Eric Jensen, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: If you're already getting Social Security benefits before you turn 65, you shouldn't need to do anything to sign up for Origjnal Medicare when you turn 65.

You should be automatically enrolled in both Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Part B (Medical Insurance).

Answer: A Medicare agent usually represents just one insurance carrier. A Medicare broker (like me) is also an agent, but is independent so they are free to offer health insurance plans from any carrier that they are contracted with. So they have access to more plan options to find the one that best fits your needs and budget.

Answer: With Medicare, there aren’t discounts for using less care, because the program is built on the idea of everyone sharing the risk together, similar to group insurance plans.

However there are a couple options to save money on premiums if you are not using your policy that much. One option is to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that has a "Part B Giveback" that would help offset the Part B monthly premium that you are being charged.

If you are in a medicare supplement (medigap) plan and want to continue in a supplement plan, rather than enrolling in a medicare advantage plan, you could look into the possibility of switching to different carrier or a different plan with a lower premium and a little less coverage, depending on what state you are in.

Feel free to contact me if you would like more information or clarification.

Answer: I stay up to date by subscribing to many of my carriers' newsletters, attend lots of ongoing training sessions training webinars and am in several online groups and forums that discuss the latest in the medicare industry.

I am have software that will notify me of any changes to specific plans when the yearly changes come out around September and October so I prepared to let my current clients know and review these changes and options with them.

Answer: The best way to have piece of mind is to speak with an independent insurance broker or agent and give him as much information as your can, such as your current presciptions and providers, as well as any upcoming changes you forsee such as pending procedures or Drs you may want to see over the next year.

That way the agent can more accurately forecast what coverage and plan would work best for your situation. Working with an independent agent, ensures that they are not beholden to only one carrier so they have the freedom to decide the best plan for you instead of trying to strear you to their employers plans.

Answer: A good time to start preparing for AEP would be around mid-September- beginning of October range.

Starting around mid-September, be on the lookout for the Annual Notice of Changes (ANOC) that your current insurance carrier may send you in the mail that would point out any upcoming changes to your coverage that you would need to be aware of.

Starting October 1st, you can compare your current plan for 2026 against other available options.... then you'll have from October 15 to December 7 to officially make any switches or make adjustments to your plans.

Answer: Getting married late in life, (in this case that could mean after turning 65) can affect your Medicare coverage and costs in a few ways, depending on your and your spouse’s work history, current income or enrollment status.

It could help your eligibility for Part A coverage if you didn't qualify before if your spouse meets the work requirements.

Also, since your household income and assets would now be based off the combined amounts for both of you, that could affect a few things that are based off household income. Among them,

- The IRMMA calculation, where some people pay higher premiums if their household income is over a certain threshold,

-Medicaid/LIS eligibility could be affected since eligibility for these programs is based off your household income and/or assets

If you’d like to go over a specific scenario I would be happy to give more specific guidance.

Answer: There are certain medicare advantage plans that include spending cards that can be use for healthy foods such as water, bread, meat, rice etc. There are other plans that may provide a spending allowance but it can only be used for Over The Counter (OTC) items such as vitamins, suppleents and home care items such as toilet paper, cleaning supplies etc..

Your healthcare agent could help you determine which plans include these additional benefits and clarify what they can be used towards.

Answer: Yes Medicare Advantage Plans do cover home health care. They are required provide at least the same level of home health care coverage as Original Medicare, however you would usually need to get the care from a provider that is contracted with your specific health plan.

Answer: If you have a tight budget, Medigap Plan K could be a suitable option since it typically charges a lower monthly premium than Plan G, but also has less comprehensive coverage. Plan K only covers about 50% of many key benefits like Part B coinsurance, skilled nursing facility care, and the Part A deductible. Therefore with Plan K, your fixed costs (monthly premium) would be lower when compared to Plan G, and may be a better option for your tight budget as long as you are relatively healthy and don't require frequent medical care.

Answer: There are a lot of Medicare Advantage plans that have no premium. However, you would still be responsable for paying your original medicare part B premium (and possibly Part A if you have one). So when someone says that a medicare advantage plan that doesn't charge a monthly premium is "free", they actually mean that you would be paying the same whether you are in original medicare or a medicare advantage plan, so it is "free" in that sense.

Answer: There are usually lots of plan options available in your area and a lot of nuances to each plan that an experienced agent would be aware of and be able to go over with you. They can help you narrow down your options and pick the best one for you based off your individual situation. There also is not any additional charge to consult with an agent or enroll in a plan through them so you do not gain anything by enrolling on your own some public site or directly with a carrier.