Christy Jones, Medicare Insurance Broker
Christy Jones
Jones & Jones Health Insurance Solutions, LLC
Medicare Broker Licensed in AL, AR, AZ, CO, FL, ID, IN, KS, MD, MO, MT, ND, NE, NM, NV, OR, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WA and WY
Contact Details
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Location
Boise, ID
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Phone
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Website
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LinkedIn
Christy Can Help With:
About Me
I have been helping people with their Medicare plan options since 2015. As a former teacher, my goal is to educate you about all things Medicare and help you identify the perfect plan tailored to your unique health needs and finances. Allow me to help you navigate the many plans available from both nationally and locally esteemed companies. (And don't worry, my services are provided free of charge!) Contact me to discover your Medicare insurance options and don't forget to mention that you discovered me on Medicare Agents Hub!
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Christy Jones
How can I get dental and vision coverage with Medicare?
Answer: You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that includes those benefits or you can purchase a separate Dental/Vision/Hearing plan with your Medicare Supplement plan. Some Medicare Supplement companies offer discounted dental and vision benefits.
What's the most misleading Medicare Advantage ad you've seen, and how do you explain the reality to clients?
Answer: Some ads say ‘Grocery Benefit’ and ‘Get what you deserve’. Those extra benefits are typically for people who have Enhanced Medicaid. (If you don’t have Medicaid then you won’t qualify for those benefits, but it gets the phone ringing!) Once you call the number on the advertisement, your information is sold to many different Agents and your phone never stops ringing. I show beneficiaries the various plans available to them, go over the differences in all of the companies and plans, and see if they qualify for Medicaid. Based on their qualifications, health needs, finances and other things, I am able to make realistic plan recommendations.
I'm turning 65 next month; what are the first steps I should take regarding Medicare enrollment?
Answer: Apply for Part A and Part B immediately if you haven’t already. A&B covers 80% of medical costs, then talk to a Broker to see what your options are to get the additional 20% covered. Choose an Independent Broker who can present all of the plans available. Also, choose a Broker that you like and trust that will be available to you when you have questions in the future.
I went with Medigap because I travel a lot, but now I'm paying a fortune in premiums. Did I make a mistake?
Answer: Possibly. Talk with a Broker who can present other Medicare options that are available to you based on your primary residence. There might be plans that are less expensive monthly that will also cover you when you travel.
What's the best way to compare my current Medicare supplement plan to a Medicare advantage plan?
Answer: Sit down with an independent Broker who is well versed in both Medicare Supplements as well as Medicare Advantage plans. Their service doesn’t cost you anything and can be very helpful when making those decisions.
What is the biggest mistake seniors make when enrolling in Medicare?
Answer: There are many mistakes that can be made, but I think the biggest mistake that I see people make is not enrolling a couple months ahead of when they need coverage. Sometimes, it can take 60+ days to get your Part B in place.
Hey, I keep hearing about Medicare Advantage plans everywhere. What's the real deal with those compared to regular Medicare?
Answer: Medicare Advantage plans are county specific and available in the county of your primary residence. Each county has different plans available. (Medicare Supplements are state specific.). There are many differences in coverage and ‘extra benefits’ like Dental/Vision/and Hearing. Original Medicare doesn’t cover those things and Medicare Advantage plans sometimes (not always) have those additional benefits.
What do I do if I cannot afford my Medicare premiums?
Answer: Get with a Broker that can help you apply for various programs based on your income. (You can also go to Social Security and Health & Welfare to see if you qualify.). Some programs will cover your Medicare premiums, but you have to qualify for them. Some qualifications are based on your income and financial situation.
What's your go-to strategy for helping someone decide between Medicare Advantage and Medigap?
Answer: I go over both types of plans and we talk about all of the differences between them. We discuss their current health needs as well as the cost differences between the two types of plans. How will they use their plan? How much do they want to spend on a plan? I have clients on both Medicare Supplements as well as Medicare Advantage plans, and my goal is to have a happy client.
What's one piece of advice you wish every senior knew before picking a Medicare plan?
Answer: They need to know ALL of their Medicare plan options and what each plan covers as
well as the costs. A Broker should have experience with both and examples to share to help the Client make an informed decision as to what they feel is best for them.