Mark VanHoesen, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: Medicare bills quarterly for the Part B premium. If you are currently receiving Social Security benefits, the amount is withdrawn monthly from your benefits. If not receiving benefits, once you are invoiced, you can contact Social Security to set up monthly payments.

Answer: Short answer is yes. Standard cataract removal is covered by Part B. After your deductible is paid, Medicare will pay 80% of the cost, leaving you responsible for the remaining 20%. Medicare also pays for one pair of glasses or contacts following surgery. When considering your options following the removal of the cataracts, there are different lenses that are available to you for a self-paid upgrade.

Answer: During your initial enrollment period, if you're aging into Medicare, you do not need to show creditable coverage. If you have delayed your Part B, then upon enrolling, you must show creditable coverage, or you will be subject to a fine. The fine would be 10% penalty for every 12 months you can't show qualifying coverage. Your penalty for Part D would be 1% per month of the national base premium. These penalties remain in place for as long as you have Part B and D.

Answer: You cannot get in trouble or penalized for questioning a Medicare billing error. If you believe there has been an error, you can contact your insurer and ask for an audit. Your other option is to call 1-800-MEDICARE for answers.

Answer: One way to protect yourself for costs of healthcare would be with a long term care plan (LTC). There are other insurance policies that would triple the amount of benefit if used for medical care.

Answer: With Original Medicare and a supplemental plan, anything medically necessary is covered.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, prior authorization is part of the process to have treatment approved.

Answer: It's not mandatory, but highly advised. If you have Part B, you're eligible for many benefits outside of your VA coverage. Some Medicare Advantage plans will offset your Part B premium with premium reduction plans. Some plans offer reductions up to $185, offer vision, dental, hearing benefits. Without Part B, you're limited to VA Coverage only.

Answer: When CMS changed the maximum out of pocket to $2100 for prescription drugs it had an adverse effect on the rest of their coverage. A great number of folks hit that maximum on a yearly basis. The insurance company itself has to cover the remaining cost of the prescriptions. In turn this has made it hard to offer the depth of other benefits insurance companies offer. ( Less dental, otc benefits, vision)

Answer: Medicare covers hospitalization and doctor services, but does not cover life insurance. Life insurance is available in many different forms with many different options available.

Answer: If you missed open enrollment, your initial enrollment period (3 months before, the month of, and 3 months after your birth month), you could enroll in a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan. Your effective date would be the first of the next month.

Answer: Upon being admitted into the hospital, you will incur the Part A deductible, which is $1736. Your hospital bill would be at no cost for the first 20 days. Supplemental or (Medigap) plans offer coverage for just that situation. Hospital indemnity plans also offer coverage at different levels.