Why do so many seniors wait until the last minute to enroll in Medicare, and how can agents help prevent bad decisions?
Answered by 10 licensed agents
When new Medicare prospects call me, I advise them to sign up for Medicare Part B two months before their start date, so it leaves plenty of time to generate a Medicare number and start date.
A client should never be rushed to make a decision. With that said, there are deadlines and enrollment periods with Medicare that need to be followed. I advise clients to ask as many questions as needed to be comfortable with their decision. Advising on plans is my role. Deciding on plans is their's . Each enrollment is your choice for the next year. My advice, "Plans change from year to year and so can you."
Last year, I had a client, who was laid off on the last day of the month. We applied for her Part B on the last day of the month and enrolled her in the plan of her choice for the effective date of the next day. When you have been doing this as long as I have, you know how to make these things happen.
Change isn't easy in many situations. Medicare, with all it's different parts, and rules, and choices can be overwhelming. People tend to put off making decisions when they feel unsure or confused. Many people work with an independent broker because they can save you research time by being able to compare several plans side by side. They consider your personal needs, clearly present your options and help you enroll in the plan of your choice. At ABC Medicare Plans Broker we explain all the different parts of Medicare A, B, C and D. We compare a Medicare Advantage Plan to a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) with a drug card. We explain the difference in premium cost and the out-of-pocket potential expenses, the difference in extra benefits and the difference in doctor choice. This is all at no cost to the client so why not have professional guidance? I honestly don't understand why anyone would choose not to work with a Medicare Broker.
Many seniors don't know how to enroll in part B for medicare when they retire or turn 65. The government doesn't make the steps very clear. For this reason it is important to align yourself with an agent that has experience in the field. Most people don't know that your need to be starting the process of applying for medicare 3-4 months before you want it to go into effect. Because of this many seniors are rushed into a decision that they may not be comfortable with.
Some people wait because they think they will automatically enroll into Medicare without having to do anything. Automatic enrollment occurs only if you are already collecting social security retirement income. It is recommended that you meet with a local expert that can help you create a Medicare gameplan so that way it is a much smoother process.
But why they wait is their choice. Of course lot of people don't know the rules around it. So the smart thing to do is about 6 months before you turn 65 or plan to retire is start educating yourself?
There's plenty of information on YouTube that you can watch webinars and so forth that explain how social security works and how Medicare works
I believe lack of knowledge is the reason people wait. There are many tools available to assist beneficiaries. Connecting with an agent early on is the best way to be educated and have a subject matter expert at their finger tips. The Medicare Agent Directory is a great way to find a licensed professional to assist you.
It's not just seniors waiting for the last minute to sign up for Medicare, it's that they are only allotted three months prior to his/her 65th birthday, the birthday month, and two months after he/she turns 65. Anytime after that without a special enrollment event, the Medicare insurance carriers can start looking for ways not to ensure someone.
