D. Scott Harrod, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: As far as what would happen if they had claims and had dropped their Medicare Supplements they would be at the mercy of the providers who had treated them, I have no way to answer that, but with Medicare having no limit, no max out of pocket on the 20% You could be speaking of incredible financial exposure. If they were my parents and they in fact had no choice but to drop their Medicare Supplements I would definitely recommend that they locate an Independent Agent whose focus is Medicare solutions and see what they would suggest in the way of the "best fit" Medicare Advantage Plan(s) for each of them, at least with the Advantage Plans there is a "MOOP" Maximum out of pocket safety net, usually capping anywhere from $4,000.00 for a year on up to 8 or $10,000.00, a much better option thanno cap whatsoever. Good Luck and God Bless You Folks! PS: Those MAPD plans have to by law be equal to or better than traditional Medicare A and B.

Answer: Your Medicare Supplement Carrier can cancel Your plan for a variety of reasons, 1 non payment of Your premium at 30 days beyond it's premium due date, if for any reason the carrier learned that there was any fraud within the application process they would have the right to cancel Your plan otherwise the only other way that I am aware that they could cancel Your plan would be if they decided to withdraw from the market for the entire state You reside in thus canceling all Medicare Supplement Plans within Your state.

Answer: We at Central Kentucky Medicare are Independent Agents which means we work for Our Clients best interest not any one insurance company. Being aligned with a number of different Companies we are provided a wide selection of Medicare related resources and years ago one of my Carriers wrote and prepared an excellent informational booklet for the new to Medicare Folks. This booklet is about 60 pages, bold print and some illustrations and drawings ect help to make this a quick and easy read, this booklet I put in all Folks hands who come to me about Medicare. I've not seen any publication offering anything nearly as good as this booklet in getting Folks as well informed and more comfortable in selecting their Medicare related solutions, Great Question!

Answer: When I am given the privilege to assist someone who is aging in, turning 65 and who also plan to trigger their Medicare Parts A and B, my primary objective is to make certain that I assist that person to gain a complete and solid grasp of their options, such as Traditional Medicare A and B only, or Traditional A and B along with a Medigap (aka Medicare Supplement Plan), what about Part D Drug coverage, or no Traditional A and B, but a Plan C (aka Medicare Advantage Plan) and or to understand of any potential penalties. Within my Agency it has been my experience when Folks have a good understanding of their options, their costs and or financial risks over half of my Clients chose Medicare Supplements and Part D Drug Plans alongside Traditional Medicare A and B, that approach costs more monthly, but no uncertainty whatsoever as to what You will be responsible to pay, Awesome Peace of Mind.

Answer: Your wellness visit is viewed as are other preventative procedures such as mammograms and colonoscopies etc, You will not incur any charge for Your annual wellness visit. Medicare and Your PPO plan for Your sake and benefit desire that any potential health issues be detected the earlier rather than later.

Answer: I'm sorry to hear of Your accident and subsequent disability, Great question. If Your disability continues for a total of 24 months then with the 25th month of Your disability You will then qualify for Medicare coverage.

Answer: Hospitals can choose to accept and or to not accept Traditional Medicare A and B it is the Hospitals choice. When You ask whether Hospitals will accept Medicare Plans if You are also asking as to whether they will accept Insurance Carriers Medicare Advantage and or Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug plans that is again the choice of the individual Hospitals if they will accept Insurance Carriers "Medicare Plans", again the Hospitals choice or call to accept or not.

Answer: From information that the Carriers who offer Part C Medicare Advantage and MAPD plans has shared with us Agents during the last year they indicate that MAPD Plans have for the 1st time outpaced the sales of Medicare Supplement Plans. Possible reasons that some might consider moving back to traditional Medicare A and B vs staying in 1 of those plans might be desiring freedom to see any Doctor or Provider who accepts Medicare vs restricted to only see Doctors or Providers within a smaller a likely some smaller Network of the Insurance Carriers. Alternately some may find they'd prefer the healthcare costs predictability of a Medigap (aka Medicare Supplement Plan) coupled with traditional Medicare A and B, or may not like the annual Benefits changes and uncertainty surrounding MAPD Plans during Annual Enrollment Period, Great Question!

Answer: Great question, if You4 plan is an MAPD HMO then if You go out of network for care, unless it's an emergency then You would be responsible for payment and Your plan would owe and pay nothing. The alternate is if Your MAPD Plan is a PPO then You do have the ability to go out of network providing the Dr will accept to see You and will agree to accept the terms and conditions and payment by Your PPO Plan for allowable expenses, You would be responsible for Your appropriate copay for services rendered.

Answer: Guaranteed issue in regards to a Medicare Supplement Plan occurs for a Beneficiary when their present Carrier exits the Medicare supplement arena in Your area of residence. Another scenario that could create a Guaranteed Issue for the application of a Medicare Supplement Plan would occur that when You aged in or triggered Your Medicare A and B coverage You selected going with a Part C also known as a Medicare Advantage Plan and have been in that plan less than 12 months, this is also know as one's "Trial Right" in essence a Guaranteed Issue Right.

Answer: Most Part D drug Plans will have either 5 or 6 Tiers, Tier 1 and often Tier 2 you will find generic drugs and their copays will be the the lowest or even no cost of the 5 or 6 Tiers. Not all, but most Plans have a Deductible, not all Plans and in most Plans the Deductible will be triggered and add to Your costs, additionally Tier 3 and above Drugs are usually Brand Name and higher copay cost drugs as well

Answer: Great question, if the Medicare coverage that You are speaking of is Your traditional Medicare A and Medicare B You will not have to do anything other than to contact Medicare and provide them with Your new address, Your coverage is portable thru out any state in the USA. My 2nd answer is if Your Medicare coverage You carry is a Medicare Part C also known as a Medicare Advantage Plan and or You carry a Part D Drug Plan You will need to advise those plans of Your move and You may find need to obtain a new plan(s) whose network covers Your new location.

Answer: It is absolutely critical that You have the recent updates to Medicare, the all important changes. Medicare Agents undergo annual trainings and required certifications keeping them on top of changes good and or bad, You do nott pay a Medicare Agent for their guidance and assistance, keep Yourself in the best set of circumstances and enjoy optimum health care.

Answer: Great question, You have a number of options that one may consider once You have triggered Your Medicare some select adding a Medicare Supplement, or adding a stand alone Part D Drug Plan, while others will go the route of a Part C Plan also known as Medicare Advantage Plan, I'd be honored and flattered to have a conversation with You to learn more of Your current concerns and needs, Thank You! Scott Harrod