Nikki Rowland, Medicare Insurance Broker
Nikki Rowland
Charter Financial Group of Carolinas
Medicare Broker Licensed in SC and NC
Contact Details
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Location
Murrells Inlet, SC
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Phone
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Website
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About Me
Hey neighbors! I am native of Myrtle Beach, now living in Murrells Inlet who has been involved in helping my community over the years. I am very passionate about helping others and I will always go the extra mile.
I am a dedicated insurance broker specializing in Medicare and retirement planning. When I'm not helping my clients secure their future, you'll find me cheering on my daughter at horse races and supporting my son in all things sports.
Q&A with Nikki Rowland
What’s the most important question I should be asking about Medicare that I probably haven’t thought of yet?
Answer: Medicare does not cover everything. You should always ask, are there gaps in my coverage that could leave me with unexpected out-of-pocket costs?
What’s the trade-off between a Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO when it comes to flexibility?
Answer: If you want more provider options and no referrals, a PPO is the better choice. If you’re okay with sticking to a network to save money, an HMO might be a better fit. Would you like help comparing specific plans to see which works best for you?
When my husband dies, do I get his Social Security and mine?
Answer: When your husband passes away, you do not receive both your Social Security benefit and his in full. Instead, you will receive the higher of the two benefits.
How do you educate clients who are completely new to Medicare?
Answer: When working with clients who are completely new to Medicare, I focus on making the process simple, clear, and stress-free by breaking it down into four key steps:
1.Understanding the Basics
I start by explaining:
* What Medicare is and who qualifies
* The four parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D)
* The difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage
2. Identifying Individual Needs
I ask questions to understand their healthcare needs, lifestyle, and budget, such as:
Do you take regular prescriptions?
Do you prefer flexibility in choosing doctors?
Do you travel often or live in multiple states?
3. Coverage Options
Once I know your needs, I walk you through:
* Medicare Supplement (Medigap) vs. Medicare Advantage
* Prescription drug plans (Part D)
* Out-of-pocket costs and ways to minimize expenses
4 Helping with Enrollment & Next Steps
I make sure they know their deadlines to avoid penalties and help them enroll in the right plan. I also offer ongoing support so they feel confident in their coverage.
Which Medicare Supplement plan (Medigap) offers the best value for most seniors, and why?
Answer: This all depends on specific client needs as well as finances. Medicare is never one size fits all plan.
I'm turning 65 next month; what are the first steps I should take regarding Medicare enrollment?
Answer: First, Confirm Your Enrollment Status.
If you’re already receiving Social Security benefits, you’ll be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A & Part B—your Medicare card should arrive about 3 months before your birthday. If you are not taking SS, you will have to call and let them know you would like to take your part B.
If you are still working and have credible insurance coverage through your employer you may opt out of Medicare for now.
I would sit down and cover all option available to you to ensure you make the right choice for YOU.
Again, its not a one size fits all.
What is the biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage?
Answer: The biggest disadvantage of Medicare Advantage is the network restrictions, which can limit your choice of doctors and hospitals compared to Original Medicare (with a Medigap plan) as well as high co-pays.
Is Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage better? Why do you recommend one over the other?
Answer: Because Medicare is a not a one size fits all plan, I never recommend one over the other without first doing a full needs analysis. Both options can work well if this is done first.
My Medicare Advantage plan listed my doctor, but now they say he’s out of network. How is that even allowed?
Answer: That can be frustrating! Medicare Advantage plans typically have contracts with specific networks of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. However, sometimes these contracts change throughout the year. Even if your doctor was in-network when you enrolled in your plan, they might have been removed from the network later due to changes in the insurance company’s agreements or policies.
Unfortunately, this can happen, but you do have some options.
I picked a PPO for the flexibility, but now every time I go out of network the bills are outrageous. What’s the point of even having a PPO?
Answer: PPOs offer more flexibility compared to HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations), they still have a cost structure that favors in-network providers. There are many reasons why your out-of-network costs might be so high.
A PPO simply allows you to go out of network and still get coverage at a contracted rate. An HMO will not cover anything and you will pay everything out of pocket as if you don't have insurance at all.