Joshua Allen, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: Yes, you can get a Medicare Supplement with Guaranteed Issue if losing your employer coverage. This means that you are not required to answer any questions about your health history when you apply.

Answer: Original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage is the most important decision that you will make about Medicare. In short, Original Medicare is best suited for people that want to maintain the most control over where they go for their medical care because Original Medicare has no network. With Original Medicare you can go to any provider that takes Medicare without needing a referral. Medicare Advantage plans package together hospital, medical, prescription drug, and usually additional benefits like dental, vision and hearing. In my opinion, Medicare Advantage plans are best suited for individuals that are seeking the best bargain on their health plan. For an in-depth analysis, it is best to have a conversation with a licensed insurance agent.

Answer: Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount: Life-Changing Event (Form SSA-44) can be used to reduce or eliminate the additional premium adjustments charged to those with higher income. There are 8 Life-Changing Events: Marriage, Divorce/Annulment, Death of Your Spouse, Work Stoppage, Work Reduction, Loss of Income-Producing Property, Loss of Pension Income, and Employer Settlement Payment. If you have one of these events that results in a reduction of income, this form will reduce or eliminate the IRMAA immediately rather than waiting for it to happen automatically 2 years later.

Answer: Yes, Medicare plans and requirements can differ by state. White Original Medicare (Parts A & B) has the same cost and coverage nationwide, Medicare Supplement (Medigap) policies have state specific plans and requirements. Moreover, Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans are specific to your county of residence, so Medicare Advantage plans not only differ by state, but they also differ by county.

Answer: We have a computer system that compares Medicare Advantage plans for our customers. By inputting the doctors' names into the system, we can show you which plans the doctors are in-network with. It is important to note that provider networks with Medicare Advantage plans do change, but the Original Medicare program has no-network.

Answer: We have found that it is best to break down the "Road to Medicare" in 4 easy steps:

Step 1: Do I need to sign up for Medicare? Not everyone signs up for Medicare when they turn 65. This depends on the other insurance options available to you.

Step 2: If yes, how and when do I sign up for Medicare? It is important to not mess up your Initial, Special, or General Enrollment Period because you could be unnecessarily paying penalties for the rest of your life!

Step 3: Deciding between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. There are 2 fundamentally different ways to get your Medicare benefits. This decision will have a major impact on your cost and coverage details moving forward.

Step 4: Picking an insurance company. An independent insurance agent can comparison shop plans from multiple companies to get you the best fitting plan.

If you follow these 4 steps, the "Road to Medicare" will be safe and pleasant!

Answer: Medicare Part B covers many preventive services with no cost-sharing if you meet certain criteria and see a Medicare approved provider. Free preventive services include:

-"Welcome to Medicare" Initial Preventive Visit

-"Wellness" Visit Annually

-Screening for many cancers, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, etc.

-Vaccinations such as Flu shots, COVID-19 vaccines, Hepatitis B shots, and Pneumococcal shots

-Counseling for alcohol misuse, tobacco use prevention/cessation, and obesity behavioral therapy

Services that you may still pay for:

-Diagnostic Services (If a preventive screening leads to the need for further testing or treatment, you may be responsible for a portion of the cost depending on your Medicare plan)

-Services from providers that do not participate with Medicare.

-Services not covered by Medicare.

Answer: The shingles vaccine is covered by Medicare Part D. You will be responsible for the out-of-pocket expenses that are specific to the Medicare Part D plan you are enrolled in. Medicare Part D is the prescription drug portion of Medicare.

Answer: Experimental treatment or investigational device being tested in trial is typically not covered by Medicare. However, Medicare does cover routine costs associated with qualifying for clinical trials, but not the investigational treatment itself. These costs include doctor's visits, hospital stays, diagnostic texts, and medical care related to side effects. To know if Medicare will cover a specific service, it is best to communicate directly with the provider of that service. For example, to know if Medicare will cover a diagnostic test, it is best to ask the provider of that diagnostic test.

Answer: Yes, Medicare covers nutrition counseling to manage diabetes. This is known as medical nutrition therapy (MNT).

Answer: The 3 most common mistakes I encounter with Medicare are:

Mistake # 1: Improper Enrollment (Messing up your Initial, Special, or General Enrollment can result in unnecessary penalties for the rest of your life. Don't do it!)

Mistake # 2: Bad Plan Selection (You need to understand the difference between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage then comparison shop multiple plans available to you in your area.)

Mistake # 3: Not Doing Periodic Reviews (Plans change annually and your circumstances change constantly. It is important to review your coverage regularly to ensure that you are on the correct plan.)

Answer: Helping people with Medicare since 2003 has been incredibly rewarding. We have developed an easy 4 step process for Medicare:

Step 1: What parts of Medicare should you enroll in?

Step 2: If yes, how and when to enroll in Medicare properly.

Step 3: Deciding between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage.

Step 4: Picking an insurance company.

Our customers enjoy our easy 4 step process because it is a pain free experience that results in the proper selection and enrollment into Medicare.

We have the privilege of helping people with Medicare every day!