Eric Palmer, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: Once your Medicare application is processed, your red, white, and blue Medicare card usually arrives in about two weeks. If you need your Medicare number sooner, you may be able to find it by logging into your my Social Security account.

Answer: One benefit people overlook with Original Medicare is preventive care. Medicare doesn’t just help when something goes wrong — it gives you access to wellness visits, screenings, vaccines, and early detection services that can help you stay ahead of bigger health problems.”

One caution: clients should ask the provider to code it as a Medicare wellness/preventive visit, not a routine physical, because Original Medicare generally does not cover a standard annual physical the same way.

Answer: Some Medicare plans — especially Medicare Advantage plans — include benefits people never use because they don’t know they’re there. Original Medicare generally does not cover routine dental, vision, hearing, and many lifestyle benefits, but Medicare Advantage plans may offer extra benefits beyond Original Medicare.

Here are benefits worth checking:

Commonly missed Medicare Advantage benefits

1. Dental allowance

Cleanings, X-rays, fillings, extractions, dentures, or a yearly dental dollar allowance.

2. Vision benefits

Routine eye exams, glasses, contact lenses, or an eyewear allowance.

3. Hearing benefits

Hearing exams and hearing aid discounts or allowances.

4. Over-the-counter allowance

Many plans give a quarterly or monthly allowance for items like pain relievers, vitamins, toothpaste, bandages, allergy medicine, and first-aid supplies.

5. Fitness membership

Programs like SilverSneakers, Renew Active, gym memberships, online fitness classes, or at-home exercise kits.

6. Transportation

Rides to doctor visits, pharmacies, dialysis, or other approved medical appointments.

7. Meal delivery after a hospital stay

Some plans cover prepared meals after discharge from the hospital or skilled nursing facility.

8. Telehealth or virtual visits

Medicare currently covers many telehealth services, and Medicare Advantage plans may have additional virtual care options.

9. Nurse hotline or care coordination

Some plans include 24/7 nurse lines, medication reviews, chronic condition support, or help coordinating specialists.

10. Part D vaccine savings

Medicare drug coverage generally covers ACIP-recommended adult vaccines, such as shingles, RSV, and Tdap, with no out-of-pocket cost. Part B covers certain vaccines like flu, COVID-19, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B.

11. Preventive services

People often miss the yearly Medicare wellness visit, cancer screenings, diabetes screenings, depression screenings, obesity counseling, tobacco-use counseling, and other preventive service

Answer: The best way is to call me to set up an appointment, and i can help you go over all your medications to see which plan will cover your medications. I am your local agent and can help more than other program in your town.

Answer: It will play a big role in the future of Medicare. The best way for me to better explain is for you to book an appointment with me, and I can go into more detail pertaining to your individual needs. Contact me.

Answer: After the beneficiary has called me personally, and I spend time driving to their house, and researching everything out to meet their needs down to the “T”, and it may take about 2 hours of my time, they still say “I want to think about it.” Then, they say they want to talk it over with their friends. If I’m the licensed agent, and a professional at what I do, and take multiple certifications yearly, then what is their friend gonna say that’s going to make it any better. All plans are not cookie cutter. What their friend has may or may not be a good fit for everyone else. Everyone’s financial situation is different, and they need to do what’s best for them and what they can afford. Medicare is expensive enough as it is.

Answer: Yes. It can be. You really need a personal agent like me that will actually meet with you and explain it in a way that makes sense. You can contact me.

Answer: Yes, Medicare Advantage plans cover home health care, as they provide the same level of coverage as original Medicare for this service. However, Medicare advantage plans may have different rules, restrictions, and cost compared to Original Medicare.

Answer: Medicare part A covers Hospital insurance and Medicare part B covers the medical. Part B does cover eligible home health service as long as you need Part-time or intermittent skilled services and you are “home-bound”.

Answer: The vaccines that are covered are flu, pneumonia, hepatitis B, and covid-19. As well as those related to injury or exposure to a disease or condition.

Answer: There’s always a cost some where. When you have Medicare A and enroll in Part B (that cost), that allows you to have a Medicare advantage plan. Then Medicare pays the health insurance company to manage your health care for you. The advantage plans are created for folks who can’t afford the high monthly payment of a supplement.

Answer: The reason you should work with me as your agent is because I take the guess work out of Medicare. I’m very consultative and can educate you. I take pride in knowing the minutia of it all. Medicare is one of the things I do, but I’m more of about protecting your assets. From health to wealth.