Lori Marion`, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: Most surgeries require a copay if you have a Medicare Advantage plan unless you have Medicaid to cover it for you.

Your plan documents should specify what you will be responsible for. Talk to your doctor to be sure what they say lines up with your plan documents. And if you're expecting to have a surgery in the future, take the copays into account when choosing you'd plan. They can vary a lot between plans.

Answer: Over my years of working with Medicare beneficiaries, the biggest regret i see people making is not taking advantage of benefits they were entitled to. Many people do without things they could have gotten taken care of through their Medicare benefits. A good agent will work with you to make sure you're applying for any additional savings or benefits you quality for. They will also educate you on how to utilize the benefits to get what you need.

Answer: Thar depends on the situation. You don't need to show coverage in order to get started on Medicare when you first become eligible.

But if you wait to start Part B or Part D prescription coverage, you could be penalized when you do begin coverage.

It's always best to talk to am experienced agent when making any decisions regarding your Medicare choices so you don't risk getting hit with unexpected penalties.

Answer: As long as you apply for a plan during a valid election period and you meet the eligibility requirements, you can't be denied.

To qualify for a Medicare Advantage plan, you must have both part A and part B of Medicare. Some plans have additional requirements such as plans designed for people who have a chronic condition such as diabetes or heart conditions. There are also plans designed specifically for people who also have Medicaid and may contain additional requirements that look into the level of Medicaid or state wavers. It's always best to work with an experienced agent to help guide you through the process of choosing and enrolling into a plan.

Answer: All supplements or Mefi-gap plans will increase in premium, although they may use different metrics increase at different rates. When selecting a plan, we can use rate history of each available plan to make a selection that makes sense for you.

Answer: Are you close to your 65th birthday? Recently get Medicare or qualify for extra help or medicaid or lose coverage? Recently moved or spent time in a skilled nursing facility? Or did you miss an election period due to a state or federal declared disaster?

Answer: To answer this, I would have to ask more questions. If you are 100% disabled the VA covers dental as well. As long as you get any and all care through the VA, you may not need Medicare. But there are many reasons it could be beneficial to have as well. You may be able to get it with little or no out of pocket costs.

Answer: One entire country is in a crisis over the costs of Healthcare. That's why the government is currently shur down. But I believe Medicare will continue to be funded.

Answer: The first consideration when ir comes to Medicare is budget. Depending on your income, you may qualify for additional help to cover costs.

Answer: No. You need 40 working quarters or 10 years to qualify for premium free part a If you never worked or paid taxes in the US, you will not qualify.

Answer: The most common misconception people have about Medicare is that it's free and covers everything. Original medicare includes part A and part b only. Part B has a premium and both have deductibles and copays and neither cover prescription drugs.

Answer: The answer to this question is purely dependent on your situation. Everyone has different needs and resources.

The ideal coverage will also vary.

Answer: The specific answer will be in the formulary of your plan. Different plans cover Different medications with different requirements and restrictions. And experienced knowledgeable agent can help you find the information if you're not sure where to look.

Answer: The most common penalty i see is due to people who don't enroll in a prescription drug plan when they first become eligible for Medicare. This happened to my dad and it really hurt him. He was paying 40 to $50 a month for drugs he would have been able to get for free. He also refused to fill prescriptions that would have greatly improved his quality of life because they would cost him about $300. If he had prescription coverage, he could have gotten the expensive drugs for the amount he was paying for the cheaper drugs.

Answer: Yes. Generally I talked to my clients about all of your providers that you already see or want to be sure you're able to see before even discussing coverage options. We work together to look at providers, prescription drugs, ad well as additional benefits you may need in order to get coverage to fit your needs and budget.

99% of the time, I find that people considering an advantage plan are able to go to a plan without any changes to your care team.

Answer: Many changes have been happening with prescription drug coverage over the past couple years so it's more important than ever to compare your costs for prescriptions this year. There are many different ways we may be able to lower and stabilize your out of pocket costs.

Answer: I will withhold from sharing too much. But if you're ever made someone's power of attorney, just know that you're responsible for their well-being and they can't do anything or get any other help without you.

Answer: You have options and you have the right to make decisions that could affect the rest of your life. Be sure you understand every decision you make.

Answer: Yes. It's %2100 for 2026 and this was a huge improvement to coverage because it eliminated the donut hole.

Answer: Medicare doesn't cover dental but some Medicare Advantage plans do. Be sure to look at thr limitations of a policy before enrolling with the intention of getting implants. Very few plans will cover implants or even dentures without you paying a portion.

Answer: It depends. First find out what is allowed on the employer coverage. If you do have the opportunity to remain in that coverage, get the summary of benefits together and let your agent help you decide the most advantageous plan for you.

Answer: I have worked in all types of insurance, but i love working with Medicare the most because it is so complicated and people going on Medicare deserve to have someone who can help them make choices and understand what they are doing. I have been able to truly change people's lives by simply doing my job and people deserve to have someone like myself who will put their needs as priority to help them make the most of their Medicare.

Answer: Your medicare should have started on the 25th month of your disability. When you turn 65, you have new opportunities and important decisions to make. An agent should be able to look at your situation, explain your options and recommend your next steps. You only have a limited amount of time so it's extremely important to speak with someone and understand your decision

Answer: The only way to br sure when comparing plans is to enter all of your medications and pharmacies you're willing to use. If you're open to getting your meds through the mail or at a different pharmacy, it could make a huge difference in your costs.

The new rules for drug plans do allow you to split your costs evenly over the year in order to avoid huge out of pocket costs the beginning of the year.

Answer: Unfortunately Medicare alone doesn't provide full coverage, but you do have options to choose the amount of risk you are comfortable with and thst should be discussed with your agent so they can recommend coverage based on your needs and ability. When you enroll into a plan, your agent should explain how the coverage will pay and what you will be responsible for. It's the agents responsibility to tell you, but you have the right and responsibility to ask more questions until you do.

And if you're billed for something you don't understand, your agent should be able to help you figure it out. Sometimes the billing is incorrect and your agent should be able to help you with that as well.

Answer: Medicare is complicated. Wr gp through a huge amount of training every year in order to have the knowledge to help you make important decisions. We have also been accumulating knowledge and understanding by talking to many other people about their coverage and what's worked and hasn't for them.