Ed Taylor, Medicare Insurance Agent
Ed Taylor
Medicare Agent Licensed in MO
Contact Details
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Location
Kearney, MO
About Me
I received my undergraduate degree in 1985 from the University of Tennessee - Knoxville majoring in Civil Engineering and graduate degree in 1998 from Webster University in St Louis majoring in Public Administration. I spent my formative years in the military as a United States Marine and later receiving a commission in the United States Army as a Corps of Engineer Second Lieutenant. My service to our Nation took me to Iraq (Desert Storm), Korea and myriad assignments in the United States. I was medically discharged from the military in 1998 due to injuries sustained in Iraq; but, I continued working for the federal government as a federal employee. I retired in 2014.
During the time between 1998 and 2014 I obtained a license in insurance and became registered with the ability to offer securities advise. After I retired, I established my own companies in the insurance and investment advisory industries.
Now I continue to serve our Nation in a different way. I focus on helping families address their debt issues and structuring their resources to face the inevitable, the untimely loss of the family income. I lost my father at age seven and understands the demands and stresses put on single parents to raise a family when the primary income is lost. Though the $10,000 whole life insurance was a substantial amount for an upper East Tennessee blue collar family, it clearly wasn’t enough to properly prepare for the future.
I have the background and passion to help those who desire help so they don't face money pressure due to the loss of a loved one. Planning your health insurance is one facet of the overall pyramid.
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Ed Taylor
When is a good time to start preparing for AEP?
Answer: Annual Enrollment Period is mid-October to early-December. It's a good idea to start in September to chat with someone knowledgeable about Medicare and the various plans available to determine the options based on income, current insurance carried, and whether retired or still working.
What are some ways patients can reduce medication costs while on Medicare?
Answer: If you are a veteran and haven't been evaluated by the VA Health program, you should do so immediately. If you are found to have a service-connected disability, there is a strong probability you can receive your medications at a reduced or no cost at all.
What's the most important question I should be asking about Medicare that I probably haven't thought of yet?
Answer: You should be asking your medical resources who they would suggest you contact for your Medicare plan depending on whether it is primary care, dental, prescription, and so on.
I'm confused by all the star ratings for Medicare plans. Do they actually mean anything for the care I'll receive?
Answer: The short answer is "No". The star ratings will range from the benefits of the type of plan you are enrolled in to how well the medical professional is that treats you for whatever reason. The best advice is to discuss with your primary care provider, pharmacist, dental office to determine the right plan for you. You want to make sure the provider is compensated well at the same time you not buying a gold-plated plan and wasting money.
Can you explain Special Needs Plans in Medicare?
Answer: This is from the Medicare.gov website:
What's an SNP?
A Special Needs Plan (SNP) provides benefits and services to people with specific severe and chronic diseases, certain health care needs, or who also have Medicaid. SNPs include care coordination services and tailor their benefits, provider choices, and list of covered drugs (formularies) to best meet the specific needs of the groups they serve.
SNPs are either HMO or PPO plan types and cover the same Medicare Part A and Part B benefits that all Medicare Advantage Plans cover. However, SNPs might also cover extra services for the special groups they serve. For example, if you have a severe condition, like cancer or congestive heart failure, and you need a hospital stay, an SNP may cover extra days in the hospital. You can only stay enrolled in an SNP if you continue to meet the special conditions of the plan.
What are the eligibility requirements for SNPs?
Dual Eligible SNP (D-SNP) – You’re eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Some D-SNPs may provide Medicaid services in addition to Medicare services. D-SNPs contract with your state Medicaid program to help coordinate your Medicare and Medicaid benefits, depending on the state and your eligibility.
Chronic Condition SNP (C-SNP) – You have one or more of these severe or disabling chronic conditions:
Chronic alcohol and other dependence
Certain autoimmune disorders
Cancer (excluding pre-cancer conditions)
Certain cardiovascular disorders
Chronic heart failure
Dementia
Diabetes mellitus
End-stage liver disease
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) requiring dialysis (any mode of dialysis)
Certain severe hematologic disorders
HIV/AIDS
Certain chronic lung disorders
Certain chronic and disabling mental health conditions
Certain neurologic disorders
Stroke
Institutional SNP (I-SNP) – You live in the community but need the level of care a facility offers, or you live (or are expected to live) for at least 90 days straight in a facility like a:
Nursing home
Intermediate