Clarence "Mark" Christiansen, Medicare Insurance Agent
Clarence "Mark" Christiansen
Christiansen Insurance Services
Medicare Agent Licensed in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, NC, NM, NY, SC, SD, TN, TX, WA and WI
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Mequon, WI
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Clarence "Mark" Can Help With:
About Me
Wisconsin's # 1 Medicare agent. Independent insurance agent since 1985. Focus on individual Medicare plans including supplements, Medicare Advantage and Part D. Special needs and dual plans, too. "Say Yes to CIS!"
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Q&A with Clarence "Mark" Christiansen
What benefits are there to working with a Medicare Agent near me vs remote/virtual?
Answer: Many people like to get to know who they are dealing with and the best way to do that is in-person. Everyone is different so as an agent, I try to be flexible. The prospect / customer "is the boss!"
Can you describe a time when you helped a client navigate a complex Medicare issue?
Answer: It happens every day! Much of my work involves helping people leave their employer group plan and jumping onto Medicare. There are a couple of forms that need to be filled out, signed and submitted. I am pleased to facilitate in this process.
What’s one Medicare decision that too many people regret later?
Answer: Making sure they have a plan that fits. Medicare is not a one-size-fits-all program so it's important to take the time to speak with an independent agent who can compare and contrast the numerous plan options.
I just got Medicare Part A, and I’m worried about hospital stays. How do I know if my overnight stay will be covered fully?
Answer: The 2025 Medicare Part A deductible is $ 1,676 for the first 60 days of in-patient hospitalization. After that, it gets nasty: $ 419 copay per day for days 61 - 90 then $ 838 per day (that's not a typo!) for in-patient hospital stays for days 91 - 150. Noting that the average hospital stay for seniors ages 65 - 74 is 5.3 days (5.6 days for ages 75 - 84), most people with nothing other than Medicare Part A will be OK with the $ 1,676 deductible. But ... this is all about "what if" and to be on the hook for a monster bill (after 60 days of hospitalization) could be a financially catastrophic event, not to mention the physical issues. Get some insurance! Most Medicare plans have something called a "maximum out-of-pocket," or MOOP to protect yourself against a big hospital bill.
What demographic challenges will Medicare face in the coming years?
Answer: People are living longer due to innovations in healthcare but unfortunately the cost of healthcare is outpacing inflation. As the cost of healthcare increases, so will the cost of Medicare. Medicare Part B premiums jumped 6% from 2024 to 2025 (from $ 174.70 to $ 185 monthly). Retirees on a fixed income need to find a way to stay healthy and properly insure themselves at a reasonable cost.
I just started on Medicare Part D, and I’m confused about whether my new cholesterol medication counts toward my coverage gap. Can you explain?
Answer: There is no coverage gap or dreaded "donut hole" starting 01.01.2025. Medicare Part D members may have high out of pocket costs initially but will be protected by a $ 2,000 annual cap on
your qualifying Rx expenses. So make sure your Part D plan covers your prescription drug list.
If a senior is turning 65 but still working, should they enroll in Medicare or delay it?
Answer: The key questions here are, how good is the senior's employer group plan and what is the cost? Then compare that with the cost of Medicare Part B, typically $ 185 / month, in combination with a Medigap or Advantage plan.
What's one piece of advice you wish every senior knew before picking a Medicare plan?
Answer: My best advice to every senior trying to understand Medicare is they should consult an independent agent who has access to all major health plans in their zip code. There is no cost or obligation to meet with most of us! So you have much to gain and nothing to lose by taking the advice of an expert. I like the DIY / youtube approach many times but not when it comes to Medicare.
How do you educate clients who are completely new to Medicare?
Answer: Every client is different and when it comes to Medicare, there is no one-size-fits all plan.
So I strongly recommend a phone call, needs assessment, then an in-person appointment or a virtual session. Let's start with one of those...
What is the biggest mistake seniors make when enrolling in Medicare?
Answer: The biggest mistake seniors make when enrolling in Medicare is trying to do-it-themselves. I think it's a bad idea, especially considering that a knowledgeable, experienced, independent, licensed Medicare agent is most likely provide Medicare enrollment assistance at no cost or obligation. The technical term we use here is, "no brainer" to talk with an agent.
What do you enjoy most about working with Medicare clients?
Answer: Helping Medicare clients select the most suitable plan for their individual needs then learning how happy the clients were with the decisions they made is the single most gratifying outcome I have ever enjoyed.
How can I make sure I'm not overpaying for my Medicare plan, and are there any tools or resources you recommend?
Answer: I would strongly recommend that you speak with a licensed, independent Medicare agent with access to all of the major plans in your zip code. An experienced Medicare agent will easily be able to help you and there should be no cost or obligation.
I have multiple medications; how can I ensure my Medicare Part D plan covers them all without breaking the bank?
Answer: medicare.gov has a public website allowing you to input your Rx list including name of drug, milligrams and dosage. Then key in your pharmacy preference to see which Medicare Part D plan will give you the best bang for your buck.
When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?
Answer: You can't receive both your full benefit and your husband's survivor benefit at the same time. If your survivor benefit is higher than your own benefit, you can switch to the survivor benefit. However, the Social Security Administration will give you the higher of the two amounts, but not both.
I'm turning 65 next month; what are the first steps I should take regarding Medicare enrollment?
Answer: Go to ssa.gov, log in or register (then log in), click apply for benefits and apply for Medicare Parts A and B. When you get your Medicare card in the mail, contact your friendly independent, Medicare agent who can help you pick a suitable Medicare plan, either a supplement (Medigap) plus a Part D plan or Medicare Advantage (Part C) plan with embedded Part D benefits.
What happens if I am already retired and collecting Social Security when I turn 65?
Answer: In this case, you will be auto-enrolled in Medicare. When you get your red, white and blue Medicare card in the mail, pick a Medicare supplement plan plus a Part D Rx plan or an MAPD plan. Your independent Medicare agent can help with this.
How can I verify if a Medicare Advantage plan’s advertised benefits are legit?
Answer: CMS, Centers for Medicare Services, overseas the Medicare Part C Advantage program. By law, Medicare Advantage plans must be at least as good as Medicare, which is to say that all plans are better than original Medicare. CMS will shut down any plan advertising benefits that are not real. "They've got your back!"
Do I have to answer health questions when switching from one Supplemental/Medigap plan to another?
Answer: Medicare supplement plans are subject to Underwriting and you will need to be in reasonably good health when you are outside of your guaranteed issue period which will be when first enrolling in Medicare or within several months after leaving an employer group health plan.