Pamela Fugitt-Hetrick, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: No, once your open enrollment window closes the plan you have is the plan you have. The annual open enrollment is October 15th through December 7th. After that, the plan yu have or enrolled in at AEP is the plan you have for the following year. If you move to a new state, you will need to elect a new plan in your new state.

Answer: This is one of the tricky situations people find themselves in. Unless you are in your first year of over having a Medicare Advantage plan, you likely don't have a special enrollment window to be guaranteed a Medicare Supplement/MediGap plan. You can apply for the Supplement plan but will have to answer health questions. That serious illness is a clue that you will likely not be accepted. I would recomend consulting an independent experienced Medicare agent in your area. They can look at your exact situation to see if there is a special enrollment you can qualify for.

Answer: Medicare covers ambulance rides in emergency situations when medically necessary. They don't pay for ambulance rides to dr appointments for instance. Taxi, Uber, or personal transportation would be best there. If you have an emergency and need medical treatment and transportation to the hospital, Medicare will cover that.

Answer: It's very satisfying to help people through what is a very difficult to understand transition. The reward is hearing clients say that I have made the process easy for them. Some of my Medicare clients have been with me for 20 years now.

Answer: 1sr determine if you need to enroll. If you do, enroll 3 months before your birthday month. If you are already collecting social security, your ID should arrive automatically approximately 3 months prior to your 66th birthday.

Call a certified agent in your area for assistance and guidance on Medicare plans once you have Medicare A and B. Their assistance is at no charge.

There are two main pathways. Medicare with supplements, or Medicare Advantage.

Answer: They are regional plans with more limited doctors and hospitals that you must use in your area. The tend to change annually and can even cease business in your area. This forces you to analyze your annual notice of change carefully each annual open enrollment. In some regions, there may be many Medicare Advantage plans available. In other places, no Medicare Advantage plans.

Answer: Medicare Advantage plans are very low cost monthly premiums compared to a Medicare Supplement. They do have co-pays and and a percentage of charges you have to pay for medical services. In the end, if you had high-cost procedures like Chemo, Radiation, or Dialysis, you would have much higher out of pocket costs as you use the Advantage plan. Advantage plans also limit the doctors and hospitals you can access outside of an emergency.

Answer: One scam that has been prolific is telling you that you can received a free medical item like a knee brace. You only need to provide your name, address, and Medicare number. Another is to tell you about a great new dental or vision plan Medicare is offering. You need to provide your information in order to sign up. They may just keep and sell your information or sign you up for a Medicare advantage plan that includes a dental and vision plan. What you don't know is that removes you from Original Medicare all together.

Answer: Medicare does not provide a death benefit when you die. If you are looking to provide tax free funds to your heirs, keep your life insurance policy. Medicare will help cover hospitalization and Medical expenses.

Answer: Medicare is like learning a new language. I love helping clients unravel the mysteries of Medicare. I don't want to just sign them up for things but really understand their choices.

Answer: Not having a free consultation with an agent on when, if and how to enroll in Medicare when you are turning 65 or leaving employer coverage after 65. The worst and sometimes impossible to resolve issues start with that error.

Answer: Medicare will cover up to 20 days of skilled nursing after a 3 day or longer inpatient stay. There is up to 100 days per incident of additional days that may be available for a daily charge after that. Medicare doesn't cover long-term care.

Answer: Independent agents can help you know when and how to enroll in Medicare. They can educate you on the differences between Medicare Supplement and the Medicare Advantage pathways. An agent in your region can also help you with local nuances like physician systems that don't accept new patients, where and how to find a primary care, etc. They can't charge you a fee so why not get a free guide.

Answer: You can use Original Medicare (Parts A and B) anywhere in the United States. Medicare Supplements also work Nationwide.

However, if you have a Medicare Advantage plan, typically you only have Emergency or Urgent care access out of your service area.

Part D plans also vary by provider. Some offer national pharmacy networks, allowing you to fill prescriptions in any state, while others may have limited networks. Always verify with your plan to avoid unexpected costs.