Kevin Chaikin, Medicare Insurance Broker
About Me
Wouldn’t you like your insurance broker to treat you like you were his mom or dad? After having a front row seat to my own father’s frustration with Medicare, I committed my insurance practice to preventing as many people as possible from going through the same painful process.
Medicare is confusing to all of us but it doesn’t have to be, and you don’t have to go at it alone. Let me be your no-fee-resource to free up your time and mental energy to focus on the things you love.
I was born and raised in Fairfax County, Virginia, which is where I still reside with my wife, two sons, daughter and two dogs. It’s a full house and we wouldn’t have it any other way! It’s family first for me, always.
My other interests include business (and the challenge of growing mine), sports, exercise, travel (especially to the beach), music, listening to books/podcasts, self-improvement and, in a post-pandemic world, a renewed commitment to seeking new experiences.
Directions to My Office
Q&A with Kevin Chaikin
Answer: I love the opportunity to provide a valuable service to my parents' generation which provided so much to me. It feels good to help people. I also always dreamed about owning my own business and the Medicare insurance industry has been a blessing to start and continue growing a business.
Answer: If you choose a PPO for flexibility you are usually exchanging that flexibility for potentially higher out of pocket costs (copays, coinsurance, MOOPs) and less "extra" benefits. On an HMO, for having to stay in network, you are typically rewarded with lower out of pocket costs and sometimes more extra benefits.
Answer: Medicare does not provide an annual physical but rather a wellness exam. If the doctor billed it as a physical then you will pay 100%. If you have a Medicare advantage plan the plan MAY cover an annual physical.
Answer: Because they pay more commission and lifetime commissions. Plus some companies incentivize MA sales for the agents.
Answer: In both cases we are reviewing Medicare 101 because even someone currently on a plan doesn't speak Medicare everyday. We make sure to cover the ABC's again and Medicare Supplement vs. Medicare Advantage and do a full needs assessment. We then are making a formal recommendation based on their new to Medicare needs or their current coverage needs. There's no reason to assume a current Medicare beneficiary won't benefit from the re-education - they may have been mis-educated in the first place!
Answer: Buying the "cheapest" coverage isn't something we would ever recommend though someone could opt for Part A only and most people pay $0/mo for that. It does however come with variable out of pocket costs with NO cap on total spending. A hospital indemnity policy could be added to that to pick-up more of the hospital costs along the way. What is still missing however is Medical (outpatient) and Prescription coverage. One should always assume they will pay at least the part B premium and perhaps could get by with a $0 Medicare Advantage plan to reduce total exposure but that would not be our advice for most people.
Answer: Yes on traditional Part B you would need to pay your deductible first. Then, depending on your supplemental coverage you may have additional copays and as little as $0 extra cost for Physical Therapy.
Answer: It is possible that Medicare won't cover this and you could be 100% out of pocket. This is why we always recommend umbrella Cancer coverage for those on Medicare. Of course, the exact details depend on the individual's situation.
Answer: First of all, it depends if the drug is covered by a Medicare Part D plan. Not all drugs are covered by all plans and formularies vary plan-to-plan. However, it if it IS covered, you will not spend more than $2,000 this year for all covered medications.
Answer: You should talk to a broker about your specific situation. While that is important to know about the bipolar disorder, you should look at your entire health picture to understand the best coverage for you. If you are on medications for bipolar disorder then shopping all plans in your market is important to understand how to lower your Rx costs. As far as medical goes, original Medicare with a supplement is generally going to cover more mental health providers than Medicare Advantage and can reduce copays if you see a therapist regularly. Like with everyone, Medicare is highly personalized so there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution.
Answer: Yes, whether you have traditional Medicare with a supplement or Medicare Advantage, hospice will be covered.
Answer: It depends but in most cases, probably not. First, you would need to find a valid enrollment period to switch from Medicare Advantage to Part D (standalone) and then you would likely need to qualify for the Medigap plan via medical underwriting. There are exceptions to every rule however so it could depend where you live, how long you've been on Medicare Advantage or other factors that may plan into your situation. It is important to make your initial enrollment decision for the long-term however since you may not be able to get a Medigap plan after you first enroll in Part B.
Answer: If you are spending winters in another state you will be best served by original Medicare with a supplement. This provides you the same coverage anywhere in the United States with any doctor who takes Medicare (no networks). Your supplement will work exactly the same way it does in your home state and pay for most of your out of pocket expenses leftover by Medicare A&B.
Answer: There are plenty of mistakes seniors can make when enrolling in Medicare but the biggest would be not considering future medical needs. Just because you're healthy today doesn't mean you won't need more care in the future. Failing to look ahead and make a coverage decision that is in your best interest 10-20 years from now could lead to an inability to get the coverage you really want when you need it due to underwriting requirements. Think long-term with all Medicare decisions.
Answer: Yes Medicare covers many preventative screenings at no cost. Things such as bone mass measurements, cardiovascular screenings, colonoscopies, mammograms, depression screenings, diabetes screenings, some vaccinations, amongst others.
Answer: Yes but when meeting certain criteria. Medicare already covers an annual wellness visit as a preventive service and since Medicare Advantage plans must also cover the same preventive visits at no cost, your PPO will also cover it IF you have been on Medicare Part B for 12+ months AND the wellness visit is at least 11-12 months after your welcome to Medicare visit. You should also check your plan's summary of benefits as it MAY also cover an annual physical, which is not the same as the wellness visit.
Answer: Of course some are but it sounds like you went to one that was really just a sales pitch. Every seminar held by an agent/agency is intended to generate leads but some do better than others at making it more educational vs. a hard sell. Seek education and trust and figure which agent/agency is the right fit for you. We are all providing the same products. Who is offering the best service?
Answer: Not opting for guaranteed coverage when eligible and then facing underwriting later. Don't make decisions that are short-sighted.
Answer: It all really depends on what your situation is both from a financial perspective and health needs as well as what options are available to you in your zip code. Part D is a standalone which requires an extra premium whereas Medicare Advantage does not typically require additional premium. Sometimes you'll find drug coverage on Medicare Advantage plans to be better due to lower deductibles and better coverage but that is such a case-by-case thing that it is impossible to make that blanket statement. Start with figuring out whether Medicare supplement or Medicare Advantage is better for your medical needs and then start figuring out Part D once you've made that decision.
Answer: Sometimes marketers will highlight that the plan has a PPO network leading you to believe you can see any doctor when in reality that doctor still has to take Medicare and agree to bill the plan. Even if those are true, you are likely to have higher out of pocket costs and exposure when out of network which is not always the story that is told. Marketers focus on $0 premiums and extra "freebies" to distract from certain limitations you may face with restrictions/provider choice. That said, Medicare Advantage plans work much like whatever insurance you had before Medicare so this is not a foreign concept to anyone who has had US based health insurance prior to Medicare.
Answer: In many cases yes you do need to answer health questions but this depends where you live as some states have more flexible rules for consumers than others and you may find you can make this change at certain times of year without going through underwriting. As with most Medicare questions, it depends on your specific situation and location.