Medicare Explained in 10 Minutes!
As of this post, March 25th, 2020 I could not see people in person for 2 months! Normally I see you face to face at your home, a restaurant, library, my house or wherever. I have been going to meet with people since the lockdown was lifted. I wear a mask and keep my distance. If that is not suitable I will talk to you on the phone, zoom or skype, or communicate via e-mail and text. But just to get things started, this is pretty much my explanation of how it all works as you go ON Medicare. As mentioned, I do have my cheat sheet, which I normally leave with people after explaining things, as it helps you “see” how it all works. Again, this is just a starting point, to help you start to understand the wonderful and confusing world of Medicare. Reach out to me directly at (717) 468-0130.
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Medicare Explained in 10 Minutes
Had Enough of Joe Namath Yet?
WOW! There was probably a million TV commercials about Medicare during Open Enrollment this past Fall, and I think Broadway Joe was in half of them!
You probably saw more than I did, as I was working 15 hour days in October, November and December, but I heard about it at appointment after appointment. You may have wondered, “What is he talking about? You don’t get all this stuff for free!” And you weren’t about to call an 800 number to find out!
He was referring to Medicare Advantage Plans. Medicare Advantage is Part C of Medicare. It can be considered somewhat of a replacement for Original Medicare, as Medicare itself does not process your claims, the INSURANCE company you signed up with does. As such, the insurance company decides what your out of pocket costs for hospital and medical services will be. Rather than deductibles and co-insurance, like Original Medicare, many Advantage plans have fixed costs for services in the form of co-pays.
“But Joe says everything is FREE!”
I think the idea behind the ads was to get the specific attention of those whose income is low enough to qualify for a particular segment of Medicare Advantage Plans, ones geared for those on Medicaid as well as Medicare. Those with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level for their household size may be eligible for a “Dual Eligible” plan, in which case, many services are at no cost. This may include a fair amount of dental, vision and hearing coverage at little or no cost as well. I’ve been told that only half of the individuals who would qualify for such a plan, actually have one…so the insurance companies are aggressively reaching out to this segment of the Medicare population.
By calling the 800 number to see, “IF YOU QUALIFY,” it opens the door for the agent on the other end of the line to not only see if you fit the strict guidelines for a Dual Eligible plan, it allows them to offer many, many other options to you IF YOU DON’T QUALIFY.
I have nearly 900 clients on a Medicare Advantage Plan. And it’s true, most do not pay a premium for their plan. (probably 90% of my Advantage plan clients pay ZERO premium). They still have to pay for Part B of Medicare, which is $144.60 a month in 2020, but no additional cost for the plan.
Medicare Advantage is one of the main “paths” to take when you are on Medicare. The other main path being Medigap, the insurance that supplements Original Medicare. When I meet with clients, we talk about both approaches. There is no single “right path” that fits everyone. But which one is right for you? I don’t know! That’s why we get together and figure it out!
I don’t have an 800 Number. I have a local number. (717) 468-0130.
And the only thing I can promise you for FREE…is my time. You’ll never pay me anything. And I come to see you. Plus I’ve done it probably 4000 times, so I can’t guarantee a Super Bowl victory, but I feel safe guaranteeing I know what I’m talking about, and a safe bet I know more than Joe Namath!
Did You Google Me?
What’s one of the first things you do when you want to learn more about a person, place or thing? Go to the internet and see what you can find out!If you were expecting a super duper slick and fancy website, sorry! I’m just a simple guy who does one thing, all day, every day…meet with people to explain Medicare itself, and the options that are available with it. I use this blog to introduce myself, give a little bit of info about Medicare, and just try to show you I’m a regular sort of guy.
My Favorite Medicare Myth!
There are many myths about Medicare, or maybe just misunderstandings. My favorite, or probably just the one I hear most of all is:
“You have to sign up for Medicare 3 months before your 65th birthday, or you get penalized!”
Oh boy, where do I begin to debunk this myth? As long as you have “creditable” coverage elsewhere, typically from your own employment or your spouse’s employment, there will never be a penalty for signing up for Medicare later, even well past your 65th birthday. So, you do not have to sign up for Medicare. Not even Part A, the “free” part.
When you are approaching the age of 65, you’re mailbox gets stuffed with promotional offers about Medicare Insurance Plans, like Medigap Supplemental Insurance, Medicare Advantage Plans and Prescription Drug Plans. (None are as informative, clever and humorous as mine, of course) The funny thing is, none of these mailings are from Medicare, unless you are already collecting Social Security. That’s right! If you are not yet collecting your monthly retirement benefit from Social Security, you will not receive a single thing in the mail from the Government, telling you what you have to do (or don’t have to do) regarding Medicare! Weird, right?
Myths are widely held beliefs, or false ideas. Medicare has been around for over 50 years. I don’t know who started this one, but it’s spread around for decades, “You have to sign up for Medicare 3 months before your 65th birthday, or you get penalized!” There CAN be a penalty, it’s just that few people end up owing it. If you wait to enroll in Medicare past age 65, for every 12 month period you did not have Part B, and did not have creditable coverage, you will pay 10% more for Part B for the rest of your life. But, as previously stated, the likely reason to delay taking Part B, is because you DO have creditable coverage.
And…NO…you do NOT have to let Social Security or Medicare know that you are NOT going on Medicare at 65.
If you are still puzzled by what you HAVE to do with Medicare as you are nearing 65, call me (717) 468-0130, call Medicare (1-800-MEDICARE) or call Social Security (1-800-772-1213).
The Joy of a Colonoscopy!
Oh what a blast it is turning 50! I hit the big 5-oh back in December. Three days after my birthday I had foot surgery to remove a planters wart from the ball of my left foot. Now, 6-7 weeks later it finally feels as good as new. This ends nearly 6 months of nagging pain with this stupid wart. But that’s another story.
One of the things recommended for anyone turning 50 is to have a preventive colonoscopy. I had a sigmoidoscopy done about 10 years ago, and that’s a completely different violation of the human body which can only be experienced to fully understand. There is no pain with the colonoscopy, the discomfort is in the “prep”. And I might also add, a liquid diet the day before the procedure no party, even though I could have milkshakes all day!
The day before your procedure and the morning of your procedure, you must chug a quart of liquid that tastes like, and has the thickness of, lemon fresh Joy dishwashing liquid. My brand was called MoviPrep. It is almost comic in its efficiency. About 45 minutes after the first 8oz gulp of this goop you think a volcano is going to erupt in your belly. And it does. Many times over the next hour. Then peace reigns, until assault part 2 begins the next morning!
After part 2, your colon is picked cleaner than Cindy Lou Who’s house on Christmas Eve after the Grinch got done with it! By the time I was in Ephrata Hospital ready to be wheeled into the OR, I couldn’t wait to be put under by the anasthesia, because I was so insanely hungry I pondered eating my own fingers!
God only knows what kind of jokes the doctor and staff are cracking while the roto rooter is trolling your intestines, because you are OUT. I remember rolling over on my side and then waking up in recovery about an hour later.
They found polyps, as they did 10 years ago. Almost 4 weeks since my colonoscopy and I haven’t heard anything about the diagnostics on the polyps. I’m mildy concerned about the polyps themselves, more concerned about the bill! Because I checked with my insurance carrier before the procedure. As a “screening” it’s at no cost as a provision of health care reform. However, if they find polyps, it’s diagnostic and the free part is thrown out the window. Or so I’m told, we’ll see. I will report on it when I see it.
Did I mention I got my AARP card?
Ephrata Girls U12 Soccer G-Force!
Another season of soccer has come and gone. The “G Force” was 2-5 with a 3rd place finish in the Season ending festival. In a show of team solidarity they all sprayed their hair with purple and gold paint and sparkles, then added some face paint with Gold E’s and their jersey number on their cheeks. Earlier this week we had fun at our last practice by dressing up and being silly.
Ephrata Girls U12 Fall 09Ephrata Girls U12 Funny FaceEphrata U12 Girls Soccer HalloweenEphrata Girls Soccer U12 Wacky Wednesday
Ephrata Girls U12 Halloween Practice
Amish Mass Transit? Bikepooling?
I was out and about going to Open Houses in and around Ephrata on Sunday and I found myself behind this group. It’s like 6 Amish women on some sort of bicycle built for as many. It looks like they could generate a pretty decent amount of speed. Keep in mind, it’s about 2 pm, 90 degrees and super humid, I’m sweatin in shorts and a golf shirt. Maybe the secret to keeping cool is wearing an all cotton apron dress!
Missing Person in Ephrata!!!
IT’S ME!!!
See the post below about my doctor visit. I haven’t been to Mickey D’s in 4 weeks!
A (yard) Wasted Weekend
Oy! My aching back! I trimmed the low hanging branches of a couple of hemlock trees in my backyard on Saturday and Sunday. Trimming was the easy part. Bagging the sh$! up was the hard part. I filled 24 40 gallon yard waste bags. Good’s Disposal will need to send a fleet just for us.
Saturday afternoon the manual labor was pleasantly put on hold, as Lori and I attended a reunion of her first team from Biggest Loser. No one was counting calories at this bash!
Sunday was more man against yard. Call it a draw. I visited 5 Open Houses in Ephrata, to see what’s for sale in town. Still a buyer’s market my friends…giddy up.
Kate and Nathan played Guitar Hero for approximately 9 hours. Kate only quit to watch the Jonas Brothers marathon on Disney. Lori gleefully escaped the noise to go to work. I napped through some of it, but honestly can’t recall Sunday night cuz my back and bones still ached.