Aisha Saleem, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: Be thorough about your health status. Making sure your correct health status is on file, will help you to find the plan that best fits your scenario. Also,some Medicare Advantage plans offer a prepaid debit card, called a flex card - which can be used for certain out-of-pocket expenses. If you need help with over the counter medications, dental, vision, or hearing care, groceries, utilities, or discounts on groceries or utilities you should be aware of which plans and carriers offer them.

Answer: Some people aren't aware that there are multiple programs which can help pay some Medicare costs and healthcare costs. If you're low-income, you should find out what's available to you.

Answer: Annuities are designed to make a flow or stream of income for an individual. When used with retirement planning, it's a wise choice for planning financial readiness for the length of your lifetime. You can set the stream of income to turn on immediately or at a later time. You choose whether you want it to last a few years, or your lifetime.

Answer: If you choose to use a discount card to pay for a prescription because it's cheaper than the Medicare Prescription Drug plan, you can use it for the cheaper price. However, it will not count towards your out-of-pocket expenses.

Answer: Medicare Advantage is expected to soon be the more popular form of Medicare coverage. Enrollment for Medicare Advantage plans is growing and expected to continue to grow.

Answer: If someone is entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance they will be eligible for Medicare. Their Medicare eligibility will have a 24 month waiting period.

Answer: If you don't sign up for Medicare when you're eligible, you might have to pay a higher premium when you do sign up.

Answer: Life insurance contributes to financial planning in many ways: a policy that builds cash value can be borrowed against as a loan, it can be a means to pay final expenses, it can also be used as mortgage protection.

Answer: Making sure your parents have all the information and options available to them with an accurate assesment of their expenses and lifestyle is a great way to make sure they feel supported in the Medicare decision-making process.

Answer: The biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage is the limited network of providers. You can check to make sure your preferred providers are in network while choosing a plan.

Answer: The costs of prescription drugs rises faster than inflation in many circumstances, causing an imbalance and financial pressure.

Answer: Sometimes people don't think about the deductibles and out-of-pocket maximum until it's too late. It's best to make sure you weigh all the information of each plan compared to your expected use and situation in order to pick the best option while choosing a plan.

Answer: Medicare Advantage plans have an incentive to focus on preventive care, especially for chronic conditions, which can prevent big events from happening - such as hospitalization which costs more. Preventing hospitalization saves more than just money, as it adds to the quality of life for clients.

Answer: About$4.9 trillion was spent on healthcare in the U.S. so, that's about $14,570 spent on healthcare per person in the USA, according to the 2023 CMS Healthcare Expenditure Report.

Answer: You should start learning about your benefits and options. You should enroll during your enrollment period to avoid penalties.

Answer: A.I and algorithms can be used to help direct coverage needs. The use of technology helps in ensuring correct coverage.

Answer: Medigap plans may cover emergency medical care for international travelers. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer travel benefits. These options typically occur when you are traveling and in need of medical attention during a medical emergency.

Answer: You can go to any doctor or hospital with Medicare Advantage. Although, there have been instances where a hospital drops the Medicare Advantage plan. You can switch plans during Medicare Advantage open enrollment, Jan 1 to March 31. If you can't find another plan to switch to, you could return to Original Medicare and you could also pair Original Medicare with Medigap.

Answer: You will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. You don't have to do anything, but it's best to know your options and choose what benefits you the most.

Answer: Medicare Part B covers Glaucoma screenings for those who are high risk, along with eye exams related to specific eye conditions. However, routine eye exams for glasses or contacts are not covered. You may need to purchase supplemental insurance or pay out of pocket for some services. It's important to go over all your options while making decisions regarding your Medicare.

Answer: Your Original Medicare begins automatically at age 65 if you're receiving Social Security benefits. You should know all your options to decide what's best for you.

Answer: A change in your health condition could affect which Medicare plan is best for you at the present time. Significant life events can cause your health needs and life circumstances to be better served with a particular plan. You should check the plan you already have and compare it to new options. An agent can help you decide if it would be better for you to pick a new plan. You can enroll in a new plan or update your existing coverage.

Answer: An agent should be able to assist you in what best fits your lifestyle and health condition by asking pertinent questions that draw a picture of which plan is best for you. Sometimes the low premiums are not as beneficial as they first appear to be - such as in a scenario where a higher amount of healthcare is expected or used.

Answer: Most people don't know there's a 6 month Medigap enrollment window that starts after you get Part B. If you miss that window, the insurance company can ask health questions and deny coverage. However, choosing the right agent is a great way to make sure you stay informed and educated of insurance matters that pertain to your health condition and life circumstances.

Answer: Some agents push Medicare Advantage plans because they feel it's what's best for the client. Medicare Advantage plans can offer long-term care, private nursing, dental care, hearing aids, vision care, and eyeglasses/contacts. These services can improve the quality of life and healthcare for their clients. However, Medigap provides more medical coverage outside the U.S. than Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage usually do.

Answer: Original Medicare doesn't cover long term nursing home care, routine vision care and eyewear, hearing aids, prescription drugs, most dental services, and shouldn't be relied on for coverage outside the U.S.

Answer: Premiums are what you pay for the plan each month. Deductibles are the amount that you're responsible for before you begin paying copay prices. Copays are the fixed amount that is your responsibility to pay for a visit or service.

Answer: The best part about working with a Medicare client is helping them pick a plan that can improve their quality of life and healthcare.