Joshua Filmore, Medicare Insurance Broker
Joshua Filmore
HealthMarkets
Medicare Broker Licensed in FL, AR, GA, LA, MI, MO, OH, TX and VA
17+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
-
Location
Lakeland, FL
-
LinkedIn
-
Facebook
-
Instagram
-
YouTube
About Me
I’m Josh Filmore, Senior Agent and Founder of Josh Filmore | HealthMarkets, committed to providing personalized insurance solutions that truly fit your needs. With over a decade of experience serving Winter Haven, Lakeland, and communities across Florida, I’ve built a practice known for exceptional service, deep industry expertise, and unwavering client trust.
Major Duties & Achievements:
Comprehensive Coverage Guidance: Specialize in health, life, Medicare, small group, and supplemental plans—offering tailor-made options that align with your unique goals and budgets.
Client-Centric Consultations: Provide free, no-obligation assessments, prioritizing individual and family needs as well as the growth goals of small businesses.
Strategic Policy Comparisons: Simplify plan selection by comparing multiple carriers, saving clients time, money, and stress while increasing satisfaction and coverage confidence.
Community Engagement: Proudly serve local Florida residents, hosting educational seminars that help you understand and navigate complex insurance decisions with confidence.
Notable Projects:
Small Business Benefit Overhaul: Guided a start-up through a full insurance review, closing coverage gaps and implementing cost-effective group health benefits that improved team retention.
Medicare Education Program: Developed an easy-to-follow Medicare enrollment process, empowering seniors moving off employer plans to confidently select the right coverage.
Customized Supplemental Add-Ons: Introduced targeted wellness packages and critical illness riders, helping families prepare for unexpected events and gain peace of mind.
Call to Action:
Ready to find the perfect insurance plan and secure your future? Let’s connect.
Contact me today for a free consultation and no-obligation quote. Together, we’ll chart a path toward greater protection and peace of mind.
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Joshua Filmore
What do you like most about being a Medicare agent?
Answer: Honestly, it’s the “aha!” moment I love the most. When a client realizes that the Medicare alphabet soup (Parts A, B, C, and D) actually makes sense and that now they can stop worrying about surprise bills.
Helping folks swap the confusion for confidence never gets old, and I get to sleep well at night knowing I’ve turned a messy set of rules into real peace of mind.
Plus, I meet some of the best storytellers around; every appointment feels like I’m gaining a new friend and fresh life lessons. Beats any other desk job that I have had in the past. Truly, just knowing that I am helping others is why I do it.
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: Most Advantage plans really do cost $0 each month (this is additional monthly - remember that pesky $185 part B premium will still come out of your social security check each month), which is a lifesaver if a hefty monthly premium just isn’t in the budget due to your part B premium. Yes, you’ll have co‑pays when you visit the doctor or fill a prescription, but here’s the big win: every plan puts a hard ceiling on what you’ll spend in a year.
With Original or Traditional Medicare (part A and B only) you’re on the hook for 20 % of every bill—whether it’s a $100 X‑ray ($20 out of pocket) or a $100,000 surgery ($20,000 out of pocket!). An Advantage plan might cap your yearly costs at, say, $4,500 or $6,700. Once you hit that limit, the plan pays 100 % of covered services. For many folks, that cap is the difference between a manageable expense and a second mortgage.
Each plan sets its own max‑out‑of‑pocket and co‑pay schedule, so talking with a licensed, independent broker (that’s me!) is the best way to see the full landscape and pick the plan that saves you the most. If high monthly premiums aren’t an option—or you just like keeping more money in your pocket—let’s chat. Reach out today and we’ll find the Advantage plan that fits your health needs and your wallet.
How do you stay up to date with changes in Medicare policies and plan options each year?
Answer: I track Medicare news the way sports fans track scores... daily and with plenty of coffee! All year I sift through CMS updates, insurer trainings, and enough fine print to wallpaper the house. Then I run it through it again and translate it into plain English you can actually use.
Starting in October, I call each client to discuss what’s changing for the upcoming year. During Annual Enrollment (October 15th through December 7th), we huddle up, compare the new line‑up of plans, and pick the one that makes the most sense for you and your family. No acronyms, no guesswork, just clear choices. I stay on top of the rules so you can stay on top of life.
What's the projected impact of an aging population on Medicare Part A hospital funds?
Answer: Short version: more retirees + fewer workers paying payroll taxes = a thinner piggy bank for Medicare Part A.
Longer (and friendlier) version: Part A’s hospital coverage is funded mostly by payroll taxes that current workers pay. As Baby Boomers retire—and live longer, healthier lives—millions shift from “paying in” to “using benefits.” Meanwhile, there aren’t as many younger workers feeding the pot. The latest trustees’ report says the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund could hit a shortfall around 2031. That doesn’t mean the lights go out; it just means incoming taxes would cover roughly 90% of bills instead of 100% unless Congress tweaks the math.
Think of it like a well‑loved community pool: more swimmers, less water coming in from the hose. Lawmakers can turn up the hose (raise revenue), patch leaks (trim costs), or both—and historically, they have stepped in before the pool gets too shallow.
Bottom line: hospitals will still get paid, but the financing formula needs an update. My job is to keep an eye on those policy shifts and translate any changes into plain English for you, so you can relax and enjoy retirement without worrying about who’s footing the hospital bill.
I'm considering concierge medicine but already have Medicare. How would these work together?
Answer: First question: Does the concierge doctor still take Medicare—and, if you’re on a Medicare Advantage plan, are they in that plan’s network?
Yes, they take Medicare / they’re in‑network: Medicare (or your Advantage plan) pays for covered services and your annual out‑of‑pocket cap still applies. You pay the separate membership fee for the “white‑glove” perks.
No, they’ve opted out / they’re out‑of‑network: You pay the membership fee and every penny of each visit; your Advantage safety‑net max won’t help you here.
So it boils down to a dollars‑and‑cents decision. Is the VIP access worth the extra fee, and will staying in‑network keep your costs predictable? That’s where a licensed Medicare broker (hi, that’s me!) earns their coffee. Helping you crunch the numbers, check networks, and see if concierge care fits your budget without blowing the roof off your out‑of‑pocket limit. Reach out and we’ll sort it out together.
I'm confused about when I can change my Medicare plan. Can you clarify the different enrollment periods for me?
Answer: Think of Medicare like a year‑round calendar with a few key “change windows.”
First comes your Initial Enrollment Period: a seven‑month stretch surrounding your 65th birthday when you first sign up for Parts A and B and pick drug or Advantage coverage.
Once you’re enrolled, the main time to shop around is the Annual Election Period, October 15 – December 7, when you can switch from Original Medicare to an Advantage plan (or back), move between Advantage plans, or pick a new Part D drug plan—changes take effect January 1.
If you start the year in a Medicare Advantage plan and get buyer’s remorse, you get one do‑over between January 1 and March 31 to pick a different Advantage plan or drop back to Original Medicare with a Part D plan. Missed signing up for Parts A or B altogether? You can do that during the General Enrollment Period (also Jan 1–Mar 31), though coverage waits until July 1 and late penalties may apply.
Finally, life happens—moving, losing employer coverage, qualifying for Extra Help, or finding a 5‑Star plan can trigger a Special Enrollment Period anytime. It’s a lot of dates, I know, but that’s why I’m here: to keep track of the calendar and make sure you’re always in the plan that fits your health and your wallet.
Can I enroll in Medicare if I've never paid into Social Security due to working overseas?
Answer: Yes—you can still get Medicare even if your paychecks never fed the Social Security pot while you were globetrotting. Here’s the wrinkle: without 40 U.S. work credits (or a spouse who has them) you’ll have to buy Part A instead of getting it premium‑free; in 2025 that’s up to about $505 a month.
Part B and Part D work the same for everyone—you pay the regular monthly premiums and must enroll during the proper windows to dodge late penalties. You’ll also need to be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident who’s lived stateside at least five consecutive years. Bottom line: Medicare is still on the menu, it just may cost a bit more.
Let’s talk through the math and timing so your re‑entry to the U.S. health system is smooth and penalty‑free
I'm confused about which vaccines Medicare covers. Can you explain which ones are free?
Answer: Medicare splits vaccines into two groups. First, anything handled under Part B is completely free—no deductible, no copay—when you get it at a clinic or pharmacy that accepts Medicare. That bucket includes your yearly flu shot, every COVID‑19 dose and booster, both pneumonia vaccines, hepatitis B if you’re considered at risk (say, diabetes or kidney disease), plus emergency boosters like tetanus given right after an accident.
Everything else lands under your drug coverage (Part D or a Medicare Advantage plan with drug benefits). Since 2023, any adult vaccine the CDC recommends—think shingles, Tdap boosters, the new RSV shot, and standard Hep A/B—also costs you $0 as long as you use a pharmacy in your plan’s network.
If you’re unsure which category a shot falls into or whether a pharmacy is in network, give me a call. I’ll clear it up faster than you can roll up your sleeve.