FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes and no. If you are already collecting social security, they will send you your Medicare Part A & Part B card automatically, usually about 3 months prior to your birthday month. If you are NOT collecting S.S. yet, then yes, you will need to call the S.S. office 3 months prior to your birthday month and request your card.

This is where you sit down with an agent and discuss what is important to you in a plan. Not everyone is the same. Understanding what your options are is vital. Understanding what doctors are available and what the costs of your prescription drug costs are can help determine what plan you select.

Yes, when you are traveling you have access to urgent cares and also emergency rooms. If you need to use the E.R. or urgent care while away, get treated and follow up with your PCP when you return home. And some advantage plans have in-network copays and coinsurance while you are in another state. Again, let your agent know what is important to you and what your options are so that you select the best plan that will fit all of your needs.

Absolutely! Before turning age 65, it does not matter what conditions you have. The only time where pre-existing conditions would apply is if you wanted to sign up for a supplement plan outside of your 6 month open enrollment window when you first turn 65 and first start your part B. During this time, you will be subjected to medical underwriting and if you have medical conditions, you could be denied for a supplement plan. This does not apply to advantage plans.

ZERO! Think of us as Sherpas helping you climb the Medicare mountain. We get compensated from the carriers when you enroll into a plan. Which means this costs you nothing when you are getting advice from a licensed and qualified agent or broker. It's like having a free professional coach to help you understand Medicare and select the right plan.

No. If you are still employed and want to work past age 65 and still use your employer's insurance, you can do that. This is called delaying your part B. When it comes time for you to leave your employer's insurance, you will have to show that you had credible coverage. You have your employer fill out form CMS-L564 and you fill out form CMS 40B. L564 shows that you had credible coverage and form 40B is your application for part B to start

When you first have Medicare you start off with part A & part B. This is called original or traditional Medicare. It is issued by the federal government. If you just kept part A & part B, you would be billed using deductibles and the 80%/20% rule. After paying the deductibles, the government pays 80% of your bill and you pay the remaining 20%. This can get expensive. However, if you joined an advantage plan, the 80/20 rule does NOT apply. And there is no deductibles. But if you kept the part A and part B and added a part D (PDP plan), and also added a supplement plan, then the supplement plan would pay your 20%. That is why the supplement plan is also called a Medigap plan. Because it fills in the gaps (20%) that you normally would have to pay.

It depends. If your birthday was before January 1st, 2020 and you delayed getting your Medicare plan, then the answer is yes. If your birthday is after January 1st, 2020, then the answer is no. After January 1, 2020 you now can get a plan G. The only difference between a plan F and a plan G is the part B deductible. On plan G, you are responsible for the deductible of part B which in 2022 is $233. On a plan F, the deductible was covered.

I always tell people to learn as much as you can well ahead of your time to sign up. You get your card 3 months prior to your birthday month and is the time to sign up. I advise folks to get with an agent at least 6 months prior to your birthday so that you completely understand what your options are in your area.