Doris Youngman, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: If you have not already applied for Medicare, do it right away. It takes about 30 days to obtain your Medicare card from Social Security.

You can go in person to your local Social Security office to apply, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or thirdly, go on to the SSA.GOV website and apply online.

Answer: I ask what they are wanting in a Medicare plan, who their doctors are, and the medications they take. I also explain the difference between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans as well as drug coverages.

Answer: In many cases, you get what you paid for. You get money back? You get groceries? Why groceries in the health insurance plan?

Disadvantage is the network and referrals. Most cases, referrals are needed to see specialists. Depending on the insurance company, you have NO selection of a specialist because the primary care doctor sends you to his/her buddy. No choice in the matter.

If you go with a PPO plan, you do have the freedom to call any doctor that takes your plan or outside your plan if you are willing to pay more than an in network specialist.

If you have a chronic issue like diabetes, cancer, some arthritic conditions, it is cheaper in the long run to purchase a Medicare Supplement plan.

Answer: Depending on your insurance plan, you pay what is owed according to the plan.

If you didn't have insurance, you would be paying a lot more.

Answer: Start with a list of things you want in your plan. Names of doctors you see and the medications you take.

Check the doctors to see what plans they take.

Do you have a chronic condition such as: Diabetes, Heart issues, breathing issues. If so review plans that give you special benefits for these chronic diseases.

Compare prices. Don't think price is the only criterion. It is one but not the only one. Ask yourself, do you want to be chained to the Primary Care Provider in an HMO even if the $$$ is enticing?

Research the websites of the plans you are considering or get a licensed agent to assist you in your final selections.

Answer: You can change your plan during certain times of the year.

1. You can change a plan from October 15 - December 7, known as the Annual Enrollment Period

2. If during the following January 1 - March 31, you realize you don't like that plan either, you may make a ONE time change. That change is usually for the remainder of the year.

3. There are always exceptions to that rule. For example, you move out of the plan area, or your insurance plan terminates you, or you lose your Medicaid status. There are others such as files, storms, hurricanes that also allow people to change plans during the year if FEMA has deemed it.

Hope this helps you.

Answer: It should help people taking very expensive medications. There is usually a higher deductible of around $590, but that all goes towards the ceiling level of $2,000 for the price of medication for 2025. If the medication costs are high, plus the deductible (i.e. $590) and the cap is $2,000, someone pays a lot for the first few months and then it tapers off until there may be months of no cost.

If someone cannot pay for the medications for the first month that usually includes the deductible, the government will allow you to pay that over the course of the year in monthly payments.

Should you miss a payment, the total amount comes due as a result of the missed payment.

Answer: In my humble opinion, there will be more and more of it in the future. CMS is watching the prior authorizations that AI does. In fact, I would believe that more than 90% of the 600 Medicare plans use AI already. It is cheaper.

Answer: People believe that Medicare should be at NO cost. They think that they have been paying into the system a minimum of 10 years that now all is No cost. It doesn't work that way.

Answer: That answer is both a yes and a no. If you enrolled in a Medicare Supplement plan when you turned 65, you have an opportunity to have a 'Trial Period" when you can leave a Supplement Plan and try out a Medicare Advantage plan for a year. At the end of the year, you can either go back to the plan you had in the Supplement plan or continue to be in a Medicare Advantage plan.

On the other hand, if you started Medicare with a Medicare Advantage plan, you can switch to a Supplement plan based on usually health questions or medications you currently take. If the questions the Supplement company asks you and you answer 'yes' they can either deny you coverage or have you pay a nigher monthly premium.

Answer: IRMAA is based on your annual income. If it is higher than the normal income, you pay a higher premium for IRMAA every month. How is IRMAA calculated, I don't know.

Answer: You should definitely apply for "Extra Help" through SSA.Gov

It takes about 15-20 minutes to fill out the application online, and the Federal Government will determine if you qualify for it depending on your answers.

If they approve you, your Medicare Part B premium is paid for you by the Federal government, and you also obtain medicines at an extremely low cost.

Answer: Don't listen to commercials on TV. Most of them are untrue or trick you into a plan you neither need or want. Listen to neighbors and friends and take it under advisement.

Find an honest agent to help guide you. Ask you questions to narrow down your search.