Vernon Douglas, Medicare Insurance Agent

Answer: Agents do not charge to help clients enroll, they are paid by the insurance company if you choose to enroll.

Answer: While all medicare plans have to cover all the benefits of Original Medicare, the amounts of coverage and what you pay in terms of copays and coinsurance can vary from plan to plan. Also, the "Extras" that Medicare doesn't cover like some dental, vision and hearing benefits will vary based on your location and the plans offerings.

Answer: Maximum Out-of-Pocket or (MOOP) are a yearly total of all medical cost you pay out of your pocket during the year from copays, deductibles or coinsurance for medical expenses. It is not a deductible you have to pay before the insurance company starts paying.

Answer: Medicare coverage is individual coverage and will not be affected if you get married. However, Medicare does have a premium so if your income increases substantially you could pay a higher premium and may not qualify for certain programs that could decrease your medical and prescription cost. You can check Medicare's website at medicare.gov for income guidelines.

Answer: A Medicare Supplement or Medicare advantage plan will usually cover 80% of the cost for oxygen equipment and you pay 20% while a Part D drug plan will cover any number of medications your will need like some kind of inhaler usually at a Tier 3 cost, whether that is a flat copay or a percentage will depend on the plan.

Answer: The vast majority if not all Medicare plans have options for chronic pain support in the way of therapy or Care management teams or both. The level of care will depend on the plan you select.

Answer: If you are diagnosed with a chronic condition you have a one time Special Enrollment Period, SEP throughout the year to join a Chronic plan if one is available in your area. In my experience Chronic plans can be more costly to use than a lot of core plans that are already available.

Answer: While all Medicare plans have to cover chronic kidney disease, not all doctors accepts all plans. The best plan for someone with that condition is the plan with the lowest Maximum out of Pocket that your provider accepts. The Maximum out of Pocket or MOOP, limits the amount of money you can be charged in a given year.

Answer: In my opinion healthcare is big and complicated with lots of moving parts. Even with digital information in place, most people will pick plans based on who has the lowest premium without any idea how the plan works or even if your doctor accepts the plan. You don't have to pay a broker to shop for you to help find the best plan for you. You can't replace the value of an in person consultation.

Answer: You shouldn't, instead you should work with a Medicare broker who is not dedicated to sell for one company but is certified to sell for many different companies. A broker can shop for the lowest cost plans for you as an individual based on doctor networks and prescriptions.

Answer: Every Part D plan formulary has to have a drug for each therapeutic category but the drugs they carry can differ in cost and availability. The only way to know for sure is to go to each plans website and look it up or find a broker who is certified to sell with multiple companies to check for you.