Boris Mitnik, Medicare Insurance Broker
Boris Mitnik
Medicare Broker Licensed in IL, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NJ, NM, NV, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA and WI
36+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Wheeling, IL
Boris Can Help With:
About Me
I'd started in 1990 with Metropolitan Life, now MetLife. Many things changed from that time. I worked with many insurance companies, agencies, call centers. I always wanted to provide THE BEST possible selection of insurance plans to American families to keep the American dream alive. There are many insurance products available on the market, to custom tailor the only ones that are going to work well for you – is my job. And being an independent insurance agent, I am in the best position to do it right. Why? – because I represent many insurance companies in you interest, as many as I need to affect your unique situation for better. I work for you – my client, not for the insurance company. I am Licensed to offer insurance in many States, my home State being Illinois. We’ll review plans of many reputable carriers, like Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Humana, UnitedHealthcare®, Aetna to name a few. Limiting your choice to just one company would not be fair to you.
I work mostly with Seniors and people close to retirement in a very old-fashioned way, where respect and honesty is the way business is conducted not just the buzz words. I am on Medicare myself and will be honored to provide you with all pertinent information so you can make your own decision of what is best for you and your family. I’ll answer all your questions about Medicare related programs and other supplemental insurance policies that may be of interest to you, like Long/Short Term Care, Critical Illness, Dental/Vision, Life Insurance, Annuities. I’ll help you enroll into the program you select. At my age I don’t like surprises, and I don’t want you to have any either.
There is absolutely no cost to you for my services. And you have my lifetime warranty on the services I provide, that is for my lifetime 😊.
Q&A with Boris Mitnik
I have Medicare Part A and B since 06/01/2006 because of disability. My husband retired on 4/1/2024, and I now have no other coverage except for Medicare Parts A and B because I missed open enrollment for insurance coverage. Note: SS dropped SSI and changed it to straight SS. Please help.
Answer: Under normal circumstances, Medicare Part A and B considered to be a good coverage especially if enhanced by Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug Plan or alternatively used as Medicare Advantage Plan. Your dissatisfaction with your current coverage may stem from the timing of your husband’s retirement. When his group health insurance ended, you may have also lost any secondary insurance you previously had through his employer, leaving gaps in your overall coverage. You'll have an opportunity to enroll into Medicare Advantage plan in the upcoming Annual Enrollment Period October 15 to December 7 with the effective day of January 1, 2026. You may have a guaranteed enrollment privilege to sign up for Medicare Supplement when you turn 65.
What do I need to do if I didn't take Medicare at 65 and am now retiring?
Answer: The chances are that you had your Group Health insurance when you turned 65. Because you did not need two medical insurance coverages, most likely you declined Part-B of Medicare that costs $185 per month in 2025. The first thing you have to do is to re-enroll into Part-B. You can do it online, you can visit the Social Security, or you can call them. After you re-enrolled into Part-B you may select whether you would like to supplement the Original Medicare with Medicare Supplement or choose Medicare Advantage to work instead of Original Medicare. Please don't forget to enroll into Prescription Drug Plan (Part-D) at the same time.
(Also, you should be VERY careful if you had and can keep some of the Group Health benefits from your last employer.)
Do I have to pay taxes on Medicare?
Answer: Original Medicare Part A and B (Medical Insurance)
Everyone pays a monthly premium ($185.00 standard in 2025).
This is not a tax, but rather an insurance premium.
If your income is higher, you may pay an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA), which is an extra charge set by the IRS based on your tax return from 2 years ago.
If I move to a rural area, how might that limit my Medicare Advantage plan options?
Answer: As you know Medicare Advantage plans have networks of providers you have to use. The places away from larger cities have fewer providers and not as many plans.
The good thing is that you will have Special Enrollment Period that let you change a plan to a new one or possibly to come back to Original Medicare (Part A & Part B)
Alternative: Original Medicare + Medcare Supplement
In rural areas, many people choose Original Medicare + a Medicare Supplement policy + Part D instead of Medicare Advantage.
Why? Because Original Medicare lets you see any provider nationwide.
The trade-off: Medigap plans usually cost more in monthly premiums than Medicare Advantage.
What's the cheapest way to get Medicare coverage if I only need basic hospital care?
Answer: It is vague question. Original Medicare (Part A & Part B) which you are paying $185 a month covers Hospital care with deductible of about $1,650, that one has to pay at the start of each new 60-day benefit period before Original Medicare begins to cover inpatient hospital services.
The question now is if you want a better coverage than a this one?
What are the red flags I should look for when interviewing agents? I want to make sure I'm not just getting sold to but genuinely advised.
Answer: Do your homework: visit Medicare.gov to see the plans available to you in your area.
Pay attention to provider networks and benefits. Look over alternatives, like Medicare Supplement. Write down your questions. Find an agent/broker that represents at least five major carriers and ask your questions. If the answers make sense - buy.
I live in California but might move to another state next year. How will my Medicare coverage change if I relocate?
Answer: 1. Original Medicare (Part A & Part B)
Always stays the same anywhere in the U.S. (including all states and territories).
So, if you only have Original Medicare, relocating won’t interrupt coverage.
2. Medicare Advantage Plans (Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D)
Location matters. These are private plans with local provider networks and county-based service areas. If you move out of your plan’s service area, you’ll be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to switch to another Medicare Advantage or back to Original Medicare.
3. Medigap (Medicare Supplement Insurance) in addition to Original Medicare (Part A & Part B)
If you move, you can generally keep your current Medigap policy, but:
If the insurer doesn’t operate in the new state, you may need to switch carriers.
Premiums may change based on your new residence.
Is Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage better? Why do you recommend one over the other?
Answer: To have a complete coverage with Original Medicare one has to purchase additionally Medicare Supplement and Prescription Drug Plan. The premiums for Medicare Supplement increase every year. So, if one can afford this arrangement, I'd recommend it as a more flexible one. Medicare Advantage changes every year and requires more legwork to select and receive the treatment from network providers as well as to keep tabs on medical spending via co-payments and/or co-insurance. But it is lower cost option for healthier individuals.
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: Health insurance becoming more and more confusing. I am on Medicare myself and it is not easy to make the correct decision that will last for the whole year. It depends on the number of factors. It is not enough to know what is covered and how is it covered. Sometimes we have to take a broader view more related to our life experience than to the insurance coverage. It helps to talk about it with somebody who understands. I'll be happy to be of help.