Lara Goulson, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: No you didn’t make a mistake. You picked a plan that fits your lifestyle. Medigaps are great insurance with flexibility which you need since you travel a lot. You can always switch to an HMO in the future.

Answer: Honestly, it is best to work with a broker you trust. Every plan is rated and has an evidence of coverage. The best thing you can do for yourself is to find a broker who you trust. They will be your advocate and make sure you are in your best plan. When something is too good to be true it usually is!

Answer: Yes the Part B is income based and they usually are 2 years behind since the IRS notifies Medicare every January your income from two years prior. Therefore, if you have a life changing event prior to Medicare I recommend you file an appeal to lower the premium (which I help my clients do) if they have an IRMAA and are charged more for Part B for having higher income prior to signing up for Medicare. You can google IRMAA 2025 to see where you fall on the chart.

Answer: I do a medicare seminar every month. It’s educational and mine are not salesy at all. Even though I hope the attendees will work with me once they are ready for Medicare.

Answer: A good broker will be your biggest asset. We never charge and are there to advocate and help you all through the year!

Answer: They can help with the cost of your prescriptions which can save you a lot of money if you are eligible. Your broker should help you with this!

Answer: Not everyone is leaving an MAPD plan. I have many happy clients but sometimes people want more flexibility and will pay the extra money to have that. They lose a lot of benefits by switching.

Answer: Every MAPD plan that comes with dental has a network of dentists that accept the insurance. You can log in online or call member services or ask your broker to help you find a good dentist in your network.

Answer: If someone gets kicked out of a MAPD C-SNP because they didn’t send in the CCV form within 60 days, they do get a Special Enrollment Period. This gives them a chance to join another MAPD plan, but they have to act fast—this SEP only lasts 2 months from the date they were disenrolled.

Answer: You should always make sure to protect your Medicare number like it’s a credit card. Don’t give it out to anyone unless you know they’re a trusted doctor or insurance company. You should also check your Medicare statements regularly to make sure the charges look right, and if you see anything strange, report it right away. If something sounds too good to be true, it’s probably a scam.

Answer: Plan G covers almost everything except the Part B deductible, so you pay very little out of pocket — but the monthly premium is higher.

Plan K has a much lower monthly premium, but you pay more when you get care — it only covers part of the costs until you reach your yearly limit.

Plan G is better for people who want to avoid surprise bills, while Plan K is more budget-friendly upfront but could cost more later if you need a lot of care. I hope this answers your question!

Answer: Yes, there are extra help programs available that can lower your prescription drug costs, like the Extra Help program through Medicare. You might also qualify for state assistance programs or pharmaceutical company discounts depending on your income and needs. I can also help you find coupons to save on some medications.