William Scott, Medicare Insurance Broker

Answer: I enjoy the fact that I can share my knowledge about Medicare and the Carriers that offer Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans that can accomodate pretty much anyone's specific needs.

Answer: Not so much as "Free". In fact we're encourged to not use the word "free" in our presentations about health plans offered by carriers. There are plans available that are of "no cost" to consumers and then there are others with limited cost. It all depends on what an indiviual would qualify for.

Answer: Private insurers play a significant role in covering more preventive care. Most Private insurers offer preventive care at no cost to its members.

Answer: The easiest route is to confirm with youre current carrier offers a plan identical to or similar to what you currently have.

If your carrier does not service your new county or zip code, you would want to consider consulting a Medicare Advantage and Supplement Broker in your new county to see what similar plans are available.

Your coverage could change slitght more or significantly less depending on the zip code and county you're relocating to.

Answer: The Medicare plan you and your Agent or Broker chose will determine what preventive screenings are covered. Most preventive screenings ar covered at no cost to you. There may be differences depending on what state you reside in.

Answer: Medicare is available to all those American citizens that are eligible. To my knowledge, there hasn't been any current evidence concluding that young Americans currently enrolled are improving or hurting the program.

Answer: Most people that purchase Medigap policies purchase them based on on their comfort level and desire to not be bothered by costs when they visit their primary doctor or if they travel a lot, prefer the convenience of knowing they can see any doctor that’s accepts Medicare in the country.

Paying one flat fee per month is all they wish to deal with during their busy lives.

The best time to purchase a Medigap policy is when you become eligible. If you wait to purchase it outside your eligibility, you’re just adding extra unnecessary costs to your budget.

Answer: Not necessarily. Baby Boomers have worked and paid into the system as well as a hidden group of immigrants that have worked and paid into the system that they may or may not be eligible for.

Answer: Absolutely! Drug payment plans are by far the mose inexpensive way to make sure all of your prescriptions are available in the health plan that you're currently in and you can be assured your Primary Health Provider will make sure the Generic Brands are accessible if Name Brands aren't.

Medicare.gov will always be your best resource to compare all prescriptions brands, generics and their costs.

Answer: No. Medicare being privatized puts us all at risk of high prices and limited availability. When there is no competion on cost or availability we run the risk of being at the mercy of one entity to serve the entire Medicare community that cosists of approximately 53 million out of 67 million people that are currently enrolled in Medicare.

The demand on certain drugs vs. where they need to be distributed and how often itself raises our annual cost factors even higher.

Answer: Medicare Supplements are known as Medigap plans. They are also sometimes referred to as Secondary Insurance.

Answer: The best way to avoid suprise bills for lab tests from your Medicare Advantage plan is:

1. Speak with your Medicare Advaqntage Agent/Broker to get a full understanding of what co-pays you are responsible for prior to having medical procedures.

2. Get a full understanding from your Primary Care Doctor and/or Specialist what lab procedures are expected in the near future.

3. Contact your Medicare Advantage carrier and confirm the co-pays you are responsible for future procedures explained by your PCP and/or Specialist.

Answer: That question is best answered by the Medicare Advantage carrier you're currently with. Most annual wellness visits are at no cost to the consumer, however its best to review your co-pay schedule with the Agent/Broker that recommended the Medicare Advantage plan to you.

Answer: To place yourself with an advantage over dental coverage, its usually best to purchase a dental plan long before you need it- especially in your later years. So when your later retirement years arrive, you have immediate access to thousands and your monthly premium is low.

There are a variety of Medicare Advantage plans available that offer different converage levels with $-0- or minimum co-pays. This is where a Medicare Broker like me can review and advise you on the advantages and disadvantages of plans available in your area.

Answer: Consider consulting with a Medicare Advantage Broker that can advise you on and compare what plan(s) address you need(s); that's accepted by your PCP and Specialist(s) and offer affordable prescription drug coverage in your budget.

Answer: Know what plans are available in your area or consult with an experiecned agent that's familiar with the market you live in.

Answer: Deciding not to get a prescription drug plan when they become eligible for one based on the fact they've never taken a prescription drug in the past and therefore believe they'll never have to in the future.

Answer: Who or when you decide to get married does not affect your relationship with Medicare. Your membership is based on the 40 quarters or more you paid into the system and your benefits only apply to you.

Answer: Great question! As a Medicare recipient you have choices.

Option A- Using Medicare Parts A and B to pay for your hospital and medical related bills in the future using Medicare’s formula of 80%/20% split. Medicare pays 80% you would be responsible for the remaining out of pocket (OOP) of 20%, and purchase a separate Prescription Drug Plan, or

Option B- After being granted Medicare Parts A and B. Choose a Medicare Advantage plan offered in your area that will help manage your Medicare by adding additional benefits and services that will help keep you healthier with annual Preventative exams, teeth cleanings, eye, ear and vision exams with minimal copays and in most cases $-0- cost to you.

A seasoned Broker can review a variety of plans in your area that competing carriers offer. To assist you further, Brokers have the ability to reveal each plan’s 5-star rating that help you determine the Medicare Advantage plan that’s right for you.

The best plan is the one that will address all in not most of your needs and piece of mind.

Answer: Great question! Medicare addresses the most expensive healthcare feature a person would need.

Insurance carriers work closely with doctors and pharmacists to offer cost effective measures with ancillary benefits like dental, vision, hearing and built-in low cost prescription drug plans that will assist consumer in living healthier lives, which equates with preventing unnecessary hospital stays.

The two work hand-in-hand in keeping Americans living healthier lives.

Answer: Yes! Most Medicare Advantage plans have bone density tests and other health screenings under their Preventive Care listings. Check with your Broker to see if your Medicare Advantage plan carrier offer this service at no cost to you.

Answer: It’s a win-win feature for the consumer and their doctors! The $2,000 Max Out of Pocket means that the most any Medicare consumer will pay as a copay will never exceed $2,000 annually.

Answer: Contact your local Social Secuirty office and request a replacement. Make sure you have your SSI number, your new Medicare ID number, the home address where your most recent card was sent and your current address.

Answer: The Agent/Broker or Telesales Agent that assited you should have reviewed your list of regular Specialists and made sure all of your physicians were in your Insurance Carrier's Network.

You have until the end of the Open Enrollment Period which is March 31st of each year to chose either to keep the new plan you're in and find new Specialists that are in Network, or return to the plan you had or a new plan that all of your Specialists are in Network.

Answer: There are a number of options.

My first option would be to meet them in a comfortable setting, either at their home or a library and revew a short video on Medicare 101, or

for their convenience, I would email a list of common word definitions and phrases and test their level of understanding and answer any questions they might have, or

Give Medicare 101 Handouts and review them and answwr questrions, or

work with whatever learning tools that suits them best that will assure their understanding.

Answer: Forgetting to ask for the enrollee's PCP's name. address and phone in advance. Or when you find out a Specialist they have is not in Network with the Carrier that offers the plans that are excited about.

Answer: Mainly cost. In the long run, Medigap plans are great for those that are on the go frequently and can afford and keep up with a separate prescription drug plan, dental and vision plan year after year and the potential increase in cost.

However, to be competative, most Medicare Advantage plans offer -$0 premiums monthly, buit-in dental & vision plans and prescription drug plans. A seasoned Broker can provide a low cost Indemnity Plan that can cover all future copays and Out Of Pocket expenses and more.

In the long run, the best plan is the one that's right for you! Give me a call.

Answer: Getting only Medicare Part A or only Part B when enrolling. When you become eligible, Seniors should consider enrolling both at the same time.

Answer: The most Seniors wiil ever pay throughout the entire year is $2000. Members can contact their Insurance Carriers and ask to pay for their prescription copays on a monthly basis if they chose to.