Anita Hawkins, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: There are several different deductibles associated with Medicare; the Medicare Part A deductible, the Medicare Part B deductible, the Medicare Part D deductible, and your Medicare Advantage plan or Medicare supplement may have deductibles as well. All of these deductibles are subject to changes from year to year.

Answer: Many Medicare Advantage plans include coverage for dental and vision services. There are also separate dental and vision plans available that you can purchase in addition to your Medicare coverage.

Answer: When discussing a zero premium Medicare Advantage plan, I explain that although they will not pay a premium for that plan, the plan will require them to pay a copay (a set dollar amount) or a co-insurance (a percentage of the cost) for most medical services they receive. What those copays and co-insurances are will vary from plan to plan.

Answer: When it comes to Medicare insurance, all brokers are agents but not all agents are brokers. The term 'broker' usually refers to a licensed insurance agent who works with multiple insurance companies so that they can help their clients find the plan that best meets their needs, as opposed to some agents that are captive to one insurance company, and can only represent the plans that company offers.

Answer: Yes, Medicare Part B covers Medical Nutritional Therapy (MNT) for individuals with diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or who have had a kidney transplant in the past 36 months, provided a doctor refers you for these services. Medicare Advantage plans also provide this coverage, although specific rules for networks and costs may vary.

Answer: 1.) You can do around to see if you might be able to get the same plan for a lower premium with another company

2.) You can inquire with your agent or your insurance provider if a plan with less benefits/lower premium may work for you.

3.) You can talk to an agent about the benefits and risks of an advantage plan, they often have much lower premiums

Answer: If you worked with an agent, the agent should have gone over the plan with you in detail before you enrolled, and you should have been provided with a copy of the plan benefits. These are CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) requirements. If you enrolled on your own, then how much you know about the plan details really depends on your research.

Answer: Medicare seminars are often very helpful. There are two different kinds, Educational seminars (all of the content is about Medicare and Medicare plans in general, no plan details and no sales activities are allowed), and Sales seminars (specific plans and their benefits are discussed, and plan enrollment may be encouraged). Either can be helpful depending on what you are looking for. If you would like information about how Medicare works, but you don't need to know about the benefits of specific plans and you don't want a sales pitch, choose an Educational meeting. The marketing will specify 'For Educational Purposes Only'.

Answer: When you move to another state, you will need to change your Medicare Advantage Plan, or your Medicare Supplement and your Part D prescription drug plan, depending on which ones you have. You will have a Special Enrollment Period so that you will not have to wait until the Annual Enrollment Period to make the change. Be sure you talk with an agent who is knowledgeable about the plans in the area you are moving to, so that you can find the best plan for your situation. This is especially important if you are choosing an Advantage plan, as plan benefits vary from state to state (and sometimes even county to county), even within the same company.

Answer: To be eligible for Medicare, green card holders must be 65 or older and have been a lawful permanent resident for at least five continuous years. Once you have been a lawful permanent resident for 5 years (after turning 65), you will be eligible.

Answer: Your Medicare decisions are so important, and they can have such a huge impact on your life and your well-being. Unfortunately, it's also very confusing to most people, and can cause a lot of worry and stress. I love being able make the choices very clear to my clients and make the decisions easy, so that they can have peace of mind knowing that they have the best plan for them. I work hard to stay up to date on all of the new changes and choices, so that my clients are always well informed. I love knowing that what I do is so helpful, and so important!