Mel Stevens, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: If you're turning 65 and still working, you certainly have an option to enroll into Medicare. First and foremost, make sure you have creditable coverage through your employer. If you don't, then you will want to enroll into Medicare. If you have creditable coverage, then compare the costs and benefits with your current employer plan with Medicare. There are a lot plans available and they all function a little different. I'm available if you have any additional questions or need clarification.

Answer: Many preventive services are offered at zero cost to the insured. If you would like to know what is covered and what is not, I recommend you contact a professional like myself.

Answer: Medicare does cover dialysis. Generally it's administered at the dialysis center. Most Medicare Advantage plans have a 20% co-insurance per visit. However, there are some special needs plans that cover the dialysis 100%.

Answer: Check with your plan benefits. Usually there is a customer service number on the back of the card. In addition there is a number on the statements of benefits. Most plans will offer a discounted rate. Some plans actually have an allowance of something like $1000 per hearing aid per year, max of 1 per ear.

Answer: Original Medicare does not offer any dental benefits. Absolubtely you would save a lot of money if you switched to Medicare Advantage.

Answer: In general, you would not necessarily need additional critical illness rider if you are on a good Medicare supplement or Advantage plan. However, sometimes the extra benefits can come in handy if a critical illness were to happen and the premium is reasonable. Many Life Insurance policies offer very good critical and chronic illness riders.

Answer: Medicare part B covers Urgent Care Visits. However just having Part B subjects you to an 80-20% split. For example, if the urgent care visit cost is $200 then Original Medicare will cover $160 and you would be on the hook for $40 dollars.

Answer: Two of the biggest reasons. Your plan has a co-pay for the specialist. However, more than likely your specialists is OUT of network. You may either need to find another specialist or a new plan that is accepted by your specialist if he or she is a must have!

Answer: If you find a good local agent you will ensure that you are enrolled into a proper plan, all of your docs are in network and a better understanding of medication costs. In addition, a good agent will make sure you verify qualification for LIS level 1, 2 and 3. Unfortunately, more times than not when I find somebody is enrolled into a plan that is not working for them there is 1 thing in common. They signed up for a plan over the phone with somebody in another state or sometimes even in another country that didn't review all of the details. There are hundreds of plans and not everyone's needs are the same. When it comes to Medicare, one size does most definitely does not fit all!

Perhaps the most important reason not to sign up with someone you don't know over the phone is the fact that Medicare scams are running rampant these days. Be careful out there folks.

Answer: When it comes to arthritis or chronic pain management virtually all plans have coverage. What you want to be careful about is what insurance company or plans your pain management provider accepts. Many pain management specialists can be very specific or little selective when it comes to Medicare Advantage.

Answer: Unfortunately, that is always an issue. If the primary spouse carrying the insurance passes away, the insurance company does reserve the right to increase the premium. At that point it's always a good idea to explore other coverage options available.

Answer: First of all, congratulations on your retirement. Usually the federal government offers some nice retirement insurance benefits options. However, it's always a good idea to compare those options to Medicare. Enroll into the best plan per your situaiton.

Answer: There is coverage for genetic testing. However usually there is a something like a $50 dollar co-pay. Usually, it's not free or at a zero cost.

Answer: Out of network. You can see a cardiologist out of network but expect to pay more out of pocket. In that scenario original Medicare kicks in and should cover 80% of cost. For example, a doctor visit might cost $200 dollars, Medicare would pay $160 dollars, and you pay $40. In addition, physicians reserve the right to charge an additional 15% above what Original Medicare covers. Out of network, no problem but expect to pay more out of your pocket. If you like that doc, perhaps research other plans where your favorite doc or specialist is IN network.

Answer: That can be normal. It's important to review dental coverage with your plan. I've seen plans that only offer coverage for basic cleanings and I've seen other plans that offer $4,000 in dental. Most do not have any coverage for implants but there's a few out there that actually do cover implants.

Answer: It's good to have Part A. However just having Part A leaves you with a potential giant gap because it only covers 80% and you are responsible for the other 20%. If you run up $200,000 worth of hospital bills the government can come knocking on your door and ask for the other $40,000 part A did not cover.

Answer: Yes indeed. Prior authorization is not going away any time soon. In fact, there's chatter of insurance companies also implementing prior authorization for supplement plans as well.

Answer: If a senior is paying more than a max out of pocket for their premiums than Medicare Advantage MOOP or Ma out of Pocket then it can end up saving money and often times a significant amount of money. Many plans have a Max out of Pocket around $2900. If for example you are paying $245 a month or more with a supplement, then it's something to consider. In addition, Medicare Advantage also has dental, vision, hearing benefits among others included. For example, a Medicare Advantage plan may offer an additional $3,000 in dental benefit. If you have a supplement plan that you are already paying $3,000 a year for and need another $3,000 in dental work done, now you are out $6,000 for the year. Medicare Advantage, worst case scenario, you are out $2,900 and that's only if you've spent multiple days in the hospital throughout the year. Because most Medicare Advantage plans have a zero monthly premium and if your healthy, you may only be out of pocket $200 a year in some cases even with getting $3,000 dollars' worth of dental done as opposed to being out $3,000 a year paying that monthly supplement fee.

Answer: Ok, I'm a little confused on the dates you provided. Sounds like you have Medicare A and B intact. That's a good. I'm hoping that you also have Part D or the medication plan in place. If you don't then the government will penalize you for every month you go without that coverage. You aren't completely out of luck because you may qualify for a SEP or special election period. There are a number of SEP's you may qualify for and if that's the case then you won't have to wait a long period of time to get enrolled into a Medicare Advantage plan.

Answer: Check your benefits with your plan. Something like cataract surgery is outpatient surgery and most plans have a co-pay that ranges from $0 to $400 depending on the plan. Double check to make sure your Doc is in network. The doc or facility should be able to provide a cost breakdown ahead of time.

Answer: If you get a call from a supposed Medicare agent, ask them a few questions. Ask them what company they are calling from and where they are located. Ask them to verify their NPN or National Producer number. Ask them for a callback number. If they can't provide all of that information, then hang up the phone immediately.

Answer: When it comes to marketing my answer is yes. These days there are way too many people / companies blowing up people phones with fake numbers and hiring some guy from India or Bangladesh try to sell Medicare. I'm not a senior but I've been getting blown up with those phone calls also. One day during this last AEP I counted 63 scam calls in just one day. More regulation please. Seniors' phones don't need to be blown up every 5-10 minutes with scam, robo telephone numbers. They shouldn't have to deal with the hassle.

Answer: IN general PPO plans do not require a referral. However, in your case what probably happened is your primary care issued a referral to see a dermatologist. If you have a PPO plan you could always deny the referral and seek out your own dermatologist if you choose. However, make sure that dermatologist is in network. Having a PPO plan does not indicate that every single doc and specialist in IN Network.

Answer: In general, Private hospitals will accept Medicare. However, it's always a good idea to check ahead of time to make sure they accept your particular plan

Answer: The best plan would be a Supplement Plan G. Supplements have nationwide coverage therefore you should not have any issues with any docs or facilities not accepting your coverage as long as they accept Medicare. If you decide to switch to a supplement you have to wait until Annual Enrollment which starts October 15th and runs util December 7th for a January 1, effective date.

Another option is a Medicare advantage plan. For Example, Humana and United have a passport program. As long as you let them know ahead of time that you will be settling in another state for a couple month for example then you should not have many issues seeing a doc in another state. Regarding Medicare Advantage passport options, rules are different from state to state.

Answer: In the Phoenix area alone, there are over 160 plans available. How do you know which plan is best for you based on your docs, medication and needs? It's a very good idea to talk with a professional that knows the ins and outs. Try to have a face-to-face conversation and try to avoid figuring out your best plan with someone over the phone for 2 reasons. Number 1, you may live in Arizona and the person on the other side of the phone might live in Maine and they aren't well versued with the plan in your state. Number 2, scams run rampit and Medicare scams are a big one unfortunately. Unfortunatley I've run into seniors that have been scammed with Medicare calls more times than I'd like to see. Just 1 senior getting scammed is too many. It's important to get professional help when selecting a plan.

Answer: Being a Medicare agent is a fulfilling job. Meeting with folks and finding the right plan for them makes a big difference when it comes to their care and their pocketbook. Not everyone is the same and one size definitely does not fit all. Every smile on my client's face puts an extra smile on mine.

Answer: Plan F. As long as you are paying the Plan F premium everything should be coverage from doctor visits to emergency room, hospital visits, ambulance rides etc.

Answer: As long as your wife has creditable coverage through her employer than you can remain on her plan and not be subject to a Part B Penalty. However, check the cost. In my opinion if her cost to cover your insurance is more than $200 a month then you should consider weighing the benefit of coverage through Medicare.

Answer: Regarding a bill for an ambulance ride. Medicare Advantage will always have co-pays, cot shares, co-insurance and mx out of pocket. It's typical to receive a bill for a ride on the ambulance or an airlift. There are some plans that will waive the ambulance ride if admitted into the emergency room.

Answer: There are LIS, limited income options available. LIS level one provides assistance with medication. If you qualify for level 1, a prescription medication plan will not cost more than $12.68. If you qualify for level 2 then you could actually get assistance with paying for Part B. If you qualify for level 3 or full Medicaid / Medicare, then it unlocks Medicare plans that offer richer benefits that can help ease your financial situation. It's all income based and every state has different parameters and income limits. If you think you may qualify, I've provided a link. Just clink on the link and follow the qualification process.

In Arizona for Example, if you make $23,475 dollars a year or less you may qualify for LIS Extra Help Level 1.

Answer: Medigap plans are great for someone like my sister. She and her husband are snowbirds and live in one state half of the year and in another the other half of the year. She has been fighting cancer for a long time and needs consistent care every three weeks. The medigap plan offers the national coverage she need without any hassle. The downside is the medigap plan is more expensive overall because dental, vision and everything else is out of pocket unlike the Medicare Advantage plan which offers those types of benefits within the plan itself. However, the medigap works well for many people.

Answer: Medicare max out of pocket, deductibles and co-payments can always change from year to year. One thing to watch out for in 2026 is prescription medication deductibles. Many plans have added deductibles from $200 to north of $600 for name brand or tier 3-5 medication classifications.

Answer: Regarding Medicare and MRI'. Usually, Ultrasounds for breast cancer are covered at no additional cost. However medical testing procedures like CT scans, MRI's X-Rays and the like require a co-pay. Co-Pays for MRI and Cat Scans usually range around $140-$270 dollar depending on the plan and provider. However, there are some plans that have a zero copay for X-Rays, CT scans and MRI's.

Answer: Paying higher costs with tier 3,4 and 5 medications is never fun. One very good option is to contact the manufacturer directly. Often, they will offer the medication at a discounted price or sometimes even something like 6 months for free.

Answer: In general, Medicare agents work for just one company like Humana or United Health Care. Medicare brokers work for multiple carriers. Even though large reputable conglomerates like United and Humana have policies that can serve well for many insureds, they don't always have the best benefits for everyone as everybody's needs are different. I believe it's always best practice to review your Medicare options and Benefits with a Medicare broker.

Answer: Why are hospitals not taking Medicare Advantage plans? In general, the majority of hospitals do take Medicare Advantage plans, especially during an emergency. There are some instances for example, The Mayo in general only accepts recipients with a Medicare Supplement vs recipient with a Medicare Advantage policy. Again, the majority of hospitals with accept Medicare Advantage insurance. That being said some Insurance providers and Insurance policies have larger networks than others.

Answer: Six things Original Medicare does not cover. Part A original Medicare covers Hosptial stays, skilled nursing, home healthcare and hospice care. Part B Original Medicare will cover doctor visits, inpatient surgeries, diagnostic testing, X-rays, CT Scans, Lab work and durable medical equipment.

Original Medicare does not have any additional coverage for Dental, Vision, Hearing, Physical Therapy, Accupuncture, Chiropractic services among other services. In addition, Original Medicare has an 80-20% split, meaning Medicare will cover 80% and you cover 20% of the cost. This cost could become enormous should you need extensive medical care. For example, if you ran up $100,000 worth of medical bills, you could be on the hook to cover 20% or $20,000. This is the reason people look to either take out a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage pla to cover the 20% that Original Medicare does not.

Answer: First of all, I always wish everyone a speedy recovery after surgery or procedure has been completed. If possible, before the procedure is completed it's always a good idea to call your insurance company and verify your benefits. In general, if an outpatient procedure is completed like a routine colonoscopy or a shoulder surgery then usually there is no in home care available. Many plans will offer low or sometimes no cost visits for physical therapy, acupuncture or chiropractic visits if needed after surgery. If the procedure was more evasive or you've had to stay in the hospital for serveral consecutive days then many plans will offer some home health aide along with sending you home with up to 2 weeks of meals to keep assist with keeping you fed and healthy during the critical stages of recovery.

Answer: Medicare Advantage can be a very good option for insureds. If there are primary care providers or specialists that are critical to your personal care, then it's a good idea to verify that docs and facilities that you like are in network. Plans vary in network sizes. Some insurance companies have very large networks and others have less docs and coverage available. Always be very careful because even within the same insurance company, doctors and facilities in network can vary greatly.

Answer: I love to hear when people are exercising on a regular basis. Most Medicare plans offer a free or discounted gym membership plan with various companies. All plans are different but there are some plans that do offer some additional incentives like bonuses for completing certain tasks. Some plans will also offer an OTC or over the counter benefit card that people will use to purchase vitamins and other items to help keep themselves healthy.

Answer: The donut has been an issue in previous years costing people up to $8,000 a year when taking many medications or rather taking expensive medications. The good news, in 2025 the max out of pocket has decreased from $8,000 to $2,000 max out of pocket. Furthermore, Medicare recipients paying high medication costs can also set up a monthly payment plan to help stabilize the cost throughout the year.

Some tricks of the trade.

If you've been prescribed an expensive medication by your physician, it's also always a good idea to contact the manufacturer. Often times the manufacturer will offer a discount on the medication through a direct program.

Also, double check your prescription drug plan because insurance companies have in and out of network pharmacies. For example, Medication X might be less expensive at CVS vs Walgreens of vice versa.

Answer: Unfortunately seniors get bombarded with Medicare calls all day long. Some are legit but many are scams. First of all, I never recommend signing up for Medicare over the phone. Most legitimate calls come from an agent that only works for one company. In addition, usually are calling from another state that you don't even reside in. Often when you set up a plan over the phone the agent doesn't even include your primary doctor on your plan and since the agent is out of state, they don't know all the best plans in your zip code.

Scams are very prevalent. Some of the major things to watch out for. When you first pick up the phone, often there will be a short pause, then you will hear a little blip sound. After the blip, usually there is a guy with an Indian accent that answers with a name like Sam or Mike. From there they start blabbing about all of these benefits that usually you don't qualify for. The next step, they ask you to pull out your Medicare or you red, white and blue card. If you have a card that is older than 5-6 years old, then your Medicare number is your social security number. The guy on the phone will ask you to verify your Medicare number, date of birth and sometimes your address. Now they have enough information to pull a scam. Be careful out there folks.

Answer: Issues with Medicare advantage advertisements and solicitations. First of all, Medicare commercials viewed on television can be very misleading. Medicare advantage plans benefits will differ from state to state and even county to county. When an advertisement is aired on television, generally the company will ramble off the richest benefits available. The problem is that those benefits might not even be available in your state and you may not even qualify for the benefits stated on the advertisement even if you did live in that particular area. Usually the benefits are referring to and Medi - Medi or rather a Medicare / Medicaid plan. Some people do qualify for the Medi - Medi plan but its income based.

In addition, there are a lot of Medicare scams. Scammers call people all day long stating they have a plan with a lot of benefits like a food and gas card. Those benefits are available with some plans but the scammers don't care. They just want your information. What they are looking for is people with the older Medicare cards that actually have your social security number as your Medicare number. The scammer will ask you to verify your number, your date of birth and often your address as well. At that point they will have enough information to pull a scam. The cards switched from social security number to an actual code about 5-6 years ago. If you have an old card, contact Medicare to have them issue a new one. Once you receive your new card, destroy the old one.

There are many Medicare plans available and to make sure you are in the best plan based upon your needs, I feel it's always best practice to sit physical sit down with a Medicare specialist to review plan. The problem when people enroll over the phone, people are usually talking with a representative that only represents one company. Often during phone consultations, the rep fails to list your primary doc and fails to double check to make sure all of your specialists are in network.

Answer: Most Medicare plans come with a gym membership through Silver Sneakers or through Silver and Fit and the majority of gym memberships are at $0 cost. Not all gyms are included so you will want to check with your plan provider on availability. Often times you can attend multiple gyms. For example, attend one gym for a spin or yoga class and stop by another gym to pump some iron. Double check your plan because a lot of insureds do have the benefit but are simply unaware it exits.

Answer: More than likely you have a Medicare Supplement plan and your friend has a Medicare Advantage plan. Medicare supplement plans require a monthly premium, whereas a very large majority of Medicare Advantage plans are offered at a zero - $0-dollar monthly premium. In addition, Medicare supplement plans also require purchasing a stand-alone prescription drug plan where most Medicare advantage plans combine the prescription drug portion all into one plan.

Answer: Often when you sign up for Social Security people also sign up for Medicare Part A and Part B at the same time. If you sign up for Social Security at Age 66, then you more than likely were issued part A already once you turned age 65. In this situation it appears that more than likely you signed up. A card showing your effective date should have been sent in the mail and as we know, sometimes items get lost in the mail system. Contact Medicare as soon as possible to inquire about the status. There are various options. You could either stop down at the local office, contact us. It's very important to inquire about your effective date because you only have a 60-day window to sign up for Part D or a prescription drug plan once your Part B becomes effective. If you fail to sign up within that window of time, Medicare can and will penalize you for the rest of your life.

Answer: In regard to claiming bankruptcy, Medicare coverage will remain intact. If you have a supplement that requires a monthly premium you are still responsible for making the premium payments or the policy could lapse. If the supplement payments are creating a financial strain, there are other zero Medicare Advantage options available. In addition, depending on income, there may be some extra help available to assist with paying for the Part B premium and lowering the cost of prescription medications. Also depending on Income, Dual Medicare / Medicaid plans available which offer some extensive benefits such as an additional food card.

Answer: By and far the biggest mistake is not electing Part D in a timely manner! Once you receive your part B effective date, Medicare will give you a 60-day window to elect a prescription medication plan. If you exceed the 60-day window, Medicare can and will penalize you for the rest of your life. It's very important to know these rules which unfortunately aren't explained or conveyed very well. Even if you don't take any medications, you still need to sign up for a Part D prescription medication plan. There are various Part D plans available in each state. If you don't take any meds or just perhaps a couple generics, tier 1 and tier 2 medications, there are some zero premium Part D plan available in Arizona. Premiums and formularies vary from company to company and plan to plan. It's important to check the formularies to ensure your meds are covered and to calculate your expected medication costs.

Answer: I don't think Medicare is based on treatment versus prevention. In fact, I believe the opposite is true as Medicare plans will provide incentives for items like completing an annual exam, lab work, cancer screenings etc. I believe docs are on the same page as they want healthy patients also. If you want to keep up on health maintenance and get incentivized for doing so, then make sure you are aware of benefits your plan offers.

When it comes to treatments, that depends on the philosophy of the doctor and the facilities which you visit. Some docs will recommend a treatment or for example a surgery that sometimes may not be medically necessary. If a particular treatment or especially an evasive procedure is recommended by a doc, it's always a good idea to get a second opinion. Especially if you are second guessing in your head whether or not it's necessary or perhaps there may be a better solution. A few years back, a doc recommended a leg amputation up to his knee for one of my clients. He decided to get a second opinion and guess what, today he's walking around with both feet.

Answer: Every plan is different. Details regarding items such as how many physical therapy sessions are covered and co-pay charges if any should be specified. If the summary of benefits is not available, call the customer service number on the back of your insurance provider card. When discussing with a customer service representative you can also request to have the insurance provider e-mail or send a copy of your summary of benefits upon request.

Answer: Medicare plans are good plans and prior authorization is a standard for many procedures in this day and age. Many procedures require prior authorization because they are costly and the insurance carrier needs to complete due diligence to make sure procedures are medically necessary. This helps keep insurance rates and benefits within the plan to remain competitive for all.

Answer: Medigap policies can be expensive. Keep in mind that coverage would be in effect if you have an emergency when traveling and holding a Medicare Advantage policy as well. However, if you need ongoing medical care while traveling a Medigap policy is probably the right decision even though the cost may be higher. The question is how much do you travel, how long are you in a particular location at one time and how much medical care do you need? If you travel to a particular location for a period of time like a few months, there are some Medicare Advantage providers that offer a passport option where you can transfer coverage to that particular location as long as they are notified ahead of time. If you are thinking about this option, it's always a good idea to verify coverage protection with the Insurance carrier in the other location you plan to visit.

Answer: In my opinion, there aren't a lot of people leaving Medicare advantage plans. In fact, I see the opposite as many people are switching from Medicare supplement plans to Medicare Advantage. Medicare Supplement are good but in general they do cost more money out of pocket because there is a monthly premium that needs to be paid. In addition, if a Medicare recipient would need to pay additional money out of their pocket if they needed benefits such as dental, vision and hearing. Medicare Advantage plans have additional benefits included where Medicare Supplement plans may offer discounts but do not have full ancillary benefits available. Those costs can start to add up quickly in this current day and age where inflation is taking a toll on all of us. In addition, Medicare supplement premiums will increase from year to year as well. Be aware, if you decide to switch form a Medicare supplement plan to a Medicare Advanta age and decided that you want to switch back, medical underwriting will be required. If you develop major health issues, then you may not qualify.

Answer: Original Medicare has 2 primary components. Medicare Part A which covers items like Hospital Visits and skilled nursing, Home Health care and Hospice Care. Per Medicare guidelines in order to be eligible for part A you must have worked 40 quarters or 10 years in the system with the U.S. In general, there is no premium paid for Part as long as you meet those guidelines. However, you could be eligible for Part A at age 65 but you will have to pay a premium for the Medicare coverage. Medicare Part B covers all of your doctors / specialist visits, outpatient surgeries, durable medical equipment, lab work, Cat Scans, X-rays, etc. Depending on the situation you may be eligible for Part B but you would have to pay a premium for the coverage.

Answer: Star ratings are based on items like customer service, paying claims on time and overall customer care. Star ratings range for 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest. The higher the rating, the greater the reimbursement from the government to fund the benefits offered to clients. Therefore, it behooves all Medicare Insurance companies to achieve a 5-star Medicare rating. One extra bonus with 5-star plans. If there is a 5-star plan within your area, an SEP or special election period exists where you can enroll into the plan throughout the year.

Answer: Creditable coverage is Medical Insurance coverage you have through your employer. When you approach age 65 and beyond and still working hard, you have the option to either activate your Medicare coverage or keep the coverage through your employer Medical Insurance plan. Keep in mind that most plans set in place, especially with larger employers or government entities are creditable plans. However, it's always good to double check with your employer. The Human Resource Department is a good place to verify.

Answer: As long as you are working and your employer medical insurance plan is considered creditable coverage then you don't necessarily have to apply for Medicare Coverage. In general, what will happen is Medicare Part A will automatically become effective once your turn 65 whether you are still working or not. When getting close to age 65 while also working you should do your due diligence and compare your Medicare options, benefits and costs with your employer plan to ensure you are getting the best plan at the most competitive rate that provides the care you need. Sometimes the employer medical insurance is the best option and other times Medicare is the better option.

Answer: First of all, congratulation on retirement, you deserve it! The first 2 important item are Medicare Part A and Part B. In general, as long as you worked for 10 years or 40 quarters, Part A which is hospital coverage should have already been issued, even if you were still working. You must apply for part B. You can contact Medicare by calling or stopping by the local Medicare or Social Security office. If you are a little tech savvy, I believe the option with the least hassle or most efficient would be to visit on-line and complete a Part B application at: https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/sign-up/part-b-only. For most Medicare recipients, in 2025, Part B will cost $184.70 a month with a higher sliding scale depending on income. Once you receive you part B effective date you will have 60 days to sign up for a prescription drug plan. Do not delay on signing up for prescription drug plan. Be aware if you pass the 60-day window, Medicare can penalize you for the rest of your life! Along with Part A and B you should also explore the option of Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan to give you additional coverage where Part A and B do not.

Answer: The best way that I educate clients who are new to Medicare is having a meeting face-to-face. I can speak with them over the phone, during a Medicare 101 event or through something like zoom. Choosing the right Medicare plan and making sure all the I's are dotted and all the T's are crossed, face-to-face is best.

Answer: The best way to compare your Medicare Supplement plan with a Medicare Advantage plan is to physically sit down face to face to discuss and compare options and benefits because there is a lot to discuss regarding the topic. Many people like the Medicare Supplement plans because it's an open network meaning virtually every provider across state lines accept a Medicare supplement as long as they accept Medicare as payment. Medicare supplement is a very good option for snowbirds that have a second home where they live half of the year. Medicare Advantage plans are network and generally county based and in general your network resides in the state of your primary residence. That being said, if you are visiting Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob and have an emergency out of network, you will still have effective coverage. Some networks are larger than other based on the plan and provider. Medicare Advantage plans are either (HMO) Health Maintenance Organization or (PPO) Preferred Provider Network. Some Medicare Advantage providers have a passport program that would allow in network coverage if you were to travel outside your state for a prolonged period of time. The Medicare would just need to be notified ahead of time. Open Network plans with Medicare Supplement plans are nice but insureds will pay a premium for the flexibility. In addition, in general Medicare Supplements cover medical care but no extras. Prescription drug plans, dental, vision, hearing and other benefits aren't available with a Supplement plan. Medicare Advantage plans may not have as much flexibility; however most plans are at a zero monthly premium and in general they also have additional benefits such as Dental, Vision, Hearing, OTC card and other various benefits attached.

Answer: When it comes to applying and enrolling into Medicare, there are many mistakes that can be made. Questions about when to enroll and what type of plan to enroll into is a big decision and often there isn't a lot of information available to make an informed decision. One of the biggest mistakes I have found with Medicare is when and insured signs up for Part B, there is a 60 day window to sing up for Part D, (the prescription drug plan). If a prescription drug plan isn't selected within a 60 day window, Medicare will penalize you for the rest of your life.

Answer: Currently there isn't much integration with Medicare and items like Smart watches. Smart watches already have the capability of tracking exercise routines, blood pressure monitoring and pulse rate activity. What I see in the future is Medicare companies integrating with Smart Watches and Smart Phones to assist with monitoring health activity and providing incentives for meeting goals and completing tasks.

Answer: When it comes to Medicare Advantage plans, there are many different providers and usually many different plans available per provider. If you are thinking about switching plans, it's important to review the plan and make sure your doctors, specialists and medical facilities that are a must keep are available within that plans network. When researching, be very cognizant of the particular plan. For example, Doctor X may be in network with United Medicare Advantage HMO plan 1 but may be out of Network with United HMO plan 2. In addition, there are many additional options like dental and vision that can vary widely along with wide ranging co-pays and max out of pocket limits from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. When it comes to making sure you make the right decision for yourself and it's important to sit down with a professional to review your options and benefits. It's doubly important if you are seeing a primary doc or specialist that you absolutely must keep in network!

Answer: Medicare premiums can be tax deductible if 2 requirements are achieved. Number #1 medical expenses must exceed 7.5% of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and if you itemize your tax deductions.