Renee Brown, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: Choosing the right Medicare plan can be very confusing. Going on the internet and doing a lot of research can cause a lot more confusion without answering the questions people may have. To me the biggest mistake a customer can make is by going strictly off of the internet, or their neighbors and friends. Their needs may not be the same as the neighbors, or friends and their doctors and medications will probably be different therefore those peoples plans may not work for them. Customers really need to sit down with a reputable broker that works with all the plans to help them sort through all plans that are offered in their area that work best for their needs, both Medicare Advantage and Supplemental. Medicare Supplemental plans may seem the best and the internet and others may be pointing them to that, but not everyone can afford a Medicare Supplement, therefore they need the best Medicare Advantage for their doctors, their needs and their medications. They also need an agent that they can count on to answer their calls the same day when they have a problem, or question, rather than 2-3 days later.

Answer: One of the most common misconceptions that I think people have about Medicare is that it is

"FREE". in reality, Medicare Part A can be free, whereas Medicare Part B does have a $185 monthly amount that they have to pay to social security or it is withdrawn from their check before it comes to them. This can be a higher amount if their income falls into a higher income bracket. There is also Premiums for Medicare Supplement Policies and Drug plans or Copays and Out of Pocket costs related to a Medicare Advantage plan. Sometimes there are ways to help the person pay for those costs if they qualify or if there is a Buy Back plan in their area.

Answer: Original Medicare (Parts A and B) doesn't cover routine eye exams for glasses or contact lenses, it does cover certain eye exams and treatments related to specific conditions like glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, and macular degeneration, as well as cataract surgery. Some Medicare Advantage plans do however give the extra benefit of eye exams and glasses.

Answer: It is important because it limits the amount Medicare Part D beneficiaries pay for covered prescription drugs annually, this helps save them hundreds and possibly thousands on drug costs.

Answer: This is a question I answer frequently from my clients. If you are already drawing social security when you turn 65, then you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare Part A& B by Social Security and you do not have to do anything. Once you get the part A and B, then you will need to either sign up on a Drug Plan for Part D, or sign up with a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan to go with it.

Answer: The premium for the Part B and D Medicare is based on income. The base amount for everyone is $185.00 but depending on your last 2 years income it may be more. If your friends is $185 and yours is higher, that means that your income was higher than your friends for those years.

IRMAA stands for: Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, is a surcharge added to Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for those with higher incomes, calculated based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years prior to the current year.

Answer: There really isn't a perfect answer to this question. It is based on what each person's needs and the how they want to be covered. The best choice really is an individual choice and how they look at their insurance needs and money they want to have to spend monthly on their insurance.

More often Part D plans will have a higher Deductible and copay costs over a Medicare Advantage, so looking at each person's medications is a must when deciding on these plans.

Answer: Plan G would be my first choice because of only having the Part B deductible of $257 to pay when using the plan. Once that is paid, then everything else is paid 100%. My second choice would be Plan N. Plan N is a slightly cheaper way to go, but you will still pay a Dr copay of $20 and ER copay of $50 once the Part B Deductible of $257 is met.

Answer: Yes, unfortunately you may be wrong. Even though PPO plans do not generally ask for referrals, it may depend on the state guidelines or requires and restrictions. Different states have different guidelines and therefore the Medicare Advantage company has to follow the states guidelines. It is always good to review the plan guidelines or ask your agent to assist you with making sure your plan does not have that requirement.

Answer: It most generally has to do with the income that you and your spouse had. With the spouse being deceased, it may throw you personally into a higher tax bracket if your income was higher. Your Part B and D monthly premium could go up if that is the case

Answer: No matter where you live in the United States or our territories, you can receive Medicare Part A and Part B. This means your basic inpatient and outpatient care will be paid for through the original Medicare program, and your coverage for Medicare parts A and B will not change if you move out of state

Answer: As a Medicare Agent, I can help you navigate through all the plans and provide personalized guidance mixed with the local knowledge of the plans and area doctors and services. I can also help you with more specialized needs and make sure that your needs will be met on whatever plan we chose. I will also be there for you 365 days a year as you need me, and I do all of this at no cost to you. Good agents are someone you can turn to with issues or questions as they come up and not just during open enrollment. Customer service is something that I pride myself on being very good at and working with my customers to help them when they need me.

Answer: Working with a local Medicare agent offers personalized service, including face-to-face interactions, in-depth knowledge of local healthcare providers, and potential for better coverage tailored to your community. However, as a remote agent for 35 different states, I work with my customers to offer convenience, access to more plan options, and potentially deeper expertise due to working with multiple carriers. I take the time to learn the area's plans and even though I am not local, I will make my customers feel like I am, and they are treated just like my local customers and stay with me year after year because they know I take care of them.