Paid Advertisement Ask the Medical Specialist by: Aaron Zolbrod QUESTION: Question from Janelle: I got a Medicare Advantage HMO when I turned 65 this past October. I didn't realize until I began reading your columns that I likely won't be able to go on a Supplement down the road because I have a pre-existing condi- tion. I'm very upset that wasn't explained to me when I originally applied. Is there anything I can do? ANSWER: now more than 50 HMO and PPO plans to choose from You can still make a change plements down the road. to a Supplement without having your medical his- tory considered, but time is of the essence. During what is known as the Medi- that govern the ACA, also gap Open Enrollment you have three months prior to, and six months after your Part B effective date to and talk with one of their choose any plan letter you employees are probably not limited network, or a com- want, A through N, regard- going to be given the Sup- less of your current or previous health conditions. be told about underwriting. vantage Plans pay between During this time all com- panies must accept your application. For those who Plans pay agents for some- doctors and hospitals. have any number of condi- one new to Medicare Part B One other item of note. tions including but not limited to; heart disease, lymphoma, kidney issues, Supplements or discourage companies. They all have insulin dependent diabe- tes, COPD or Emphysema, one of the many reasons to guidelines and ask dif- Auto Immune disorders, and Atrial Fibrillation, it's provided at The Health vital to take advantage of the one and only Medigap give advice based on com- Open Enrollment they will missions. In fact, ever have. Unfortunately, there's no regulation this be disclosed in Western PA and only a prior to enrolling in an Ad- handful that we advise our vantage Plan and the laws clients to consider. Most of the others, we feel, are known as Obamacare, don't either overpriced, have apply here. Those who call a company directly higher hospital co-pays, larger Maximum Out of Pocket (MOOP) limits, a bination of the four. 99% of our clients who have Ad- plement option, let alone And because the initial commissions Advantage $0 and $50 and all offer network access to UPMC are the largest in the indus- We do business with sev- try, many skip explaining eral different Supplement them. different underwriting utilize the no cost services ferent medical questions. Some want your history Însurance Store is we never from as far back as the day you were born, others five years ago, and some only I estimate that 20% or more two. None require a physi- of the people we meet for the first time are advised to a client who was told by choose another option such another agent he wouldn't as COBRA, HOP for retired qualify due to his health. I public-school teachers, cal, however. I recently had There's another opportu- nity for those who missed their Open Enrollment. But again, time to change one's mind and move to a Supplement with no medi- TRICARE or CHAMP VA, cal underwriting is limited. Advantage Plans for retired I would like to make one People in Janelle's situa- tion, new to Medicare and whose initial selection was We've proudly counseled an Advantage Plan HMO or thousands who have access your plan. Don't assume PPO, have up to 12 months to these and other plans for you can't make a change. to move to a Supplement using what is known as Guarantee Issue (GI), when that in no way am I anti- again, one's medical his tory can't be considered in Advantage Plan. Quite the the length of time you've determining eligibility. The have almost 3,000 clients only difference between Open Enrollment and GI is can offer outstanding value Medical services that had companies can limit your choice in plans and most don't offer Plan N to those such as comprehensive with GI rights or Plan G to dental. However, those those who turned 65 prior to 2020. found a company that ap- proved him right away. steel workers, or UMWA for retired coal miners. last point. Don't ever as- sume anything when it comes to Medicare and free. Don't assume your plan is "the best" simply because the name on the card or I want to remind readers had it. Don't assume your benefits are the same today opposite. We currently on HMO's and PPO's. They as they were years ago. in terms of lower premi- ums and ancillary benefits you originally chose your co-pays of $40 to $200 when plan could now cost thou- sands. who have the conditions I mentioned previously must any Medicare related topic With questions regarding Janelle mentioned it wasn't have a clear understand- explained that due to her pre-existing medical conditions she would likely Medicare Advantage and be denied access to Sup- ing of underwriting and the differences between or to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation, please call one of our office locations or visit us online. Supplements. There are The Health Insurance Store. 724-603-3403 Connellsville 412-349-8818 Email your question to: aaron@getyourbestplan.com Forest Hills www.getyourbestplan.com No-cost, unbiased Medicare plan review and consultation with local, licensed agents Paid Advertisement Ask the Medical Specialist by: Aaron Zolbrod QUESTION: Question from Janelle: I got a Medicare Advantage HMO when I turned 65 this past October. I didn't realize until I began reading your columns that I likely won't be able to go on a Supplement down the road because I have a pre-existing condi- tion. I'm very upset that wasn't explained to me when I originally applied. Is there anything I can do? ANSWER: now more than 50 HMO and PPO plans to choose from You can still make a change plements down the road. to a Supplement without having your medical his- tory considered, but time is of the essence. During what is known as the Medi- that govern the ACA, also gap Open Enrollment you have three months prior to, and six months after your Part B effective date to and talk with one of their choose any plan letter you employees are probably not limited network, or a com- want, A through N, regard- going to be given the Sup- less of your current or previous health conditions. be told about underwriting. vantage Plans pay between During this time all com- panies must accept your application. For those who Plans pay agents for some- doctors and hospitals. have any number of condi- one new to Medicare Part B One other item of note. tions including but not limited to; heart disease, lymphoma, kidney issues, Supplements or discourage companies. They all have insulin dependent diabe- tes, COPD or Emphysema, one of the many reasons to guidelines and ask dif- Auto Immune disorders, and Atrial Fibrillation, it's provided at The Health vital to take advantage of the one and only Medigap give advice based on com- Open Enrollment they will missions. In fact, ever have. Unfortunately, there's no regulation this be disclosed in Western PA and only a prior to enrolling in an Ad- handful that we advise our vantage Plan and the laws clients to consider. Most of the others, we feel, are known as Obamacare, don't either overpriced, have apply here. Those who call a company directly higher hospital co-pays, larger Maximum Out of Pocket (MOOP) limits, a bination of the four. 99% of our clients who have Ad- plement option, let alone And because the initial commissions Advantage $0 and $50 and all offer network access to UPMC are the largest in the indus- We do business with sev- try, many skip explaining eral different Supplement them. different underwriting utilize the no cost services ferent medical questions. Some want your history Însurance Store is we never from as far back as the day you were born, others five years ago, and some only I estimate that 20% or more two. None require a physi- of the people we meet for the first time are advised to a client who was told by choose another option such another agent he wouldn't as COBRA, HOP for retired qualify due to his health. I public-school teachers, cal, however. I recently had There's another opportu- nity for those who missed their Open Enrollment. But again, time to change one's mind and move to a Supplement with no medi- TRICARE or CHAMP VA, cal underwriting is limited. Advantage Plans for retired I would like to make one People in Janelle's situa- tion, new to Medicare and whose initial selection was We've proudly counseled an Advantage Plan HMO or thousands who have access your plan. Don't assume PPO, have up to 12 months to these and other plans for you can't make a change. to move to a Supplement using what is known as Guarantee Issue (GI), when that in no way am I anti- again, one's medical his tory can't be considered in Advantage Plan. Quite the the length of time you've determining eligibility. The have almost 3,000 clients only difference between Open Enrollment and GI is can offer outstanding value Medical services that had companies can limit your choice in plans and most don't offer Plan N to those such as comprehensive with GI rights or Plan G to dental. However, those those who turned 65 prior to 2020. found a company that ap- proved him right away. steel workers, or UMWA for retired coal miners. last point. Don't ever as- sume anything when it comes to Medicare and free. Don't assume your plan is "the best" simply because the name on the card or I want to remind readers had it. Don't assume your benefits are the same today opposite. We currently on HMO's and PPO's. They as they were years ago. in terms of lower premi- ums and ancillary benefits you originally chose your co-pays of $40 to $200 when plan could now cost thou- sands. who have the conditions I mentioned previously must any Medicare related topic With questions regarding Janelle mentioned it wasn't have a clear understand- explained that due to her pre-existing medical conditions she would likely Medicare Advantage and be denied access to Sup- ing of underwriting and the differences between or to make an appointment for a no-cost consultation, please call one of our office locations or visit us online. Supplements. There are The Health Insurance Store. 724-603-3403 Connellsville 412-349-8818 Email your question to: aaron@getyourbestplan.com Forest Hills www.getyourbestplan.com No-cost, unbiased Medicare plan review and consultation with local, licensed agents