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!
  • More
    • Learn about MediCare
    • Applying for MediCare
    • Medicare Advantage Plans
    • Medicare Supplements
    • Professional Background
    • Questions? Send a note!
  • Learn about MediCare
  • Applying for MediCare
  • Medicare Advantage Plans
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Professional Background
  • Questions? Send a note!
Medicare-Health-Plan-Advisor-helping-individuals-Southeastern-Connecticuit

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS!

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS! Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS! Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS!

Call today —  to meet & review Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplements +  enroll, when can, in the best plan for you! 

Certified by all Medicare Advantage companies in New London County and the six of nine Prescription Drug Plan companies, which work with insurance professionals!

(860) 739-0005

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS!

Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS! Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS! Simplifying MediCare for individuals in SECT & how to sign up at SS!

Call today —  to meet & review Medicare Advantage & Medicare Supplements +  enroll, when can, in the best plan for you! 

Certified by all Medicare Advantage companies in New London County and the six of nine Prescription Drug Plan companies, which work with insurance professionals!

(860) 739-0005

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

Turning 65? You are not automatically enrolled! <—> When you work past 65 and are covered by your employer's plan Social Security (SS) regulations state <—> you can decide when to sign-up! <—> SS also develops the eligibility regulations (complex) for: ● when to ● how to sign up!

I call the SS's regulations for signing up for MediCare "rules". They state — you: 

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

    ->  Can sign up for Part A after 65 at anytime

    ->  Can only sign up for Part B during specific enrollment periods — [link to this page to learn about the steps to take to sign up !]  


Two exceptions to the above basic rules — A person who : 

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

     Note: Individuals receiving SS benefits who turn 65 can opt out of Part B if on an employer medical plan. Thus, do not have to pay the employer plan contribution plus Part B's monthly cost..


    ->  is under 65 and qualified for SS disability becomes eligible for Part A & B after 24 months of receiving benefits! 

Turning 65 soon or leaving an employer plan? Lets meet to review signing up!! Call John's Google voice - (860) 451-9793
Steps to sign up for Medicare

● OK — you decided to start MediCare at 65! The First Step — call the Local Social Security (SS) office * in New London. It's — (866) 643-3401 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 Part B monthly cost. It will be $164.90 a month in 2023. 


Some background on paying a share of Part B's overall costs: 

     ● Your $164.90 share is 25% of MediCare Part B's overall costs across the US divided by the number of individuals covered by Part B. 

 

     ● 2023's $164.90 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  the base 91k,. Each level 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 about signing up has many advantages.  


You can also Sign Up — On-Line — on this SS page    However, it's:

       ● 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 and coverage is available -  MediCare then calls you "entitled" [not enrolled ] tor:

       ●   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! 


The number on your ID card is called your MBI: 

       ● The Medicare Beneficiary Identifier has:

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

       ● To avoid confusion with certain numbers and letters it does not use the letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z to eliminate confusion between letters and numbers such “0” and letter “O”. 


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


The misleading — Buy a Medicare Health Plan TV ads from marketing companies have started again. Why? We are now in the Jan through Mar 31 Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period.

Marketing organizations, not individual Medicare Advantage companies, are also runing Medicare Advantage plan ads on Local TV since many individuals are turning 65 each month:


Medicare's marketing rules for ads in the MA OEP and most of the year state the ad should be focused e.g. say   — call if you will soon be eligible for MediCare, are moving, over 65 and leaving an employer plan! 


Ads are not to imply anyone can call - but they still do!  


Note: Medicare was to begin Jan 2023 to require ads to be approved before they run. What I have seen is ads are still deceptive!

   

This red link takes you to factual information about the two types of Medicare Health plans and times you can sign up. These times, controlled at the federal level, are called   —  enrollment periods  and are also described. 

 

Another ongoing TV ad about retirement mentions they also help individuals with 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 meet & discuss the plans in New London County and the confussing words, you saw in a brochure or on line!

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! Then too, requlations do not allow me to talk about benefits on the phone unless the call is recorded so we can meet in person.


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

Want to sign up after 65 — SS rules say — individuals over 65, covered by an employer medical plan, can sign up for Part B at any time. Using the leaving employer SEP they will not pay Part B's late enrollment penalty. To sign up follow these steps:

● First — If currently covered by your or spouses employers medical plan — or were in past 63 days — you will be eligible to use 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 the date you want to:

● Start Part B. 

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


● Review the options to pay your share of Part B's monthly cost will be $164.90 in 2023 :

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


Completing the next step means you will not have Part B's late enrollment penalty  —  Your employer has to complete a CMS-L564 to confirm you had employer medical coverage.  

      -> The CMS-L564 can be found on this link.   

     ->  The application for Part B, CMS-40B can also be found 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 whenever 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!  


     ● 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 just using "original Medicare" and going 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 $226 in 2023. 

     Bottom line — so many medical treatment and services are provided 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 $1,600 in 2023.

Call (860) 451-9793 - - Calling means you would like to meet to talk! You are not commiting to enroll in a plan!

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

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

    Note: If you don't buy — the many bills from providers for your 20% share will come in the mail like a rainstorm!


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

● Medicare Advantage Plan in New London CT or a  

● Medicare Supplement in CT 


Each plan has options for different levels of coverage, which will 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 may 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 ongoing treatment is high, which means paying 20% for all outpatient treatment   =  significant costs!   


Because of what may happen in your life this means — 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 you worked past 65 and now plan to leave an employer plan call/text John C Parker's Google Voice today  (860) 451-9793) 


When meeting to talk & eMail we can:

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

    ● 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, is based in Niantic.

His focus today is to help individuals in Southeastern CT simplify MediCare's system and how Medicare Health Plans work with it. John working as:       

+ An Advisor increases understanding of the plan options in New London County, which meet the individual's situation. 

+ A Broker helps individuals enroll in the plan which is best for them.   

   

 < - - >  Medicare regulations require any telephone conversation discussing Medicare Plan benefits to be recorded.        

     Note:  Meeting in person, which is often more useful, is OK !             

< - - > John is licensed in CT (# 644135 ) and does not solicit or sell in other states.

 

Certified with all seven New London County Medicare Advantage companies and the six of nine Prescription Drug Plan companies, which work with Medicare insurance professionals.

Have Questions on MediCare or Health Plans?

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

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Medicare Health Plan Advisor in Niantic

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

(860) 739-0005

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Content on MedicarePlansSECT.com is © 2018 to 2023 by John C Parker, RHU, LTCP - All Rights Reserved.

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