Jay Rayl, Medicare Insurance Broker
Jay Rayl
Medicare Made Simple / TLC Insurance Group
Medicare Broker Licensed in OH, AZ, CO, FL, GA, ID, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, NC, NE, NY, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WV and WY
20+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
-
Location
North Royalton, OH
About Me
Independent Agent and Agency Owner with 50+ Insurance companies. 19 years of experience helping & educating seniors to assist in making the right choice for their individual needs in Medicare.
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Jay Rayl
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: I wouldn't say, nor should anyone say they are "Free". However, there are many plans that are absolutely at no additional cost to most members. The way they can be at no additional cost is that your Medicare Part B premium along with additional money is paid from Medicare to the insurance company to offer you that plan at no additional cost. An insurance company may receive upwards of $1,000 per month for your enrollment in their "Free" plan from Medicare, so the insurance companies are doing just fine in offering those plans.
Medicare Advantage plans are a fantastic option for many people, but they are not for everyone. You must look at factors like plan benefits, and designs, which vary tremendously by location. You also must look at "access" or the network. (The hospitals and doctors you can see with the plan.) Some areas have very large and strong network bases, while others may have more holes than swiss cheese. If considering a MA plan you should always talk to a local INDEPENDENT broker or agent who knows the area in which you live. They can guide you through the good and the bad of your options.
How can I save money on my Medicare Supplement?
Answer: Medicare Supplements have been becoming more and more expensive lately. This is partially due to inflation, and the increased cost of medical care. If you have a spouse who is also on Medicare, you may be eligible for a household or spousal discount. Some companies will discount a plan upwards of 10% per person for having two people from the same household covered by the same company. You can also consider stepping down your coverage. Many people who have been on supplements for years have older plans, such as a Plan F or J. Giving yourself some small cost sharing by going to a Plan G or Plan N could be a good solution to save on premiums.
I'm considering a smartwatch that monitors my heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation. Will Medicare help cover this type of wearable technology?
Answer: I have never seen original Medicare, (Part A or Part B) cover wearable technology. However, there are some Medicare Advantage plans that do. It is not a common benefit, but some do. Talk to a local independent agent to have them look this up for you!
My Medicare Advantage plan covers dental, but I can't find a dentist who accepts it. Is this a common problem?
Answer: Not finding any dentist at all who accepts your Medicare Advantage plans is fairly uncommon. Not having the dentist you currently see not accept it, with most plans is more of a 60 / 40 chance. There are a decent number of dentists who may say they don't accept Medicare based dental plans due to the network repricing. However, most Medicare Advantage plans that offer dental have developed established networks for dentists. You should be able to find a good number of dentists that do take your plan that are close by. One common issue we see is many HMO plans use a PPO dental network. Someone calls to check to see if a dentist accepts XYZ insurance HMO plans. They are told no we don't take their HMO plan. However in reality your plan is an HMO on the medical side, but the dental is a PPO network.
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: Being a Medicare agent is very rewarding. Everyday I feel that I am helping people. There is so much confusion in the Medicare space, and much of it hits underserved populations. Being able to make a living and feel good about what I do is very rewarding.