicare have so many coverage gaps, and was it designed that way? No, it's a government program, so there's a lot of good in there and a lot of not-so-good. People have to come up with their own decisions. It's Medicare alphabet soup. How do I do the best for me and my family at age 65, knowing that at age 65, most times my health is not gonna get better? Work with someone like myself who can give you all your options, whether it's Medicare A and B only, Medicare A and B with a supplement, or Medicare Advantage, which you see all those 800 numbers and all the mailings you're probably getting. Work with someone like myself who can give you all the pros and cons of each program before you make that all-important Medicare decision. I'll be glad to help. We know it inside and out; we deal with clients every single day. Yes, it is confusing. Why? Because it's a government program. Work with someone who can help you out with that and make the right decisions. Great decisions come from good information.

Answer: The reason we see at my State Farm agency in Manchester that people become unhappy with Medicare Advantage is that they're never told upfront what the actual out-of-pocket costs can be and will be. I deal with it every single day. We are able to offer both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement. I explain to clients exactly how both work, go over the pros and cons of each, and let the client decide.

But for your particular question, what happens is that with all of these 1-800 numbers and commercials, they only sell Medicare Advantage, so they can't talk to you about Medicare Supplement. They give you all the great things about Medicare Advantage without mentioning what your maximum out-of-pocket cost could be. Anywhere in the state of New Hampshire, any of the Medicare Advantage plans have out-of-pocket costs. They'll blind you with zero premiums every month, and that's what gets your attention. But out-of-pocket means you're gonna be writing checks each and every time you go to the doctor or a facility. In New Hampshire, it's currently anywhere from $4,500 a year to $10,000 a year out of pocket, and that's each and every year.

The other thing I find with Medicare Advantage plans is that they change every year, including the doctors and facilities that are associated with them. So please, work with someone, a professional who can offer both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement, and tell you both the good and bad, then let you decide. Thanks so much. Have a great day.

Answer: You should sit down with a Medicare Agent to go over all your options! I usually have folks come in for a quick meeting and see exactly where they are and what their plans and goals and objectives are! We'd be glad to help you! :)

Answer: Do you have Original Medicare -Parts A and B only? Medicare Advantage? Medicare Supplement? With Original Medicare and Medicare Supplement as long as the Dr(s) take Medicare in the new state you're all set! If you have a Medicare Advantage-you'll have to look at getting a new plan!

Answer: Someone who deals with helping clients with Medicare planning every day! Get the facts-not the hype! Work with someone who can explain the "medicare alphabet soup" so it's easily understandable and who also sells both: Medicare Supplement/Medigap AND Medicare Advantage! We can go over all the Pros and Cons of each plan and with staying with Original Medicare!

Answer: What we've seen in helping our clients with Medicare planning-is that when you go with a Medicare Advantage Plan -the Insurance company will make the decisions on what they will cover and not cover. Another important difference is with Original Medicare as long as your doctor(s) take Medicare you are covered -with a Medicare Advantage Plan-you'll be working with a PPO or HMO type organization and you NEED to make sure YOUR doctors are Part of that plan! Medicare Advantage plans change year to year too! We have several situations this year where Doctors who were prior a part of the network are NO longer in the network! Work with someone who can go over all the Medicare "alphabet soup" and who can offer both: Medicare Supplement/Medigap AND Medicare Advantage and can give you the Pros and Cons of both so YOU can make smart decisions!

Answer: It's much better using a chat on Medicare.gov! Get on the site and set up an account and then get on the Chat feature! I use it regularly and there is almost Immediate help and answers for all your questions!

Answer: You'll have to use the DR's that are part of the Medicare Advantage Plan-you can easily check with Dr's and Hospitals to see if they're part of the Medicare Advantage plan you are looking to switch to. Have you looked into Medicare Supplement/Medigap-you'd be able to see any Dr that accepts Medicare!

Answer: Part B has a deductible each year (increases a little each year-2025 is $257) and a 20% co-pay WITHOUT a maximum out of pocket! Have you looked into either a Medicare Supplement/Medigap OR Medicare Advantage Plan that can help with the Part B "out of pocket costs"?

Answer: Throw all of it in a bag for recycling! Work with a Professional who's been helping folks for decades with Medicare Planning! Work with someone who can offer BOTH Medicare Supplement/Medigap AND Medicare Advantage and make sense of the "Medicare Alphabet Soup" for you! WE do that! WE make is simple and understandable! You got this!

Answer: WE have a power-point presentation explaining in detail how Regular Medicare works. We describe in detail what the Deductibles are for Part A and Part B and what the "out of pocket" costs are after Medicare pays its portion. We will always let clients know that Medicare on its own may OPEN them up to Major Financial losses due to their Health care costs. We then go through: Medicare Supplement/Medigap and Medicare Advantage Plans- the Pros and Cons of each plan. This allows the client to make their own decisions on what's best for them. The fact that we can offer both types of plans is a huge PLUS to our clients! Let us help YOU!

Answer: That depends on what Medicare Advantage plan you have. Simply call the plan you have and inquire! Good luck!

Answer: There's a lot of confusion with Medicare-Medicare Supplement/Medigap/-Medicare Advantage "alphabet soup"! Do your homework and learn the Pros and Cons of each Option! Work with someone -like ME-who can offer both: Medicare Supplement/Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans! This was you get the FACTS not the HYPE and then make the best decision for YOU! :) WE can HELP!

Answer: Work with someone who can OFFER both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement/Medigap options! Start the process well in advance of your 65 Birthday.

Work with a Professional with a Financially Strong/Reputable company. Look up that Professional's Google Reviews that gives you a "spotlight" into how their clients truly feel about them and the Services they provide(d). Take a deep breath-YOU got this! WE can HELP YOU!

Answer: The ZERO premium monthly hype! Why do you think those commercials are shown 24/7? The insurance companies are making huge $$$ with them. There are always an OUT OF POCKET maximum the client is responsible for! Most Plans are Max Out of Pocket from $4500-$10,000 and that's ANNUALLY! Disclosure-I offer Medicare Advantage Plans through Humana -and they are great plans for folks who know both the Pros and Cons of these plans! Work with someone who offers BOTH Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement/Medigap like I do!

Answer: What do I like best about working with Medicare clients? I love the expression of relief after we've gone over all of their options and explained in detail what they actually mean and what they mean to the client. That expression of relief and the gratitude saying, "Wow, Tony, you made this easy." They can make great decisions as long as they have good information, and it's very confusing out there. So work with someone like myself to give you all the options of Medicare: Medicare A and B, Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage, and Part D prescription plans. That's what I do on a daily basis for our clients. We go over the Medicare alphabet soup because it is so confusing.

Remember, you're making decisions at age 65 for your health, and most of us do not have better health after age 65. So these decisions become very important the older you get, especially monetarily. Please work with someone who can help you and give you all the pros and cons of the different plans, whether it's staying with original Medicare Part A and B, getting a Medicare supplement to cover Part A and B and your out-of-pocket costs, or choosing a Medicare Advantage plan, which is Plan C. It gets very confusing, and as I said at the beginning of this, once I explain in detail, I can make it very simple, and then clients can make great decisions based on good information. Give us a try.

Answer: Annuities can play a significant role in retirement planning by providing a reliable income stream and offering various benefits that help retirees manage their finances. Here are several key roles that annuities serve in retirement planning:

Guaranteed Income: Annuities can provide a steady, guaranteed income for a specified period or for the lifetime of the annuitant, helping retirees cover essential living expenses and maintain their standard of living.

Longevity Risk Mitigation: Annuities help protect against the risk of outliving one’s savings. By offering lifetime income options, they ensure that retirees receive payments for as long as they live, regardless of how long that may be.

Tax-Deferred Growth: The funds in an annuity grow tax-deferred until they are withdrawn. This can be beneficial for retirement planning, as it allows the investment to compound without the immediate impact of taxes.

Investment Options: Many annuities offer various investment options, including fixed, variable, and indexed accounts. This allows individuals to tailor their investment strategy based on their risk tolerance and retirement goals.

Inflation Protection: Some annuities offer options for inflation protection, such as increasing payment amounts over time. This can help maintain purchasing power in retirement as the cost of living rises.

Estate Planning Benefits: Annuities can have death benefit provisions that allow the remaining balance to be passed on to beneficiaries, providing a financial legacy.

Flexibility in Withdrawals: Many annuities offer flexible withdrawal options, allowing retirees to access funds as needed. Some may also allow penalty-free withdrawals under certain conditions.

Diversification: Including annuities in a retirement portfolio can enhance diversification, as they can behave differently than other investment vehicles like stocks or bonds.

Peace of Mind: The predictability of income from annuities can provide retirees with peace of mind.

Answer: Both Plan G and Plan N offer great coverage for OUT of pocket Expenses and deductibles and depending on the company are generally reasonably priced! Before making any decisions get all the FACTS of coverage and costs!

Answer: Life insurance plays a crucial role in financial planning for several reasons:

Income Replacement: In the event of the policyholder's death, life insurance provides a death benefit to beneficiaries, which can replace lost income and help maintain their standard of living.

Debt Coverage: Life insurance can cover outstanding debts, such as mortgages, car loans, or personal loans, ensuring that the burden doesn't fall on family members.

Education Funding: Parents can use life insurance proceeds to fund their children's education, ensuring that their educational aspirations are not jeopardized by the loss of a parent.

Estate Planning: Life insurance can be an effective tool in estate planning. It can provide liquidity to pay estate taxes or cover other expenses, preventing the forced sale of assets.

Business Continuity: For business owners, life insurance can fund buy-sell agreements, ensuring that the business can continue operating smoothly after the death of a key stakeholder.

Cash Value Accumulation: Certain types of life insurance, like whole life or universal life, accumulate cash value over time, which can be borrowed against or withdrawn for various financial needs.

Peace of Mind: Knowing that loved ones will be financially protected in the event of an unexpected death provides peace of mind, allowing individuals to focus on their current financial goals.

Tax Benefits: In many jurisdictions, life insurance death benefits are paid out tax-free to beneficiaries, making it an efficient way to transfer wealth.

Supplementing Retirement Income: Some life insurance policies allow for withdrawals or loans against the cash value, which can be used to supplement retirement income.

Answer: Yes-you are offered a Non-Medical Supplement/Medigap when you turn 65! Once enrolled in the plan and you want to switch--Most companies will require Health Questions to be answered!

Answer: In my experience working with Seniors and helping them with the Medicare "alphabet soup" what I often see is that they have not looked into either a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement/Medigap Plan to offset the OUT OF POCKET expenses they WILL have with just enrolling in Medicare Part A and B ! There are Deductibles for Both Part A and B and Part B will ONLY cover 80% of the costs and YOU will be responsible for the other 20% with NO Maximum out of pocket! WOW! Work with someone who can show you both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement/Medigap options then make the best decision for YOU!

Answer: They believe that Medicare covers LONG term Care and it does not ! That is why it's so imprtant to work with someone who knows ALL the specifics about Medicare and all the other options!

Answer: Work with an Agent who works for a Reputable Company like State Farm! :) We help our clients every day-make the right decisions for them!

Answer: Medicare.gov you can log on and literally put in all your meds and then you can choose different plans and see what is/isn't covered!

Answer: IF you like the "face to face" meetings and contact-great! In 2025 we do "virtual meetings" with many folks who live 2 or 3 hours away and it works very well for all! All depends on YOUR preferences! Let us HELP YOU!

Answer: Get all the facts- not the hype! Get a Seasoned Professional to go over ALL the options--not just Medicare Advantage but also Medicare Supplement and Part D prescription plans! Once you know the Pros and Cons of each plan -YOU make the decision that's best for you! Let us HELP!

Answer: What a great question. WE do a "family" meeting where we bring in the kids with the Parents! Medicare decisions are so important and can truly have a huge impact on Seniors AND their families! WE help folks everyday with these huge decisions! So glad you're in their corner!

Answer: Yes you can-however once enrolled in a Supplemental/Medigap plan and you want to change -most companies will require you to be "medically qualified" by answering the medical questions on the new application! PS Always look for companies that are Financially Stable!

Answer: It seems hard but when you know the specifics you can make the right decision for you!

If you work for a company with 20 or more employees you can stay on that work plan until you retire and then get Part B! Work with someone like me-who works with Medicare Planning every day for clients! We give great information so folks can make good decisions!

Answer: There are both Pros and Cons with Medicare Advantage! There are usually OOP (out of pocket maximums from $4500-$10,000 per year) and with Med Advantage the Insurance company makes the decisions on what surgeries are "necessary". We give client options between both Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement! We provide the Pros and Cons of both and let the client make the decision that's best for them! Let US help YOU!

Answer: There were many changes in 2025 to the Part D prescription drug plans. They change annually so you want to make sure you're checking to see that your Prescriptions are covered. PS Lots of my clients use Good RX and have been pleasantly surprised with the low cost for generics using it!

Answer: If you are currently receiving benefits from the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board, you will be automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B. You will receive your red, white, and blue Medicare card in the mail 3 months before your sixty-fifth birthday. Your coverage will begin on the first day of the month you turn 65. If your sixty-fifth birthday falls on the first day of the month, your coverage will begin the first day of the month before your birthday. There are so many important decisions to be made-that's why I help folks everyday with their Medicare planning! :)

Answer: Waiting too long to get the information they need to make the Best Decisions for their particular situation and not getting enough information to make those decisions!