Heather Allen, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: Some Medicare advantage plans give a benefit of giving back your part B premium. This reduces the amount that social security takes from your check to pay for the Part B benefits. If you do not receive social security then it reduces the bill Medicare send for part B. Not all plans have this benefit.

Answer: That is your prescription drug benefit. If you do not have any prescriptions, you still need to enroll in a plan to avoid a penalty that would start once you did start needing a plan. The penalty is 1% of the national average per month you do not have a plan, and it follows you for the rest of your life.

Answer: I specialize in educating my clients so that they understand all their rights and responsibilities to Medicare prior to discussing their options. My advise would be to make sure you are talking with a broker that handles all the options in your county or State.

Answer: I have multiple trainings and meetings that I have to attend as well as Federal Mandatory education to be certified to even talk about plans each year. This is why I meet with all my clients so they are informed of any changes and whether they may need a more detailed meeting with me.

Answer: It is important to sit down with a knowledgeable broker that can look at all the plans in your area and compare between Advantage plans and stand-alone plans. Having a broker that is willing to take the time is imperative and not many are willing. Some plans may need a prior auth, but again a good broker will guide you through this process.

Answer: If you are still employed and remaining on your employers insurance, you will automatically be enrolled in Part A and do not need to enroll in part B until you will lose your employer insurance.

If you do not have, or will lose, employer insurance when you turn 65, you will have to apply for part B through Social Security and there is a cost associated with part B.

And definitely reach out to a broker like myself to review ALL the plans in your area so your health care works they way you want it to work for you.

Answer: Most Advantage plans have dental and vision coverage, and a couple Medicare supplement providers also have dental for an extra premium, or there are stand alone options that I have for people that do not have the previous two options.

Answer: Make sure you find a broker that is willing to take the time to ensure all your specialists are covered and the process of getting your prior authorizations for medications established with the new carrier. As a person that has a rare condition myself; I understand the time and diligence this process can take.

Answer: Yes, The deductible is set by congress each year and is subject to yearly changes. Both the Part B premium and deductible should be review each year.

Answer: Special needs plans are designed for people on stated health care assistance, Medicaid, or have been diagnosed with certain chronic health conditions.

Answer: I sit down with my clients face to face and explain the A's and B's of Medicare, explain all the rights and obligations, and reassure them that if they forget anything or every have any questions to call me.

Answer: The star ratings are quality scores that Medicare gives health plans based on client feedback and surveys. The more stars the higher rating the plan has.

Answer: Not working with an agent to understand all the rules and obligations of Medicare. If the rules are not followed, a person could be subjected to lifetime penalties or even disenrollment. If you do not have a prescription drug plan or credible drug coverage, the penalty is 1% per month the person is not enrolled that will be accessed once they enroll.

Answer: There is no trap to Medicare Advantage plans, but they are a different type of insurance than Medigap. It is important to sit down with an agent to understand the benefits of each type of plan so you can make an informed decision on which type is right for your health care needs.

Answer: You will automatically be enrolled in part A. Part B enrollment can wait until you are ready to retire.

Answer: As a person with chronic health conditions and expensive medications, I know how important it is to make sure you health care is suitable for each person's situation. I enjoy what I do as I know I am helping someone have peace of mind about their health care needs. I enjoy meeting new people and making sure they get the most out of their retirement.

Answer: Schedule time to sit down with a broker that can help you make an informed decision, narrow your options, and ensure that you have all the benefits that are important to you. Working with an agent/broker can take the stress out of choosing a plan.

Answer: If you have a medigap plan, in some states, you can change during your birthday.

When you start Medicare when turning 65 there is a 7 month enrollment period, you get 3 months before your birthday, the month of your birthday, and 3 months after your birthday.

Both Medicare advantage plans and prescription drug plans have their annual enrolment periods from Oct 15- Dec 7.

If you did not switch your advantage plan during the annual enrollment period, then you can make a switch during open enrollment Jan 1 through March 31.

Answer: Medicare part A enrollment is automatic when you turn 65. Enrollment in Medicare part B can wait until your spouse is ready to retire.

Answer: Mental health services are covered and subject to the deductibles of Original Medicare. Adding a supplemental or Medigap plan can help pay for the deductibles from Original Medicare.

Answer: Working with a Medicare agent ensures that clients understand all the benefits of each plan in their area to help you make an informed discission. By using an agent, clients are able to understanding all their options to ensure they are getting what they need from their health plan.