David Treadway, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: You can go to Medicare's website and use their Plan Finder: https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2026&lang=en. You can also call them and they will shop it for you. However, there is a TON of nuance between plans and medication cost is only one component. I would recommend using a highly experienced, independent broker licensed in your state to assist you. As icing on the cake from working with an experienced and independent broker, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR EXPERTISE. Good luck!

P.S. You can see if you qualify to get it free by looking at Prescription Assistance Programs at www.needymeds.org.

Answer: There is not enough information in your question to answer it. If the coverage is excellent and the cost is low and qualifies as coverage that would not cause a penalty for enrolling later, you may want to keep it. However, in most cases I review, Medicare provides better coverage at a similar or lower cost than most employer plans so we generally recommend enrolling in Medicare (A,B and supplemental). In sum, you'll need to evaluate a few things (premium, deductible, max out of pocket, prescription cost, networks, whether its creditable, etc.).

You can find hypothetical situations and more rules on this page, which is directly from the source (Medicare): https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare/medicare-basics/working-past-65

Answer: There are hundreds of "Medicare plans" so not sure anyone can answer your question as posed but hopefully the following will help you find your specific coverage details.

I'd start by checking with your insurance broker. Assuming you don't have one, you would next call member services on the back of your card. You could also check the plan documents for your specific plan (Summary of Benefits or Evidence of Coverage).

For original Medicare, see here https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/travel-outside-the-u.s.

Medicare also has a publication on this topic, you can find here: https://www.medicare.gov/publications/11037-medicare-coverage-outside-the-united-states.pdf

If you have an advantage plan, please call the first number on the back of your card (generally called Customer Service or Member Services).

Hope you enjoy your European excursion.

Dave

Answer: You are supposed to receive them in September

If you don't receive it, you can call and request one from your insurer. Look on the back of your card, and the first number listed will be for member services or customer service. The easiest way to get it is from your online portal if you have created an online account, or from your insurance broker (if you use one).

It is very important to review the ANOC, so try to get it soon. You only have until Dec 7, typically, to make changes to your plan.

Good luck.

Answer: Yes, the Medicare deductibles will change each and every year. Currently (2025) the part A deductible is $1676 and the part B deductible is $257. Next year the projected deductibles are $1716 for part A and $288 for part B. Almost every metric will change from year to year including premiums and prescription drug costs as well. I hope this helps and I wish you well.

Answer: The benefits of having local knowledge and experience are irreplaceable. My son once got sick when he was very young and I called my son's primary-care, after-hours line for advice. I told the doc, whom I knew well, what was going on and that we were heading to the local hospital. He immediately told me to turn my car and head to our children's hospital which was about twice as far away. His rationale was that our local hospital treated an adolescent with these symptoms about once a month but our children's hospital treated our scenario several times a day. He said that experience and familiarity was invaluable to a proper outcome.

Getting advice from someone who has more experience and familiarity in your local market is the exact same situation. A local, independent agent, who is primarily or solely working in the Medicare space will be an invaluable partner. This not your financial planner who tells everyone that plan G with 1 company is your solution nor someone who is licensed in all 50 states. There really is no replacement for someone who has hundreds or thousands of clients in your home area. They hear, see and live the good and the bad issues that arise in your market and can guide you more reliable.

Good luck whichever path you choose and hope you have a long and healthy retirement.

Answer: Well, there are really 2 big things that you can do to make sure you make solid choices. First, find an independent broker that you trust. You can meet with a few and interview them. You don't have to tell them you are interviewing them, but you want to know if it's a person you believe will have your best interest at heart. You don't have to pay an independent broker so everyone should use one and stay in communication each and every year.

The second thing you should do is study and learn the options of coverage that are available. There are 2 main categories, and you only have the unlimited option to get anything you want when you first start on Medicare. You have to study and understand the options so you can make an informed decision. A good broker can help you do this, but you can also read CMS publications and watch YouTube videos. Medicare is going to be your healthcare for the rest of your life so it's imperative you make proper decisions. Fidelity Investments estimates that it will take someone $165,000 in after tax dollars to pay for healthcare in retirement.

In short, find a professional. Second, spend time making the right choices.

Good luck and happy retirement.

Answer: There should be education on both styles of plans so that you can make an informed decision. If you are feeling pushed, I would be skeptical too. You may want to interview another broker and ask for a referral from friends or family. Good luck.

Answer: There are many types of Medicare Advantage plans so hang in there and I'll try to give you the main categories.

First, there are dual plans and non-dual plans, meaning those that also require a certain level of Medicaid and those that are available without.

Second, there are chronic condition advantage plans which require certain diagnoses to enroll in them (for example, diabetes or COPD).

There area also MA only advantage plans, which mean they do not including Rx or PDP (prescription drug coverage).

Finally, there a categories of advantage plans based on what kind of network they adhere to (for example, HMO- must use the network unless an emergency, PPO- you pay the lowest cost in network but you can go anywhere so long as the provider accepts it, PFFS- private fee for service, also network based but flexible, POS- point of sale, allow for some out of network coverage.

Some of these can be combined (for example, you could have an MA only PPO or a dual PPO (also known as DSNP). The dual plans and chronic plans are also known as SNPs or Special Needs Plans.

Great questions because knowing how your plan may limit your access or enable flexibility is important to know, especially in an environment where we are seeing a bit of tightening in the network acceptance of the most restrictive plans (HMOs).

I hope this response is useful to your and others. Good luck in your Medicare years!

Answer: The disadvantage of a PPO is that it is an advantage plan and subject to change each and every year. Advantage plans are 1 year contracts that run Jan 1 - Dec 31. The plans change each year and some non-renew, meaning discontinue altogether. They also require prior authorization and the use of networks or acceptance by a provider outside of the network. Supplements don't do that. Those would be disadvantages.

On the flipside there are many advantages to a PPO including a low premium and the ability to go outside of a defined network. They also typically include coverage for RX, vision, dental and more; however, you asked for the disadvantages so I'll leave it at that. I hope this was helpful to you and others.

Answer: Every plan has a detailed outline of coverage called a Summary of Benefits ("SOB"), which may list that type of service. If you can't find that service in the SOB, then you would need to look in the Evidence of Coverage to see if that particular service is covered. That is the long answer, the short answer is that some plans do and some plans don't cover acupuncture or alternatives to it. Find a qualified independent broker in your area to help you find the specific answer to that question. I hope this was helpful. Good luck!

Answer: Here is a condensed listing of the gaps if you were to utilize only original Medicare: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/costs/medicare-costs. You’ll want to manage those costs with either a supplement or an advantage plan.

Answer: You always have to pay the part B premium (unless you receive state assistance) so they are not free. There are many $0 premium plans that cost nothing additional above the part B premium but some advantage plans have additional premiums because they provide benefits that some clients want. Currently there are a lot of excellent $0 premium plans but that does not mean they are “free.”

Answer: There are too many mistakes that you can make doing it on your own. Most people have trouble understanding insurance and the differences between coverages. We know that information well and can help you avoid costly mistakes. We are trained and certified every year in Medicare rules and then trained on local plans. There is no cost for our assistance so there is no reason not to use a broker. We have helped thousands of clients navigate the complexities of Medicare and would love to help you understand your options better: now, and each and every year.