Barbara Patterson, CFP, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: Each Medicare plan has different retail stores you can use your OTC card. Often it’s Walmart or CVS and you can use your otc card to buy otc products near the pharmacy up to a certain free amount per quarter.

Answer: Yes Medicare would cover you seeing a specialist and testing involved. A prescription drug plan should also cover medications wit possible copays for the treatment of Alzheimer’s.

Answer: I would suggest you ask them about their history in the Medicare field. I would specifically ask if they specialize in Medicare and if they are an independent agent with many companies.

Answer: You will know it’s time to review your plan if a doctor drops out of your network or if one of your meds is not covered. You should review your plan each year at annual enrollment time.

Answer: Yes if medically necessary and it’s usually treated as durable medical treatment. Copay of 20% is often required.

Answer: I provide an educational kit to each new customer that is new to Medicare. I then go thru the kit to explain the process and the steps of what I can do to help them.

Answer: No you should check with your current plan to see if they cover it. Most plans cover many different drugs.

Answer: Medugap can get expensive as you get older. You can do a trial period to go try an Advantage plan for up to 12 months and the Medigap plan has to take you back with no health questions if you want to go back in under 12 months.

Answer: See if you can apply for the Medicare Savings Plan. If approved the state you live in May pay for your Part B premiums. It is based on income and assets.

Answer: Have your doctor submit a request to your insurance company. He can explain the medical necessity for it.

Answer: You need to prepare 3 months ahead to enroll in Part B coverage and get a L564 form from your employer. This will show you have had coverage since you turned 65.

Answer: It’s often because Advantage plans are less expensive upfront because there are no monthly premiums. You do pay copays as you have claims.

Answer: You qualify under 65 if you are on disability with Social Security and usually have been for 2 years and 2 months when you get your Medicare card. You do usually get immediate disability and Medicare immediately if you have ALS or ESRD.

Answer: I would suggest you find a local Medicare Advisor that has an office that is convenient to your parents. Go with them to interview the Advisor and ask about the steps involved in getting Part A and B Medicare and if they hold their hand thru the process.

Answer: Insurance companies send annual notice of changes each year at end of September. You can always call and ask for the annual notic if you did not receive it.

Answer: Life insurance is a big part of financial planning to make sure your family is prepared financially if death occurs before retirement. Families wit children and a mortgage definitely need insurance to help with income replacement and final expenses.

Answer: They have more procedures they have to get approved than original Medicare and the doctor’s reimbursement is usually less due to being in a network with a contracted rate.

Answer: Yes I think so because they can be misleading and celebrities are often paid to do the commercials. There’s so much confusion already from the commercials.

Answer: If your doctors are in the network of your new plan you can still see them. If they are not you cannot see them.

Answer: Offering on TV Ads and Facebook a Dual Medicare and Medicaid plan with many extra benefits like food cards that you only qualify for with Medicaid. They don’t explain that Medicaid is required.

Answer: Medicare could give tips on how to avoid heat strokes and rates might definitely be adjusted in certain areas that are more affected by that risk.

Answer: If you’re within 63 days of husband losing coverage you could get Part D coverage for your drugs and enroll in a Medicare Advantage or a Medicare Supplement.

Answer: Check your evidence of coverage, call the lab to ask, call your agent, or call your insurance company to ask ahead of time.

Answer: Medicare doesn’t cover Dental, Vision and Hearing coverage. They also do not cover elective procedures, cosmetic procedures or experimental procedures.

Answer: Original Medicare does not have a network where you have to get referrals like you do on a Medicare Advantage HMO. Original Medicare is often supplemented with a Medicare Supplement that has a monthly premium and you can have a small deductible of $283/year and $0 out of pocket after and drug copays.

Answer: That is typically preventive coverage and is covered at 100%. Most Medicare advantage plans do this.

Answer: You get your doctor to file an appeal with the insurance company for the procedure or medication. Sometimes it takes more than 1 appeal to hopefully get an approval.

Answer: An independent agent like myself that works with many different insurance companies has software to look up your doctors and meds. This helps me to direct you in which plan might work best for you this year and each year forward. The insurance company does pay me commissions so there is no fee for our services.

Answer: Get a L564 from your employer or spouse’s employer to prove you have had coverage since age 65. You would use this form when enrolling in Medicare Part B and Part A. I assist clients with enrolling in Part A and B also.

Answer: I’ve been in health and life insurance for 36 years and enjoy helping people understand their Medicare options and simplify the process from start to finish.

Answer: If you are subject to IRMAA higher premiums and your income goes down you can appeal IRMAA thru SSA to get Part B lowered possibly.

Answer: If you can get the drug infused instead of a tablet you could get it covered under Part B Medicare with a $283 annual deductible then 100% coverage on a MedSupp.

Answer: AU could speed up claims or cause more automatic declines that would have to be appealed. It could be worse than it is now.

Answer: On a Medicare Supplement you will not need to look up your doctors. On a Medicare Advantage you will need to call an agent like me to look up your doctors with their software.

Answer: To be educated on your options and penalty concerns and to have someone you can call when you have claim and premium concerns that is local.

Answer: Check on your state Department of Insurance website and check under agent name. You can also ask agent for their License # and look them up online.