David Christian, Medicare Insurance Broker
David Christian
TMB / DC's Mortgage & Insurance Agency
Medicare Broker Licensed in CA and TX
14+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Ontario, CA
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David Can Help With:
- Medicare Advantage
- Medicare Supplement
- Prescription Drug
- Dental Plans
- Vision Plans
- Hearing Plans
- Individual / Family Plans
- Group Benefits
- Life Insurance
- Final Expense Insurance
- Critical Illness
- Long Term Care Insurance
- Short Term Care Insurance
- Disability Insurance
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Annuities
About Me
Hey there, my name is David, and I am your local independent licensed Medicare advisor and agent. I am an expert in Medicare who is devoted to helping you find the best plan that matches your specific needs and financial situation. I will take care of the daunting task of comparing your plan options and explaining the benefits in a way you can make an easy decision. Even better, my services are completely free! My experience is your benefit.
Contact me today to explore your Medicare and Health Insurance options and be sure to mention that you found me on Medicare Agents Hub!
A little about me:
My sales experience started at 8 years old in Los Osos, California. I went door to door selling Amway. No, it wasn't my choice. In those days parents just wanted the kids out the house and there was no better way than to have me travel the city & speak to strangers.
• 12+ years in Medicare and Life Insurance Sales as a Manager, Trainer and Licensed Insurance Agent.
Q&A with David Christian
What's the most important question I should be asking about Medicare that I probably haven't thought of yet?
Answer: While most people don't like to get too deep into the weeds of how Medicare works, I believe all Medicare reciepients should ask how it works (the breakdown of Parts A, B, C, D, Medi-gaps & Prescription Drug Plans). Since there are no group plans for Medicare, you & your broker should be determining what's best for your individual health care & financial budget and not your best friend's or even your spouse / partner. What's good for the goose isn't always what's good for the gander. Once you know how it works and narrow down the best way forward for you, make sure all your doctors and prescriptions are covered.
What's the most frustrating misconception you have to clear up with clients about Medicare every year?
Answer: That Medicare Advantage Plans are not as good as Med Supp plans. Neither option is for everyone, but I see a lot of people getting supplement plans that don't need to pay the higher premium costs (supplement + PDP plan) because they have heard the nightmares propaganda that some really popular sites have been saying for years. Each individual needs to evalutate the costs and coverages and don't just get a supplement because, "they costs more, so they are better".
My husband passed away and now my Medicare premiums went up. Why does losing someone raise your costs?
Answer: Your Medicare premiums might have increased after your husband's passing due to the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). This surcharge, which affects Parts B and D, is based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) from two years prior, and the loss of your husband's income or benefits can shift you into a higher income bracket, triggering the surcharge.
What's the biggest mistake seniors make when choosing a Medicare Part D plan?
Answer: Getting a plan that doesn't have the prescriptions on the formulary. If you have a broker, this should never happen without you knowing the prescription wasn't covered beforehand and you are going into it asking for an exception from the carrier.
I have a family history of colon cancer. Will Medicare cover more frequent colonoscopies for someone in my situation?
Answer: If you have a family history of colon cancer, Medicare may cover more frequent colonoscopies, typically every 2 years, as you are considered at high risk.
What's a common trick in Medicare marketing that hides restrictions on doctor choices?
Answer: Medicare is so highly regulated and the punishment for an agent, broker or carrier to mislead possible clients is so high (loss of ability to sell or the license), it's not really worth it. That said, no matter what plan you are interested in, verify the doctor(s) you want are contracted with that plan. Notice I said plan. Some doctors or medical groups will be with a carrier with multiple plans, but not accept every individual plan. Hope that helps.
What happens if I am already retired and collecting Social Security when I turn 65?
Answer: You will automatically be enrolled into Medicare Parts A & B and all you will have to do is review the different plans available to you, make a choice and enroll into the one you want. This can be done the 3 months before your birthday month, your birthday month and 3 months after your birthday months.
I switched to a new Part D plan and now half my meds require prior authorization. Why didn't anyone warn me this could happen?
Answer: It will depend on how you switched. If you spoke with an agent or broker or the new PDP plan carrier before you switched, they should have went through your medication list with you and verified what tier they are on and if they were going to need prior authorization. If you did it yourself, then you would have had to do the research with the carriers information they provide in the formulary either online, over the phone or by having them mail you the formulary previous to you enrolling.
I applied for a Medigap plan and got denied because of my health history-how is that even legal when I've paid into Medicare for years?
Answer: Medigap plans have Underwriting that determines your qualification for the plans and as you see your health history can make it so you get denied. My suggestion for you is a Medicare Advantage Plan because there is no underwriting for anyone of any age that has Medicare or to get a Medigap plan when a company waives the underwriting during a certain period of time.
I need a new wheelchair, and I'm not sure if Medicare will cover it. What's the process for getting durable medical equipment?
Answer: Hello there. A wheelchair falls under Medicare Part B as Durable Medical Equipment (DME). The
first thing you must do is get a prescription from your physician stating that you need the wheelchair and why?
The process of getting the wheelchair will depend on what type of Medicare coverage you have.
1. If you have Original Medicare only (Parts A & B only) or Original Medicare with a Medi-Gap plan, you will reach out to a Medicare Approved Supplier.
2. If you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD), you put in the request through the Medical Group or Insurance Carrier and go through their contracted provider.
What does Medicare Part B cover? Is it enough?
Answer: Hello. Medicare Part B, also known as medical insurance, covers a wide range of outpatient medical services and some preventive care. It helps pay for doctor's visits, outpatient hospital care, some home health services, durable medical equipment, and certain other medical and health services.
Is it enough is a subjective question. The services are robust and rich. The costs to the individual will depend on what type of coverage the person has.
My pharmacist mentioned the Medicare "donut hole" is going away in 2025. What does that actually mean for me?
Answer: It means there is no longer a period where you may possibly pay a higher coinsurance or copay for your prescriptions. Medicare Part D is not overly complicated, but it has 3 distinct phases that are important to understand. There were 5 previous to 2025, but the Coverage Gap aka Donut Hole phase has been eliminated.
1. Deductible Stage - you are responsible for 100% of your prescription drug costs until the deductible is hit. Plans can have a deductible of NO MORE THAN $590 in 2025. Some plans will have a smaller deductible or no deductible at all.
2. Initial Coverage Stage - you pay up to a 25% coinsurance for medication on your plan's formulary or list of covered medications. The most you will spend is $2,000 out of pocket. Some plan will have very low or no copays on prescriptions in varying tiers within their formulary or list of covered medications.
3. Catastrophic Coverage Stage - once you hit the $2,000 out of pocket cap, you won't have any more out of pocket costs. All medications on the formulary will be covered at 100%.
4. Annual Reset - regardless of when your coverage began, all Medicare Part D plans (including those that come with a Medicare Advantage Plan) return to the Deductible Stage on January 1st of each year.
Please be aware that if you change your plan during the year, you do not start the stages over on the new plan. This information follows you through your Medicare journey.
I'm turning 65 in three months but still working with employer coverage. Do I need to sign up for Medicare right now or can I wait?
Answer: If you have worked 10 years or 40 quarters, my suggestion is for you to sign up for Medicare Part A only. It will not have a costs and already having Part A will make it easier for your to get Medicare Part B when the times comes for you to leave your employer coverage in the future.
Don't you think Medicare's technology systems are outdated and inefficient?
Answer: Interesting question. Medicare technology systems are good. The website of medicare.gov is easy to navigate and helpful for those looking to do research there. SSA.gov is a bit more complicated and visually isn't stunning, but it leads you through the sequence of enrolling or reviewing your account effectively.
Some of the carriers have great websites and some are just terrible.
How do I budget for Medicare costs if I expect my health to decline in the next decade?
Answer: This is where getting the right plan for your health needs becomes the absolute priority. You and your broker should be discussing what your heath needs and issues are and enrolling you into a plan that not only covers those needs, but financially fits your budget. If you don't have a broker, I would love to assist you.
I'm worried about choosing the wrong plan and being stuck with it. How often can I change my Medicare coverage?
Answer: In most cases you choose a plan and stick with it for the year. Occasionally a Special Election may be available to you if you move and change counties or other circumstances.
Are mental health services like therapy fully covered under Original Medicare?
Answer: Yes, Original Medicare, including Parts A and B, covers SOME mental health services.
Part A covers inpatient mental health services in hospitals.
Part B covers outpatient services like therapy and counseling. However, there are limitations, and some mental health services are not covered, such as psychiatric rehabilitation, assertive community treatment, or peer support.
Inpatient Mental Health Services (Part A):
Medicare Part A covers inpatient mental health care in general or psychiatric hospitals.
For psychiatric hospitals, coverage is limited to up to 190 days lifetime.
This coverage includes services like lab tests, medications, nursing care, room fees, meals, and other related services.
Outpatient Mental Health Services (Part B):
Medicare Part B covers outpatient mental health services, including visits with doctors, therapists, and other mental health professionals. This includes services like psychiatric evaluation, individual and group therapy, and medication management. It also covers counseling services, diagnostic assessments, and other mental health treatments.
What's Not Covered:
Some mental health services are not covered by Medicare, such as psychiatric rehabilitation, assertive community treatment, or peer support. Other items not covered include transportation, private rooms (unless medically necessary), private duty nursing, and personal items like toothpaste.
How does Medicare Part B handle coverage for preventative screenings like mammograms?
Answer: Mammograms fall under preventive care. Preventive care is administered with no costs to the patient!