Robert Loyd, Medicare Insurance Agent
Robert Loyd
Local Medicare Agents
Medicare Agent Licensed in CA
Contact Details
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Location
Fresno, CA
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Phone
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Website
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About Me
Our goal is to help people understand the Medicare landscape so they can make the right choices for their healthcare. We do all things Medicare.
Q&A with Robert Loyd
Why not just call the insurance carrier directly?
Answer: This will get you the same coverage that you would get from an independent agent. You will pay the same and have the same coverage, but you will be missing the help you are likely looking for. Many people will call a carrier and expect some level of neutrality. The health insurance carrier owes you absolutely no unbiased opinions. Their reps are paid to sell their product only, whether it's a good fit for you or not. An independent agent works for the customer. Our goal is to find what is best for your needs and circumstances and support you not only in enrollment, but with navigating issues, benefits, and many of the nuances people know a corporation will not provide. The fear people have of brokers is that they will get forced into a plan that isn't a good fit and that individual will disappear after. This could be said for calling the carrier as well. You will likely never talk to the same rep twice, and the company won't take responsibility for any falsehoods the original person said.
An independent agent who has some sort of social proof (recommendation from friends, providers, online presence, an office, ect.) and who focuses on educating you (not telling you what you need) will want to be found by you again since they are looking to service their customers and build a business on their reputation. If the agent you find checks some or all of these boxes, you will be in good hands.
What is the Medicare Advantage (Part C) Open Enrollment period?
Answer: This is another enrollment period available only to individuals who are currently enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. It allows them to make one change between January 1st and March 31st. We like to think of it as a "redo" after the Annual Enrollment period that comes at the end of the year. You get one opportunity to make a change during this time and you will have to keep that plan you change to until the next annual enrollment period at the end of the year.
Does Medicare part A and B cover urgent care office visits?
Answer: Yes, Original Medicare will cover urgent care visits under your Part B of Medicare. Part A would be for all hospital visits.
I chose Original Medicare to keep my doctors, but now I'm drowning in bills. Should I have gone with Advantage instead?
Answer: Many people make this choice under the guidance of the staff at their doctor's office. Depending on your health and circumstances, you may be eligible for a Supplement plan that would have paid for many of the bills you are receiving. If you don't qualify, then yes an advantage plan may have helped with those bills, but you may not have gotten the same care. If your concern was keeping your doctors then an Advantage plan may or may not have been able to do that depending on networks available in your area. With a good agent you would have been able to review that scenario before having received care to help plan ahead.
Many providers like Original Medicare because there are no restrictions on the care they want to provide but they also fail to take into consideration the 20% that will be left for you to pay. Your needs, both medical and financial should be considered. Find a local agent in your area who may be able to see if you qualify for a Supplement (aka Medigap) or review Advantage options, depending on your circumstances.
An agent asked me to sign a scope of appointment for before we could discuss my Medicare insurance or part D plan. What is an SOA? Is this normal? Are call centers exempt from this practice?
Answer: This is very normal. Medicare requires agents to collect a SOA when scheduling an appointment and it has to be collected 48 hours before the appointment. The goal of a SOA is to give the client control over what products are specifically discussed at the appointment to prevent agents from trying to sell and discuss products you are not interested in.
Call centers are technically not exempt but a SOA is not required for an inbound call. They usually will transfer you to an agent so you would be an inbound call for the agent, therefore removing the requirement for a SOA.
In what situations will Medicare pay for medical services in a foreign hospital?
Answer: Medicare covers foreign hospital only when that hospital is closer than any other U.S. option. Typically this will be for "emergency" level services only. Urgent care and walk in clinic services will not be reimbursed. Lastly, foreign hospital is covered in Canada when a medical emergency happens when travelling on a direct route though Canada when headed to Alaska.