Lowana Richardson, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: Its the biggest financial gamble of all the options you have available. But, hey isn't all insurance based on a "gamble"? The insurance companies are betting and hoping that we don't need them and we are hoping we don't need them. But life happens - accidents happen, health issues happen. So to me, if you can predict the future and tell me you will never ever be admitted to a hospital and will never ever have serious health issuees than stay with Original Medicare, but even better don't even have Part B. (sorry, Medicare would probably be upset at that last part). But too me, a better way to do it, keep your Original Medicare A & B, and get on a Giveback option , stop any potential penalties, have a cap on your expenses, lower your Part B payment at often for zero cost. Why open yourself to potential of unlimited health costs? I don't understand that reasoning. Healthcare costs without a cap can be major.

Answer: This is only my personal (common sense) opinion - it does not pay enough and maybe has too many hoops to jump through. If any hospital or doctor has good experience with billing and approval for care at a fair enough price to be profitable- they would not have a problem. Sort of a no brainer I think.

Answer: They regret it because they did not understand what they had signed up for. If they understood the pros and cons of the 3 options they had upon turning 65, they would not be regretting their choice for a MA plan. They would have known that it is "replacing" their Original A&B, even though they need to maintain the both. That their 1st option (to go with only A&B) is probably their worst choice since it leaves them vulnerable to uncapped medical charges and possible lifetime penalties in the future (depending), 2nd option - Supplementing their Original Medicare with a Medigap plan and drug plan, provides the most comprehensive coverage at a much higher monthly cost while giving them and their doctor more autonomy over their healthcare choices, but at a higher monthly premium cost. They did not understand that this could be the least expensive path - IF, they incurred some serious health issues. They were not taught that is it not like comparing apples to apples, it is a completely different path. I always say, if they ended up going into the hospital and incurring large health bills, they would be much happier most likely with Original Medicare and a Supplement, but if they never went into a hospital and never incurred huge bills - they would have been far better off with an MAPD plan. So to me their regret stems from being improperly informed and or maybe not really understanding what they were told. I find the latter is often the reason. We agents must provide a lot of information - information that took us years to understand thoroughly, and our clients expect to understand it in less than an hour.

Answer: It all depends, are you working? Does your employer have credible coverage? Are you a Federal employee, or are you on a State or Union plan. Lots of things to consider, so best advice is to find Medicare agent in your area, not a call center in another state, not just one company, but a broker in your area.

Answer: Yes, find an broker who will guide you. Depending how old you are, if your company had credible coverage, etc. Start signing up 3 months before age 65, just a lot of rules, call a broker who costs you nothing and have them guide you through it. Do not just do nothing - that could mean lifetime penalties

Answer: Usuaally once a year, I suggest looking at your evidence of coverage or summary of benefits. Sometimes more often depending on your risk factor.

Answer: Too many times to think of. Probably when a client came to me because he did not have Part A and when he went to SS they said to go to Medicaid, and when we went to Medicaid, they said no go to SS. We were eventually able to get him covered through Medicaid who paid his penalty to allow him to be able to afford Part A. For Hawaii, it was Medicaid that was supposed to do someting first - their "thing". Each were saying they could not do it without the other doing something first.

Answer: I am not sure why you ask that question, but to me I guess it is because you want to see what decision they made and why?

Answer: No agent should push any MA plan over Medi-gap. They are there to educate and inform. You should be making the decision. I sign more people up with Medigap because the majority donot want to put out a lot of money initially and they would rather take a chance. Then there are those that would rather pay just a larger monthly cost knowing that they will not get any huge surprise bill later no matter what happens healthwise.

Answer: Many Medicare plans cover accupuncture, especially for back pain, again, I suggest talking to your Accupuncturist since that is all they do - submit claims to carriers, they can tell you which carrier is the easiest to get approved.

Answer: The best answer is to ask your physician to see if he can get that approved. Your physician would know better than anyone else because that is what they do. There is a good possibility that it could get approved. Each case is different.

Answer: I woul like to know what kind of bills are you drowning in? Original Medicare by itself is not good thing, because it has no cap. Did you pick up a Medigap plan to cover the 20% and deductibles? To me that would be the only reason you might be drowning in bills. I would not say that a Medicare Advantage plan is the way you should have gone, it all depends on your individual circumstance. Did you sign up when you were just turning 65? Do you have a lot of medical issues, if so then Original Medical with a Medigap plan might have been the best way. However, some people cannot afford a Medicap then a MAPD would be good way rather than just Original Medicare A & B.

Answer: Only for emergency rooms. I recommend picking up a separate travel insurance. Because if you get seen at the ER which may be covered if it is a true emergency and if they admit you into the hospital, that is not covered under Medicare.

Answer: It all depends on whether many things:

1. Are you in the trial right period?

2. Did you move?

3. Did your plan stop servicing your area.

4. Is this during AEP

I suggest you get in touch with a local agent. You can go back to Original Medicare, but you should pick up a Supplemental and that is another area that you should consult an agent. You might have to go through underwriting, and this may not be a time you can pick up a drug plan. It is not just a yes and no answer.

Answer: 1. Because a good Medicare Agent/broker has studied and studied and passed yearly certification. They are not just for one company, but ultimate goal is to serve the client.

2. They can save you money - big time, help you to avoid penalties, and they don't cost you money. A client just emailed today me saying I saved his wife $137,000. Four years earlier he emailed me saying his $79,000 operation cost him $425, thanks to my advice. A good agent is worth every single zero dollar it costs you. But the key is getting an agent who knows their stuff.

Answer: Normally, yes, if it is deemed medically necessary. You can find it in 42 CFR § 410.31 ) Medicare covers a medically necessary bone mass measurement if the following conditions are met: