Calvin Hodge, Medicare Insurance Broker
Calvin Hodge
In Town Medicare
Hablo Español
Medicare Broker Licensed in ID, OR, TX and WA
7+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Fruitland, ID
About Me
Hi, I’m Calvin Hodge,
I’ve been helping people in the Treasure Valley for nearly a decade.
My background is in education, and I’ve built my Medicare practice around one goal: teaching you Medicare simple and clear, so you can decide what's best for you.
There’s a real need in our community for simple, 1-on-1 help... so I opened my new office in Fruitland to be more available to you.
Whether you're just turning 65 or looking for a better plan, I'm here to help. No pressure. No sales gimmicks. Just free local help.
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Calvin Hodge
I'm on an expensive specialty medication. Will the 2025 Part D changes help someone in my situation?
Answer: The 2025 changes could be helpful to you in 2 ways. First, there is now an upper limit to drug costs for you. After $2000 the insurance has to cover it. Second you now dont have to pay your copays in a lump sum. You can get on the "Prescription Payment Plan" in order to spread the costs out over the year.
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: Teaching people about something confusing (Medicare) in a way that is accessible. Then, they can make better decisions because of what I've been able to teach.
As a senior, what should I know about the differences between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage before I choose?
Answer: The major difference that you should know is with original Medicare you can see any doctor that accepts Medicare. With the Medicare advantage, it takes a little more planning because Medicare, advantage companies have a network and it is most beneficial to stay in the network
The other major difference is original. Medicare is the government program where a Medicare advantage plan is a private. This company, who stands in place of original medicare, and must provide at least as good coverage as a original medicare.
The last and perhaps most important difference is that with the original medicare, there is no limit to your liability. However, with an advantage plan, there is a "maximum out of pocket cost" which sets an upper limit to how much you might have to pay in a year.
What's one piece of advice you wish every senior knew before picking a Medicare plan?
Answer: You should find somebody near you who will focus on teaching you in a simplified way. How medicare works, so you can make an informed decision for yourself. Not just tell you what their favorite plan is. And don't just have your kids help you, they don't know anything.
Why does Medicare allow insurance companies to bombard seniors with confusing mail and TV ads?
Answer: Medicare limits heavily the ways that agencies can reach out to you. And solicit your business, so male and tv ads are some of the few ways to get in front of they're target audience. So a lot of times they lay it on pretty thick.
Many of these ads come from large companies with huge call centers. My personal feeling is that you should find someone local, who knows the plans in your area, because he works with it all them time.
I've been on a Part D plan for a while, and I'm wondering why my generic prescriptions suddenly cost more. Did something change?
Answer: It depends on how long is a while.
If we're talking, they changed this year in 2025, there were some government policy changes that affected the way that companies had to cover drugs. Ultimately, it made the people who take generic medications more likely to pay more and the people who take expensive medications pay less.