Lance Stanley, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: Medicare generally doesn't pay for experimental treatments. Medicare uses a medicine-based process to determine if the treatment will be covered.

Answer: The best thing I would advise is going to Medicare.gov and use the plan finder tool, and search. This will allow a consumer to compare plans based on their need.

Answer: No, you do not have to enroll in Medicare again because you have already enrolled in Part A and B. If you have a Medicare Advantage, it will continue renewing every year unless you change M/A plans.

Answer: Yes, if you require skilled nursing care or therapy, if your doctor prescribes it as part of your recovery plan, then your Medicare Part A will generally cover the costs for up to 100 days afterwards.

Answer: Maximum out-of-pocket (MOOP) is the maximum that you will pay during the year. After that, the insurance company pays 100% of all cost for the remainder of the year.

Answer: No. When you signed up for your Medicare Advantage Plan, you transferred your healthcare to an insurance company; you must use your Medicare Advantage card for care. You can choose from another provider that is in your network.

Answer: The Medicare trap refers to the difficulty beneficiaries can sometimes face when going back to Original Medicare because they may or may not be able to qualify for a Medicare supplement based on their health.

Answer: Medicare is individual coverage, so getting married late in life generally doesn't affect your coverage; however, based on your spouse's work history, you may qualify for premium-free Part A, but depending on your spouse's income, it may influence your Part B premium.

Answer: Medicare has a lot of pros and cons, one being that you can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare. There are no restrictions on networks. On the other hand, Medicare Advantages usually offer more benefits such as vision and dental, etc. Also, the premiums are generally less with MA plans. I only recommend one over the other based on what best fits the consumers and what their needs are.

Answer: To find out if your hearing aids are covered, you can review your plan's benefit booklet, contact the plan's customer service, or use the Medicare.gov/coverage tool to search for coverage.

Answer: One of the advantages for me being an independent Medicare agent is the ability to work with multiple insurance companies. This allows me to offer a wider range of plans, ensuring that I can meet the diverse needs of my clients.

Answer: Yes, if you're under the care of a doctor (including a nurse practitioner, a clinical nurse specialist, or a physician assistant (PA)), and you’re getting services as part of a care plan that your doctor or allowed practitioner established and reviews regularly.

Answer: Medicare has limited coverage for international travel; you can explore additional options like Medicare Supplement plans and travel insurance policies. Medicare Supplement plans can provide some coverage for emergency care outside the U.S., while travel insurance offers broader coverage for medical expenses and other travel-related needs. Some Medicare Advantage plans offer limited coverage for international travel.

Answer: 2025 Medicare prescription drug plans are now capped at $2000.00 annually. So, after you reach that amount of out-of-pocket cost, you will not have any out-of-pocket cost the rest of the year.

Answer: Ads that urge viewers to call a so-called Medicare Hotline. These ads are very deceptive; the only Medicare hotline is 1-800-MEDICARE.

Answer: Medicare Advantage plans do not offer the same level of choice. Most plans require their customers to see their drs and providers. Since MA plans can't cherry-pick their enrollees because they have to accept anyone that has Medicare and it sometimes can discourage some enrollees from using it because of the copays and deductibles, whereas with a supplement, they have very little out-of-pocket cost.