Al Bernotas, Medicare Insurance Broker
Al Bernotas
Medicare Solutions of PA, LLC
Medicare Broker Licensed in PA
21+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
-
Location
Bethlehem, PA
Al Can Help With:
About Me
Hi! My name is Al, and I am your dedicated Medicare consultant and agent. My focus is on Medicare, and I am committed to assisting you in finding the most suitable plan that aligns with your unique needs and budgetary constraints. I will tackle the challenge of sifting through plans from nationally and locally recognized companies, so you don't have to. What's more, my services are entirely free! Reach out to me today to explore your Medicare insurance options and be sure to mention that you discovered me on Medicare Agents Hub!
Q&A with Al Bernotas
My mom is considering switching to a Medicare Advantage plan because her friends say it's better. She's scared of losing her current doctors. How can we check?
Answer: Your mom is right to be concerned. You can help her by gathering a list of her current doctors and verifying each with the Medicare Advantage plan she is thinking of joining. Be aware that doctors can leave a network throughout the year. Usually, the networks are pretty stable, but there is always the chance that one of her doctors goes out of network.
My friend gets SilverSneakers with her plan and I don't-how are we both paying for Medicare and getting such different stuff?
Answer: Different strokes for different folks. The same applies to Medicare Advantage plans. Each plan can offer different extra benefits. If there is a particular extra benefit that you like, you may have to examine many plans to see is a best fit for you. You can also ask and agent or broker for an assist with this effort. You may feel morally obligated to do business with an agent/broker who helps you, but you are certainly not obligated, and there fee is provided by the insurance carrier, if they help you sign up.
I picked a PPO for the flexibility, but now every time I go out of network the bills are outrageous. What's the point of even having a PPO?
Answer: Stay in network with the PPO and only go outside of network if you want to have the services of a particular provider. If you really prefer the flexibility, then you should seriously consider a Medigap plan, which would cover you (with rare exceptions) for any services provided by providers who accept Medicare assignment.
I'm taking a brand-name medication that doesn't have a generic version. How can I find a Medicare Part D plan that will cover it at a reasonable cost?
Answer: Talk with a licensed agent or broker, someone who can do the legwork for you, at no cost. Further you can use medicare.gov as a research tool. You will enter the drug name and several pharmacies that you might want to deal with. Do not forget to include "mail order" as one of your pharmacies.
What are disadvantages of PPO?
Answer: Copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and MOOP (Maximum Out Of Pocket) are generally higher with a PPO compared to an HMO. You are still working within the confines of a network of providers.
What's one piece of advice you wish every senior knew before picking a Medicare plan?
Answer: If you want to see virtually no copays or coinsurance or deductibles, you go with Medigap (Medicare Supplement). If you want to keep the money in your pocket until you have a medical expense, you go with Medicare Advantage. It is a roll of the dice, but your peace of mind is your key.
Should I keep original Medicare or go with an Part C, Medicare Advantage plan? What is better?
Answer: The best for you is what gives you the greatest peace of mind. With Original Medicare you pay in advance for most of your medical expenses. With Medicare Advantage, you pay as you go. There are many other considerations, but pay me now, versus pay me later is the bottom line.
My plan covered my cataract surgery but not the lenses I actually needed-how do they get away with that?
Answer: They get away with that simply by following Medicare rules. Medicare allows for cataract surgery and one standard monofocal lens. Any additional lens are considered an upgrade by Medicare. Those upgrades typically come with an additional cost, not covered by Medicare.
Can Medicare Part D deny coverage for a brand-name drug if a generic isn't available?
Answer: Generally, No. But to get an unequivocally correct answer, you should apply for a formulary exception with your Part D carrier.
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: Nothing is free in this world. Agents/brokers are paid commissions by the insurance carrier when you allow them to submit your application to an insurance carrier. Your premium, if any, is never increased by working with an agent/broker, and you are not obligated to use the agent/broker to submit your application. If you trust and like working with the agent/broker, you will want them to get paid for their assistance. That's human nature.
Agents/brokers generally have life experiences that they can share with you that will generally help you make a decision that is in your best interest. You can always conduct the investigation, research, and enrollment on your own, but two heads are generally better than one.