Andrew Firmin, Medicare Insurance Broker
Andrew Firmin
Benefit Adivisors Group, LLC
Medicare Broker Licensed in MA, CT, DE, FL, GA, MD, ME, NH, NV, NY, OH, RI, SC, TN, TX and VT
8+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
North Andover, MA
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Website
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Pre-Appointment Form
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Andrew Can Help With:
- Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Supplement
- Prescription Drug
- Dental Plans
- Vision Plans
- Hearing Plans
- Individual / Family Plans
- Group Benefits
- Life Insurance
- Final Expense Insurance
- Critical Illness
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Short Term Care Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Annuities
About Me
Greetings! I'm Andrew, a Medicare insurance agent dedicated to serving your local area. Medicare is my area of expertise, and I'm committed to helping you pinpoint the most suitable plan for your individual needs and budget. I'll handle the research and comparison of plans from top national and local companies, so you can relax. Plus, my assistance comes at absolutely no cost to you. Reach out to me today to discuss your Medicare insurance possibilities, and remember to mention you found me through Medicare Agents Hub!
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Andrew Firmin
What do you enjoy most about working with Medicare clients?
Answer: I enjoy making what seems like a stressful and complex decision simple. When I break Medicare down to its most simplistic form we are able to help make Medicare Planning an enjoyable process.
Medicare is the intersection of your health coverage and financial wellness! I love helping individuals understand the gaps in coverage and the ways to fill those gaps to provide maximum coverage to protect their financial wellness!
In helping break Medicare Planning down into simple to understand steps, we love seeing the confidence and peace of mind clients have once making the transition to Medicare.
What are some ways to save on prescription drug costs?
Answer: First and foremost- review your coverage annually! The plans may change what prescriptions are covered, and the plans may change your cost sharing structure. Also, your prescriptions may change.
What was a good prescription drug plan in one year, may not be the most comprehensive in the next.
Also, since you take different prescriptions than your friend or spouse, the plan that your friend or spouse loves may not be the most affordable for you.
For prescriptions that are expensive under Medicare Part D plans, or are not covered, there may be a foundation or grant that can provide financial assistance. And lastly, there are several online coupon sites that may provide more affordable coverage for certain prescriptions.
I worked for the federal government for 30 years and took early retirement. How does my federal retirement affect my Medicare options?
Answer: First, Thank you for your years of public service! The FEHB plan is amount the most comprehensive at the an most affordable rate!
I always recommend enrolling in both Medicare Part A and B. Part A usually does not have a cost and provides extra protection.
While there is a monthly premium for Part B there are two really good reasons to enroll in it: 1) If ever you should need Medicare A/B in the future you will avoid a late enrollment penalty, and 2) FEHB plans coordinate well with Medicare and will often reduce your cost sharing.
The prescription drug coverage under FEHB plans is usually more comprehensive than what you can get under Medicare Part D plans, so we usually recommend you skip adding one.
I always recommend you keep your FEHB plan, because it remains one of the most comprehensive retiree coverages out there.
Aren't those Medicare seminars just sales pitches in disguise?
Answer: It depends on:
1) Is it a sales seminar or educational?
2) the agent conducting the seminar
In the Medicare world there are educational seminars and sales seminars. Sales seminars talk about specific plans and benefits. An educational seminar cannot discuss specific benefits - but rather reviews Medicare Planning concepts.
In an educational seminar, agents are limited in the information they ask for from you and they cannot schedule an appointment with you before, during, or after the seminar. You must reach out to them. The agent is able to collect a consent to contact and will need to follow up with you at a later date.
In my opinion, you will know you have a good agent if they provide purely educational content. If there is a sales pitch - find someone else.
If you had to pick just one, what's the worst Medicare-related decision someone can make?
Answer: People are most comfortable with what they know and like. One of the greatest mistakes I see people turning 65 make is not comparing their group health plan to their Medicare choices. For those turning 65- it is important to review all the options.
For one, your group health plan may not be what Medicare calls "creditable". If its not creditable you run the risk of not having the coverage you thought you had, and you may be subject to a late enrollment penalty.
For most, we find moving off the group health plan onto Medicare is not only more affordable but provides more comprehensive coverage without deductibles or copays.
Isn't it suspicious that Medicare Advantage plans offer gift cards and incentives to enroll?
Answer: I am not aware any insurance plans that offer gift cards and incentives to enroll. Actually that is specifially prohibited by your states Division of Insurance.
I do think much of the advertising around Medicare Advantage plans - highlighting the annicillary benefits offered is a bit misleading. This is why it is important to work with an independent broker who represents multiple insurance companies AND shows you both supplemental (Medigap) plans and Advantage plans. The independent broker can help you understand the pro's and con's of each and help you identify which option is most suitable for your particular option.
An important question to ask anyone helping you is: Are you an independent broker and how many different insurance companies do you represent. And will you show me both Supplemental and Advantage plans. You want a broker who will show you both options and discuss the pros and cons of each. And you want an independent broker who represents multiple insurance companies.
Can I enroll in Medicare if I've never paid into Social Security due to working overseas?
Answer: Yes. However, you may have to pay a premium for your Part A coverage if you do not have the full 40 work credits. You should talk with a certified medicare planning advisor to review your particular situation. There may be enrollment period questions or late enrollment penalty situations that you might need to revew.
Why is it helpful to follow up with your parents after discussing Medicare?
Answer: It is important to check in with your parents to make sure their enrollment was completed and completed with the plan they wanted. You should check in to make sure they recieved their insurance cards and documents. That way they (or you..) don't end up at the pharmacy or doctors office without their information. A lot easier to address any issues or concerns early on verse months later.
Sometimes the daily rigors of life can get in the way and submitting an enrollment is a lost in the daily grind. By following up you can ensure an enrollment period has not been missed and your parents are enrolled in the plan they intended to.
My friend says the new Medicare drug payment plan in 2025 will help with her expensive medications. Would it help me too?
Answer: It may. This is a great illustration as to why it is important to check your prescriptions with each plans formulary (list of covered prescriptions). What is a good plan for your friend may not be such a great plan for you. You each likely take different prescriptions and each insurance company and plan covers prescriptions differently. Therefore, it is imperative to run your prescriptions through a tool that can compare your prescription needs with all the available plans in your area. And it is important to check annually during the annual enrollment period.
What's the most important question I should be asking about Medicare that I probably haven't thought of yet?
Answer: What are my current and future healthcare needs, and how will the decisions I make today affect the coverage I might be need in the future. As you think about this, know that Medicare doesn't provide coverage for everything and you may need to consider additional coverage such as: Cancer/Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, or Recovery and Homecare coverage. Build your Medicare Planning around protection packages. This is why we say Medicare is the intersection of your healthcare and financial wellness!