Carol Conner, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: If you’re just turning 65 yes you can. Otherwise, if you have creditable coverage, you can get a supplement, but you may have to go through some medical questions if you’ve already turned 65.

Answer: Sure, you can meet with different Medicare brokers and agents said you start looking for help as far as me. I know that we don’t charge anything for our services as far as other medical brokers. I don’t know if they have any costume involved with helping so just wanna make sure that there’s a clear expectation of any kind of cost when talking to those brokers

Answer: I show both sides of the Medicare for the supplement in the advantage. The supplement gives you the freedom to go where you want when you want to see who you want as long as they take Medicare it does have a monthly premium, but then the Medicare advantage is limited to HMO and PPO‘s and you have out-of-pocket cost that could be in the thousands of dollars and it also depends on if you’re pretty healthy or if you have some conditions that you have to take medicines; getting on the supplement when you turned 65 is guaranteed issue and gives you that freedom to choose where you wanna go who you wanna see for medical service

Answer: Annuities are way too protect your money for future use when you retire. It also helps leave a legacy behind and it is to help you grow your money so you’ll have more to use when you need it for long-term care or final expense it’s a way to help you keep the government from getting your money

Answer: Seminars are to provide information on Waze. You can protect your money and use it for a long-term care or for instant income for the future. When you do retire they’re just trying to help you make a uniform decision with your money that you worked hard to earn all your life so if you’re going to long-term care, you don’t have to spend it all down so it is working towards a sales, but it’s only for the better of you and they don’t charge you anything for your services. It’s the carrier that pays the agent.

Answer: If you were paying a monthly premium for your Medicare advantage and you don’t pay it then it could lapse if you’re on a zero premium then I don’t believe they can just drop you

Answer: You need to look at the summary of your benefits, so you can see what is covered and what is not covered so depending on the type of plan you have on a supplement or a Medicare advantage could be a major part of why it may not be covered

Answer: Med supplements are guaranteed issue at the age of turning 65 otherwise if you’re on a Medicare advantage and you wanna go back to a supplement, you have to go through underwriting and if you have certain health conditions, you won’t pass and be able to get a supplement it doesn’t have anything to do with how many years you’ve paid into it. If you chose to go with the Medicare advantage, then you have out-of-pocket costs and usually HMO or PPO it’s just not original Medicare.

Answer: I would say doctors not accepting Medicare or HMO. And prescriptions not being covered or only if they are brand instead of generic. Dental coverage is also a concern because it benefits are limited.

Answer: Medicare will never call, text, or email you asking for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or banking information. Check your Medicare summary to make sure there are no charges that you didn’t authorize. Never give out Medicare or banking information over the phone or txt email.

Answer: Seniors after misunderstand that Medicare doesn’t cover long term care. It covers for a brief time but after that time is up they will need to spend down their pensions, savings, etc. to pay for care. There are options to help protect their assets and should reach out to an agent or broker for help choosing a product to suit their needs.

Answer: If you enroll in a Medicare supplement plan G, they’re all the same services and they’re different prices so you don’t always have to go with the highest price one cause you’re still gonna get the same service so I would go with the lower priced plan of a company that’s well-known or has a low market analysis ratio loss and not much increase increases every year

Answer: Those types of plans can be done anytime during the year there’s always open enrollment or allowable changes throughout the year

Answer: What affects the cost of Medicare is if you are making more than the required amount as a single or joint spouse, it puts you in a different bracket if you’re retired and earning a large income per month

Answer: Medicare advantage you will actually have maximum out-of-pocket cost which can be in the thousands and if you have a HMO you have to have a referral and if you go to PPO, you will have to pay a little higher price. If you’re relatively healthy then you can keep your cost down to a minimum. You can also get a hospital indemnity that will cover out-of-pocket costs for hospital stays or cancer stroke heart that will pay you money when you need those services.

Answer: Medicare B is to cover your doctors, but if you have a Medicare advantage, sometimes the prescription drug plan comes with that as part C otherwise if it’s original Medicare, then you have to have a standalone drug prescription part D

Answer: If you’re not taking a lot of medication’s or using the hospital and doctors, then it may not be as advantageous to have a Medigap might be better to have a Medicare advantage with co-pays with a HMO or a PPO but once you go on Medicare advantage if you wanna switch back to Medicare Medigap, you have to go through underwriting health questions

Answer: The cost depends on what type of plan you have and some other factors as well. The best thing would be to have someone like myself come out and go over it with you or schedule an appointment in my office here locally in Mckinney.

Answer: I am an independent insurance agent that represents all companies involved with Medicare. I would be glad to come out and visit with you about the process or you can schedule an appointment in my office. We can do it on the phone. Whatever’s most convenient for you.

Answer: Yes, if you lose coverage due to retirement you are eligible for a SEP Special Enrollment Period.

Answer: You just need to find out if your doctors take Medicare advantage plans.

If not then you may need to find new doctors.

Answer: Yes sometimes this can affect the cost. It’s called Irma IRMAA and is done through Social Security administration they determine by using your tax return from two years ago and if it’s above certain amounts you can pay more than standard premium for parts B and part D prescription drug plan.

Answer: You may have to pay higher out of network costs. Or you can look into a hospital indemnity plan to gtl supplement those costs.

Answer: It helps protect assets and provides growth for income when you need it as you get older when and if you need long term care. There are policies with living benefits as well. And it will provide a legacy.

Answer: Med Adv is usually for persons that are not sick or taking alot of meds.

You could get a hospital indemnity that would help supplement the out of pocket costs. Or consider changing to original Medicare and have a monthly premium but you don’t need referrals and once you beef the annual deductible of 283 with a plan g it will come in and pay with exception of long term Medicare does not cover long term care.

Answer: It depends on what kind of coverage you have so it would be wise to have an agent review your coverage and see if there’s anything that would help reduce your costs.

Answer: If you are retiring and make over a certain amount in retirement income you may incur additional cost for Part B and prescription plan.

If you are making a certain amount then you may be eligible for Medicaid and combined with Medicare you could be dual eligible. Which means lower costs.

Answer: Enroll in Part A and Part B. You can delay Part B if you’re still working and have health coverage. If you’re retiring you need to enroll. If you’re losing coverage then we need to set appointment to go over your options for either a Med Sup plan G and a prescription drug plan or Med Advantage plan which usually has a drug plan as part C.

Answer: If you’re retiring, and 65 you should have part A and need to enroll in B and then look at a Medicare supplement or a Medicare advantage plan to help with your out-of-pocket cost. If you’re losing your health coverage, then you definitely need to have part Because you can get penalized if you do not.

Answer: I feel that working in person with someone gives more peace of mind and there are so much to Medicare and policies carriers information and going into an office. They can show you on big screens and go through everything extensively and you build a relationship and trust between each other.

Answer: It’s actually 2100 now for 2026 and it put you into a catastrophic category where you won’t have to pay anything out of pocket over $2100

Answer: It opens a special enrollment . Which allows you to pick a plan in that state

There are certain situations that will trigger a special enrollment . This allows you to to select a plan for coverage that meat needs, and service is your area

Answer: If you have an HMO or PPO, you’re gonna have to have a referral or you have any kind of specialty doctor involved so your insurance agent should have discussed what type of plan you were on and what the benefits were

Answer: That’s unfortunate that you didn’t know because Insurance Agent should go over the summary benefits with you to see what is allowed for ambulance rides. Otherwise they should’ve discussed the hospital indemnity policy, which is relatively inexpensive and can cover that kind of thing so you don’t have to pay out of your pocket.

Answer: If you have insurance to your employer, you can put off part B for a while and then when you do retire, you can have credible coverage so then you can apply for Hart but sometimes employ your coverage is more costly than going on to Medicare so you could also use your employer insurance as first primary and then Medicare could come in as a secondary so I would talk to license insurance representative about that

Answer: I would say they should know that long-term care is not paid for by Medicare and should make arrangements to protect their assets and get a policy that will help pay for that when the time comes so you don’t have to spin down your hard money that you worked for all your life

Answer: I’m not sure what you mean by a trap but manicure advantage is not original Medicare. It’s private insurance companies and to pay as you go and there are HMO‘s PPO‘s point of service out-of-pocket costs, but must have a zero monthly premium and some incentives such as over-the-counter items, monthly allowance, and gym membership you just need to compare the two and see which side you see yourself on contact an insurance agent and they can help you with that

Answer: Maybe you should look at other options and see if the Medicare advantage would be a better fit for you. I would suggest you contact a licensed insurance agent and let them help you with that.

Answer: There are annual enrollment periods. There are open enrollment periods, and then there are SEP’s with our special enrollment periods due to either moving or a special reason and then you may have to go through some underwriting Health questions so I would suggest looking into talking to and Insurance Agent and I’d be happy to help you with that if you want to contact me.

Answer: I’d be happy to help you with that, but each person situation is unique and some people benefit a bit more from a supplement original Medicare and some people benefit more from the Medicare advantage plan just depends on your needs and affordability

Answer: Medicare does not pay for long-term care so anything that you worked for all your life you will have to spin down when it comes time for long-term care so I suggest you look into some type of policy to help protect your assets and be able to pay for long-term care when you need it

Answer: If you don’t get sick or have any surgery’s or take medication you wouldn’t need coverage. Also, Medicare does not pay for long-term care and 700 out of 1200 people are going to need that at some point in their life and it is very very expensive and if you can’t afford that they’ll send you to another state possibly wherever there’s a bed available it’s unfortunate. That medical costs are expensive but you can’t put a price on your health. So I recommend you look at a Medicare supplement plan G or Medicare advantage plan unless you have several million dollars to afford medical needs.

Answer: There are lots things to consider between the two so you’d have to sit down and talk with a licensed agent about what fits your needs and the affordability

Answer: If you’re already on a Medicare advantage plan you can change or you can go back to a supplement or add a part D standalone prescription drug plan on original Medicare. You can only change once you can’t do it multiple times.

Answer: Agents are gathering information so they can find a plan that is going to most benefit your needs. A local license agent that you can sit down with you in person and has access to all the plans will be the best way to find a plan that is best beneficial.

Answer: The best way is to contact a licensed agent locally that can sit down with you and go through all of the plans to compare and make sure it fits the needs of the person. Just because a relative or a friend is on a plan doesn’t mean that plans’s going to fit your needs. A fact finding document would be the best way to look for a plan that will give the best coverage possible.

Answer: Could be the pay as you go, needing referrals, and if doctors accept the plan and f you go out if network custs could be higher. It’s best to have a licensed agent assist so you don’t regret the choice.

Answer: Both original Medicare and Medicare advantage can be beneficial to people. There are variety of plans and depending on many factors such as affordability medications, doctors, to name a few so it just depends on what your needs are. There are about 50% of individuals on original Medicare and 50% on a Medicare Advantage plan. It’s best to have a licensed agent to assist with questions, concerns and comparisons within plans every year to ensure you are getting the best coverage at an affordable price.

Answer: Short answer:

Yes, Durable Medical Equipment (DME) is a standard Medicare benefit, but how it’s covered and what you pay can differ by plan type.

Answer: You will be responsible for a lot of things that Medicare doesn’t cover and it can be very expensive if you have to to use those services so having a Medicare gap policy or Medicare advantage would be best decision to make when Medicare kicks in at age 65

Answer: It would be ideal if you could find a plan that will work forever but you never know so it’s good to get a review every year and compare plans because what might work one year may not work the next year so always be aware of the changes that are coming and have an ancient of records so they can help you with that as well

Answer: Well, I like most about it is I’m getting to help people economically and medically to get the coverage that they need and at a price that they can afford. Every year the plans change and it’s overwhelming to go through those processes so having an agent on record can help you figure all that out.

Answer: Well for one thing Medicare does not cover long-term so you will either need to have some type of pension or 401(k) savings so you can afford that or get a policy that will cover that so you won’t have to spend down your heart earned money that you’ve worked for for so long, so talking to the local agent as myself and then Mckinney area I could help you with that

Answer: That’s a good question and it all depends on your situation. We have about 50% of people that are on advantage plan about 50% that are on a supplement to dissolve depends on your condition of health.

Answer: If you’re on a Medicare supplement, you’ll have to choose a standalone prescription drug plan if you’re on Medicare advantage then Love those come with the dental and vision but you’ll have to look at see what the benefits are for those sometimes they don’t cover a whole lot you might have to get an extra $25 policy that will cover exactly what you need so having a local agent like myself in the Mckinney area, I could help you with that.

Answer: Yes when you turn 65, you’ll automatically be enrolled in part and then if you’re not working, you will need to go ahead and enroll in part B and having a local agent as like myself in the Mckinney area that could help you review plans across Medicare to see which one with best fit your needs

Answer: If if you’re wanting to go from a Medicare advantage plan that to original Medicare, you may have to go through some medical underwriting and be able to pass those questions to be able to switch back to the original Medicare

Answer: You will be paying higher cost if that’s the case or you’re gonna have to find a plan that your hospital will be in Network so I am a local agent in the Mckinney area if you’d like to contact me I would be glad to help you thank you

Answer: If you’re in the Dallas Fort Worth area, I am a local agent in the Mckinney area that could help you do a review and show you options of all plans within Medicare

Answer: For example, I am a licensed Health and life representative affiliated with a reputable company and we represent all plans within Medicare so I can give you options to look at and choose from

Answer: Do you want to be able to go to any doctor anytime anywhere then that would be like original Medicare with a Medicare gap policy where you have a monthly premium plus a one time annual deductible and in a part D prescription drug plan if you’re on the Medicare advantage side you usually have a zero premium, but you have an HMO to have a referral And pay as you go for coinsurance and co-pays

Answer: Anything that’s a tier 3 and up is going to be more for a specific type of condition and involves higher costs but once you meet your deductible then the plan will pay the remaining time of your annual contract

Answer: Those plans are ZIP Code driven and you may not be living in the area that is covered by the silver sneakers. Not all of these fitness centres have to honour that incentive so that’s why it’s good to review your plan yearly with the local agent and look at your options with plans to see what kind of advantages in a sentence they may have for you.

Answer: Age does not matter when you’re working with a medical advisor you should work with somebody that is knowledgeable and keeps up-to-date on all of the changes

Answer: Medicare advantage different than a Medigap supplement because Medicare advantage either has HMO or PPOs and yes you have to have referrals to go to a specialist if you’re on a Medigap supplement then you’re free to go to any doctor anywhere any time

Answer: If you kept original Medicare, you should’ve looked into a Medigap policy because it has a one time annual deductible and once you met that deductible it will cover the gaps that Medicare does not cover but if you only kept AMB then yes you’re going to have to pay 20% of all charges so I would suggest you contact a local agent which I am and I would be happy to come out and help you thank you

Answer: You should have a summary of benefits or a recent Medicare and you handbook that they send every year you can find information there or you can call a local agent and they can help you out. I would be happy to do that if you’d like to contact me, thank you.

Answer: I would suggest they call their local agent which I am in local agent and can be called to come out and do a review because yes it is overwhelming and as an agent I can help you understand the process of Medicare and all the plans

Answer: If you’re paying monthly Medicare premiums you might consider going to an advantage plan that has zero premiums but then you’ll have an HMO which you’ll have to be referred and you’ll have co-pays and coinsurance so it’s kind of a pay as you go. You could always apply for Medicaid to see if you qualify for that to help my suggestion would be just to have an agent come and help you review your plans so you have options.

Answer: You may have parts a and B but if you did not pick any kind of Medicare advantage or a Medigap policy then there’s a lot of things that Medicare won’t cover and you’ll be charged for the 20% so it’s always good to have an agent. It’s local that can help you. Make sure you have a supplemental type plan to cover cost that Medicare does not cover

Answer: I would say probably the worst related decision would be not reviewing your Medicare annually and having a trusted guide to help you as an agent local because plans change every year and so do your prescriptions and trying to navigate Medicare and retirement loan could be very overwhelming so having a licensed local agent saves time many and stress

Answer: The main part part D of your Medicare is your prescription drug plan you wanna be sure that your medicines are in the formula and that they are covered and at what cost depends on which plan you may have either a Medicare advantage or supplement so it’s always good to do some comparisons and have a local agent can help you

Answer: You should have your plan viewed every year because they change and depending on if you have a Medicare supplement or Medicare advantage that could make a big difference so again you should review your plans yearly

Answer: It all depends on which plan you have and what their benefits are. Medicare advantage is different than a supplement so when you’re comparing plans to plan are the same type then they’re gonna be pretty close to about the same amount but it’s always good to have a really review so you can get your options and see what’s gonna fit your needs.

Answer: If you had an agent helping you then it definitely should have been reviewed with you. It’s the agents job to go over all benefits so you can make a decision to get coverage that meets your needs.

Answer: There are special needs programs that are considered chronic and some that are dual. Chronic would be things such as diabetes or chronic sometimes condition dual is when you have Medicaid and Medicare. It can be very overwhelming and complicated so I advise you get with a licensed Medicare agent to help you navigate through these different options of special needs plans.

Answer: Original Medicare, no that is not something that they consider deemed necessary medical equipment however on the medical care advantage side they might have extra benefits in their plans that may include some of these alert systems. It’s probably just a good idea to get with a licensed agent to help you navigate through some of these questions you may have

Answer: Medicare works in all areas just depends on the region you live in on exactly which plans are available either on the supplement or the advantage side. I suggest you make an appointment with a licensed agent so they can help you navigate through these questions.

Answer: They will automatically be enrolled in Medicare parts an and Band then be considered in an IEP enrolment period and will need to select either a Medicare supplement and part D prescription plan or part C Medicare advantage. If they have credit or coverage, they can delay part B but if not, they’ll need to enroll in that other could be a lifetime enrolment penalty.

Answer: You may need to research it to be sure your service area is included in that plan because it is ZIP Code driven you wanna be sure that you’re getting the benefits that fit your needs

Answer: Yes and no you can use them for the Medicare advantage for premiums long-term care things like that you HSA never expire so you could save it for future down the road but once you retire and enroll in venture you cannot contribute to your HSA fund anymore. also, they cannot be used for a Medigap or plan G with your Medicare supplement.

Answer: Most advantage plans have a $0 monthly premium and $0 deductible for medical but some have deductible for drugs and part B approx $185 is taken out of your SS and you have max out of pocket costs for medical and sometimes prescriptions it all depends on your plan coverage but it is not totally free.

Answer: You need to look at your plan under summary of benefits and evidence of coverage to see what’s allowed for hearing benefits and if doctor is in network.

Answer: Yes and no. Not part A but yes for part B and then you will become dual eligible and need to look at plans for that which could be CSNP, DSNP, and will be a hmo or pop

Answer: You can hold off on part B for a while without getting penalties and if you have credible coverage but you can still sign up for original Medicare and it will be secondary to your primary insurance paying balance of what your primary insurance does not.

Answer: Not reviewing plan annually or not having anything in place to cover long term care which Medicare does not cover. Getting help from a licensed agent can save people time and money .

Answer: It may be beneficial to get one to help with costs for expenses once you have used your allowed benefits. You can build a policy to fit your needs and costs anywhere between $25-50 but can be as much as $400 depending on how much you think you’ll need. it’s a cash benefit to pay for hospital, out patient, ER, etc., or you can use it for other things such as rent, groceries, etc.

Answer: No original Medicare does not cover prescriptions , dental , vision, hearing or Travel. but you can get a med supplement plan g and a standalone part D to help with these. Or a med advantage part c that usually includes these benefits and at a no monthly premium cost on most plans.

Answer: Check your projected income, maximise your tax deferred contributions, delay taxable withdrawals manage investments plan Roth conversions, track life changing events and review annually