Paid Advertisement Ask the Medicare Specialist by: Aaron Zolbrod Before I get into the question, I want to say how happy I am to be once again running Ask the Medicare Specialist in the Trib. It will appear every Sunday on Page C2. The columns are designed to help educate those already or soon to be on Medicare. Unfortunately, with all the television advertising, phone calls, solicitations in the mail, choosing a plan that meets one's needs as far as coverage, cost, access to doctors and care, can be overwhelming. Medicare plan advertising and sales tactics have also become extremely deceptive, especially in the past two or three years. The goal of Ask the Medicare Specialist is to enlighten people on all the facets and intricacies of Medi- care, to help clear up the confusion and make sure seniors don't fall victim to bad advice or misleading information. QUESTION: Question from Deb: I turn 65 in December. What steps do I need to take to enroll in Medicare? I'm already getting all kinds of advertisements in the mail. It's overwhelming. How do people possibly decide what plan is best for them? Answer: I'm going to answer your second question first. People come see us Deb. We've been helping people take the confusion out of Medicare for over 15 years and have more than 10,000 active clients. There are 10 licensed, trained, and experienced agents at The Health Insurance Store who are brokers, appointed to provide Medicare Supplement, Advantage, and Part D prescription plans from every competitive company on the market. We only care about what's best for each individual that reach es out for guidance and advice. Too many agents in this field worry only about their paychecks and it angers me. Just this morning, before I fin- ished this column, I met with a mar- ried couple who had some serious health conditions and were given the absolute wrong advice. The wife has a condition that requires infusion twice a year that she may need for the rest of her life and cost thousands of dollars each year. Had she met with us and got the correct advice, those treatments would not have cost her anything. Zero. As far as what steps people who are turning 65 like Deb need to take depends on if they're collecting Social Security or not. Those who chose to collect prior to age 65 don't need to do anything. Social Security will automatically mail out a Medicare card with both Parts A and B about 100 days prior to the month they turn 65. Deb will get her card mid-August if she's already collecting. If she's not yet collecting, an application for Medicare needs to be completed. The easiest way to do that is online at ssa.gov, Social Security's website. You need to create an account if you don't already have one. Once that's done, Google "apply for Medicare only," ANSWER: click on Social Security's link, and then just follow the directions. It's pretty user-friendly from there. We can help those who aren't con- fident on the computer or online with this process. For those who are unaware, all our services and consultation are always no cost. An application can be made 90 days prior to the month you turn 65 and the first day of that month is when your Part A and B will go into effect. Deb, for example, can apply as early as September 1st for a December 1st Part A and B effective date. Many people work past age 65 or are married to someone who does and get their health insurance through an employer. Those who do should contact us to see if they can opt out of Part B. I estimate that 75% of people in this situation should opt out because it makes more financial sense. However, there are others who can't opt out due to the size of their employer or because the cost of staying on an employer plan and/or the amount of medical bills one is exposed to is higher than what it would be to en roll in Medicare and a Supplement or Advantage Plan. Those who do opt out almost always should enroll in Part A only, however. Again, con- tact us so we can make 100% sure that's the best move. the desired Part B effective date. And again, try and to begin as soon as possible. There are several things that can go wrong, and it also takes close to 30 days to receive a new Medicare card. Once the new card has been received, the last step is to get educated about Medicare and the differences between Supplements versus Advantage Plans and then make a choice in plan(s). It is critical to understand the ins and outs, the pros and cons of the two types of Medicare insurance that help limit out of pocket medical bills and prescription costs. Failure to comprehend this and making the wrong choice can have lifelong con- sequences like the couple I referred to earlier in the column is dealing with. We have a 3-page Medicare presentation or 101 guide, so to speak, that's easy to follow and understand. We go over that with every single prospective client, answer questions, ask questions, listen to their wants and needs and then guide them to the plan or plans that fit best. We also evaluate if they qualify for any programs like PACE that helps pay for prescription drugs, Extra Help sponsored by Medicare that can lower premiums and drug costs, Patient Assistance Programs that are funded by drug manufactures, and others that can save our clients thousands of dollars a year. Upon retirement, people who've opted out of Part 8 have a different process. If it's more than 7 months past one's 65th birthday, a form needs to be filled out by the em- ployer who supplied the insurance. That then needs to be delivered to Social Security and I highly recom- mend doing that in person at your closest office, where the application for Part B can also be completed at the same time. This process can also be started three months before 724-603-3403 Connellsville 412-349-8818 Forest Hills The Health >> Insurance Store.r No-cost, unbiased Medicare plan review and consultation with local, licensed agents If you have questions regarding this column or any other Medicare related topic, give one of the offices a call, visit our website, or reach out to me personally via email at aaron@getyourbestplan.com. Thanks for reading everyone! Email your question to: aaron@getyourbestplan.com www.getyourbestplan.com Paid Advertisement Ask the Medicare Specialist by : Aaron Zolbrod Before I get into the question , I want to say how happy I am to be once again running Ask the Medicare Specialist in the Trib . It will appear every Sunday on Page C2 . The columns are designed to help educate those already or soon to be on Medicare . Unfortunately , with all the television advertising , phone calls , solicitations in the mail , choosing a plan that meets one's needs as far as coverage , cost , access to doctors and care , can be overwhelming . Medicare plan advertising and sales tactics have also become extremely deceptive , especially in the past two or three years . The goal of Ask the Medicare Specialist is to enlighten people on all the facets and intricacies of Medi care , to help clear up the confusion and make sure seniors don't fall victim to bad advice or misleading information . QUESTION : Question from Deb : I turn 65 in December . What steps do I need to take to enroll in Medicare ? I'm already getting all kinds of advertisements in the mail . It's overwhelming . How do people possibly decide what plan is best for them ? Answer : I'm going to answer your second question first . People come see us Deb . We've been helping people take the confusion out of Medicare for over 15 years and have more than 10,000 active clients . There are 10 licensed , trained , and experienced agents at The Health Insurance Store who are brokers , appointed to provide Medicare Supplement , Advantage , and Part D prescription plans from every competitive company on the market . We only care about what's best for each individual that reach es out for guidance and advice . Too many agents in this field worry only about their paychecks and it angers me . Just this morning , before I fin ished this column , I met with a mar ried couple who had some serious health conditions and were given the absolute wrong advice . The wife has a condition that requires infusion twice a year that she may need for the rest of her life and cost thousands of dollars each year . Had she met with us and got the correct advice , those treatments would not have cost her anything . Zero . As far as what steps people who are turning 65 like Deb need to take depends on if they're collecting Social Security or not . Those who chose to collect prior to age 65 don't need to do anything . Social Security will automatically mail out a Medicare card with both Parts A and B about 100 days prior to the month they turn 65. Deb will get her card mid - August if she's already collecting . If she's not yet collecting , an application for Medicare needs to be completed . The easiest way to do that is online at ssa.gov , Social Security's website . You need to create an account if you don't already have one . Once that's done , Google " apply for Medicare only , " ANSWER : click on Social Security's link , and then just follow the directions . It's pretty user - friendly from there . We can help those who aren't con fident on the computer or online with this process . For those who are unaware , all our services and consultation are always no cost . An application can be made 90 days prior to the month you turn 65 and the first day of that month is when your Part A and B will go into effect . Deb , for example , can apply as early as September 1st for a December 1st Part A and B effective date . Many people work past age 65 or are married to someone who does and get their health insurance through an employer . Those who do should contact us to see if they can opt out of Part B. I estimate that 75 % of people in this situation should opt out because it makes more financial sense . However , there are others who can't opt out due to the size of their employer or because the cost of staying on an employer plan and / or the amount of medical bills one is exposed to is higher than what it would be to en roll in Medicare and a Supplement or Advantage Plan . Those who do opt out almost always should enroll in Part A only , however . Again , con tact us so we can make 100 % sure that's the best move . the desired Part B effective date . And again , try and to begin as soon as possible . There are several things that can go wrong , and it also takes close to 30 days to receive a new Medicare card . Once the new card has been received , the last step is to get educated about Medicare and the differences between Supplements versus Advantage Plans and then make a choice in plan ( s ) . It is critical to understand the ins and outs , the pros and cons of the two types of Medicare insurance that help limit out of pocket medical bills and prescription costs . Failure to comprehend this and making the wrong choice can have lifelong con sequences like the couple I referred to earlier in the column is dealing with . We have a 3 - page Medicare presentation or 101 guide , so to speak , that's easy to follow and understand . We go over that with every single prospective client , answer questions , ask questions , listen to their wants and needs and then guide them to the plan or plans that fit best . We also evaluate if they qualify for any programs like PACE that helps pay for prescription drugs , Extra Help sponsored by Medicare that can lower premiums and drug costs , Patient Assistance Programs that are funded by drug manufactures , and others that can save our clients thousands of dollars a year . Upon retirement , people who've opted out of Part 8 have a different process . If it's more than 7 months past one's 65th birthday , a form needs to be filled out by the em ployer who supplied the insurance . That then needs to be delivered to Social Security and I highly recom mend doing that in person at your closest office , where the application for Part B can also be completed at the same time . This process can also be started three months before 724-603-3403 Connellsville 412-349-8818 Forest Hills The Health >> Insurance Store.r No - cost , unbiased Medicare plan review and consultation with local , licensed agents If you have questions regarding this column or any other Medicare related topic , give one of the offices a call , visit our website , or reach out to me personally via email at aaron@getyourbestplan.com . Thanks for reading everyone ! Email your question to : aaron@getyourbestplan.com www.getyourbestplan.com