Tamekia Mckinnie, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: The most important thing to remember is to save the password. Once you do the identification process nothing is more frustrating than to lock yourself out. Remember SSA.gov and Meidcare.gov websites look similar but you get money from one and give money to the other!!

Save both passwords. Also part B is billed quarterly if you aren’t taking your SSI yet, so prepare accordingly. It automatically comes out of SSI once you start accepting it.

Answer: The cost of health care expenses are covered for hospital, RX and doctors offices- but what about the cost of traveling, lodging, recovering and having a loved one with you? Boarding tour pets or added handicap accessible renovations to your home… when you have a lump sum of money from a Critical illness plan or Hospital Indemnity plan, then you have more money to make those things happen instead of using your savings or limited income.

Answer: Yes, there is a new Medicare benefit for turning 65 which is separate from the under 65 benefits you have in place.

Answer: Original Medicare is good coverage but it only covers about 80% of the total cost of health care expenses. This means if you had a $100k hip replacement, $20k would be your portion of that cost. If you have a need yo share in that expense then Advantage plans can offer less of that expense but it’s limited to a specific area and network. So the trade off is flexibility and its price.

Answer: During Open enrollment Oct7-Dec7 we have an opportunity to review and select coverage changes. There is a short window every year to make last minute adjustments, so YES as long as it’s done during the enrollment windows.

Answer: All of the Plans are the same because they are regulated by CMS- this means like a car: 4 wheels, engine and gas- but now which brand, and model are where the choices come in. I typically recommend which ever brand you like- if you already have other coverages with them and your want to bundle use to keep it simple for example, then we go with that one!

Answer: Medigap has a monthly premium and it built à la carte in terms of total coverage needed: dental, vision, hearing and part D so with all of these separate changes some people feel it is easier to just bring them all together- like in an Advantage plan. The calculations of Medigap balance out when considering the out of pocket expenses and deductibles of the other coverages. This just means you pay now or pay later- but may be easier to use Medigap if you are using multiple providers.

Answer: Open Enrollment is the same for everyone every year from Oct1 to Dec7. Unless there is a qualifying event to open up a SEP. however in Medigap, why would you change? This is the coverage that goes anywhere, covers the 20% expense Medicare does not, and has a predictable monthly payment…. Once you get it, it is not guaranteed you can get it again, and it is subjected to regular underwriting… my vote is to keep it unless it is truly not suitable or affordable.

Answer: Anything that is medically necessary is covered by Medicare. If you’d like to be a provider, then you would contract with the carriers and be added to their network, then you be eligible for standardized payments according to that carriers payment structure.

Answer: There is not a donut hole spending anymore. In 2026 we have a Max out of pocket spend of $2100 for the entire year.

(In most plans) If your RX is T3-T5 there is a $615 deductible that is counted in that $2100.

All other spending for the month can be evenly distributed in PPP or extra help LIS.

Answer: I think the commercials and phone agents offer a strong advertising strategy and it can confuse folks. If the clients hears they can have a over the counter card if they switch, but the client doesn’t qualify for that plan’s benefits, there is a risk that they change without clearly defining what they are treading off.

If the doctors is not accepting the plan, to me I doesn’t matter what food card benefits I might get, it will be more impactful to have a doctor you know and trust. The plan that is most suitable for one client may not be suitable for another because everyone’s money and medicines are different! Best to check!

Answer: At the beginning of every year the co-pay and deductible are reset for the new year. Where as at the end of the previous year once the spending maximums have been achieved the numbers may look different.

Answer: Medigap coverages are GI when you first become eligible, so in this case if you are enrolling in part B and dropping group then you’d be in your IEP and the answer would be yes!

Answer: Yes, every area has different plans and carriers. Everyone’s medicine and money and doctors aren’t the same it’s best not to compare side by side.