Joseph Meyers, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: One of the most important things a senior could know before choosing a Medicare Plan is that they are making a decision for their health insurance for the rest of their lives. For example, in Michigan only during your initial enrollment period do you get guaranteed acceptance into a medigap plan. You are getting health insurance not extra grocery $$

Answer: Find a local trusted insurance broker whom can answer your questions and explain things in easy to understand terms. If you are more of a do-it-yourself person I would highly encourage you to read through the Medicare and you book and also use the tools available on medicare.gov website

Answer: Part D plans with higher monthly premiums are normally more beneficial in having coverage for expensive specialty drugs. You may also save on copays and deductibles

Answer: I help folks in Michigan and after your initial enrollment into medicare here, you will have to health qualify for medigap(supplemental) plans. With our health you never know what is around the corner. If serious health issues wiping out your savings is a concern...and it should be. Medigap plans are the safest option.

Answer: When having lab tests done check with your Advantage plan agent or customer service center to ensure you are staying IN NETWORK! Also ask the medical provider ordering the labs if these are standard, common and preventative tests or if they are more rare. The insurance company can also help with pricing if they have all the information.

Answer: I was surprised to find out that each person in the u.s. accrued about $14,500 per year in Healthcare costs or appx $4.9 trillion across the whole USA.

Answer: They are not allowed to deny you access to a drug just because a generic is not available. But the part D insurance company will have tiers and pricing for all of their covered prescriptions within their formulary.

If the brand name rx you need is not in their formulary then there is a formulary exception process and/or step therapy process you may have comply with.

Answer: They are not allowed to offer incentives to induce enrollments. I advise prospects and clients to be wary of offers like this.

Answer: Part D providers offer a very large number of prescription medicines but the part D insurance companies require that you are using the medication for its intended use and many times these diabetic drugs such as ozempic are not going to be covered if you are using them for reasons besides being diabetic

Answer: My favorite answer would be because they didn't seek the knowledge and guidance of a licensed Agent.

But the real answer is because they didn't enroll for coverage when they needed to.

When you are medicare eligible you need to have your Part B start within 3 months of turning 65 or dropping credible employer coverage.

Part D rx coverage is similar but needs to be placed within 63 days of becoming eligible for Medicare

Answer: Social security is your monthly income payments based upon your 20 best years of employment income.

Medicare is the health insurance that most Americans earn from working 40 quarters (or 10 full years)

You contact the same government office (SSA) to enroll in medicare or start your social security payments.

Now back to the question...

Most people will need to enroll in Medicare part B when they turn 65 or are planning on coming off of credible employer group coverage. If you are still working after 65 check with your HR department as to the specifics about whether you need enroll in part B.

Answer: In Michigan (where I primarily help ppl) when turning 65 or leaving credible work group coverage you are granted guaranteed acceptance into a medicare supplement plan(medigap)

Outside of that situation there will be health questions and underwriting to determine acceptance into a supplement (medigap) plan

Answer: Other than not talking to me first....a few possible mistakes could be made:

1. Not using medicare.gov to compare all plans against your medications.

2. Not checking your drug coverage every year, by comparing new plans or if you were prescribed new meds

Answer: Dental is jot covered by original Medicare, UNLESS MEDICALLY NECESSARY.

It is much more likely you will be paying a dental professional to pull your teeth amd set you up with dentures