Working with Skip
Does it cost anything to work with you?
No. There is no charge for my help. Like most Medicare brokers, I'm paid by the insurance company if you enroll in a plan. A plan's premium is the same whether you enroll through me, through the insurance company, or through Medicare.gov.
Are you part of Medicare or the government?
No. I'm a licensed, independent insurance agent. I'm not connected with Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), or Social Security. For official information, visit Medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Do you offer plans from every insurance company?
No. I currently represent 6 insurance companies: Humana, HealthSpring, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Wellcare, and Devoted Health. Not every company offers every type of plan or serves every county, and I don't offer every plan available in your area. For information on all of your options, contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or GeorgiaCares at 1-866-552-4464 (option 4).
How do we meet?
Whatever is easiest for you: by phone, by video, or in person. Family members are welcome to join with your permission.
What happens when we meet?
Before we discuss specific Medicare Advantage or Part D plans, Medicare rules ask us to complete a short Scope of Appointment (in writing, or recorded on a call). It simply records which kinds of coverage you'd like to discuss, and it can be done the same day. Calls and video meetings about Medicare Advantage and Part D plans are recorded, as Medicare requires. You're never obligated to enroll, and you can end the conversation at any time.
Will you ask for my Medicare number?
Not unless you decide to enroll in a plan. You don't need it to ask questions or compare plans. Medicare won't call to ask for your Medicare number unless you called them first and asked them to call you back. Don't share it with anyone who calls you out of the blue.
Enrollment
When can I sign up for Medicare?
Your first chance is your Initial Enrollment Period. It's 7 months long: the 3 months before the month you turn 65, your birthday month, and the 3 months after. If you already get Social Security benefits, you'll usually be signed up for Part A and Part B automatically.
I'm still working at 65. Do I need to sign up?
If you or your spouse have group health coverage from a current job, you can usually delay Part B without a penalty and sign up later during a Special Enrollment Period. If the employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare usually pays first, so you generally need Part A and Part B when you're first eligible to avoid gaps. COBRA and retiree coverage don't count. Please confirm with your benefits office and Social Security.
When can I change my plan?
During Annual Enrollment, from October 15 to December 7, anyone with Medicare can join, switch, or drop a Medicare Advantage or Part D drug plan, or return to Original Medicare. Changes start January 1. If you're in a Medicare Advantage plan, you can also make one change from January 1 to March 31. Certain life events, like moving, can open a Special Enrollment Period.
Do I have to sign up again every year?
No. Your plan usually renews on its own. But plans can change their costs, benefits, drug lists, and networks each year, so it's smart to review your coverage each fall. I do this with my clients before Annual Enrollment.
Coverage
Can I keep my doctors?
It depends on the coverage. With Original Medicare and a Supplement, you can see any provider in the country who accepts Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage plans use networks, so I check your doctors before you choose.
What's the difference between Medicare Advantage and a Medicare Supplement?
A Medicare Advantage plan provides your Part A and Part B coverage, usually through a network, and most include drug coverage. A Medicare Supplement plan works alongside Original Medicare to help pay your share of costs, and you add a separate Part D plan for drugs. You can't have both at the same time.
Does Medicare cover dental, vision, and hearing?
Original Medicare doesn't cover most dental care, eye exams for glasses, or hearing aids. Some Medicare Advantage plans may include some of these benefits. What's covered varies by plan and county.
Do I need Part D if I don't take any prescriptions?
It's worth thinking about. If you go 63 days or more in a row without Part D or other creditable drug coverage after you're first eligible, you may owe a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part D.
Can I switch from Medicare Advantage to a Supplement later?
You can return to Original Medicare during certain enrollment periods. But outside your Medigap Open Enrollment Period, companies in Georgia may ask health questions before selling you a Supplement plan, and could charge more or say no. If you joined a Medicare Advantage plan when you first became eligible at 65 and leave it within 12 months, you can buy a Medicare Supplement without health questions. Other situations can also give you a guaranteed right to buy one. I can help you check.