Jillian Bellinger-Laing, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: There are many preventive screenings covered by Medicare. Such as your mammogram, bone density exams, shots/vaccines, and wellness visits. If you refer to the Medicare and You Guide, they have a detailed list of screenings that are covered.

Answer: The donut hole no longer exists in 2025. You have a $2000 out of pocket limit on your drug costs for this year. If your drugs have a high cost up front, the prescription plans are offering a prescription payment plan that you can sign up for to help spread out the costs for the year.

Answer: You would want to keep Medicare as your primary insurance and then choose a Medicare Supplement for your secondary. This will give you the flexibility to see who you want when you are traveling, as long as they accept Medicare.

Answer: Medicare will not cover you outside of the US, but if you have a Medicare Supplement you will have a Foreign Travel Emergency benefit. You would be responsible for a $250 Deductible, then the plan will pay 80% of your bill up to $50k. The $50k is a lifetime benefit. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you will want to call your provider to see if they will cover anything for you.

Answer: Medicare does cover eye exams and hearing exams because they are checking you for things like cataracts and glaucoma. They will not pay for the glasses or the hearing aids. If they did cover those things, it would be likely that the cost would go up.

Answer: Good afternoon. Make sure the agent is listening to what you are looking for in a plan. Make sure they are explaining how Medicare works and showing all of your options, this way you can make an educated decision. A big red flag would be if they are just pushing one company or plan.

Answer: Medicare has a $2000 out of pocket maximum this year for drug costs (this includes the $590 deductible if your plan has one). Once you have paid $2000, then you will fall under catastrophic coverage and pay $0 for the rest of the year.

Answer: Yes, if there is a 5-star plan available in your area that you are interested in, you can make one change outside of the enrollment periods. Have a great day.

Answer: Medicare will cover cancer screenings. Depending on which cancer screening you are getting, it can be every 12-48 months unless you are high risk. Have a great weekend.

Answer: Annuities can give you a reliable monthly income in retirement, helping you cover regular expenses without worrying about running out of money. They offer the option of guaranteed payments for life, which can bring peace of mind. Annuities can also work alongside Social Security and any savings or pensions you have, giving you more financial security.  I help seniors everyday with protecting their retirement savings.  Let me know if you would like to schedule a time to speak with me.

Answer: You will be signed up for Medicare automatically and you should receive your Medicare card 3-4 months before you turn 65. Have a great weekend!