Patrick Bullock, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: I think one way telemedicine has helped enhance peoples personal healthcare is that folks are more apt to use this for smaller issues. Not everyone wants to go to a doctors' office for a sniffle or a small pain. They can nip an illness or injury in the bud by using telemedicine as soon as a symptom occurs.

Answer: If you have a Medicare Advantage plan this is the time of year you'll want to review your options. Make sure to include your doctors, practices, facilities, and prescriptions when weighing your options. Not only do your peronal requirements change, but the plans change also. It's easy to just let plans roll over but changes may have occured you are not familiar with. Be sure to always reach out to your agent to guarantee tou are in the best position for the upcoming year.

Answer: Absolutely. In fact, I encourage retirees to invite a son or dfaughter to sit in on an appointment. It helps to have a second set of ears or to ask questions the client may not think of.

Answer: Medicare will not cover your long term needs. They will cover skilled nursing care after a qualifying hospital stay, but even that is limited to 100 days. There are many different types of long term care and it is important to meet with a professional agent who will guide you in the process of guarding your assets at an affordable premium.

Answer: Unfortunately, there is no single answer that is right for everyone. Each persons' individual situation will dictate when is the best time to begin your Social Security. Factors such as health, bills, retirement funds, employment etc. will weigh in the decision. What is best for one, may not be best for another.

Answer: I still run across folks who think Medicare will cover nursing home costs. It is surprising how many people think that when the time comes, they will move to a nursing home and it will be paid by Medicare. I always take the time to explain the difference between custodial and skilled care so there are no illusions about what is and isn't covered.

Answer: By far, it is the people you meet and the stories they tell. I've been working mainly in the Medicare field for over 15 years now. I've heard so many incredible stories of how people have met, where they are from, what they did for a living... It really makes you look at people in a different way.

Answer: Sometimes people will listen to friends of theirs not realizing that each person's needs are individual. What may be best for their friend my not necessarily be the best plan for them. It very important to look at all the aspects that can affect their decision.

Answer: One of the reasons people like Medicare Supplement plans is that you can change that supplement to another any time of the year. Medicare Advantage plans have enrollment periods the you must abide by, and generally are required to stay in that plan for the entire year. That being said, after the initial enrollment period ends, a person's application will go through underwriting and they must be able to answer those health questions to the satisfaction of the particular insurance company.

Answer: There are many people who believe that Medicare will cover them in a nursing home. For the most part this is not true. Medicare will cover a stay in a skilled nursing facility after a qualifying hospital stay. However, they will not cover long term care in a nursing home. This is generally covered by a long term care insurance plan or out of the persons personal funds, which can be very expensive.

Answer: I like to give them some basic facts about what Medicare does and doesn't do. I then like to get to know the clients' situation better so I can begin to personalize the information they need to make the best decision. There are a lot of factors that may affect the decision making process and it is important to touch on all of them.

Answer: If you're working, you'll want to compare the health coverage you have through your employer to what may be available to you through Medicare. If you are not working, you'll want to call social security and make sure your part B will be in effect. Next, you'll want to talk to a Medicare broker, such as myself, who will give you an unbiased opinion of the best insurance fit for your particular situation.