Medicarebob

   Application fees are simply a specified amount of money required to even enter the underwriting process. Most insurance carriers charge an application fee, not all of them, but most of them do. They run anywhere from $7.00 to $25.00. You would only have to pay the application fee if you are approved of the policy. If you are not approved of the policy, you will not have to pay the application fee. If you are just starting Medicare, you will be automatically approved for a Medicare Supplement policy so you would have to pay the application fee.  If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages:    Website - https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/ Podcast - https://anchor.fm/MedicareBob Twitter - https://twitter.com/MedicareB YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

   You do not have to medically qualify for Original Medicare. Everyone who is 65 or older is entitled to Medicare Parts A and B without having to medically qualify. If you are under 65 and have been on disability for two years or more, you are also eligible for Medicare.  In order to purchase a Medicare Advantage Plan, there is only one medical question that you must answer to qualify which is “Do you have End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)?” If you do have ESRD do not be discouraged; there are special plans that Medicare offers to seniors who have ESRD, however you will not have access to the open market Medicare Advantage Plans available to others.  As far as a Medicare Supplement (Medigap), everyone has the opportunity to get a Medicare Supplement when they first turn 65, or when they first start Medicare Part B, without having to medically qualify. This is called your Open Enrollment Period and it begins 6 months before and ends 6 months after your 65th birthday or your Medicare Part B st

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G for a female, ages 65 through 71, in Richland County, South Carolina (zip code 29044). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier. 

   There is no such thing as a “zero premium” Medicare Supplement plan. If you see any plans advertised as being “zero premium” those are not Medicare Supplements but Medicare Advantage plans, and they are not “zero premium”. The way a Medicare Advantage plan works is the premium you would pay to Medicare Part B, is now paid to a private insurance carrier instead of Medicare. You are still paying for those plans. It is important when choosing between these two plans that you know the differences. Summary of a Medicare Advantage Plan:  · A Private Company provides a health plan that you will use instead of using your traditional Medicare. · Low monthly premium · Requires you to pay some bills when you use the Plan. You will have copays, co-insurance and sometimes a deductible. · You have to go to certain Doctors, Hospitals and other Providers. (HMO / PPO) · Has a max out of pocket for your protection. Once you have paid a certain amount, the plan will pay the rest of your healthcare cost. For 20

   Medigap Insurance, also known as Medicare Supplement, is an insurance plan that can assist you in paying for some of costs that Medicare Parts A and B doesn’t pay. Original Medicare doesn’t cover all of your medical costs, it only pays 80%. You are required to cover the remaining 20% but there is no cap or max-out-of-pocket for that 20%. Without Medigap Insurance (Medicare Supplement) you are left fully exposed to that 20%.  The way that a Medicare Supplement works is you would stay with Original Medicare and keep it as your primary coverage. You keep your right to go to any doctor or any hospital in the country that accepts Medicare. You would continue to pay Medicare’s Part B premium ($135 for 2019). The Medicare Supplement would charge an additional premium; the premiums vary and can run from $80 to $150 depending on the plan and its coverage. In return, that Medigap plan (Medicare Supplement) will fill the holes to Medicare or fill in the gaps. It will pay the bills that Medicare doesn’t

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 through 75 in Charleston, South Carolina (zip code 29426). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier.&nb

   Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers cardiovascular screening blood tests, such as tests for cholesterol, lipid, and triglyceride levels, once every 5 years. You pay nothing for the tests if your doctor or other qualified health care provider accepts Medicare assignment. Your doctor or other health care provider may recommend that you get services more often than Medicare covers. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. However, if you have a Medicare Supplement, it will cover the cost of the screening depending on what plan you have.  If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages:  https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/ https://anchor.fm/MedicareBob https://twitter.com/MedicareB https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 through 70 in Spartanburg, South Carolina (zip code 29301). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier.&n

   Medicare does not cover Dental therefore, none of the Medicare Supplement Plans cover them either. However, the Medicare Supplement carriers (such as Mutual of Omaha, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Central United Life etc.) have heard the cry for dental care and are now offering separate dental plans and dental discount plans to fill this need for coverage.  Our office can help you find a dental plan that works for you. Please visit this link: https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/faq-friday-dental-vision-and-hearing-plans/  If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages:  Website - https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/MedicareBob YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w?view_as=subscriber

   In order to qualify for Medicare while on disability, you must be on disability for at least two years before you can qualify. Once you have been on disability for two years, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A and B, even if you’re under 65 years old, and you will receive your Medicare card in the mail.  Another more common circumstance is people being awarded disability but they get it awarded backdated and they will receive a large disability check and they will be enrolled in Medicare and have their Medicare start date backdated as well to when they first applied for disability.  In some states you can purchase a Medicare Supplement plan while on disability under the age of 65 however, it is going to be more expensive than someone that is 65 and on Medicare. Most people will start with a Medicare Advantage Plan and then after they turn 65, when they get their second Open Enrollment period, they will be approved to upgrade to a Medicare Supplement.  If you have

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 through 75 in Georgetown, South Carolina (zip code 29442). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier.&nb

   Medicare Supplement Plan N is also called Medigap Plan N. Medicare Supplement Plan N is a great option for people that want the benefits of having a Medicare Supplement Plan, however want to keep a lower monthly premium. Since the Medicare Supplement Plan N has a lower premium than the Plan F and G, it does cover less. There are only 4 out of pocket costs that the Plan N requires you to pay compared to the Plan F or Plan G.  1. The Part B Deductible (The deductible for 2019 is $185.00) 2. Up to a $20.00 primary/specialist copay. You will not be billed this at the time of service but sent a bill in the mail 3. $50.00 ER copay. If you are admitted to the hospital, that $50.00 fee will be waived. Again, if you do have to pay this, you will not pay it at the time of service. You will receive a bill in the mail from the hospital.  4. Part B Excess charges and this is when the doctors are allowed to charge and additional 15% over and above what Medicare has approved. (NOTE: Part B Excess char

   If you defer your Medicare and start it after you turn 65, for example you were still working and had coverage through your employer or your spouse was still working and you had coverage through their employer, to avoid any future penalty you must prove that you had creditable coverage through you or your spouse’s employer.  There is a form that you can get from Social Security to have your employer fill out that proves that you had creditable coverage and were still working. After this form is filled out and given to Social Security, you can apply for Medicare Part B and get your Medicare Supplement coverage underway.  However, there is an extra step when it comes to your Medicare Part D for your medications. When you sign up for your Part D drug plan, around 3 weeks later when you get your policy there will include a form that can be somewhat intimidating. It will state that you will have a penalty on your premium because you started your Medicare Part D late unless you have creditabl

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 through 75 in Whitmire, South Carolina (zip code 29178). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier. 

   Medicare Part A and B does NOT cover transportation. Some Medicare Advantage Plans will cover a certain number of rides per year to take you to the doctor, hospital or other medical facilities but that is an additional benefit. There is also a very limited scope of what you can use those services for.  However, that may change in the future. Uber and Lyft are pitching an idea to Medicare and CMS (Center for Medicare Services) that they should be able to provide transportation as part of Medicare benefits or additional Medicare Advantage Plan benefits. Nothing has been set in stone but it’s a win-win situation for all parties. Uber and Lyft get government funding so they get paid and you are able to have transportation provided to you and it’s covered under your healthcare. The idea is that Medicare beneficiaries are provided a certain benefit amount ($1000 for example) a year and they can use that towards a ride from Uber or Lyft. As we said, nothing is set in stone but it is a very exciting

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 through 75 in Great Falls, South Carolina (zip code 29055). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier.&n

   Medicare does not cover acupuncture, therefore none of the Medicare Supplements will cover acupuncture. Medicare is the decision maker in Medicare Supplement coverage because Medicare is the primary coverage between the two. If Medicare doesn’t cover the service, the Medicare Supplements can not cover the service. Always be sure to consult your doctor or Medicare before having a service done to avoid any unnecessary bills or charges.   If you have any questions regarding Medicare, please give our office a call at 1-855-368-4717 or visit one of our pages:  https://www.seniorhealthcaredirect.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MedicareBob/ https://twitter.com/MedicareBob https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_avKva4VN0DBEgjP7I43w 

   It is a well-known fact that it is almost impossible to find a decent dental, vision or hearing (DVH) plan after the age of 65 and it is imperative to have this type of coverage, especially after the age of 65. These are some statistics from the National Institute of Dental Research Joint Dental Report 2009 and EyeCareAmerica.org. Just to give you an idea of how badly people need DVH coverage:  · 92% of adults 20 to 64 have had dental problems in their permanent teeth. · 26% of adults 20 to 64 have untreated decay. · Only 57% of the total population have dental coverage. · “Lack of insurance” is the most commonly cited reason for not visiting the dentist. · 62% of adult population in the United States uses prescriptive eyewear, only 48% have a vision exam every year or less. · The number of visually impaired people likely will double by 2030 according to VisionWatch. · 1 out of 4 children have vision problems. · Men are more likely than women to report having hearing loss. · Among adults age

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 and 70 in Clarendon County, South Carolina (zip code 29001). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier.&

   This Rate Watch Wednesday is focused on Medicare Supplement Plan G, for a male and female, ages 65 and 70 in Ashburn, Virginia (zip code 20147). As I have said before, Medicare Supplement plans are all Federally regulated by the government. There is no reason for anyone to pay more for their Medicare Supplement Plan G with one carrier over another because the letter of the plan dictates the coverage, not the carrier. You are not getting any additional benefits by paying more. That’s why it is important to shop your Medicare Supplement coverage every year, and we can help you with that.  You may ask, “Why do these companies charge different prices if they are all the same?” That’s a great question. Carriers have different administrative costs and they have different profit goals. There’s tons of different reasons why these big companies charge different prices. What you need to know is, just like in your Medicare book, Medicare Supplement Plan G is the same with every carrier.  If you ha