Chad Watkins, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: What I like most about being a Medicare agent is helping people find the plan that is best for them and the lowest cost

Answer: The most frustrating misconception that I have to clear up is that people think they can only change their Medicare supplement plan during the Annual Election Period (AEP).

Answer: Preventative screenings are covered by Medicare. The reason for this is because it actually costs them less money because illnesses are caught early thus preventing expensive care.

Answer: An agent asking for a scope of appointment is not only normal, it is a Medicare requirement. It is done to help keep seniors from being inundated with sales calls, thus the agent needs a prospects permission to even talk about it.

Answer: The coverage gap known as the "donut hole" no longer being in effect means that instead of needing to pay different copay amounts after reaching a certain level, you will now pay nothing for prescriptions after your out of pocket expense has reached $2,000.

Answer: The biggest mistake people make when enrolling in Medicare is doing so when they still have employer coverage. Most people get Medicare part A for free but part B has a premium. You do not need to get your part B in place if you have employer coverage, thus you can save that premium and never pay a late enrollment penalty as long as the employer coverage is considered creditable, i. e. it would pay the same as Medicare would.

Answer: While Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage both provide prescription drug coverage, they are very different as Medicare Advantage also provides medical coverage, thus the two are not comparable.

Answer: Anyone who has employer coverage does not need to activate their Medicare part B as they would be paying a premium for insurance that they do not need. Therefore, they should delay it.

Answer: You can qualify for Medicare under the age of 65 if you have been on disability for at least 24 months.

Answer: CA, ID, IL, LA, MD, OR, OK and NV all have a Medicare birthday rule. Rules vary by state (for example IL it is only available for ages 65 to 75) but the general idea is that around your birthday, you can switch your Medicare supplement plan to one of equal or less value without going through underwriting and worrying about pre-existing conditions.

Answer: Original Medicare has large deductibles and copays so it helps to supplement that with either a Medicare Advantage or Medicare supplement plan. It is important to know that most Medicare Advantage plans will require you to deal with doctors and hospitals that are in network to pay the least in copays.

Answer: Seniors with low income should look into these programs:

PAAD - Pharmaceutical Assistance for the Aged or Disabled

HAAD - Hearing Aid Assistance for the Aged or Disabled

Senior Gold

all can be reached at 1-800-792-9745