Pamela Camey, Medicare Insurance Broker
Pamela Camey
Healthcare Solutions Team LLC
Medicare Broker Licensed in IL, FL, IA, IN, KS, KY, MI, OH, TX and VA
Contact Details
-
Location
Kewanee, IL
-
Phone
-
Website
-
Schedule An Appointment
Pamela Can Help With:
About Me
Hello! I'm Pamela, your trusted Medicare broker in the area. My specialty is Medicare, and I'm passionate about helping you select the ideal plan that caters to your individual needs and budget. I'll efficiently sort through plans from reputable national and local companies, saving you time and effort. Best of all, my services are provided at no cost to you. Give me a call at 309-761-8090 to discuss your Medicare choices and don't forget to mention that you found me on Medicare Agents Hub!
My Google Reviews
1 Total Reviews (5.0)
July 3, 2024
Pam has been so attentive and helpful in making sure our family has the medical insurance we need.
Q&A with Pamela Camey
I'm turning 65 next month; what are the first steps I should take regarding Medicare enrollment?
Answer: Your first Steps towards Medicare Enrollment should be to contact Social Security Administration to enroll in Part A Hospital and Part B Medical Insurance Coverage during your initial Enrollment Period, which begins 3 months before your birthday, month of your birthday, and three Months after your birthday. It's important to work with a licensed broker like myself, who will take the time to teach you about Medicare, how it works and your coverage options.
You may sign up for Medicare online or by calling Social Security Administration or by setting an appointment with your local Social Security Office.
What's the trade-off between a Medicare Advantage PPO and HMO when it comes to flexibility?
Answer: The answer is simply. A PPO Medicare Advantage Plan offers greater freedom to choose providers, including those outside the network while HMO Medicare Advantage Plan generally require staying within the network except during true emergency situations. You need to follow the HMO plan rules for approved network coverage.
However, with a PPO Medicare Advantage Plan, when visiting an out of network provider will include higher fees and a separate deductible.
Will I be penalized if I do not enroll in Medicare when I turn 65?
Answer: Yes, you will most likely face a penalty if you do not enroll in Medicare Part B medical insurance when you are first eligible, which is during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP). Initial Enrollment period starts 3 months before your birthday, month of your birthday and then 3 months after your birthday. There are some exceptions to this rule. If you continue to be employed and your employer is providing you creditable health Insurance, you may waive signing up for Part B.
If you do not enroll in Part B during your initial enrollment period, or have creditable coverage, you will be required to pay a penalty for each 12-month period that you delay enrollment. The penalty is 10% of the standard monthly premium for each 12-month period of delay. You will pay this penalty as long as you have part B coverage.
There is a similar penalty for Part D (prescription drug coverage) if you do not have creditable drug coverage and delay enrollment.
There are also a few situations where you may have to pay a penalty for part A (hospital insurance) also called premium-Part A.
What do you enjoy most about working with Medicare clients?
Answer: I absolutely love working with Medicare Clients. I love teaching and making a meaningful difference in their lives with it comes to Medicare. When they become a client, they also become part of our FAMILY. I take great pride in assisting the through this process. Providing assistance when needed throughout the year.
Educating my clients on current changes is upmost importance to me. I make sure my clients understand their choices and how the plans work. I want to make sure my clients feel secure in their choices in the immediate but also in the long-term decisions on their healthcare needs.
Working with my clients is truly a passion.
Why is the new $2,000 out-of-pocket maximum for drug costs important?
Answer: The new $2000 out- of -pocket cap on Medicare Part D prescription drugs is a game changer for many of my clients. This change is the result of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, aiming to make HealthCare more affordable and more accessible for seniors.
Beginning in 2025 Indvidual's enrolled in Medicare Part D Prescription plans will have their out - of pocket spending cost for prescription drugs capped at $2000 annually.
The Inflation reduction act also includes measures to lower the drug costs, such as capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month. This law allows Medicare to negotiate drug process with manufacturers and offering free recommended vaccines.
This new cap on Medicare Part D Prescription projected save millions of Medicare beneficiaries thousands of dollars annually.
What is the biggest mistake seniors make when enrolling in Medicare?
Answer: The Biggest mistake Seniors can make when enrolling into Medicare is not understanding how the plans, they selected work and affordability of that plan not in immediate but also in the future.
Questions to ask yourself:
1) Medicare Supplements: It's human nature to gravitate towards the lowest cost premium, but can that company handle the medical loss Ratios down the road? Does it have that history to do so? Can I pay for much higher premiums as I become older? You have to be your own financial steward with healthcare because it will be the most expensive financial expense during retirement.
2) When selecting a Medicare Prescription drug plan- many are influenced by premium cost and not looking at the details of the plan drug formulary or when will you be charges the Medicare Prescription drug deductible.
3) Medicare Advantage Plans- Continuity of Care: Are my doctors in that plans network? Am I willing to switch plans if they are not? Are my medications on this plan's formulary?
Am I eligible for a Special Enrollment Period if I lose employer coverage?
Answer: If you lose creditable employer or union healthcare coverage, you will qualify for a special enrollment period (SEP) to enroll in Medicare Parts, A, B, C, or D, which allows you to join or switch plans outside regular enrollment periods
I'm enrolled in a Medigap Plan F, and I'm not sure how my emergency room visits are handled. Is there a copay I should expect?
Answer: If you have a Medigap plan F there would be no copayment for emergency room visit, but if you are travelling internationally that is a different story. Plans provide 80% to a lifetime maximum of $50,000 in coverage after the first $250 deductible each calendar year
If I need long-term care in the future, how does Medicare fit into that plan, and what should I be doing now to prepare?
Answer: Medicare does not provide long-term care coverage or custodial care unless medical care is needed.
Medicare does cover 90 standard days for long-term acute care at a hospital.
Currently, Medicare will pay for Home Healthcare for as long as you qualify. However, you plan of care must be recertified every 60 days by your doctor. If a person has a three -day inpatient stay at a hospital or has a Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility ( SNF) stay, Part A will cover up to 100 days.
If you are considering the purchase of Long term care Insurance, these guidelines vary from State to State. In retirement planning, you may want to consider purchasing a Long Term care Insurance policy to protect your assets. There are also short term care insurance policy available as well. When planning for Long term care needs, there is no need to settle for just one solution. You may want to consider looking at Traditional Long term care insurance, Asset- based LTC policies or even consider stacking them together. National Association of Insurance Commissioners wrote a Shopper's Guide to help you understand long-term care and the insurance options you may choose.
https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-ltc-lp-shoppers-guide-long-term.pdf