Howell Silverman, Medicare Insurance Broker
Howell Silverman
Medicare Broker Licensed in NY, CT, FL, ME, NJ, PA and TX
Contact Details
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Location
Commack, NY
About Me
Hi, my name is Howell 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 Howell Silverman
I'm turning 65 in three months but still working with employer coverage. Do I need to sign up for Medicare right now or can I wait?
Answer: You may be able to wait but maybe not. The safest is to check 2 things with your employer.
1. Will your employer require you to use Medicare as either a primary or secondary insurer? If yes, then you must sign up and ask them if you need both A and B and then do what they tell you. If No, then you can wait until you either loose coverage or retire. When either of those happen, THEN you must sign up.
2. If you’re receiving prescription drug coverage through your employer, ask for a letter from your company or HR dept that your drug coverage is “creditable”. Not “credible”, “CREDITABLE”. If YES, just keep the letter and ask for it every year and you don’t need to do anything else; keep it in your files - mark it in your calendar to request it every year.
If NO (then it’s not “CREDITABLE”, then you MUST enroll in a prescription drug plan even if you don’t take any medications. If you DON’T have creditable coverage and you don’t enroll when your first eligible.-you’ll be penalized when you do finally enroll.
Don’t let that happen. Why pay a penalty if you don’t have to.
Does Medicare have a deductible?
Answer: Each Part of Original Medicare has a deductible for 2026
part A $1,736 per benefit period (not per year)
Part b $283
Part D up to $590 (some drug plans are less)
Note:if you have either a
Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan, deductibles may be lower but not higher.
Consider using a licensed insurance broker knowledgeable about Medicare options to assist you with the details.
I just got Medicare Part A, and I'm worried about hospital stays. How do I know if my overnight stay will be covered fully?
Answer: That is the purpose of Part A.
Visit
Https://medicare.gov
Basics
Get started with Medicare
Compare coverage options
Enter your zip code (click next)
Original Medicare
Select Original
Look the right in the gray box
It explains the details of what’s covered
Why is it helpful to follow up with your parents after discussing Medicare?
Answer: A few reasons.
1. So you have an understanding of what your parents need and want and,
2. To ensure they enrolled, understood what they enrolled in, and are receiving what they asked for. Ideally you should be working alongside them when they enroll and if they're using a broker (which is beneficial but not required), you should also be in contact with the broker so you know who he/she is and can call and ask a question if need be.
It not only takes a village but it takes a team and you can/should be part of it.
Can I drop my employer health insurance and switch to Medicare instead?
Answer: You can if you’re eligible for Medicare. Use a qualified broker to check your options before making the switch.
When is a good time to start preparing for AEP?
Answer: Details of plans for 2027 become available for review in early October (10th).
Check with a trusted broker to understand your options or investigate it yourself. Using a broker can make the complicated world more clear.
To prepare yourself for evaluating 2027 plans, you should have a good idea of what services you used from doctors, hospitals and pharmacies during the past year. Taking into account your expected health changes for 2027 - particularly if you already know of any major conditions or potential hospital stays that could take place in 2027. That will help you evaluate your options.
My doctor recommended a bone density test. Is this considered preventive care under Medicare?
Answer: Bone density is covered under Medicare part b once every 24 months. If your dr accepts Medicare assignments, and it's medically necessary, you will typically pay nothing.
There is eligibility criteria which your doctor must verify that you meet in order for it to be a Medicare covered test
Do doctors prefer Medigap or Medicare Advantage plans?
Answer: Great question. The more important question would be which is best for YOU, Not which is best for the Dr.
It seems to be less work for the Dr if you’re on a Medigap plan. But the coverage is better for you with an Advantage plan because those plans offer benefits beyond what original Medicare offers.
You should seek the advice of a qualified licensed, certified and appointed agent to help you decide which plan is best for you. Not which plan a Dr. prefers.
Is my son or daughter allowed to help me with my Medicare plan?
Answer: They can’t “sign up FOR you unless they have a proper power of attorney, but they can certainly help you. They can help you apply for Medicare or be in the phone or participate in a face to face visit by a qualified person to help you understand your options and then at your option, enroll you in a plan if that’s what you’d like.
So yes, they can help you
I recommend you seek the advice of a licensed, certified and appointed agent to get your questions answered.
Isn't it suspicious that Medicare Advantage plans offer gift cards and incentives to enroll?
Answer: The cards provided are not gift cards. For member use, no one else. They are also not incentives to sign up or enroll. They are provided in order to offer healthy options and to be used for health and safety products and services.