Donna Walbert, Medicare Insurance Broker
Donna Walbert
Walbert Insurance Services
Medicare Broker Licensed in WI, CO, FL, IL, KS, MI, MN, NV, OH, TX and UT
7+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Brookfield, WI
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Phone
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Website
Donna 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
Hello, I'm Donna Walbert, an experienced Medicare Specialist with a home base in Wisconsin. I enjoy helping people navigate through the many facets of Medicare to help them better understand the basics, the timelines, the penalties, the options and the costs of Medicare. I am certified to offer all options to the senior market along with other certifications to help those that are not yet eligible for Medicare (ie ACA/Marketplace and Short/Long Term Insurance). If you're looking for any health and/or life insurance, I'm here to help you!
Born and raised in Waukesha County, offering exceptional customer service has been a key focal point of my lifelong career. I was a public servant for Waukesha County for over 23 years and took a career turn in 2017 when my granddaughter was born. Being a self-employed independent agent/broker in the insurance field has been very rewarding as I truly enjoy helping people and will continue this endeavor for years to come!
Medicare can be confusing, but together, step by step, through an educational process, you will gain confidence in knowing and understanding your best options. As a broker, I can offer all major carriers for medicare supplements, medicare advantage plans, prescription drug plans and all ancillary products as well.
Consultations are always free, so when the time is right, let me help you and mention you found me on Medicare Agents HUB!
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Donna Walbert
What is the biggest disadvantage of the Medicare Advantage plans?
Answer: There are many advantages to the advantage plan, but it is important to note the disadvantages as well. One being is they are network based. It is extremely important to ensure your primary care provider and all specialists are within the network offered through the carrier. If not, the out-of-pocket costs will be substantially higher. The second disadvantage is it can be terminated (as an area, not as an individual) any time throughout the year. Another disadvantage to the Medicare Advantage Plans is the fact they are not guaranteed to be renewable every year. It is crucial to review the Annual Notice of Change sent in the Fall, so a proper comparison can be made during open enrollment between the current plan and the new available plans for the following year.
What happens if I am already retired and collecting Social Security when I turn 65?
Answer: It is an advantage for people to be collecting social security before turning 65 as it relates to medicare. Social Security and Medicare are linked together, meaning Medicare will know you are collecting Social Security Income and will send you a Medicare card four months prior to turning 65. This advantage avoids the sign-up process. You may defer Part B if you are on a spousal health group plan and would simply sign the back of the card and send it back to them and Social Security will then reissue a Medicare card with Part A Benefits only. Please keep in mind though when your spouse retires, you must submit two forms, one of which needs verification and signature from the employer which provided credible coverage post 65.
I changed my plan during Open Enrollment and now I can't see my regular specialist. Isn't this what the whole review period is supposed to prevent?
Answer: Yes, as agents, we do our best to check any and all medical professionals and facilities to ensure they are in network. However, the databases are updated frequently due to changes, which may cause such issues. I always recommend a verification be made by contacting the provider and to ask if they accept the specific plan chosen. Often times, people ask if they accept a particular carrier, but they may not cover all plans. If this situation arises, and is caught in time, you can switch to a different medicare advantage plan during the open enrollment periods of January 1st through March 31st or wait until October 15th through December 7th. The option to move to a five star medicare advantage plan is also an option during the year.
If you had to pick just one, what's the worst Medicare-related decision someone can make?
Answer: The worst decision to make pertaining to medicare is not to opt in at all. The second worst decision is to enroll in original medicare Parts A and B only, without selecting a medicare supplement (aka medigap policy) or a medicare advantage plan. This second choice leaves you with a risk of incurring costs up to 20% of medical expenses without a ceiling or max-out-of-pocket limitation.
Isn't Medicare headed for a crisis with so many baby boomers aging into the system?
Answer: There are approximately 11,000 people that turn 65 each and every day within the United States. Medicare makes changes every year to help sustain medicare benefits. These changes include increases to Part B premiums, deductibles and co-pays. More people today are working past their 65th birthday and deferring their retirement. Medicare and Social Security will continue to make changes for future beneficiaries to ensure these programs continue to be offered for years to come.
If I need hospice care in the future, can my Medicare plan cover it?
Answer: Yes, hospice care is covered under Part A of Medicare. Hospice care can be provided as an in-home service, hospital setting, or a medicare approved residential facility or nursing home. The hospice care benefit requires the approval of a medical professional and generally is provided within a six month window before the person's end of life is anticipated.
I am on disability insurance Medicare now I will be 65 in October do I have to to sign up for Medicare again?
Answer: Medicare beneficiaries under the age of 65 either have been diagnosed with end stage renal disease, ALS or has collected social security disability income for 24 months granting them to be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. Medicare supplements (to fill the gaps of original medicare) are costly, so it is more common to see underage medicare beneficiaries select a private medicare advantage plan prior to turning 65. Individual(s) on medicare prior to their 65th birthday do not need to sign-up for medicare again. However, it is important to note that they are granted guarantee issue at 65 (no medical underwriting) and have the option to select either a medicare supplement or a different medicare advantage carrier.
What's the most important question I should be asking about Medicare that I probably haven't thought of yet?
Answer: Q: If I continue to work and have group insurance, do I need to sign-up for medicare?
A: Not necessarily, but is dependent upon the size of the employer, coverage and costs to maintain the group insurance through the employer sponsored program. It is best to talk with a licensed professional to help you navigate through the cost analysis and to avoid any potential late enrollment penalties down the road.
Why is the new $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum for drug costs important?
Answer: Medicare has made significant changes over the last few years pertaining to the prescription drug plans to help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for consumers. In 2025, the maximum-out-of-pocket limit was reduced from $8,000 to $2,000 allowing more beneficiaries to afford prescriptions.
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: As an agent/broker in the medicare field, I truly am able to provide solutions to my customers that is best suited for them. Medicare can be a confusing and complicated process. I take an educational approach to help people understand the basics and all of the options available to them according to their specific needs. Good customer service is important to me as a consumer and in return I offer my best to those that seek my guidance.