Michael Turkaly, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: A trusted Medicare agent can educate you on the different plans available. They can walk you through the process, so you understand and make a valued decision.

Answer: Medicare Advantage plans are not free, some offer zero premium. Please remember that you must pay for your Part B, which is $185 for 2025.

Answer: No, it is not a common problem. The best way to locate a dentist is to search for one on the companies website where you have your Medicare Advantage plan.

Answer: Medicare Drug coverage covers the shingles shot ( not Medicare Part A or Medicare Part B) . People with Part D usually pay nothing out of pocket for most vaccines.

Answer: You can enroll in Medicare Part A & Part B, 3 months before your 65th birthday, the month of your birthday and 3 months after.

Answer: The agent can search your medication on the insurance companies formulary,which is a list of covered medications.

Answer: The agent they worked with didn’t educate them enough on the different plans and made the wrong decision.

Answer: The IRMAA is based on your income. I will depend if you file taxes single or as a couple. They will look back 2 years at your income.

Answer: Medicare does not cover those items and I don't believe they should to keep cost down. However, Medicare Advantage plans include dental, vision and hearing coverage.

Answer: The new part d out of pocket is only $2,000 and the lowest in years. Once someone reaches the out of pocket maximum, they will pay $0 for remainder of year.

Answer: The answer would rely on the senior's place of employment. If the company the senior works for is less than 20 employees on payroll, Medicare would be primary and the senior should enroll in Medicare. However, if the company has over 20 employees, than the senior could delay it.

Answer: The whole point of having a PPO network, is it allows you to go in or out of network. It is a lot better and lower copays if you stay in-network.

A HMO only has in-network benefits, so if you went out of network, you would pay the entire fee.

Answer: Once a person who is under the age of 65 and is collecting social security disability for 24 months, they will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A & B.

Answer: Every year, each insurance company will come out with their formulary and Medicare Part D details of benefits. The formulary is a list of covered medications and what copay tier they will fall under. So bottom line is, the copays could change every year even if you stay on the same plan.

Answer: I would definitely check the provider list to see what hospital is in the network for your plan. Remember you can make a change at AEP between 10-15 and 12-7 of every year with the effective date being January 1st of the following year.

Also during OEP, you make one change to a different plan between Jan 1 and March 31.