Medicare Health Plan Advisor in Niantic
Medicare Health Plan Advisor in Niantic
  • Learn about MediCare
  • Applying for MediCare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Professional Background
  • Questions? Send a note!
  • What plans do & sign up
  • More
    • Learn about MediCare
    • Applying for MediCare
    • Medicare Advantage Plans
    • Medicare Supplements
    • Professional Background
    • Questions? Send a note!
    • What plans do & sign up
  • Learn about MediCare
  • Applying for MediCare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Professional Background
  • Questions? Send a note!
  • What plans do & sign up
Medicare-Health-Plan-Advisor-helping-individuals-Southeastern-Connecticuit

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ the

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ theSimplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ theSimplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ the

Local SS office — Call to review Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplements +  discuss the best plan for your situation! 

Call today - to talk about MediCare & your interests!

(860) 739-0005

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ the

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ theSimplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ theSimplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT + how to sign up @ the

Local SS office — Call to review Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplements +  discuss the best plan for your situation! 

Call today - to talk about MediCare & your interests!

(860) 739-0005

Steps to sign up for — MediCare & a Medicare Health Plan

When individuals turn 65 they are not automatically enrolled! Social Security (SS) regulations state a person on an employer plan can decide when to sign up! <—> SS also develops the eligibility regulations (complex) for: ● when to ● how to sign up!

I call SS's regulations for MediCare "rules" and they state — you: 

    ->  Become "eligible" for coverage the first day of the month when 65.

    -> Can sign up for Part A at anytime

    -> Can only sign up for Part B during specific enrollment periods — [This page describes the steps to take and when!]  


There are two exceptions  — A person who : 

    ->  started to receive SS benefits more than four months before 65 is automatically enrolled in Part A & B the month eligible.            

     Note: These individuals can opt out of Part B if on an employer medical plan. Thus, they do not have to pay the employer plan contribution plus Part B's monthly cost..


    ->  qualified for SS disability when under 65 becomes eligible for Part A & B after 24 months! 

Steps to sign up for Medicare

● OK — you decided to start MediCare at 65! First — call the Local Social Security (SS) office * It's — (866) 643-3401 for New London. Suggest calling two months before 65!

     * The Local office is usually better since surveys report Individuals received incorrect information when calling SS's main 800 # ! 

 

When calling the SS office tell them you want to talk to a Retirement person then ask about:

      ●  completing your application for Part B and activating Part A.  


      ● the options on how to pay your share of Part B's monthly cost. It's $170.10 a month in 2022. 

     [Note: It was $148.50 in 2021 and is projected to be lower in 2023.] 


Background on what you pay for Part B: 

     ●  Your monthly payment is 25% of MediCare Part B's overall costs across the US divided by the number of individuals participating. 

 

     ● $170.10 is the base amount in 2022,. But it will be higher if the AGI on your IRS 1040, from two years ago, is above 91k for Single  & 182k for Joint. There are five income levels above  91k, and each has a higher monthly cost!


When to start SS benefits?  SS has good info on selecting a good age to start. This summary may be useful. 


A back and forth conversation with a SS Retirement person has many advantages.  However, you can also sign up on this SS page    Note: Online sign up is:

       ● Somewhat complicated so I recommend being careful.  

       ● Not recommended when leaving an employer plan after 65!  — Call if any questions on why. . 


     Note: When the application is complete -  MediCare then calls you "entitled" [not enrolled ] to coverage under:

       ●   Part A — inpatient care in a hospital. 

       ●   Part B — medically necessary outpatient services.

 

Entitled is on your MediCare ID card above the date your Part A & B medical coverage started! 


Note: 

       ● The number on the ID card is called your  — Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI)  It's unique to you and:

     -  ● Has —  4 upper case letters & numbers  —  3 more —  and 4 more.   

       ● Does not use letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z to avoid confusion with numbers such as “0” and letter “O”. 


There is a picture of the ID card  on this page and info explaining the new style ID card.


Beware of the — Buy a Medicare Health Plan TV ads — they don't follow MediCare rules + are misleading!

Local TV has a lot of ads for Medicare Advantage plans with Celebrity spokesman saying —  call to get these better "new benefits"!  But:

●  Plans with the benefits mentioned are only available for lower income individuals eligible for MedicAid!

 ●  The ads do not follow Medicare marketing rules requiring ads to be focused such as  —  call if you will soon be eligible for MediCare! They cannot imply anyone can call!     

   

   Note: The link to the page in red has factual  information on the two types of Medicare Health plans, the sign up rules, and the times people can sign up  — called federal enrollment periods 

 

Another ongoing ad about retirement mentions Medicare and says -  Buy their Medigap plan!  [a Medicare Supplement]  But: 

●  This companies plan is not approved in CT! 


In the months before 65 lots of Medicare Health Plan brochures come in the mail: ● Call today —>>> To discuss, the plans in New London County and the words, you saw in a brochure or on line, which are confusing!

A survey of individuals over 65 found:

    - > 29% do not understand Medicare Advantage Plans

    - > 23% do not understand Medicare Supplements 

    - > only 48% said enrollment was easy. 


 Another survey found ― 55% of people report being confused!


Tip:  Call John C Parker at (860) 451-9793. [Google Voice #]   — If you have questions about how:  

   ● MediCare works 

   ● the sign up periods work!      

         Note: Calling is just a commitment to talk to John - not to enroll!


Medicare-sign-up-after-65-answers-assistance

OK — SS rules for individuals over 65 and covered by an employer plan — say you can sign up for Part B at any time and not have to pay Part B's late enrollment penalty if these steps are followed:

● First — If currently covered by your or spouses employers medical plan — or were in past 63 days — you will be eligible for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

 

Second  — Call the Local SS office — ask to talk to a Retirement person. Tell them the date you will be leaving employer coverage and you want to:

● Start Part B at that time. 

      -> FYI. They will also activate Part A but it will be backdated six months from the date you get for Part B.


● Discuss options to pay your monthly cost for Part B [$170.10 in 2022 ] :

     ->  it's deducted from SS when receiving benefits.


     [Note: Part B is projected to be lower in 2023.] 


Third  —  To confirm you had employer medical coverage your employer has to complete a CMS-L564 which you take to SS to implement the SEP. 

      ->  You can also find CMS-L564 on this link.   

     ->  You can also get the application for Part B, CMS-40B on this link. 


When the CMS-L564 is signed and returned to SS it:

     ->  confirms you have medical coverage and approves your SEP.

     ->  means you avoid B's late enrollment penalty 

 

BTW — If you did not have employer medical coverage you can't just sign up for Part B when you want! <—> Federal regulations limit sign up times when past 65 to these periods.   

OK! After signing up MediCare calls you "entitled" to ● Part A — for hospitalization ● Part B — for outpatient services.

Let's look at  — what you would pay for treatment/services if just using Part A & Part B! (called original Medicare) 


MediCare — does not pay MDs or other outpatient providers 100% of the approved amount for the treatment or services they provide!  


Let's look at  — how MediCare's system works — It:

     ● Reviews all medical treatments and services and  "assigns" ** an approved amount for each. 

     ● Asks MDs and other outpatient providers, who agreed to participate, to accept just 80% of the approved amount. Thus, providers have to accept "assignment".

       **  Discounted, often deeply, from retail! 


Thus, if you were to just use "original Medicare" and go for  —  any:

  ●  Outpatient treatments or services you pay 20% of the amount MediCare's approved!   You also pay, at the beginning of each year, Part B' deductible —  It's $233 in 2022. 

     Bottom line — so many medical treatment and services are outpatient today so paying 20% could quickly be a Big Risk to your income & savings! 


  ●  In hospital treatment: When admitted Part A's coverage is very extensive and MediCare pays all medically necessary treatments / services —  You would be responsible to pay Part A's deductible each time admitted. It's $1,556 in 2022.

Call (860) 451-9793 - - Whatever time you need will be available! Calling means you want to talk but are not committing to enroll

OK! Paying 20% for a lot of outpatient treatments would be very expensive! How TO COVER this Big Risk?

Buy one of the two types of special medical related insurance which I call — Medicare Health Plans!  Buying this special financial protection is like —  putting up an umbrella over your income & savings! 

    Note: If you don't buy — all the bills for your 20% share will come in the mail like a rain storm!


These two red links take you to information on each type and how they work with the MediCare system when you have medical treatment / services:

● Medicare Advantage Plan in New London CT or a  

● Medicare Supplement in CT 


There are options for different level of coverage in each to meet your situation / interest / budget.

 

Medicare-Health-Plans-control-treatment-expenses-give-peace-mind

OK — many people hope a change in health won't happen and wonder — is a "Medicare Health Plan" really needed?

It would be nice to not have a change in health —  but in every life we know: 

    ● No one can say an accident won't happen!

 

   ● The possibility of an illness with complex treatment is high, which means paying 20% for all outpatient treatment   =  significant costs!   


What that means —  because of what may happen in your life it's important —  to buy  either a:  

        ->  Medicare Advantage (MA) Plan approved for New London County 

        ->  Medicare Supplement approved in Connecticut 


When you own either option it: 

+ +  protects your income & savings from big expenses 

+ +  puts you in control 

+ + provides peace of mind which is priceless! 

     Note: You can change your Medicare Health Plan once a year and a Med. Supp. can be changed at any time! 


Whether you'll soon be 65  — or planning to leave an employer plan after working past 65 call/text John C Parker's Google Voice today  (860) 451-9793) 


In calls & eMail we can:

    ● Review your situation / interest / budget and which type will be best! 

    ● Meet or talk to increase understanding of plan details and how they work in our area. 

          Note: Whatever time you need will be available to help you. 

          > I am told this is a big Help!

    

   ● Meet again after you think about what will be best for your situation to sign up!


Then too it's OK to say  — now is not the right time! 


You can also send questions to me about signing up for a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Supplement: 

    ● Using the form below or

    ● To   — John@MedicarePlansSECT.com  


John-Parker-professional-Medicare-Health-Plan-Advisor

John C Parker, a professional MediCare insurance Advisor and Broker based in Niantic. His focus is to simplify the Medicare Plans available to individuals in Southeastern CT, review options to meet their situation, and help them select and enroll in the best plan. < - - > John is licensed in CT (# 644135 ) and does not solicit or sell in other states.

Have Questions on MediCare or Health Plans?

Feel free to use the form below to send questions about < - - > signing up for MediCare or < - - > the benefits in a Medicare Health plan. Sending this form means you consent to have John contact you to just talk not to enroll!. < - - > John is an independent broker, not connected with, nor endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. < - - > He developed the information on MedicarePlansSECT.com to help individuals better understand the parts of Medicare, how Medicare Health Plans work, and to encourage (solicit) individuals in Southeastern CT interested in a Medicare insurance plan to contact him.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Medicare Health Plan Advisor in Niantic

38 Hope St, Unit 1312, Niantic, CT 06357-2454, US

(860) 739-0005

Join Our Mailing List

Connect With Us

Content on Medicare-Health-Plans-Southeastern-CT is © 2018 to 2022 by John C Parker, RHU, LTCP - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by GoDaddy

  • Learn about MediCare
  • Applying for MediCare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Professional Background
  • Questions? Send a note!