Jeremy Harkins, Medicare Insurance Broker
Jeremy Harkins
Harkins Health Insurance Solutions
Medicare Broker Licensed in TN, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, KY and TX
Contact Details
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Location
Murfreesboro, TN
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Phone
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Website
About Me
Choosing Medicare is not just about finding a plan. It is about understanding what that decision could mean years from now.
Too often, people take shortcuts, compare only premiums, or choose coverage without fully understanding the tradeoffs. The real problems often show up later—when a doctor is not in network, a prescription is not covered as expected, costs increase, or changing coverage is no longer as simple as it once seemed.
Jeremy Harkins helps clients slow the process down and look at the whole picture.
With a background in technical engineering and operations, Jeremy brings an analytical approach to Medicare planning—looking at how the pieces work together, where the risks may be, and what could happen down the road before a decision is made.
Based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and serving clients from coast to coast, Harkins Health & Wealth helps people understand their Medicare options, avoid costly surprises, and make confident decisions for the years ahead.
Understand your options. Know the tradeoffs. Choose with confidence.
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Jeremy Harkins
I spend part of the year in Illinois and part of the year in Florida. Should I choose an Illinois HMO or PPO?
Answer: If you spend several months each year in Florida, I would be very careful about choosing an Illinois HMO.
With most HMOs, routine care needs to stay inside the plan's network. Emergency and urgent care while you are in Florida would generally be covered, but regular doctor visits and follow-up care may not be.
A PPO usually gives you more flexibility because you can go outside the network, although you may pay more. But don't assume that every doctor in Florida will accept your Illinois PPO. That needs to be checked before choosing the plan.
If you regularly see doctors in both Illinois and Florida, I would also compare the PPO to Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement. That combination can give you much more freedom to use doctors who accept Medicare across the country.
One other thing to watch is how long you are away from your permanent Illinois home. Some Medicare Advantage plans can have problems if you live outside their service area for more than six months at a time.
If you are spending about half the year in Florida, your coverage needs to be built around that reality from the beginning.
I’m turning 65 in Illinois. When should I start the Medicare enrollment process?
Answer: Ideally, start learning about Medicare about six months before you turn 65.
That may sound early, but there are several decisions to make. You want time to understand how Medicare works, look at your current health coverage, compare your options, and think through things like doctors, prescriptions and what you could pay out of pocket.
About three months before you turn 65, you can begin enrolling in Medicare. By starting the conversation earlier, you are not trying to learn everything and make all of your decisions at the same time.
If you plan to keep working after 65, start early anyway. Your employer coverage should be reviewed before deciding whether enrolling in Medicare at 65 makes sense for you.
The goal is pretty simple: learn first, make a plan, and then enroll when the time is right.
I live in Illinois and have a Medicare Supplement plan. Can I switch to another Medigap plan without going through medical underwriting?
Answer: Answering with current data as of September 11, 2026, Illinois gives some Medicare Supplement policyholders a special opportunity to change plans without medical underwriting.
If you are between ages 65 and 75, you have a 45-day window beginning on your birthday each year. During that time, you may be able to move to a plan with the same insurance company, or an affiliated company, as long as the new plan has the same or lesser benefits.
The pitfall is thinking this gives you the freedom to switch to any Medicare Supplement company or any plan without health questions. It does not.
Outside of that birthday window, medical underwriting may still apply unless you have another guaranteed-issue right.
Before making a change, make sure you understand exactly what you qualify for. And never cancel your current Medicare Supplement until the new coverage has been approved.
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: One of the biggest reasons to work with a Medicare agent is to avoid costly mistakes and common Medicare pitfalls.
There is more to Medicare than just picking a plan. Your doctors, prescriptions, hospitals, travel, budget, and future out-of-pocket costs all matter.
A good agent helps you understand those choices, spot potential problems before they happen, and find coverage that fits your situation.
If you work with an independent agent, they may also be able to compare several insurance companies instead of just one.
And the help should not stop after enrollment. Plans change, questions come up, and sometimes you need someone who already knows your situation and can help advocate for you when something does not go the way it should.