Heidi Broberg, Medicare Insurance Agent
Heidi Broberg
Medicare Agent Licensed in CA, AZ, FL, ID, NV, OR, TX, UT and VA
24+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Heidi Can Help With:
About Me
Hi, my name is Heidi and I am your local Medicare insurance agent. Medicare is my specialty and I am dedicated to helping you find the best plan that fits your specific needs and budget. I will take on the task of searching through plans from nationally and locally recognized companies so that you don't have to. Best of all, my services come at no cost to you. Get in touch with me today to explore your Medicare insurance options. Be sure to mention that you found me on Medicare Agents Hub!
Q&A with Heidi Broberg
My doctor prescribed physical therapy, but I'm not sure how many visits Medicare will cover. How do I find out?
Answer: I have gotten this question for years and years, and the good news is that the rules are much better than they used to be.
The short answer is: There is no longer a hard limit on physical therapy visits.
As long as your doctor and physical therapist can show that the care is medically necessary and you are making progress, Medicare will cover it.
But how it actually works, also depends on the type of plan you have:
Medicare Supplement (Medigap):
You can use any physical therapist who accepts Original Medicare. Medicare Part B pays 80% of the cost, and your Supplement automatically pays the remaining 20% (once your Part B deductible is met). There are no pre-approvals required. If you need a lot of therapy over the year, your therapist simply adds a special billing code to tell Medicare that your continued treatment is still necessary.
Medicare Advantage Plan:
You will usually pay a flat copay for each visit, and you will use a therapist in the plan's network. Instead of unlimited visits upfront, Advantage plans manage care by approving therapy in "batches." For example, they might authorize 8 to 10 visits to start. If you reach the end of that batch and still need more help, your therapist just submits an update to your plan to get the next batch approved.
The bottom line: Don't stress about hitting a magic number of visits. Just focus on your recovery and let your therapist handle the updates with your plan!
I've heard Medicare covers home health care, but what exactly does that include?
Answer: 1. It generally includes skilled nursing care, like administering medications or wound care, and home health aide services for help with personal care like bathing and dressing.
2 Medicare also covers physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology to help you regain or maintain your abilities.
Keep in mind that to qualify, a doctor must certify that you need these services..
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: While you might find plans with a $0 monthly premium, this comes with important context and conditions:
You still need to be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B: These are not free. You've paid into Part A through payroll taxes during your working years, and you continue to pay the standard Part B premium (or potentially more depending on your income).
The $0 premium often applies to specific types of plans, like HMOs: These plans typically require you to stay within a network of doctors and hospitals to receive coverage. Going out-of-network may result in higher costs or no coverage at all.
It's more accurate to say that these plans can offer a way to receive your Medicare benefits through a private insurance company, often with extra benefits, after you've already met the requirements of Medicare (and continue to pay your Part B premium).
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: Honestly, the most rewarding thing is simply helping people get the Medicare coverage that truly works for them. Knowing I've made a positive impact on their healthcare journey is what it's all about. And I love people, so meeting new people is the best, I have made lifelong client/friends.