Toni Chavez, Medicare Insurance Broker
Toni Chavez
Clients Choice Insurance Services
Medicare Broker Licensed in AZ, CA, NM, NV and UT
26+ Years of Experience
Contact Details
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Location
Maricopa, AZ
Toni Can Help With:
About Me
I’m Toni Chavez, a licensed independent Medicare broker based in Arizona. I help people turning 65—and those already on Medicare—understand their options and choose the right plan with confidence. As a local, no-cost resource, I offer honest guidance, personalized support, and plan comparisons from top carriers. I’m also RSSA® certified, so I can help you see how Social Security and Medicare work together.
Q&A with Toni Chavez
I picked the plan with the lowest premium, but now every doctor visit feels like a surprise bill. Should I have gone with a higher premium instead?
Answer: Thanks for your question!
I can give you a yes or no response but what I can recommend is talking to a broker who represents the plans in your county. They can compare plans, doctor ls and medications and recommend what is the best for your situation.
Most consumers don’t realize when you call an 800# you will only get the plans for that carrier.
As a broker our services are no cost, and our main job is to make sure we are doing a needs analysis with each client. If you have an agent and they aren’t doing this yearly you have the wrong broker.
Always remember if you sign up for a plan during annual enrollment (Oct 15 - Dec 7) you can switch your MAPD during open enrollment (Jan 1 - Mar 31). I always advise my client that switch plans to try it out for 60 days and if it’s not working we can switch you before March 31st.
Why are seniors losing Medicare Advantage plans?
Answer: Hello,
I’m not sure I understand your question.
If you’ve lost your MAPD plan it may be the carrier is no longer offering that plan in your area. We did see a lot of this for 2025
Plan year.
I always suggest looking out for your Annual Notice of change (AOC) to keep informed of your specific plan changes.
If you have a broker we normally notify our clients when these things are going to occur way ahead of time.
What are my Medicare options if I move into a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)?
Answer: Thanks for your question!
Your Medicare options stay the same when you move into a CCRC, but the plan that works best for you might change depending on how the facility delivers care. It’s important to make sure your Medicare coverage lines up with how the CCRC provides services so you don’t run into unexpected costs or limited access to care.
Here are a few things I always recommend
Ask the CCRC before moving.
Which Medicare plans work best here?
Do your in-house doctors take
Medicare Advantage plans?
Look over any agreements closely.
Some CCRCs include certain services in your monthly fee, but that doesn’t mean Medicare won’t still be needed for things like hospital or skilled nursing care.
What's the most important question I should be asking about Medicare that I probably haven't thought of yet?
Answer: This is a reflective question not knowing what’s been reviewed with you thus far I’ll do my best to answer.
I would ask if you are still traveling what’s covered in network vs out of network if your looking at a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C)
I always recommend work with a license broker who will advocate and guide you not only on initial enrollment into Medicare, but for future years to come. Plans could
change every year as well as your health as you get older.
Independent brokers represent the client, not the company which allows us to guide you based on your situation in an unbiased approach.
Our services are no cost to any Medicare beneficiary. We get paid directly from the carrier for the plan we place you in so we are incentivized to make sure we do needs analysis.and recommend the plan. That makes the most sense for your situation at the time of enrollment..
What's a red flag in a phone call that it might be a Medicare scam targeting my personal info?
Answer: Thanks for your question.!
I would say if you receive a phone call and that Kaller asked for your Medicare number Social Security number or banking info within the first five minutes of the phone call that’s a red flag for me. I recommend looking for a local broker and you reach out to them directly. That way you know you’re dealing with a professional licensed individual that can help you with your Medicare..
Most beneficiaries don’t realize Medicare brokers offer advice, guidance, and expertise to simplify Medicare at no cost to you.
I'm on Medicare but recently declared bankruptcy due to medical bills. How will this affect my coverage and options going forward?
Answer: Thanks for your question!
This should have any affect
On your medicare Part A & Part B.
Just remember you must always keep these active.
You may or may not know this if your running into financial hardship there are several programs available to medicare eligible beneficiary depending on income that’s can help lower drug costs and deductibles. Also medicare Savings Program can help you Part B.
I recommend speaking to a licensed broker who can guide you on the available programs.
What is Guaranteed Issue for Medicare Supplement plans, and when does it apply?
Answer: Thanks for your question!
Guaranteed issue applies to a Medigap policy. It means the insurance company has to accept you cannot deny you due to health conditions - no underwriting required.
1. Your Medigap Open Enrollment Period
• Starts the month you turn 65 and are enrolled in Part B
• Lasts for 6 months
• During this window, you have full GI rights to buy any Medigap plan sold in your state (not just certain ones)
2. Losing Other Coverage (Qualifying Events)
You get Guaranteed Issue rights if:
• You lose employer group coverage (including COBRA)
• Your Medicare Advantage plan leaves your area, ends coverage, or you move out of the service area
• You drop a Medicare Advantage plan or Medigap to try something else, but switch back within 12 months (Trial Right)
• Your current Medigap insurer goes bankrupt, commits fraud, or misleads you
Hope this answers your question!
I recommend speaking to a licensed broker who can answer and guide you with Medicare. Our services are no cost.
I'm confused about all these different Medicare costs - premiums, deductibles, copays. How do they all work together?
Answer: Thanks for your question!
Yes, this can be very confusing and I’ll simplify it the best I can.
If you have a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), there’s a max out-of-pocket limit — once you hit it, the plan covers 100% of your approved medical costs for the rest of the year.
What counts toward it: things like copays, coinsurance, deductibles, ER visits, hospital stays, and specialist visits.
What doesn’t count: your monthly premiums, prescription drug costs, or extras like dental and vision.
If you have a PPO plan out of network may have a seperate out of network Max out of pocket.
Your max out of pocket for prescription drugs for 2025 is $2,000.