James Romeo, Medicare Insurance Broker
James Romeo
MediChoice Insurance Agency
Medicare Broker Licensed in MN
13+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Serving
Hopkins, MN
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Phone
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Website
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Facebook
About Me
James Romeo and MediChoice Insurance Agency have been helping seniors in the Twin Cities Metro, State of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Florida for over 15 years. We are your Local Independent Insurance Agency representing both Local and Nation Medicare plans for Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement, and Part D Drug plans. We can help you through the entire process from enrollment with Social Security, Medicare and the plans that go with Medicare. After enrollment we provide year over year assistance with making sure you are on the proper plan for you. Our staff is available all year long if you have questions or issues throughout the year and provide you with ongoing customer service. We can help if you are new to Medicare or have already been on for years. We also offer help with Induvial Medical Insurance if you are not on Medicare yet, also Dental, Vision, Travel Medical insurance. We are here to help! We Make Medicare EASY!
Directions to My Office
Q&A with James Romeo
How can I tell the difference between an experienced Medicare Broker and an inexperienced Medicare Broker?
Answer: Make sure they are representing multiple insurance companies on both Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage as well as Part D drug plans.
It also comes down to length of time in the business. If they have been doing this less than one or 2 years, they may be a good salesperson, but they may lack the experience to explain what happens if there is a problem or how certain procedures are covered or who is in the network. It can be hard to get a good idea of understanding the market and the plans available in a short period of time.
Ask lots of questions and see how they answer them. If they look unsure or like they are guessing the answer, that will show. As with anything, trust your gut. If it feels rushed, or they are not going over all benefits of the plans, or they are vague or evasive on answers, best to walk away.
A good and complete meeting should take about 45 minutes to an hour.
My Medicare Advantage plan denied coverage for a specialist I need to see. What are my options now?
Answer: We always advise to contact the insurance company and see why it was denied. Most of the time, they just need more information as to why the doctor or you are doing or wanting done and why. Just needing more information.
You also need to check the network. IF you have an HMO and that doctor is not in the network, then you may be out of luck. But if you have a PPO, there could be out-of-network benefits, just a higher cost. Usually, for whatever specialist, there should be that specialty options in network.
The last step with the insurance company is to appeal their decision, and they can make a determination if they overturn the appeal. And the very last step after getting all of the information and if they deny the appeal, then you can file a grievance and formal complaint with Medicare, and they will launch an investigation, but only do that after trying to work with your insurance company.
So first call to the insurance company and your doctor's office that will get out the rest of the story and then go from there.
It's so confusing. Who can help me figure out this Medicare "maze and alphabet soup"?
Answer: We can help you! Or find a local independent Medicare agent/broker. Oh, by the way, our advice and time is no cost to you!
Call us today!
If you had to pick just one, what's the worst Medicare-related decision someone can make?
Answer: Delaying or choosing to not get enrolled when they become eligible and during your set enrollment periods.
Not enrolling in Medicare Part A & Part B when they are first eligible can result in delays and penalties.
Not choosing additional coverage through Medicare Supplements or Medicare Advantage or drug coverage plans when you are first eligible. The results can be penalties, delay or denial of coverages, and the penalties can last the rest of your life. The enrollment timing of Medicare and is very important that you enroll in your election periods.
I have had to have hard conversations with people when they miss these deadlines and there is nothing we can do and getting bad advice from the internet, people who are just older than you falls into that as well. Internet people and people in your sphere of influence their needs and experiences may not be yours. I have made the comment that just because someone is educated in their field does not automatically mean they are experts in everything. Example is that I may not bring my car to a CPA to fix the transmission; being a CPA means they are an expert in their field, and highly educated does automatically make you an expert. So think about whatever in your past your working life and if you were going to teach me you are an expert in that. Just like that we are experts in Medicare and do this every day and we can help guide you.
Let us know and we can help avoid penalties and delays and regrets!
I'm worried about choosing the wrong plan and being stuck with it. How often can I change my Medicare coverage?
Answer: Depending on which "style" of Medicare plan you have, that will determine what changes you can make and when. This can get complicated; best to have a back-and-forth conversation with a Licensed Insurance Agent and/or Medicare Broker to help you choose the right "style of plan" that fits your needs.
But here is a basic answer: Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Drug plans are allowed to be changed during the Annual Enrollment period which runs from October 15th - December 7th every fall! Medicare Supplement or Medigap plans you are more or less married to, but you can get off of them during this time as well. But! Be careful doing this, because you may not be able to get back onto them unless you answer medical questions, and you could be denied in the future.
There are other times of the year that you may be able to make changes depending on what plan you are on and life circumstances. There are what are called Special Election Periods that can run all year long. And the Advantage Plan Open Enrollment Period that runs from January 1st to March 31st each year.
Yes, you could get stuck with a style, but you can always make changes; just make sure you understand the good and bad of that change. You will hear out YES and you will be told you "can change" something, but the real question is, "should" I make that change? We can help!
Don't you think Medicare's focus on treatment rather than prevention is backwards?
Answer: This is a complicated answer; how I look at it is Medicare is based on Western Medicine that focuses on treatment of conditions, so Medicare follows that process. However, in my many years of doing this, I have seen a lot of folks find out they have major health conditions because of the regular screenings that are at no cost to you on your policies. The plans do encourage you to use them and take advantage of no-cost screenings and some doctor visits. So know that you are well covered. Now, some plans do include no-cost-to-you benefits, like gym memberships, access to over-the-counter products like vitamins and supplements, and other benefits that take aim at getting you and keeping you healthy! Make sure you choose a plan that fits your needs and lifestyle.
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: Well, nothing in life is "free"; you already know that is not true. However, there are plans that are no additional cost to you. How I explain is: $0 or zero-dollar plans per month are no more monthly cost paid to the insurance companies than what you are already paying for Original Medicare.
Then these plans do really have cost to them in the form of co-pays, co-insurance and max out-of-pocket. But "free" is relative and can be explained better as no additional cost over what you are paying for Original Medicare.
This can be a complicated question and depends on a lot of factors if these kinds of plans are a good fit for you. Contact us to see if a $0 premium plan is a good fit for you!
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: We take a very educational aspect to what we do! We love to take something that could be very overwhelming and make it EASY! Nowhere in life has anyone explained or showed you what to do when you get to start Medicare, so we make sure we can help you through every aspect of the process. Then, we are not a one-and-done; we provide all-year customer service, and each year we can help you make changes if you need to. All in a local independent agency that is here to help you find the proper coverage for you.