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
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Facebook
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.