Michael Hixson, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: You could do that, but keep in mind that you are only looking at 1 Option. Using an experienced Medicare Broker can save you time, money, and potential surprises down the road. A broker will work for you to find the plan that best fits your needs, not make your needs fit the plan, which may happen when calling the insurance carrier directly. They can help you decide between a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage (Part C) is best for your needs. Then shop those types of plans for you without any cost to you. Brokers are paid by the Insurance Carrier not you the customer without an increase in premium.

Things to look for in a Medicare Broker

1. How long have they been in business? The longer they have been in business gives you more security knowing they will be there when you need help.

2. How many companies do they offer? They should be able to offer 3 or more options.

3. Can they be reached when you call them? Having a great broker can help when you have questions or need to make changes.

4. Do they keep up with changes with plans? Great Brokers will notify you of changes to your plan and make recommendations.

Bottom Line: A Medicare Broker is your personal Medicare Guide, someone who understands they system, keeps your best interests first, and stays with you year after year.

Answer: Great question! Original Medicare is good coverage but there are holes in coverage with Deductibles and Copays. Another thing to remember is that Original Medicare doesn't cover your Medications. For 2025 Medicare Part A, Hospital Coverage or in Patient Care, has a deductible of $1,676 for the first day in the hospital and a copay of $419 each day for days 61-90, and $838 each day for days 91-150. Medicare Part B, Doctor or Out Patient Care, has an annual deductible of $257 and a copay of 20% and these could add up quickly. There are 2 ways to Fill those Gaps, Medicare Supplement or Medicare Part C also called Medicare Advantage Plan.

Answer: Original Medicare does not cover Long-Term Care, Dental, Vision or Hearing. For Long-Term Care you have 3 options for coverage, Long-Term Care Policy, Life Insurance Policy with a Long-Term Care Rider or an Annuity with a Long-Term Care Rider.

Answer: In most cases, No. After you have passed your Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment, you must pass underwriting to be able to qualify for a Medicare Supplement. There are exceptions in some States. There are states offer a Birthday Rule like Oklahoma. In Oklahoma you have 60 days from your birthday to enroll into a Medicare Supplement Plan without answering Health Questions. You will need to check with your state for any exceptions.

Answer: Let me ask you a question, are you ever in need of care and not be close to a Tribal Health Facility? I bet the answer is Yes. I am Michael Hixson and I am Cherokee and live in the Oklahoma City Metro Area and the closest Indian Hospital is in Ada, Oklahoma over an hour away. Yes, you could go to a local Emergency Hospital but you better submit your claim within 72 hours to Indian Health Services and then hope that it gets approved. With having Original Medicare, you have more options for your health care and have peace of mind that you won't be paying 100% of the bill. If you are Native and need help with your Medicare Options, give me a call. I can explain your unique situation.

Answer: Absolutely! With Original Medicare, there is no STOP to your risk of cost. With Part A the Hospital Deductible is $1,676 for days 1-60, then a per-day copay of $419 for days 61-90 and $838 per-day copay for days 91-150. After that Original Medicare doesn't cover any cost. Outpatient cost or Part B has an annual Deductible of $257 and a 20% unlimited copay. All Medicare Advantage Plans have what is called a Maximum Out Of Pocket limit. This limits your risk.

Answer: Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not always as cut and dry of an answer as you'd like. Yes, Medicare states what they do and do not cover, but there are other correlating factors that go into a service or procedure being covered. Factors like the procedure's medical necessity, the doctor's participation, and how the bill is coded are some variables that affect the answer to this question.

If you need more specific guidance or have other questions regarding Medicare coverage, please feel free to reach out!

Answer: Original Medicare and your Medigap Plan G only cover cost associated with your Part A and Part B coverage, Hospital and Doctor coverage. Your medications are covered by Medicare Part D and you should shop Part D coverage each year during Annual Enrollment Period, October 15 - December 7, because each year the Premiums, Plan Formularies and Copays change.

Answer: For year 2025 Part D has had a great change. In previous years when you entered into the Catastrophic Stage of your Drug Plan, you would have a copay that was determined by if it was a generic or name brand drug. You would pay the higher of the defined copay or 5% of the cost of the drug. For 2025 you no longer have a copay in the catastrophic stage, meaning that you will have a maximum of $2,000 drug cost for the year. Some may pay less than that depending on how CMS calculates and credits the copays that you paid.

Answer: A "Medigap" or Medicare Supplement Plan is offered by insurance companies. They are not offered by the Centers of Medicare Medicaid Services. In other words, these are Private Plans that pay the Co-Pays that Original Medicare doesn't cover. The time to buy these types of plans is during your Open Enrollment Period. During this period there are no health questions. This period is up to 6 months be for your 65th birthday and up to 6 months after your 65th birthday or up to 6 months after your Part B effective date. If you missed these opportunities, there are some ways you may qualify for Guaranteed Enrollment with loss of credible insurance or in some states a birthday rule.

Answer: I'm here to assist with general information about Medicare and related services. For specific inquiries like the projected impact of an aging population on Medicare Part A hospital funds, I recommend consulting detailed reports or resources from official Medicare websites or financial analysts who specialize in healthcare economics. If you have any other questions about Medicare or if you need help with something else, feel free to ask!

Answer: Yes, Original Medicare Part B covers Nutrition Counseling for individuals with Diabetes. You may be able to receive more help with a Medicare Advantage Plan. Some of these types of plans offer gym memberships and other things that Original Medicare does not offer.