Charlie Fitzgerald, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: If by help you you are referring to going through your options and assisting you in making a suitable selection, of course they may. I encourage you to all meet with an Independent Insurance Broker with Medicare Certifications for a variety of carrier/providers in your area to work with you and your children.

Answer: I’ll give you a few reasons why I personally didn’t choose an Advantage plan.

1. Stuck in a network…no access to Doctors NOT in the plan network.

2. Higher out of pocket payments for MRI and CT scans.

3. I travel for business and pleasure. Advantage plans lack portability, out of area care is non-network and higher cost.

Answer: “”Supposed” to change? The likelihood that it doesn’t change from year to year is very low. Cost to provide care is going up every year and so plans change to align with the higher costs.

Answer: I recommend to all my clients to have me do an annual review during AEP. This way if there are suitable changes that need to be made, we can make them.

Answer: Get together with a Medicare Certified Independent Insurance Broker and let them complete a thorough needs analysis. From there, they can guide you to the suitable recommendation for your individual needs.

Answer: Without a complete analysis of your wants, desires and needs , as well as Reviewing yurr health abcs medications, it would be irresponsible to make a recommendation.

Answer: Without any other Life Changes that would allow for a change in your plan, you may change your plan (s) during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) which is from October 15th to December 7th every year.

Answer: Personally, I spend as much time as needed to find out what their specific wants, needs and desires are in terms of their Golden Years Healthcare needs. After that, I can make recommendations about the Medicare Plan (s) that best fit their individual wants, needs and desires and we can then go over the plan (s) and discuss and educate on each plan (s) Pros/Cons. Ultimately determining together which Plan (s) are most suitable, sustainable and affordable for them.

Answer: Likely, the Agents you’ve spoken to are only appointed with a single Medicare Plan provider, so they push you in the direction that they have a relationship with. Personally, as an Independent Insurance Broker (not Agent) I spend the time and the money each year to get certified with the Medicare Plan Carriers that have the best plans and the highest rated service levels for my clients. When I am assisting a Medicare client to make their best choice for a suitable and affordable plan, the key is to ask the right questions about their specific needs and desires for their coverage. I’m a new Medicare Plan Beneficiary myself, as I turn 65 in November of 2025. I am in a unique position to share my own reasoning with the plan (s) I personally selected with my clients. My recommendations for which Carrier and which Plan (s) are the right fit for my clients are based solely on their needs.

Answer: It’s never a bad idea to review your Medicare plan (s) and I do an annual review with all my clients every year. If you have had a change in your health, I would definitely recommend doing a review to ensure that your plan (s) provide you with the best level of care for your individual circumstances.

Answer: Overview of Medicare Annual Wellness Visit

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) is designed to promote preventive health care for beneficiaries. It focuses on assessing health risks and creating personalized prevention plans.

Key Components of the AWV

Health Risk Assessment

Patients complete a questionnaire about their medical history and lifestyle.

This helps identify potential risk factors for chronic diseases.

Medical and Family History Review

Clinicians review the patient's medical and family history.

This identifies hereditary risks and chronic conditions that may need monitoring.

Preventive Services Checklist

Review of recommended screenings and vaccinations.

Includes services like mammograms and colorectal cancer screenings.

Personalized Prevention Plan

Development of a tailored health plan based on collected data.

May include lifestyle recommendations and referrals to specialists.

Cognitive and Behavioral Screening

Assessment for early signs of cognitive impairment and mental health concerns.

Enables early intervention if needed.

Advance Care Planning (Optional)

Discussion of preferences for future medical care, including advance directives.

Coverage and Costs

Medicare covers 100% of the cost for the AWV.

Beneficiaries must have Medicare Part B for at least 12 months.

Only one AWV is allowed per year, and it is not a comprehensive physical exam.

The AWV is a proactive approach to health care, aiming to catch potential issues early and improve overall health outcomes.

Answer: Original Medicare Part A and Part B will cover you for the services. A Medicare Advantage Plan might also be a consideration to have the services you need and a Prescription Drug Plan incorporated - MA-PD plan.

Answer: The Following vaccines are covered for all Part B and Part D Medicare plan beneficiaries:

Influenza (Flu)

RSV

Shingles

Pneumococcal (Pneumonia)

Covid-19

Hepatitis B

Answer: The worst mistake someone can make is NOT working with a Certified Medicare Professional (Insurance Broker… bs Insurance Agent so you have access to ALL plans available) to assist you, educate you and ultimately make a recommendation to you for the plan or plans that make the best sense for your individual set of circumstances, desires and specific needs.

Answer: Medicare Part A and Part B do not cover several key areas, including:

Regular dental care: Routine dental services like cleanings and fillings are not covered.

Vision and hearing care: Eye exams and hearing aids are not included, except for specific conditions.

Prescription drugs: Most outpatient prescription medications are not covered, and you will need Medicare Part D for that.

Long-term care: Nursing home stays and assisted living are excluded, although skilled nursing facility care may be covered after hospitalization.

Care while overseas: Medicare does not cover health services received outside the United States.

These gaps can lead to significant out-of-pocket expenses, so it's important to consider additional coverage options like Medigap or Medicare Advantage plans to bridge these costs.

Answer: If you delay Medicare enrollment without credible coverage, you may face a late enrollment penalty for Medicare Part B or Medicare Part D.

The penalty for Medicare Part D is 1% of the national base beneficiary premium times the number of months you went without creditable coverage. In addition, the Medicare Part B penalty is 10% for every 12-month period you go without coverage. Keep in mind, these penalties never go away. That’s why it’s important to know if your current coverage is creditable before you choose to delay enrolling in Medicare.

Many employees are under the impression that their group health plan through work will allow them to delay enrollment in Medicare until they retire. However, if you work for an employer with fewer than 20 employees, your group health insurance will not be creditable for Medicare.

Answer: Honestly, following the advice of friends B our family rather than working with a Licensed Agent with Medicare certification to guide them.

Answer: A Licensed Agent with Medicare certification can check to see if her doctor is available to her. All plans have different parameters.

Answer: Often, cheaper is not better and you find it’s actually costing you more than you anticipated. Having a licensed agent explain all of the options, benefits and associated costs is a better method to selecting your plan.

Answer: I’ll give you two…

1. Medicare is too expensive for most seniors.

2. Seniors have to sacrifice access to Doctors they want to use because they now have Medicare.

Answer: There are several resources for a person in this situation. Both at the Federal level and The State level. A Licensed Agent will be able to guide you with regard to these.

Answer: Potentially, yes. Speaking with a licensed agent will provide you with the information necessary to make the necessary and appropriate decisions.

Answer: Generally speaking, no they do not under Original Medicare Parts A and B. However, there are other plans available that do cover this.

Answer: For some, affordability may be a concern. Others may choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, thereby not needing the Medigap plan (you cannot have both.) Or, they may have not been effectively guided by a licensed agent to know the benefits of the Medigap plans.

Answer: There are specific circumstances where this may occur. For this reason, it’s critical to seek the guidance of a licensed agent to work with you.

Answer: The determination for this is arrived at by discussing at length the options and coverage provided by both and selecting the best plan to meet the needs and expectations and desires of my client.

Answer: Spending as much time as necessary to discuss their expectations and desires for coverage. Identifying what makes the best sense for their individual case. Then explaining all the options that they have available and recommending the option that best meets their needs.

Answer: Work with a Licensed Agent that has the ability and willingness to spend as much time as necessary to fully explain the available options to meet your individual needs.

Answer: I’m very passionate about this role. The feeling of accomplishing the task of placing my clients into the absolute best Medicare Plan (s) based entirely on their specific individual needs is my passion. Selecting the ideal plan (s) is not a 1 size fits all process. Ensuring that my clients have a complete understanding of the options they have and providing them with the information to make the best choice is my passion and purpose.

Answer: A Licensed Agent with Medicare certification is key. They have the resources to complete an Rx lookup to ensure that your medications are covered by whichever Medicare Plan makes the most sense for you to have.

Answer: There are actually Medicare plans that do offer this type of benefit. Generally, they are available to a very select demographic of beneficiaries and are based on income and other specific qualifying requirements.

Answer: Annuities are a very useful tool to utilize in ones overall retirement planning. A Licensed Agent with expertise in this area is critical.

Answer: Medicare Advantage plans are offered by Private Insurance Companies. All plans must offer the same level of coverage available from Original Medicare Parts A and B and may include other plan benefits that either are not covered by Original Medicare, or that enhance coverages offered by Original Medicare.

Answer: The licensed agent should always complete the SOA with the client to make certain that there is clarity as to the appointment and the topics to be discussed.

Answer: A licensed agent will be able to guide you through the different Medicare Plans to ensure that your specific needs and desires are fully met. As a Medicare specialized agent, I have access to all of the resources to ensure that all of your needs are met and that you have the very best Medicare plan (s) available at costs you can comfortably afford.