Kelsey Hentzen, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: This answer depends on if you plan to continue to work. If you are working, I would consider doing a side by side comparison of your group insurance and Medicare. If you are retired or no longer working, the first step would be to apply for Medicare A and B. Then find a local unbiased broker who can shop all the plans in your area and offer a comparison between a supplement and an advantage plan.

Answer: Most Medicare Advantage plans offer $0 monthly premiums and $0 primary care visits. This also depends on your zip code or service area. You'll want to consider copays and benefits of each plan to ensure it is the right one that fits your individual needs. Some advantage plans may have health deductibles or prescription deductibles. You'll want to ensure whoever you are working with goes over the summary of benefits of the plan.

Answer: I personally enjoy celebrating life wins with my clients. Turning 65, retiring, birthdays, new grand babies, and vacations. I think of my clients as second parents and I enjoy helping them through the Medicare process.

Answer: There are many routes to educating clients new to Medicare. I have clients that either meet one on one and go through our Medicare Guide Packet, or they can attend any of one of our Free Educational Medicare Seminars. I truly believe its best to find a broker who can shop all the plans in your area to find the best option for their clients.

Answer: One of the biggest misconceptions about Medicare is that its too expensive. The best way to understand the costs associated with Medicare is to sit down with a licensed broker and review all your options.

Answer: This is a great question! If you are in your first 12 months of your Medicare Part A effective date, you can switch from a Medicare Supplement to a Medicare Advantage and vise versa for those initial 12 months. After the 12 months, you may try and switch to a Medicare Supplement during Annual Open Enrollment, however, you may have to health qualify. Keep in mind, as you age, the monthly premiums may also increase. Its best to try and make a decision in those first 12 months. Additionally, there are other qualifying events for moving to a Medicare Supplement plan, such as moving out of the service plan area.

Answer: No matter which Medicare Supplement plan you enroll in the coverage is the same. If you choose a plan G, it is the same coverage with every carrier. What to look for when enrolling in a Medicare Supplement plan is (1) monthly premium (2) financial rating of the company (3) and how long they have been in business. Make sure whoever you speak to can look at multiple carriers.

Answer: Medigap Plan C covers bloodwork up to 3 pints. You should be able to call your carrier's customer service number on the back of the card and ensure you are covered. If you are on an advantage plan, some plans cover at $0 and some charge a co-pay depending on the carrier.

Answer: If you are ready to enroll in Medicare A and B, you are able to enroll in Medicare without taking your Social Security benefits. However, you will receive a quarterly bill in the mail for your Medicare part B premium. You can call social security to make monthly payments instead of quarterly if that works better for you.

Answer: The short answer is no, Medicare does not fully cover the costs of nursing home care, particularly long-term care. Medicare generally covers skilled nursing facility (SNF) care for a limited time, primarily for post-hospitalization rehabilitation needs. However, there are options for long-term care and we discuss these options in our office with clients.

Answer: Extra protection is always good to have. I would look at your max out of pocket for your health insurance plan and get coverage for the amount of the health insurance plans max out of pocket.

Answer: You can apply for extra help Medicare Part D by going to www.ssa.gov. There you will see an option for "Medicare." Then select "Apply for Part D extra help." The process is very quick and easy. If you need assistance, I would love to be of service.

Answer: Medicare can be overwhelming. My advice is to attend multiple seminars if they are offered in your area. Additionally, make sure you are working with a broker so they can shop all the plans in your area. Most brokers can help you apply for Medicare part A and B and help you shop plans.

Answer: Yes, you can be penalized if you do not enroll in Medicare when you turn 65. However, if you are on group/work insurance, you may not need to apply for Medicare. Its always a good idea to check with your current employer that you have credible coverage. If you are on Marketplace Insurance or have 20 or fewer employee's, you will need to enroll in Medicare.

Answer: Medicare Advantage plan availability are based upon zip code. If you move to a rural, its possible you might have fewer options. However, make sure to check your doctors hospitals in the network.

Answer: Yes, Medicare covers hospice. There are certain criteria to meet in order to be eligible for hospice.

Answer: Medicare does cover some medical out of the country. I would highly suggest taking out additional travel insurance while you are on vacation.

Answer: You can enroll in Medicare 3 months before your birth month. If your birthday is June 9th, your Medicare will become effective June 1st. If your birthday is the first of the month (6/1), it will become effective the month before. You have your birth month and three months after to enroll in Medicare. Your initial enrollment period is 7 months.

Answer: I would highly suggest talking with a broker that understands your needs. With advantage plans, its good to add a hospital and cancer plan to cover most everything you might need.

Answer: You can attempt to fill out a form called the SSA-44, otherwise known as Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount-Life-Changing Event." IRMA is based on your adjusted gross income two years prior. You can also talk with a retirement specialist to see if they could assist.

Answer: No you can keep your same Medicare plan, however, it is always good option to meet with a broker to ensure you are on the best plan.