Denise Cagle, Medicare Insurance Broker
Denise Cagle
Medicare Broker Licensed in CA
13+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Modesto, CA
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Phone
Denise Can Help With:
About Me
Hello!
Thank you so much for taking a moment to check out my agent page.
My name is Denise, and I am a Licensed Medicare Insurance Broker. I have been serving California's Medicare eligible residents since 2013, and I truly love my job. Helping people understand how Medicare works, and helping them find a Medicare health plan that works best for their specific needs and budget is very rewarding to me, and 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 Denise Cagle
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: I don't know why nobody told you all of the details regarding the dental coverage for the Medicare Advantage plan you enrolled in. Some agents are more thorough than others. Some agents just want to get people enrolled in a plan as quickly as possible so they can move on to the next enrollment. Some customers assume there is more coverage, and don't ask questions to confirm the full extent of benefit coverage. I don't know what the situation was for you personally.
I do know dental is important to most of the people I meet with. Some plans include comprehensive dental while other plans just include preventative--cleanings, xray and exams. I always make sure my clients know what to expect from the dental benefits included in the plans I sell.
I'm sorry you weren't fully informed about the dental coverage included in the plan you chose.
My best advice is--buyer beware. Make sure you ask what dental covers and then ask to see the dental coverage in printed form. The more information you have, the better choice you will make for yourself.
The good news is: If you are not happy with the Medicare Advantage plan that you enrolled in during the Annual Enrollment Period - Oct 15th - Dec 7th, you still have an opportunity to make a one time change from one Medicare Advantage plan to another Medicare Advantage plan. You can make another choice between Jan 1 and March 31st.
Why not just call the insurance carrier directly?
Answer: You can call the insurance carrier directly. However, most if not all telesales people won't give you their home number, so if you have a problem, you are at the mercy of dealing with customer service on your own. Sometimes problems can be resolved through customer service, but many times they can't be resolved. I recommend finding an agent you can trust to return your calls if you need help. Still, it's up to you. If you want to call an insurance carrier directly, then do that.
Is it better to update your Medicare plan often, or to get a plan that will work long term?
Answer: I wish I could give you a precise answer to your question. However, I always tell people to go with what feels right to them. If you are happy with your current plan, then I would keep it. If you are not happy with your current plan, it would be a good idea to explore other options that might work better for you. That's where a good agent comes in handy. If you have an agent already, you might want to have a discussion with them... or you can call your local HICAP office to see what other options are available to you. There is no charge for HICAP appointments, and there shouldn't be a charge from an agent. Ultimately, you need to do what feels right for you.
I would warn against calling any of the phone numbers you see on TV. Many people sign up for a new plan this way and quickly discover their doctors won't accept the plan.
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: I always recommend seniors find an agent that will meet with them in person, and sees them as a real person sitting across a table, and not just a commission. It's important to find an agent who will answer your questions and your phone calls. Agents can help their clients by escalating problems that customer service calls couldn't resolve.