Amal Sahyoun, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: You should review your plan once per year around October to see what changes there may be coming up for the following year.

Answer: Yearly during the annual open enrollment period to check for any changes that might affect you. Or, if you move out of the area or if your health changes & need to review your coverage

Answer: Maybe if you still have coverage that is considered "creditable" through your employer or through your spouse's employer you will not be penalized. However, when you no longer have "creditable" coverage & don't sign up. You will be penalized.

Answer: If this happens, you are entitled to SEP (Special Election Period).

And you can join another plan that suits your needs immediately.

Answer: Once you hit the Medicare Part D out-of-pocket maximum (which is $2,000 in 2025 and $2,100 in 2026), you enter the catastrophic coverage phase, meaning you pay $0 for covered prescription drugs for the rest of the calendar year, with your plan covering 100% of costs.

This phase provides financial protection, eliminating copays and coinsurance after you've spent a set amount on your medications, and it significantly reduces costs for those with high-expense drugs, thanks to the Inflation Reduction

Answer: Not having a thorough knowledge of what coverages Medicare covers.

They need to understand that Medicare does NOT cover everything.

Answer: Yes. Most likely you will qualify. However, it is always best to call the Medicare office or Medicare.gov for completely accuracy. You can reach them thru your Social Security Office

Answer: These plans are based on the county one lives in. Not all plans are in all counties. It is important for you to call & inquire about what is available to you in your area.

Answer: Call Medicare now if you plan on retiring from work to enroll in Medicare. This is to avoid any penalties. If you plan on continuing to work and have creditable coverage, you will not be subjected to the penalty, but call them when you decide to retire & lose creditable coverage.

Answer: You can utilize the Medicare.gov platform to look it up.

You can also check with your pharmacy.

Your agent can also look this up for you.

Answer: No, this is not allowed by Medicare or the individual plans. You will have to sign up at the appropriate time.

Answer: Gym membership, although it is beneficial, many seniors do not utilize this benefit. The other is the dental plan. It's best to obtain your own individual dental plan.

Answer: It depends, are you happy with your current plan? Does it meet your needs? What is your maximum out of pocket expense (MOOP) Is your physician on the plan?

Answer: It depends on several factors such as is your plan being discontinued and other individual factors, such as a Special Election Period (SEP) But to avoid health questions should be done during your original initial enrollment period.

Answer: Medicare beneficiaries should know that they need to enroll as soon as eligible to avoid penalties. Eligibility can vary.

Answer: Your out-of-pocket costs in the event medical attention is necessary & what services are covered while you travel.

Answer: Medicare agents are highly scrutinized for ethics/fraud/waste/abuse & must pass yearly exams with a 90% passing rate. The industry does not allow just any agent to offer these plans.

As brokers, we offer numerous plans to fit your needs but you won't know until you call.