Christine Itami, Medicare Insurance Broker
Christine Itami
Seniorlife Insurance Solutions LLC
Medicare Broker Licensed in AZ, FL, ID, MT, NV, SC, TX and UT
Contact Details
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Location
Fountain Hills, AZ
About Me
Christine is here to help you solve the Medicare and Retirement puzzle through education of your Medicare Rights, Entitlements and Options, and help empower you with knowledge to make the right choice. Making the right choice can save you thousands, but making a poor choice can cost you thousands. Assistance with comparing Medicare Advantage and Supplement plan options, rates, company ratings, drug plans, group coverage versus Medicare, and more. Serving all areas in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Montana, and Idaho.
Q&A with Christine Itami
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: Helping people is what I like the most about being a Medicare and Retirement Advisor. Making a poor choice can cost someone thousands, but making the right choice can save their life! My goal is to educate Seniors about Medicare and their options, rights and entitlements, advise about their personal situation and explain the differences between Medigap and Medicare Advantage. I enjoy meeting people either face to face or by Zoom, to be certain they are educated enough to make a proper decision for their future healthcare.
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: Most Medicare Advantage Plans do have a zero premium, however beneficiaries pay copays for the majority of services up to $10,000 annually, so NO they are not free. Costs for hospitalization are steep, imaging and other major services carry hefty copays.
What is the trap of Medicare Advantage plans?
Answer: Clever marketing of the "fluff" or extra coverages, such as Dental, Vision, Hearing, and over the counter allowances attract the consumer to these plans. However, the Medicare coverage is micro-managed and there are Networks to stay within.
I'm confused about all these different Medicare costs - premiums, deductibles, copays. How do they all work together?
Answer: This question is multi-faceted and is difficult to answer without speaking to the person and know their particular situation. One must evaluate the needs of the client before trying to explain costs, deductibles, and copays without talking about plan selection. I won't go into much detail, but if someone wants to meet or talk by phone I would be happy to review the answers to all of these questions after I do a needs analysis.
What should I do with my Medicare plan if I'm diagnosed with a rare disease requiring specialists?
Answer: I would not recommend you do anything at this point, unless you have a certain type of rate disease that may be eligible for a Special Needs Plan. It would be in your best interest to call your agent to discuss this with him/her to see if there is anything that would be more suitable for you under a Special Election Period.
If you have a Medicare Supplement, you don't need to do anything.
How can I tell the difference between an experienced Medicare Broker and an inexperienced Medicare Broker?
Answer: A seasoned Medicare Broker will take the time to meet with you, either in person, or by phone or Zoom and educate you about your Medicare Rights, Entitlements and Options. They will also walk you through a thorough education about Medicare, the pros and cons of different types of plans that work with Medicare, costs, out-of-pocket costs, your specific drug costs and coverage. They will also evaluate your existing coverage to determine if staying on a particular plan (Group) is more advantageous depending upon your cost comparison, and dependent needs, etc.
An inexperienced Broker will only be focused on selling you a product as quickly as possible without covering the above mentioned, important information to assess your individual needs.
I'm confused about when I can change my Medicare plan. Can you clarify the different enrollment periods for me?
Answer: Your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP) is given when you are either first turning 65, 3 months prior to your birthday month, including your birthday month, and 3 months after your birthday month. This is the time you should activate your Medicare, and acquire additional coverage that works alongside Medicare.
Special Enrollment Periods (SEP) are given for various reasons: coming off of group coverage after turning 65, States of Emergency, moving, losing other Medicare coverage, losing Medicaid coverage, and many others. You usually have a shorter window of opportunity to make this type of change which varies depending upon the reason.
Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) is from 10/15-12/7 each year where you can either change your Medicare Advantage Plan, return to regular Medicare, change your Part D drug plan, or go from Regular Medicare to an Advantage Plan.
Open Enrollment Period (OEP) 1/1-3/31 - you can return to Regular Medicare from an Advantage Plan, and acquire a Medicare Supplement and Part D drug plan. You can also switch Medicare Advantage plans at this time. Only one change can be made during this period.
Will I be penalized if I do not enroll in Medicare when I turn 65?
Answer: There are determining factors at play which determine whether or not a penalty will be charged.
If you are on a Group Plan that is Creditable Coverage according to Medicare, you will not be penalized if you delay activating your Medicare Part B. Part A usually defaults whenever you enroll in Part B to the 1st of the month you turned 65.
If you don't have Creditable coverage according to Medicare, and delay enrolling in Medicare, you will be charged a penalty which is charged based on the amount of time you delayed your enrollment. This penalty stays with you for your entire life you are on Medicare. You are also limited to the General Enrollment Period (GEP), 1/1-3/31 of every year where you can enroll, your coverage will begin the first of the month following your enrollment.