Don Hudson, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: Personally, I would not choose a Medicare Advantage Plan for many reasons. The 1st being I don't want to tied to a specific network of doctors. I also don't want an HMO and that is the only way to get low Maximum Out Of Pocket Costs without having a Medicare Supplement plan.

Answer: This is a very interesting question, there could be if they don't have your interest at heart. As a broker we educate our clients and show them all their options. We will recommend some options but at the end of the day, our client makes their own decision.

Answer: The best way to find out about drug cost, deductables and coinsurance is to reach out to your local agent. They can help you navigate different plans to help lower your out of pocket costs.

Answer: This year the the maximum you will pay is 2,100 dollars. This information can be found in your summary of benefits documentation.

Answer: Searching for new doctors in your plan can be done on the providers website. If you can't find out where to look , it's best to reach out to your agent for assistance.

Answer: An Agent who cares about his clients will educate them so they can make the best decision. I have been told by many clients that they were just sold a policy that the agent selected for them. Always look for an agent who asks questions about your health and budget.

Answer: You need to have power of attorney to assist with your parents health care .

It’s very important to have this set up in advance incase any type of emergency occurs

Answer: It’s important to always remember

This is insurance to protect you as any other insurance policy would protect your business or home or car.

It you want to take on more risk with the same flexibility, maybe think about a higher deductible supplement plan

Answer: The best part about working with seniors is sharing stories and binding with them. The most important part is explaining all their options to them clearly and helping them making the best decision for their individual need.

Answer: Should I change Plans or stay put with all the Medicare changes.... This is a great question!!

The best advice I can give you is, if you received your Annual Notice of Change Letter from your Medicare Plan and understand what is changing, that is a good start. If you don't understand what is changing, it would be best to reach out to a local agent, sit down with them so they can explain the changes for the coming year. We do a Plan Review for all our clients every year.

Answer: The is a host of options for smartphones out there to manage your medication management.

One of the more popular apps is Medisafe. You can find it at Medisafe website.

Answer: There are a few options if you need help paying your Medicare premiums, each of the options are controlled by the state where you reside.

Medicare Savings programs may help pay for your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance) premiums . If you qualify, Medicare Savings Programs might also pay your Part A and Part B deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments.

Answer: You can change your Medicare Advantage Plan, if you are not happy with it during Open Enrollment or during Annual Enrollment. You can change your Medicare Advantage also for many Health related issues anytime (Example: You have a HMO plan and recently suffered a Heart attack. You can change your HMO plan to a HMO-CSNP for Heart attack and Stroke. There are may other special enrollment times when you can change your Medicare Advantage Plan. Its best to sit down with a local agent and discuss.

Answer: The best way to stay up to date with policy changes for your Insurance is to schedule an annual review. We reach out to all our customers in October and set up appointments with them to discuss changes with their Healthcare and changes to the current policy they have.

Answer: If you are living on Social Security only there are a few different options you can look into. You can look for a low income subsidy, Supplemental Security Income or Medicaid.

Answer: For people with the different types of dementia, Medicare and Medicaid cover different services. Some services covered by one program may not be covered by the other.

Medicare will pay for up to 35 hours a week of home health care for people certified as “homebound.”

Answer: The 3-midnight rule gets its name from how Medicare counts days. For a person to meet the requirements of this rule, they need to have 3 consecutive days of inpatient hospital care — not counting observation — before admission to an Skilled Nursing Facility. This can occur in one hospital or more than one hospital facility.

Answer: Most medical insurance policies will only cover emergency coverage outside the US and its territories. When traveling outside the US, it's always safe option to buy a Travel Policy.

Answer: Deciding on when to take Social Security requires a few important decisions. The 1st or 2nd being, can i financially afford to retire and if I retire at age 62, can I afford my medical insurance.

Answer: I personally have not heard about this. Most Dental networks are managed or provided through a partnership or agreement with third party dental organizations.

Answer: One major disadvantage is that it is difficult to get any specialized care because the members must get a referral first. Another disadvantage is you are almost always required to only use providers in your network if you want the HMO plan to cover the expenses.

Answer: Straight Medicare is very good if you pair it with a Medicare Supplement Plan. The Supplement plans cost more then Medicare Advantage Plans but the is only a small deductable for evample in the Plan G. Another note: Plan G pays the 20% of the Part A & Part B that Medicare does not cover.

Answer: One of the biggest disadvantages to Medicare Advantage plans you need to use doctors in certain networks. Another disadvantage is the Maximum Out Of Pocket can be very high.

Answer: Medicare Part B covers mammogram screenings 1 time a year as part of Preventive care. If you need a Diagnostic mammogram due to your history or something found in your yearly screening, Medicare will cover 80% after you met your deductable.

Answer: Medicare Part B covers 80% of the physical therapy visits that have been approved by Medicare. You will be responsible for the remaining 20% and you have to meet your deductable first.

Answer: Most plans require Step Therapy. This process is to ensure the surgery is the last option.

Step therapy may include shots and or Rehab.

Answer: Medicare does not cover the following:

1) Hearing Aids and cost for fitting them.

2) Routine Physical Exams

3) Long-Term Care

4) Cosmetic Surgery

5) Massage Therapy

6) Most Dental Care

Answer: Automation has assisted with simplifing enrollment process in many way. It allows consumers and agents to search for Doctors, Hospitals and Prescription Drugs accurately.

Answer: Medicare Advantage Plans are not free nor will they ever be. You still have to pay your Medicare Part B (2025) is $185 per month, Deductables, Copays and Co Insurance. Do not believe all the misleading ads on TV.

Answer: Medicare doesn't provide Dental or Vision care unless it medically necessary.

There are 2 ways to get Dental and Vision care.

1) Medicare Advantage Plans (most) include Dental,Vision and Hearing.

2) Dental/Vision supplement plans.

Answer: Yes but Providers must submit a prior authorization request for the entire plan of care, including the full duration and number of visits requested. New authorization requests starting on or after Jan. 13, 2025, up to the first 6 visits of a member’s initial plan of care will be covered without conducting a clinical review when the first 6 visits take place within 8 weeks of the first date of service.

Answer: There are many Advantages of working with a local agent. Some are if you run into a problem with your plan they can sit down with you and explain what is going on. A local agent is also available to meet you at your home if you don't want to discuss over the phone.

Answer: The best person that could help you would be your dads Medicare Agent. They have the understanding and knowledge on how the billing process works. Its always best to use a local agent so they can sit down with you to help you understand.

Answer: Medicare Part D is for Prescription drugs and Medicare Advantage Plan (MAPD) includes prescription drugs. If you have straight Medicare or a Medigap plan that does not include prescription drugs the Medicare Part D is best for you.

Answer: The US spends approximately 12,000+ dollars per year for each person on Medicare as of 2023. A total of approximately 4.8 trillion overall for everyone in the US. This was approximately a 7.5% increase from the previous year (2022).

Answer: Life Insurance is a necessary part of everyone's financial future as is Health Insurance. Life insurance is not only to help offset burial costs but most importantly to protect your spouse and your family from extreme hardship. Life insurance in the past was also known as (Death Insurance) because the insurance company would only pay out when you died. There are many types of Life Insurance policies today, some will assist you with bills or help offset the cost if you suffer from a chronic illness and others that will help you build wealth.

Answer: Almost all Medicare Advantage plans cover more than just cleanings. I would recommend you sit down with your agent and have them explain the benefits and details for your dental coverage.

Answer: Many seniors do not understand the puzzle, it's very difficult to navigate if you do not understand how all the parts of Medicare differ. Many people don't realize in the beginning Medicare is an individual plan not a group plan.

Answer: Medicare focuses on Short term care in a hospital or rehabilitation services. Medicare is focused on healthcare. If you plan on going into a LTC facility or are concerned that some years down the road you may need to go into a LTC facility, it's best to look into other options that can assist you with LTC benefits. Many Life Insurance and Annuity products have LTC riders that can provide you with benefits.

Answer: It all depends on the seniors needs, everyone has different needs and has a different budget. Plan G is the best and most comprehensive plan but cost a bit more than other plans.

Answer: The biggest disadvantage would be that your current doctors are not in your network or changed networks. The downside is now you need to change networks, and all your doctors may not be in the same network

Answer: Medicare is personal health insurance for each individual. It's important to discuss all your previous heath conditions and future conditions you may see approaching in the near future.

On example maybe: (Planning on a surgery in the coming year).

Answer: Medicare Part A does not cover Outpatient surgery. Medicare Part B covers outpatient surgery with 20% coinsurance you are responsible for.

Answer: If you have a severe or disabling condition that recently occurred and are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan you may qualify a (SEP) Special Enrollment Period.

If you have a Medigap plan most likely no changes will be needed.

Answer: The best part of working with a local broker is you can build a relationship that can last a lifetime. Personalized attention is very important when it comes to your healthcare needs. If you are unable to drive to meet your broker they can come to you.