Zachary Swiger, Medicare Insurance Broker
Zachary Swiger
Missouri Local Insurance Advisors
Medicare Broker Licensed in MO
Contact Details
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Location
Sedalia, MO
About Me
My name is Zachary Swiger. Me and my wife, along with our children, reside in Central Missouri. My area of service primarily centers around the area we live in Central Missouri, where I help individuals transition into Medicare and navigate the Health Insurance Marketplace. However, I am happy to help anyone, anywhere in the state of Missouri.
Q&A with Zachary Swiger
How do I know if my prescriptions will cost more next year?
Answer: It is always important to do an annual review of your coverage this is where you will discover these changes. You can consult your insurance company, Medicare.gov, or your Local Insurance Broker. The insurance broker is my preferred option because they not only can tell you what's changing with your policy, they watch the market and can tell you if there is an option that covers your medications more than your current insurance.
I am planning out my mothers Medicare and long term care and it is quite stressful. What is some advice to make this process more manageable?
Answer: This type of planning can be stressful for sure. Fortunately, there are people who do this everyday for a living. Seek out a trusted LOCAL insurance broker and rely on their expertise, they are professionals in this field and their services don't cost you a dime. I would not do my own electrical work in my house; I would hire an electrician, this same concept applies to insurance, a lot of people try it on their own and end up messing things up.
What happens if my dad’s income changes? Can his Medicare plan or costs change too?
Answer: Income changes can affect some costs associated with Medicare. If you have a small income you can apply for Medicare Extra-Help which is a program that gives a Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) to qualifying individuals. A change in income can also lead to a change in LIS level, meaning premiums and copayments can change as well. For individuals that don't qualify for LIS, slight income changes don't affect much. If you have a large income or have a large increase in income it can lead to and increase in Medicare Part B Premiums.
I’ve talked to a few Medicare agents near me already, and everyone seems to push something different. How do I know you’re genuinely looking out for me and not just trying to make a sale?
Answer: This is the tricky thing about working with a Medicare Agent, you can't tell if they are genuine or just trying to make a sale. Medicare agents do get paid by commission so making sales is important for them. I ALWAYS recommend using someone local who has an office you can visit, these are the ones plugged into your community and it actually matters that their clients are satisfied. I NEVER recommend doing business with agents who are only willing to communicate over the phone, unless you know them and meeting in person is not realistic due to logistics.
Are Medicare Advantage plans really "free," or is that just clever marketing?
Answer: Medicare Advantage plans are not FREE. A large amount of Medicare Advantage plans have no monthly premium (the amount you pay monthly for coverage), but you must still pay the premium for Medicare Part B. Though some Medicare Advantage plans do not have a monthly premium, you may have other cost sharing responsibilities such as co-pays and deductibles.
What are the reasons why I should work with a Medicare agent?
Answer: Working with a Medicare Broker such as myself can be beneficial because we represent you, our clients, with the insurance companies. Year over year we can evaluate your plan, help you find the most appropriate coverage and you don't lose your 'Insurance Guy' when you change policies or companies. We provide FREE expert advice in a field that is complicated, we do this every day which means we know what to look for and what questions to ask in order to find the most appropriate coverage, some of these things often get overlooked by individuals who make plan selections on their own.
With the supplements being so expensive in climbing in price every year, what is your take on hospital indemnity policies added with advantage policies?
Answer: Hospital Indemnity policies are a great option to pair with Medicare Advantage plans to help pay some of the higher financial risks, such as hospital stays, associated with Medicare Advantage plans. Do be mindful that even though Hospital Indemnity plans help pay some of those large costs associated with Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage plans aren't right for everyone and it is important to consider network requirements and other factors before making a change.