Earl Poole, Medicare Insurance Broker
Earl Poole
Earl A Poole & Assocs
Medicare Broker Licensed in IL, GA, IN, NH and TX
12+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Calumet City, IL
Earl Can Help With:
About Me
Hello My name is Earl Poole. I specialize in Medicare Supplements and Medicare Advantage plans. I also offer Dental,Vision and Hearing plans. Call me now for information.
Q&A with Earl Poole
Do Maximum Out-of-Pocket (MOOP) limits change every year?
Answer: Each plan has the ability to update their terms each year. So, yes, Maximum Out of Pocket Limits can change.
How can I find new doctors in my network?
Answer: Access your plans online account and use the Provider search function to look for PCPs and Specialists.
Are Medicare Supplement plans the same thing as "Medicare Secondary Insurance"?
Answer: No, there really isn't such a thing as "Medicare Secondary Insurance". Medicare Supplement plans do supplement the costs for Original Medicare.
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: Medicare Advantage plans have a $0 Monthly premium. There are copays and/or coinsurance for many services. But you also get preventative services at no costs as well as extras like fitness center access. If you hardly ever get sick then your costs will be very low. Its more of a "pay as you go" plan.
I'm taking a brand-name medication that doesn't have a generic version. How can I find a Medicare Part D plan that will cover it at a reasonable cost?
Answer: Go to Medicare.gov and enter your drug. Then search for Part D plans. They will tell you if that drug is on the formulary and the cost of the plan. Find the Tier that the drug is on.
My neighbor says I'm crazy for paying for a Medigap plan when Medicare Advantage is "free." What should I tell him?
Answer: Medicare Advantage plans provide additional benefits that Medigap plans don't have. Many like Medigap plans because there are few or no copays. But do all of the costs fit your budget? Its up to you.
I'm planning to delay Social Security until age 70, but I'm turning 65 soon. How does this affect my Medicare enrollment?
Answer: As long as you are covered by an Employer plan (yours or a spouse) you are not required to sign up for Medicare Part B. You can sign up for Part A because generally its free. Make sure that with the Employer plan that you have a creditable drug plan. The benefits administrator can tell you. You can delay your Part B enrollment until you leave the Employer plan.
Is Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage better? Why do you recommend one over the other?
Answer: Original Medicare on its own has gaps in coverage. So that's an unfair comparison. With Original Medicare, you may also need a supplement. Feel free to contact me to go over both options.