Lauren Hebert, Medicare Insurance Agent
Lauren Hebert
Mediqwest
Medicare Agent Licensed in MN and SD
23+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Long Prairie, MN
About Me
I'm a former teacher who has been a licensed Broker since 2003. My focus as a Broker is on building well-informed clients and providing "broker-forward" direct service.
The most rewarding part of this work for me is meeting new people, hearing their stories and helping them navigate this mess we call health insurance.
I work remotely with anybody in Minnesota and will travel for home appointments in Central & Northern Minnesota.
Q&A with Lauren Hebert
I just enrolled in Medicare, and I've got my Part A and B, but I'm hearing there are gaps in coverage. What are these gaps exactly?
Answer: The term "gaps" might cause some anxiety, but I try to help my clients develop a realistic understanding of "the gaps" so they can make appropriate decisions for their secondary coverages.
To start with, there are no huge omissions in the medical care that Medicare covers... Medicare covers medically necessary care and protects beneficiaries by limiting how much providers may charge. "The gaps" are simply your share of the cost. For example, under Part A, Medicare will cover hospital costs in most cases except for a deductible per admission of $1736 (in 2026). And Medicare Part B generally covers 80% of charges for things like physician services, labs etc.
The big issues are that Medicare has no "Annual Out-of-Pocket Limit" and it does not cover pharmacy drugs... Your goal is to choose added coverage that covers your drugs and limits your out-of-pocket risk.
Hope this helps!
What’s the best time of year to change my Medicare plan if I develop a new diagnosis?
Answer: Your options to change plans will depend entirely on what type of plan you're enrolled in. If you have a more traditional Medicare Supplement (Medigap), you typically will not have the option to change plans. If you are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you may change plans during the "Annual Election Period" Oct 15- Dec 7 each year, you also may make one more change between Jan 1 and Mar 31 during the "Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Cost Plan, you might have a monthly option to change plans.
Does Medicare offer life insurance, or is that a separate product I need to buy?
Answer: While Social Security provides a $255 death benefit to survivors & dependents, Medicare has no such benefit. Many people of Medicare age choose a life insurance plan called "Final Expense" life insurance if they don't already have life insurance.
How do I find a Medicare broker in my area?
Answer: Many of my clients are referred to me by their financial advisor or P&C agent... But the majority are referred to me by current clients. Maybe a good place to start, besides a page like this, is with other professionals you already work with or asking people you know who they work with.
Why did I receive a Medicare Summary Notice, and what should I do with it?
Answer: A Medicare Summary Notice is not a bill; it's more like an Explanation of Benefits. It will show all of the services and supplies that have been billed for you, how much Medicare paid and how much you *might* have to pay. If you have a Medigap plan (AKA "Medicare Supplement"), your plan will pay all or some of your share, depending on the type of plan you have.
All you need to do with it is check to make sure all of the charges are for services you received.
Hope this helps!
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: Reasons to work with a broker vary from person to person, depending on what they need & want. Some are perfectly capable of managing their own insurance but want an expert to make sure they don't miss anything... Others really need guidance. A big part of my job is to assess what each client wants & needs so I can meet them where they are. Other good reasons to choose a broker are to avoid mistakes that lead to delays, late enrollment penalties, network issues and problems with coverage.