Blake Beecher, Medicare Insurance Agent
Blake Beecher
Medicare Agent Licensed in MT
Contact Details
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Location
Eureka, MT
Blake Can Help With:
About Me
Hello! I'm Blake, your trusted Medicare agent in the area. My specialty is Medicare, and I'm passionate about helping you select the ideal plan that caters to your individual needs and budget. I'll efficiently sort through plans from reputable national and local companies, saving you time and effort. Best of all, my services are provided at no cost to you. Contact me to discuss your Medicare choices and don't forget to mention that you found me on Medicare Agents Hub!
Q&A with Blake Beecher
I'm turning 65 next month and the amount of Medicare mail I'm getting is overwhelming. How do I sort through all this?
Answer: Every piece of mail is trying to get you to choose THEIR company. Even agents who are only representing a limited choice in companies will not give you the overview you want. What you need is someone who brokers for ALL the major companies and is not beholding to any one company to push their plan. Only then will you get a proper perspective. Plus, that broker will be your permanent go-to every following year when plans change. If you just pick a company and call to sign up, you may never get to talk to the same person twice!
Does Medicare cover supplements, herbs, homeopathy or other natural / alternative-medicine treatments?
Answer: In spite of the fact that these approaches may be the most effective for maintaining good health, they are not covered by Medicare.
Why are people leaving Medicare Advantage plans?
Answer: There have been lots of changes coming to Advantage plans, which have made them less stable and more uncertain. Many companies have not renewed their policies for next year. Advantage plans, although they offer attractive premiums, are significantly more complex than simple Medigap Supplement policies. They are more restrictive as to where you may go for medical treatment. With a Medigap Supplement, after you have paid the annual deductible, all of your medical and hospital expenses that fall under the Medicare coverage umbrella are 100% covered.
Is it ok to meet with multiple Medicare Brokers and Agents as I start looking for help?
Answer: It certainly is. However, talking to a broker who is appointed with all the major companies makes the process much simpler than trying to meet with multiple agents who only represent one or a limited number of companies.
I'm turning 65 next month; what are the first steps I should take regarding Medicare enrollment?
Answer: Usually, suppose you are already drawing Social Security. In that case, you will be automatically signed up for Medicare Part A & B. If you are not drawing Social Security, and you want your Medicare coverage to start upon turning age 65. You will want to contact Social Security and request Part A & B. You may be able to do this by contacting them, or going to your local Social Security office.
I picked a Medicare Advantage plan based on the low premium, but now I'm facing high copays. Did I make a mistake?
Answer: When Open Enrollment starts (October 15th), we will know what alternatives are available for next year. I recommend you give me a call at that time, and let's see what other options will be available.
I'm worried about choosing the wrong plan and being stuck with it. How often can I change my Medicare coverage?
Answer: If you choose a Medigap Supplement plan, you are allowed to change to a different Medigap company anytime. If your application is accepted, the change in companies will take effect on the first day of the month following your application. The key here is that after your initial Medicare qualification period, which occurs when you turn 65. Subsequent changes in Medigap plans require medical qualification approval by the new company with whom you apply. Therefore, if you are healthy enough to be accepted with a new carrier, you are allowed to make a change in you Medigap company.
If you choose an Advantage plan, you can make a change each year, without medical qualification, as long as you request the change during the Annual Open Enrollment period of October 15th to December 7th. Then the new coverage would begin on the following January 1st. There are other circumstances when you are allowed to make an Advantage plan change outside these parameters, or change from an Advantage plan to a Medigap Supplement plan. You are welcome to call me for more details.
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: 1. As an independent broker, I can sign you up for ANY plan you choose without affecting what you pay.
2. If you sign up without a broker, you will rarely, if ever, get to talk to the same person twice. If you use me as your broker, you always have the same person, who knows your background and where you can go when you have questions.
3. Because I represent EVERY major Medicare Insurance company in Lincoln County, I can recommend the best choice for your situation. If you go directly to an insurance company, they will NEVER tell you if there is a better choice outside of their own organization. My loyalty is to my clients, NOT to any particular insurance company!
4. My service is FREE. I am paid a commission from whatever company or plan you choose, and that commission does not affect your monthly premium. (And insurance companies like to use brokers because then they don’t have to hire so many employees.)
5. Every year, during Open Enrollment, I send a calendar and reminder to all my clients to call me so we can make an annual coverage review. If your plan is still good, I will tell you not to make any changes. If your plan is no longer competitive or does not perform well, I will help you change to a plan that does. If you go directly to an insurance company, they will not provide you with this service.
6. I’m a Montanan! I speak English! If you simply call an insurance company to sign up, you’ll likely be talking to someone in New Jersey, India, or the Philippines, NOT to someone in Montana.
7. Instead of talking to someone in their 20s or 30s, who has no Idea what it’s really like to be on Medicare, talk to me! I’m on Medicare myself. I understand our generation, and I have over 30 years of insurance experience.