Debra Mangan, Medicare Insurance Broker
Debra Mangan
Medicare Source Plus
Medicare Broker Licensed in CO
Contact Details
-
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
About Me
Hey there, my name is Debra, and I am your local Medicare advisor and agent. I specialize in Medicare and am 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 plans from well-known national and local companies for you. Even better, my services are completely free! Contact me today to explore your Medicare options, and be sure to mention that you found me on Medicare Agents Hub!
Q&A with Debra Mangan
My friend gets SilverSneakers with her plan and I don't-how are we both paying for Medicare and getting such different stuff?
Answer: You and your friend are either enrolled in different Medicare insurance carriers' plans or different coverage types, i.e., Original Medicare. Paying for Medicare does not mean you will have the same type of Medicare coverage.
Your friend may likely have a Part C plan, known as Medicare Advantage. These are plans offered by private insurance carriers and must include all that is covered in Original Medicare, and often add extra wellness benefits, such as SilverSneakers, to attract members and give them access to gyms/fitness facilities in their area. These "extra wellness benefits" are not standard health benefits, but are "bundled" into the plan to help encourage their members to remain active and healthy.
If enrolled in Original Medicare Parts A and B, this is considered the basic Medicare coverage, and does not offer or help pay for gym/fitness programs like SilverSneakers or any other wellness or fitness perks. You can go to any doctor or hospital in the country that accepts Medicare, but Original Medicare only covers basic health care.
There are Medicare-approved Supplement insurance plans offered by private insurance companies, known as Medigap, only available to purchase alongside Original Medicare Parts A and B, and these have an additional premium due each month on top of the Part B premium. These Medigap plans offer additional coverage to help pay deductibles, copays and coinsurance amounts, and there is also the possibility of specific private insurance companies bundling extra non-standard perks into their own unique policies. However, again there is a premium for all the extra benefits.
Check which plans in your area offer these fitness memberships and enroll during the Annual Enrollment Period (AEP) between October 15 - December 7.
What is creditable coverage and why does it matter for Medicare?
Answer: First, creditable coverage is health insurance or prescription drug insurance that is at least as good as Original Medicare. The reason it matters if you have creditable coverage is that it allows you to delay signing up for Medicare without paying a late-enrollment penalty.
I know people who enrolled in Medicare when they had creditable coverage and paid unnecessary premiums when they did not need to. They were misinformed and told they had to sign up or were never shown how to delay coverage.
Contact me today so I can help make Medicare easier and walk you through the process.
I picked a Medicare Advantage plan because of the dental and now I found out it only covers cleanings. Why didn't anyone tell me this upfront?
Answer: Picking a Medicare Advantage plan can be difficult and time consuming, but it's a very important and unique-to-you decision to be made. All the available options of the plans should be looked at and discussed prior to signing so that you are enrolling in the right plan for your specific needs! These important decisions often include the "little things", but should never be overlooked and forgotten to talk about. These are the Value Added Benefits unique to Medicare Advantage plans that usually include Dental, Vision and Hearing, and the services and coverage amounts provided that are unique to Medicare Advantage plans. The job of the Medicare Agent is to discuss and find out what is most important to the beneficiary and get it right prior to enrolling. I look forward speaking with you, so please contact me today so I can be of help to you.
My husband passed away, and we had Medicare and health insurance through his employer. Medicare was primary. What happens to my coverage now?
Answer: If a spouse who had Medicare and group health insurance through their employer passes away, and the surviving beneficiary was a dependent on that group health insurance, the surviving beneficiary's Medicare stays active because Medicare is individual, however, the dependent coverage under the employer group health insurance would typically end due to the employee's death. This would be considered a Qualifying Life Event and would then trigger a Special Enrollment Period for the surviving Medicare beneficiary.
Because this is a significant life event and such a difficult time, he/she would want to contact their Medicare Agent for help and guidance to find out if they could and/or should switch plans or make a change in supplemental insurance.
What are the disadvantages of a Medicare Advantage plan?
Answer: Medicare has several parts, one of which is Medicare Advantage (MA/MAPD) Part C. Many choose MA/MAPD plans because they are "pay for care as you need it", as there is in most cases no premium due each month for Part C. However, the disadvantages of MA/MAPD plans is the member must go to a network of providers and hospitals inside the plan's specific network, and seeing out-of-network providers often costs more. If the MA/MAPD plan is an HMO, to see a specialist, a referral from member's PCP is required; if the plan is a PPO, no referral is needed and it's less restrictive. Also, unlike Original Medicare, MA/MAPD plans do not have nationwide coverage for NON-emergency care outside member's local service area. Medicare Advantage plans are quite different from Original Medicare, and there are so many things to think about and choices available before enrolling in any Medicare plan.
I would be more than happy to sit with you and show you all the Medicare options available so you can make the best informed and well thought-out decision for you and your situation.
Can I work full-time while on Medicare?
Answer: Yes, you can absolutely work full-time while on Medicare. I can also help you determine if you need Medicare Parts A and B, or just Part A while working full-time, and show you how you can avoid overpaying as well. And, then when you're ready to retire I can help you with that also!
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: Medicare is confusing and there are so many parts; Part A and B, Medicare Advantage Part C, Supplemental plans and Part D prescription drug plans -- it can be overwhelming and difficult to know for sure what to choose, but it doesn't have to be. That's why it's important to have a trusted agent who will clarify your Medicare choices. I would love to help you and make Medicare more clear and less confusing!