Julie Hamilton, RN, Medicare Insurance Broker
Julie Hamilton, RN
Money Mavens, LLC
Medicare Broker Licensed in AL, GA, SC and TN
Contact Details
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Location
Rossville, GA
About Me
Hello, I'm Julie and I'm a registered nurse with more than 20 years experience in hospital acute and critical care. Let me use my knowledge to help guide you through finding a great plan that meets your needs and budget.
Q&A with Julie Hamilton, RN
I'm worried about affording my medications even with the 2025 changes. Are there additional assistance programs I should know about?
Answer: "Extra Help" is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare drug coverage (Part D) premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs. Some people qualify for Extra Help automatically, and other people have to apply. You will get extra help automatically if you get full Medicaid coverage, help from your state paying your Part B premiums (from Medicare Savings Program), or SSI payments from Social Security. If you take brand name medications, you can also check into savings programs with the drug manufacturer and talk to your doctor about generic alternatives.
An agent asked me to sign a scope of appointment for before we could discuss my Medicare insurance or part D plan. What is an SOA? Is this normal? Are call centers exempt from this practice?
Answer: In essence, the Scope of Appointment is a consumer protection measure designed to empower beneficiaries by giving them control over the discussion topics and safeguarding them from unwanted Medicare sales solicitations. It ensures transparency and a focused interaction with a Medicare agent. An SOA is a form that outlines the specific topics an agent can discuss with a beneficiary during an appointment or sales call about Medicare plans, including Medicare Advantage and/or Part D prescription drug plans.
CMS regulations require agents to obtain a signed SOA at least 48 hours before any scheduled personal marketing appointment. No, call centers are not exempt from this practice.
How does Medigap Plan K compare to Plan G for someone on a tight budget?
Answer: Medigap Plan K will likely offer lower monthly premiums than Plan G but the cost sharing for services will be higher. Under a plan K, you'll share the costs for certain services, meaning you'll pay a percentage of the bill (coinsurance/copayment) for things like Part B services, blood, Part A hospice, skilled nursing, and the Part A deductible up to an out of pocket limit of $7,220. Once you meet this amount, the plan K will pay 100% of the remaining costs for the year.
Medigap Plan G has higher monthly premiums than Plan K but offers more comprehensive coverage, covering most of the gaps in Original Medicare Part A and B, except for the Part B deductible ($257 in 2025). Once you pay the annual Part B deductible, you'll generally have very few out-of-pocket costs for Medicare-covered services with Plan G.
What happens if I am unable to provide creditable coverage?
Answer: If you are unable to provide proof of creditable coverage, you will likely face late enrollment penalties for both Part B and Part D. The Part B premium penalty is 10% for each full 12 month period you were eligible for Part B but didn't enroll and didn't have creditable coverage. For Part D, you may pay a penalty of an extra 1% of the national base premium for each full month you were eligible but didn't join a plan and didn't have creditable drug coverage. This amount is added to your monthly Part D premium for as long as you have the coverage and changes annually.
I'm still working at 67, and I don't know if I need Part B. Why is something so basic so hard to figure out?
Answer: I'm happy to help you with this question but I would need a little more information. If you are still working and on your employer's health plan, you can delay taking Medicare part B until you retire without incurring any penalties. Some questions I have to be able to best answer your question: Does your employer have at least 20 employees? Is your employer-sponsored health plan less expensive than the cost of Medicare part B? Consider the costs, benefits, and potential penalties associated with both your employer's plan and Medicare Part B. Let me know if I can help :)
Do I have to answer health questions when switching from one Supplemental/Medigap plan to another?
Answer: Yes, you will be required to answer health questions when switching from one Medicare Supplement plan or Medigap plan to another. Each insurance company's questions vary slightly, but even if you already have a Medicare Supplement plan, you have to answer questions if you apply for a different plan.