Maxine Rosen, Medicare Insurance Broker
Maxine Rosen
Independent Agent
Medicare Broker Licensed in FL, GA, MI, NC, OH, PA, TX and VA
Contact Details
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Location
Keystone, FL
About Me
Hello, I'm Maxine, your neighborhood Medicare insurance advisor. My expertise lies in the realm of Medicare, and my mission is to assist you in identifying the perfect plan tailored to your unique requirements and financial capacity. Allow me to navigate the array of plans available from both nationally and locally esteemed companies on your behalf. And don't worry, my services are provided free of charge! Contact me to discover your Medicare insurance alternatives and don't forget to mention that you discovered me on Medicare Agents Hub!
Q&A with Maxine Rosen
What benefits are there to working with a Medicare Agent near me vs remote/virtual?
Answer: It is most helpful to work with an agent who understands the market in which an applicant lives. Whether the agent is remote or local really is not an issue. However, it is important to always work with an "independent agent" and not one who is "captive" to only one company. Then knowing the market in which someone lives just relies on careful research by an ethical and honest agent.
I'm turning 65 next month and the amount of Medicare mail I'm getting is overwhelming. How do I sort through all this?
Answer: To keep your decisions simple, take all the mail you receive about Medicare and throw it away! Much of what is sent out is misleading.
Ask around for a local agent who is NOT Captive to one company to get an unbiased and helpful determination of what Medicare Plan will be most suitable for you.
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: This is what confuses Medicare Members. Is Medicare Free? No. Because to be eligible for plans, a member must pay the cost for Part B to Social Security, or if currently collecting Social Security income, the cost is deducted from their income.
Many Medicare “Advantage Plans” have a $0 premium. But that is separate and outside of what is paid to Social Security.
What is the biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?
Answer: A possible disadvantage of a Medicare Advantage Plan is not understanding how it works. If a person travels around the country extensively, and lives in a beautiful mountain range about 30 miles from any hospital and there are very few doctors that accept an "Advantage Plan" - it is not an "advantage".
So a person just needs to be clear about the pros and cons of this type of coverage and how it works. The 'rewards' as well as the 'restrictions'.
My neighbor says I'm crazy for paying for a Medigap plan when Medicare Advantage is "free." What should I tell him?
Answer: You may have a nice neighbor but if you take medical advice from that person.. you could do yourself a lot of harm. The biggest misconception is that "Medicare" is free. No - it is not. Every month people either pay into Social Security, or it comes out of their Social Security income for the Part B cost.
That is the first thing.
Then, a Medicare Advantage Plan typically has a $0 premium. But you pay for services as you use them. You may have a plan where you MUST stay in-network, or you might have one where you can go out-of-network. You must consider personal needs and choices and based on where you live.
A Medigap Plan gives you the peace of mind of knowing what your medical costs will be. You have a monthly premium - but you will then not be stuck to a network and can go anywhere for care as long as the provider accepts Medicare.
Finally, along with a Medigap Plan, you should have a separate Prescription Drug Plan. Because a Medigap Plan does NOT have Drug Coverage included.
Who will make medical decisions as to what is necessary to me: my Doctor or the insurance company?
Answer: This is a very important question to understand.
You, should be able to make your own decisions based on consultation with your doctor.
But if the doctor disagrees, get a second opinion.
If the health plan denies the need, escalate the request.
I have had clients who needed to post on social media the disastrous answers their health plan gave.
Finally, it is inportant to have a Durable Medical Power of Attorney in the event you need someone to step up and help to protect you.
I'm considering genetic testing to assess my cancer risk based on family history. Will Medicare cover this preventive approach in my situation?
Answer: Generally, Medicare does not cover this type of testing for people without a personal history of cancer or signs of a genetic mutation, as it considers it a preventive service rather than a diagnostic one in that context.
To be covered, the test must be ordered by a physician, and the specific requirements can vary depending on your region and the type of test.
Medicare may cover genetic testing when you have a personal history of cancer or, Medicare may cover testing if you have been diagnosed with cancer and meet certain personal or family history criteria.
Medicare may cover this if there is a known mutation in the family: It may cover testing for an individual with signs or symptoms of an inheritable cancer who has a family history of a known mutation.
A healthcare provider must determine the test is medically necessary for your situation.
Specific types of tests: Some tests, like those for BRCA1/2 genes, have specific criteria for coverage, often requiring a personal history of certain cancers or specific family history details,
How can I lower my Medicare Part B premium if my income drops after retirement?
Answer: This is a very good issue to consider-
Your medicare part B premium can be reduced in a several possible ways.
If you’re on a Medicare supplemental plan, you can always move to another one if you pass the health issue questions. All Medicare supplemental plans are identical if you’re discussing a Plan G with one company or another. The premiums are the only changes between companies with the same Plan.
If you’re on a Medicare Advantage plan, you may qualify for low-income help in several areas. This will depend up on the state you live in and your ZIP Code.
In some areas of the country there are even Medicare Advantage Plans that can help pay some of your Part B premium too!
If we choose a Medicare Advantage plan and later regret it, can we go back to Original Medicare without penalties?
Answer: You can switch back to Original Medicare from a Medicare Advantage plan without a penalty during specific enrollment periods.
The main periods are the Annual Enrollment Period (October 15–December 7) and the Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period (January 1–March 31).
It's important to note that while there is no penalty for switching to Original Medicare, getting a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan later might be difficult, as you may need to go through medical underwriting, which can lead to higher costs or denial of coverage unless you have a guaranteed issue right
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: -You will have "Personalized guidance": An agent will assess your individual health status, prescriptions, and budget to recommend a plan tailored to your specific needs, not a one-size-fits-all solution.
-An Agent has "Expertise and education": We can clarify complex Medicare terms, explain plan benefits like prescription drug (Part D), Medicare Advantage (Part C), and Medigap plans, and help you compare options from different insurance companies.
-An Agent has "Access to a wide range of plans": Independent agents have contracts with multiple insurance carriers, allowing them to present a variety of options and help you find the best coverage without a bias toward a single company.
-You can "Save Time": We do the research for you, sifting through numerous plans to present you with the most suitable choices, which can save you significant time and effort.
-You will have "Ongoing support": An agent can assist you throughout the year with understanding your benefits, navigating claims, and with any other questions or changes that may arise in your circumstances.
-Give yourself "Reduced stress and increased confidence": We help alleviate the stress of making a critical healthcare decision, providing reassurance and clarity so you feel more confident in your choice.