Michelle Mcghee, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: There are a couple of reasons this may have happened, but I would recommend that Social Security review your Medicare enrollment history before assuming the penalty is correct.

If you dropped Part B because you returned to work and had health insurance through your employer, you may have qualified for a Special Enrollment Period to sign back up without a late enrollment penalty.

However, if your coverage didn't meet Medicare's requirements, or you missed the enrollment deadline, a penalty may have been added. The Part B penalty is generally 10% for each full 12-month period you were eligible but didn't have Part B and weren't protected by an enrollment exception.

The three months of back premiums may be because your Part B coverage started before you received your first bill.

Since you've been paying this penalty since 2020, I would recommend contacting Social Security and asking them to review your enrollment dates, previous employer coverage, and how the penalty was calculated.

If you had qualifying employer coverage during that time, you may have grounds to challenge the penalty.

Answer: Yes! If your UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan is being discontinued for 2027, you may qualify for what's called a Guaranteed Issue right.

This means you can return to Original Medicare and purchase certain Medicare Supplement plans without having to answer health questions or go through medical underwriting.

You would also need to enroll in a separate Part D prescription drug plan since Medicare Supplements do not include prescription drug coverage.

It's important to pay attention to the enrollment deadlines and keep the notice from UnitedHealthcare stating that your plan is ending. You may need that letter when applying for your Medicare Supplement.

This is a great opportunity to review your options, especially if you've wanted to return to Original Medicare but were concerned about qualifying for a Supplement because of your health.

Answer: Before having a test or procedure, it's always a good idea to find out what your out-of-pocket cost may be.

Start by asking your doctor's office for the name of the procedure and its billing code (CPT code). You can then contact your insurance company and ask what your estimated cost will be.

If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, you'll want to confirm that the doctor and facility are in-network, what your copay or coinsurance will be, and whether prior authorization is required.

If you have Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement, your cost will depend on whether Medicare covers the procedure and which Supplement plan you have.

You can also use Medicare.gov to look up estimated costs for certain procedures.

Keep in mind that the doctor's fee, facility charges, anesthesia, and other services may be billed separately, so be sure to ask about the total estimated cost.

While an estimate isn't a guarantee of what you'll pay, checking ahead of time can help you avoid unexpected medical bills.

Answer: Medicare call centers often get your phone number from online forms, insurance quote websites, or marketing companies that share or sell contact information. Sometimes, requesting Medicare information online can result in calls from several different companies.

To help reduce these calls, you can register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry at www.donotcall.gov or call 1-888-382-1222.

You can also ask callers to remove your number from their calling list and block numbers that continue calling.

Medicare insurance agents and plans generally cannot call you to market their plans unless you've given them permission or another exception applies.

If the calls continue, you can report unwanted Medicare marketing calls to 1-800-MEDICARE.

Unfortunately, these steps may not stop every call, but they can help reduce them. And remember, you are never obligated to discuss your Medicare coverage or make changes with someone who calls you unexpectedly.

Answer: The Medicare-approved amount is the amount Medicare agrees to pay for a covered medical service. This may be less than what your doctor normally charges.

If you have Original Medicare, Medicare generally pays 80% of the approved amount after you've met your Part B deductible, and you're responsible for the remaining 20%. A Medicare Supplement may help cover that portion.

When a doctor accepts Medicare assignment, it means they agree to accept the Medicare-approved amount as full payment for covered services. They cannot charge you more than that amount, although you may still owe your deductible and coinsurance.

You can simply ask your doctor's office, "Do you accept Medicare assignment for all Medicare-covered services?"

One important thing to know: A doctor who accepts Medicare patients doesn't necessarily accept Medicare assignment. Some doctors who don't accept assignment can charge up to 15% above the Medicare-approved amount for certain services. This is called a Part B excess charge.

Answer: If your doctor stops accepting your insurance, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to find a new doctor.

First, find out whether your doctor is leaving your insurance plan's network or simply no longer accepting new patients with that insurance.

If you have a Medicare Advantage HMO, you may need to choose another in-network doctor. With a PPO, you may still be able to see your doctor, but your out-of-pocket costs could be higher.

If you have Original Medicare with a Medicare Supplement, you can generally continue seeing your doctor as long as they accept Medicare and are willing to continue treating you.

Before making any changes, contact your doctor's office and your insurance company to confirm what's changing and when. If you're in the middle of treatment, ask whether you qualify for continued care with your current doctor during the transition.

Losing a doctor from your plan's network doesn't automatically mean you can change insurance plans outside an enrollment period, so it's important to review your options first.

Answer: No, receiving Spravato treatments in 2026 should not cause your Medicare Supplement Plan G premium to increase just because Humana paid for those treatments.

Medicare Supplement premiums are not based on how many claims you file or how much your insurance company pays for your care. Your premium may increase over time due to factors such as age, overall claims experience, and the insurance carrier's rate adjustments, but not because you personally received an expensive treatment.

However, if you're applying for a new Medicare Supplement plan, the insurance carrier may review your medical history and medications as part of underwriting, unless you qualify for guaranteed-issue rights.

Answer: Breztri is a brand-name inhaler that is usually listed on a higher tier of Medicare Part D drug formularies, often Tier 3 or Tier 4, depending on the plan.

The tier determines how much you pay for your prescription. Some plans charge a set copay, while others charge a percentage of the drug's cost.

Because every Part D plan has its own formulary and pricing, your copay can vary quite a bit from one plan to another. It's important to check your specific drug plan to see which tier Breztri falls under, whether there are any coverage restrictions, and what your cost will be at your preferred pharmacy.

Answer: If there are not any Medicare Advantage plans available in your county, you can still receive coverage through Original Medicare (Parts A and B).

You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement plan to help with expenses Medicare doesn't pay, along with a separate Part D prescription drug plan.

If you're currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan that's leaving your county, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. You may also have guaranteed-issue rights, allowing you to enroll in certain Medicare Supplement plans without answering health questions.

The important thing is to review your options before your current coverage ends so you don't have a gap in coverage.

Answer: Yes, you may still qualify for an annuity with a long-term care rider even if you've been declined for traditional long-term care insurance.

It will depend on the reason you were declined and the insurance carrier's underwriting requirements. Some annuities have more flexible health requirements than traditional long-term care policies, and there are also annuities that allow you to access additional funds if you need long-term care, although the benefits vary by carrier and product.

Answer: Great question! If you are receiving social security benefits at least 4 months prior to 65 or receiving SSDI (Disability) and have received benefits for at least 24 months, you will receive your Medicare card (red, white, and blue card) for Part A and Part B.

Answer: The first step is to see what enrollment period you qualify for, and then check your doctors, medications, networks that are important to you, and what you want your coverage to do for you this year.

Answer: working with a Medicare agent gives you a personal 1 on 1 concierge service, we become your person when you have questions or problems. We help you find what works best for your health needs and wallet, we look up your meds and doctors to ensure they are all in the networks that are important to you-I am a tool in your toolbox and I educate first to help that decision easier for you.

Answer: The difference is the Medicare Advantage plans are either an HMO or PPO, and it is very important to check to ensure all your doctors are in the Network.

The Medigap is a supplemental plan that fills in the gaps of Original Medicare and it pairs with your primary Original Medicare insurance, so there are no networks, or cap for original medicare.