Doug Dent, Medicare Insurance Broker
Doug Dent
Medigap Options
Medicare Broker Licensed in NM, AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, KY, MT, NC, NV, OK, OR, TX and UT
41+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Albuquerque, NM
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Phone
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Website
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About Me
Hello, I'm Doug, your neighborhood Medicare insurance advisor. My expertise lies in the realm of Medicare, and my mission is to assist you in identifying the perfect plan tailored to your unique requirements and financial capacity. Allow me to navigate the array of plans available from both nationally and locally esteemed companies on your behalf. And don't worry, my services are provided free of charge! Contact me to discover your Medicare insurance alternatives and don't forget to mention that you discovered me on Medicare Agents Hub!
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Doug Dent
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: This is a great question.
The answer depends on a person's definition of "free."
Many Medicare Advantage companies offer programs with zero premiums, which might be considered as "free." However, there are other costs associated with Medicare Advantage plans that can make them the most expensive plan a person can have.
My responsibility as a Medicare Specialist is to provide my clients with the information needed to make an educated decision in choosing their Medicare program. In my opinion, "free" Medicare Advantage plans can have the highest cost.
Most Medicare Advantage plans have deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance, and annual out-of-pocket maximums as high as $10,000 in 2026, which means people requiring lots of medical care can find "free" Medicare Advantage plans quite costly.
Another thing to consider is each Medicare Advantage HMO and PPO plan has a limited provider network in their coverage area. As a Medicare Specialist, I have witnessed many Medicare Advantage members suffer because they were denied access to a medical specialist not part of their Medicare Advantage plan's network.
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free?" The premium might be $0, but the out-of-pocket expenses can cost a member thousands of dollars, plus the stress of not having access to specialized care when it's needed the most.
How to enroll in Part D plan for RX coverage?
Answer: The best way to enroll in a Medicare Part D RX plan is to ask your Medicare agent for guidance. Prescription plans are complicated and not easy to understand. Having access to a Medicare specialist can make the process much easier.
If you do not have access to a good Medicare agent willing to assist, I recommend going to Medicare.gov to research your options.
Medicare.gov has a tool that allows a person to enter their zip code, prescriptions, and pharmacy of choice. This tool will apply your individual information to all the Medicare Part D RX plans in your area and compare them. These illustrations will show the premium, co-pays, and estimated out-of-pocket cost for the calendar year.
Each person can review the estimated cost of each plan and enroll on Medicare.gov.
If you had to pick just one, what's the worst Medicare-related decision someone can make?
Answer: A Medicare program that is great for one person might be a disaster for another. It is vital to research all your options rather than focusing on one plan offered by one insurance company.
The worst decision someone can make is to work with an agent that recomends only one type of Medicare program. Medicare agents should educate their clients on the pros and cons of all programs including Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage, because both plans are very different.
The best way to know your options is to work with an independent Medicare specialist who will provide you with the information needed to make the best choice for you.
How does the Part D "catastrophic coverage" phase work once I hit the out-of-pocket max?
Answer: When a Medicare Part D beneficiary reaches the annual out-of-pocket limit they will not be required to pay any additional copays or coinsurance for the balance of the year.
The yearly out-of-pocket limit in 2026 is $2,100.00 for prescriptions covered by their plans formulary.
My neighbor says I'm crazy for paying for a Medigap plan when Medicare Advantage is "free." What should I tell him?
Answer: Anyone near Medicare age understands that "free" products oftentimes have the highest price tag.
It is true that there is an abundance of "free" Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. It is also true that many of these plans have deductibles, co-pays, co-insurance, and other out-of-pocket costs creating financial stress on patients.
Unfortunately, most MA policyholders do not understand the full range of these costs until they need ongoing medical care.
The true cost of health plans are not only calculated in the premium, but is also calculated in the flexibility to quickly access specialized care when we need it the most.
I have experienced numerous situations in my 41 years as a Medicare specialist in which a patient requiring specialized care had limited options because of the limitations offered by a "free" Medicare Advantage plan.
I have never had a Medicare supplement client covered by original Medicare denied access to a specialist.
Are Medicare Supplement plans the same thing as "Medicare Secondary Insurance"?
Answer: Medicare supplements also known as Medigap plans work together with Original Medicare Part A and B.
Medicare will cover a medically necessary service and the Medicare supplement will pay based upon what Medicare approves. A person must have original Medicare Part A & B in order for a Medicare supplement to pay a claim.
Medicare supplements are referred to as Medicare Secondary Insurance.
What is the Medicare Advantage 3 midnight rule?
Answer: Medicare Part A covers skilled nursing care after a hospital stay in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). To qualiy a person must be admitted in the hospital for a minimum of at least three days not including the day of admission.
I went to a free Medicare seminar and it felt like a timeshare pitch. Are any of those events actually helpful?
Answer: It is my experience as a Medicare specialist who has helped clients with Medicare for 41 years that newer inexperienced agents are focused on selling products. The older experienced Medicare agents are focused on helping people understand Medicare and all their options.
I also recommend working with an independent agent that will explain all your options instead of focusing on one company or plan. Independent agents appear to be focused more on helping and less on making a sale.
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: Seniors are bombarded with telemarketers, television ads, and mailers constantly promoting different Medicare options. The overload of information is insane. As an independent Medicare specialist with over 40 years helping Seniors I see how this bombardment of information overwelms everyone. I enjoy helping my clients one-on-one sift through the Medicare Maze and arrive at a place where they can make informed decisions.
Why do some clients ignore your advice and end up in bad Medicare plans-what makes them resistant?
Answer: As an independent Medicare Specialist with over 40 years helping people on Medicare I find that my clients value my advice. If a client decides to enroll in a Medicare Advantage (MAPD) plan instead of using traditional Medicare with a Medigap/Medicare Supplement it is almost always a financially based decision.