Kandance Magee, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: If I'm working with a client who comes to me and asks what's the most cost-effective way for them to structure their Medicare coverage, and they are a healthy 65-year-old, I'm gonna recommend a Medicare Advantage plan, Part C, in most cases, 99% of the time. The reason being is because with the Medicare Advantage plan, Part C, it is going to combine the Part D drug coverage and also gives you some ancillary benefits such as vision, dental, and hearing. Most plans offer this without an additional monthly premium. So as long as you keep your Part A and your Part B, your Medicare Part B premium, you can be in this Medicare Advantage plan. It won't cost you anything additional for your benefits.

Answer: Great question, and the short answer is yes. As a Medicare agent, we are paid by the carrier a commission when we enroll our clients into one of their plans. Now, as an independent agent, we actually represent multiple carriers instead of just one. So, this does allow the flexibility of looking at multiple plans to find something that's going to be best suited for your health needs and budget. But the simple short answer is yes, we are paid commissions directly from the carriers that we write our clients up into. Hope that helps!

Answer: I don't know if I would say Traditional Medicare is better than Advantage plans because they are structured differently. Traditional may be a better choice based on individual healthcare needs, budget and choice of doctors. It allows more freedom to see any doctor and may be a better fit for people who travel a lot. But it does come with increased financial exposure if not paired with a supplement.

Answer: They are very different options, so the best choice depends on one's situation. The better option will depend on healthcare needs, budget and choice of doctors/network.

Medicare Part D can only be paired with Original Medicare A/B, most have an additional premium. Also, it is highly recommended to include a Medicare Supplement with this option, to cover the gaps in Medicare alone. It too will have a separate monthly premium.

Medicare Advantage plans can include Part D coverage, often with no additional premium.

I tell my clients it not a matter of which is better, but which best fits your needs and budget.

Answer: They best way to compare Medicare plans would be to consult with a Medicare Advisor. Someone who understand and offer both Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage plans. You can also visit Medicare.gov to learn and compare plans, but working with an advisor will offer a resource to answer questions and simplify the process.

Answer: If you parents are aging into Medicare (turning 65) or already eligible, yes you can assist them with signing up. There are some exceptions if they are still working, but they should look into enrolling if retiring so they don't get hit with late penalties or left with no coverage.

Answer: Medicare options and the direction people take depends heavily on their particular situation. If you only have traditional Medicare, then a Supplement plan is strongly encouraged to fill in the gaps of Medicare A/B alone. But if it's not affordable to pay additional premium for a Supplement plan, or you are outside of the window for guaranteed issue and your health has declined, then yes, a Medicare Advantage plan would be the better option.

Answer: Great question: My experience from speaking with my clients on of the biggest disadvantages of Medicare Advantage Plans has been the annual benefit changes. Although, freedom to see any doctor is a close second. Most people are accustomed to a network of doctors but miss the consistency of benefits remaining the same for a longer period of time.

Answer: Medicare Part B generally covers doctors' visits, outpatient care, preventive and mental health services, and durable medical equipment. In most cases, because Medicare covers 80% of the cost, the beneficiary is left to pay the remaining 20% after the deductible. In most cases, it is not enough, and folks can either add a Medicare supplement and Part D plan (drug coverage) or enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan to minimize out-of-pocket costs.

Answer: Original Medicare Parts A/B typically do not cover routine vision care, glasses, or contacts. However, Medicare Part A can cover medically necessary vision care for specific medical conditions or as a result of an injury for emergency care. Medicare Part B can cover 80% of the cost of a diabetic retinopathy exam for those diagnosed with diabetes.

Medicare Advantage Part C offers specific plans that include vision benefits and allowances for frames and contacts.

Answer: Traditional Medicare Part A/B does not cover dental services unless medically necessary. You can purchase a separate stand-alone dental policy or consider enrolling in a Medicare Advantage plan with dental coverage. The plan provider can help you find a dentist in the network.

Answer: Understanding Medicare can get confusing. Working with a Licensed Medicare Agent will help you navigate plans based on your individual needs to ensure you understand what you have, how to use it, and maximize the benefits that are available to you.

Answer: Part A covers Hospital services, Part B covers medical care (doctor visits and outpatient services), Part C is Medicare Advantage (includes A, B, and D), and Part D is prescription drug coverage.